A Rainy Day at White Rock .. Crescent Beach ... Ocean Park .. Whatever - 1000 Steps, Lots of Rocks, and a Long Black Train1000 steps

Last night, I happened to mention the 1000 steps that lead to a secluded beach near White Rock, and Steve asked if I wanted to go 'tomorrow.' Knowing that 'tomorrow' was going to be an immensely rainy day which would negate the decision, I said 'Sure.'

However, I went upstairs this morning and realized the rain was light, so when Steve asked if I still wanted to go. I only hesitated a moment ... then said, 'Sure.'

I don't know much about these step, only that they are between White Rock and Crescent Beach, there are not 1000 of them, and they wind their way down a very steep cliff.

And we were okay with that. At least on the way down.

The rain was more of a heavy drizzle, but as you can see, the wooden steps were quite wet, which meant we both had to be very careful. Neither one of us wanted to carry the other back up.

And guess what we found? Yet another sign of spring - teeny little green leaves popping out all over the place!

About half way down. We tried not to think about the return journey.

Ah. Finally. Now a little uphill path ....

Past a tree with some sort of bird high in the branch - a hawk, I believe. Funny thing is, I didn't even see the bird until I loaded the pictures on the computer. Then I zoomed in and Bazinga! A bird!

And finally, a beach, a beach just like back home in Newfoundland beach, all full of smooth round stones and sloshing waves.

See? A White Rock beach ...

Steve and Neil

... and a Newfoundland beach ...

The little boy has all grown up .. as has his big brother who now drives me all over BC in the Big White Truck!

Now if I were mean, I would tell you to stare at the centre of this pic for 25 seconds, then look at a white wall. But I won't. This was a mistake click when I obviously was lowering the phone ... but it's pretty cool. I call it My Artistic Swirl. I hope it doesn't make you dizzy.

It was so good to hear the waves rolling up on the shore - this video only partly loaded, unfortunately.

 

After filling up our pockets with pretty rocks, we headed back to the under-the-railroad tunnel, Steve thought it would be a great idea to stand in the tunnel while the train went overhead, and since we could hear the lonely whistle of one nearby, we decided to try it. The tunnel is the only far-from-Nature art installation in sight, and while I thought of it as grafitti that sort-of spoiled the unspoiled scene, Steve thinks of it as modern day art. Kind of like the cave-man drawings of eons ago. I can dig that, man.

I did take a video of us standing under the track, but I can't load it here or on my Face Book page, so I guess it's only available if you come visit me and my I Phone. However, rest assured, when that train started to rumble overhead, it was only a matter of seconds that the two of us fought to get out first. So much for giving up my life for my child.

(Only kidding. I would any time.)

And here is the culprit - a long train hauling coal somewhere.

So now we start our trek home ... first the path ...

... then the stairs ....

... about half way up ...

... some of us were a bit slower than others ....but you can tell from here how far up he was from me ...

... and we made it. 

It's actually not 1000 Steps. It's only about 300. I'm sure I do that many every day I'm home, going upstairs and downstairs about a thousand times anyway. The going down was fine, the going up got a bit tiring the farther we went, but it's certainly nothing to frighten you away.

And it's a good job we went when we did - because later on the afternoon, the rain started in earnest. And as far as I know it's still coming down pretty hard. Hopefully I won't have to borrow Howard's canoe to get to work in the morning!