07-Aug-07
(Shut up - I know I'm really behind, ok?)
So you've all heard the joke about how many surrealists it takes to change a light bulb, right?
The answer, of course, is two - one to set fire to the giraffe and the other to fill the bathtub with brightly coloured farm machinery.
Look what we found in Sooke - the brightly coloured farm machinery!
This eagle sitting on my head is giving me a splitting headache.
Meow!
Hallucinogenic drugs + peroxide bleach = spirit bear.
World's shortest lighthouse.
I don't know how they get the mower up there, but this roof has an immaculate lawn.
Up the creek we go - notice the distinct lack of paddles.
Picnic time.
Skipping rocks.
Anne checks the water.
That is some deep water.
Look at how mirror smooth the water is (just before we skipped rocks across it :-)
Heading back to civilisation...
Of course, we had to take Kangaroo Rd.
Next stop - the Luthor Mansion in Smallville.
Or perhaps Professor Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters...
(Or, more boringly, historic Hatley Castle, built by the son of the dude that built Craigdarroch Castle.)
Seems that they don't really want visitors (not that it stopped us :-)
"I'm so bored, just sitting here looking at the tourists."
"Ah, stop your complaining!"
Gardens!
Peacock having just left a small deposit...
More gardens!
It seems that being in close proximity to so many mutants and/or kryptonite has mutated some of the surrounding plant life...
A very useful instruction for those that may think their sundial faulty.
"I count only the sunny hours."
AAAARRRRGGGHHHH!
Giant mutant slug!!!!
Run away!!!!
Next stop - Fort Rodd Hill.
We had to sneak in because there was a movie crew here setting up to do some filming.
If they ever need to fire this canon, those trees are so dead.
Fisgard lighthouse.
Not only is it a useful height, but it is actually next to the water, unlike the short one we saw earlier in the day that was surrounded by forest.
Cool - they converted this old building into a glass sided Orca aquarium.
"Please Sean, can I take him home?"
4 comments:
Yes, my husband does have a distinct sense of humour and I love him too. I don't know what has overcome him over here in Canada. He is now undergoing rehearsals for a variety show he is acting and dancing in. I am looking forward to the dancing bit!!!!!
He learnt Scottish Dancing in Primary school, Delle
from "she who knows these things"
Hi there. Just to let you know that the "shortest lighthouse" that you saw at the Sooke Region Museum was a smaller scale of the very big lighthouse that used to sit on top of Triangle Island (not to be confused with Triangle Mountain)located about 30 miles off the Northern Tip of Vancouver Island.
It was scaled down for many reasons one of which it is too costly for a non-profit society to follow exact measurements. The original cement bunker is still located atop Triangle Island and the Red Lantern (or dome) is the original from the island.
The First Order "Fresnel" (invented by Agustin Fresnel) Lens (with 38 sections, weighing 3 tons and approx. 450 prisms, stands 10ft tall and has a rotating functioning bulb) is the original lens from the (flying butress) Estevan Point lighthouse. This rare lens used to sit in 900lbs of mercury and rotated on a clockwork mechanism.
The First Order Fresnel Lens from Estevan Point Lighthouse is similar to the Triangle Island Lighthouse first order lens.
The Lantern and Lens were paired and stored at the Huron Street Coast Gaurd base for many years before finding their resting place at the Museum.
The Triangle Island Lighthouse was commissioned from 1909-1919 and dis-mantled in 1921. It was manned by the Davies Family for 3.5 years and a few other families after.
It was suggested that a fog horn for Triangle Island was unessesary , the lighthouse at the tallest point was about 750 feet above sea level.
Due to the height of the lighthouse and the failure to be a help to passing ships it was dismantled. Anderson engineered this lighthouse and many others on the West Coast and considered Triangle Island Lighthouse (before being deemed a failure) to be one of his biggest accomplishments.
The weather on Triangle Island was and is extreme, unpredictable and at times unbearable. That is why the Davies family were not relieved of their duties for 3.5 years.
The Island is now considered an ecologically protected area as there are extremly rare birds(Puffins) that habitat the area.
After an incredible amount of work and persistance by the curator and hundreds of volunteered hours of interested participants, the lighthouse was moved to the museum in 2004 and had its opening ceremony June 26, 2005. Over 400 stories, poems and plays written by students of Sooke schools are housed inside the base not to mention the countless diary entries by lighthouse keepers from all over the west coast.
The lighthouse is considered an interpretive centre.
There have been and may still be tours through the lighthouse to explain how the lighthouse "came to be" on Triangle Island and now at the museum.
Hi! Yes Sooke is VERY redneck, and full of hippies. BUT My mom painted that Spirit Bear, and I painted the legend on the back.. Its hard to believe BUT, we were not on drugs. I think it's pretty cool.
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