Blindsided 4

Although she’d tried golf, and hated that little white ball with a passion, she’d often directed other to Seven Hills Golf & Country Club where nine holes of spectacular golf for real golfing enthusiasts, was available.  There were many amusing anecdotes regarding golfers.  Some had chartered a planes from both down south and Alaska in order to play this course.  The operative word, attempting, for some had not been challenged by the little white ball’s trajectory but golfing bears.

Cape Scott Provincial Park, one of the wildest, windiest, most woebegone locales in the province offered its own set of challenges. Journeying to Brooks Peninsula was only for those whose mettle has been tested by repeated exposure to the bellows and blasts of nature in the raw.

Lately, according to Maggy, storm watching had become the thing to do.  It was exciting, but dangerous.  Only the “hardy” attempted storm watching during winter months, for the winds could reach a registered 210 miles per hour.  It was believed the winds probably went higher but that was what was recorded before the equipment broke during one windy altercation.

Some of her best photography was taken at Brooks Peninsula and hung proudly on her walls. After securing a guide, she and Maggy eagerly set off.  A sudden and unexpected storm blew in, trapping them for three days before letting up.  She’d captured spectacular photos of the waves, the scenery, their little group huddling around a fire over which they’d taken turns in a constant vigil for warmth.  It had been scary and spectacular.

She’d driven every logging road the north end of the island offered.  Photography was a passion; she had scrap books full of beautiful scenery, spectacular sunrises and sunsets, even some of the local wildlife, surrounded by its natural habitat. She longed for her camera and the peace and tranquility of trudging through underbrush to capture the next illusive picture for her collection.

Local tour operators dazzled visitors with an abundance of wildlife viewing opportunities including spectacular marine life consisting of Orcas, Grey whales, Humpbacks, Minke whales, Sea lions, and Harbour seals, to a large variety of birds from Eagles to Herons and Puffins.  For the more adventurous at heart, there were Grizzly and Black bear tours.

Her first whale watching trip had blown her away.  Seeing the grace and beauty of Orcas traveling in pods had captivated her and was the impetus for her introduction into painting.  She’d gone to the craft store and bought supplies and begun painting, whales, seals, eagles, and gulls on sea shells after cleaning and curing them.

What’s more they were very good.  She was good.  A talent she’d inherited from her grandmother and which she’d never indulged in or knew she had.

Would she ever participate in any of these activities again she wondered?  The thought saddened and impelled her.  This was not going to be the end of it for her.  She was determined to fighter harder than ever to overcome this incident for lack of a better word.

 

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