Kinsol Trestle

This is a good place to get a little exercise in our area.
We have to drive through forestry acreages and hobby farms for about 20 minutes.

Some people keep their hedges immaculately trimmed.

In autumn the drive is very pretty but twisty and the countryside close to the destination turns raggedy and the road is turning narrow and bumpy.

Interesting and imaginative entrance to their property.
Maybe too much of a statement. Although, it fits the Westcoast wild country theme .

There is a parking spot by this rock and people have to enter the trail which leads to the trestle. It is a short 10 minutes walk to reach it. There is an entrance on the other end (same trail system) but the parking there is little further from the main event.

The short walk is lined with mossy rocks

….rocky steep hills

….unfriendly dark forest ……

……and grassy patches

The Kinsol Trestle has a long and interesting history. It is one of the tallest free-standing and most spectacular timber rail trestle structures in the world. It is 614 feet long and stands 145 feet above the Koksilah River.

It was named after “King Solomon Mines” nearby, but did not serve that operation. It was built to connect Victoria to Nootka Sound to transport the region’s huge, old-growth timber.
The Trestle was officially finished in 1920 (construction started in 1911), Although,it was designed by engineers, it was built by local farmers and loggers. It provided a transportation link for the local logging industry but …..the line never reached Nootka Sound.

CN’s (Canadian National) rail service on Vancouver Island was abandoned and after 1979 no trains crossed the trestle and it gradually fell into disrepair.
Eventually, the north and south accesses were removed for safety reasons.

Historical picture

An official fundraising campaign “Save the Historic Kinsol Trestle” was launched in June 2009 in order to raise needed funds to rehabilitate the Trestle. The campaign was launched on June 10, 2009, and the Trestle reopened to the public after major renovations on July 28, 2011. It is now a part of the ” Trans Canada Trail” system

The area is now enjoyed by hikers and cyclist. It is also a local tourist attraction but for us it is close enough to have a wonderful afternoon outing.

The next photo depicts the restored Trestle built from a local wood as seen from a view point.

There are few trails down to the river with picnic tables

…..and one can follow a hiking trail along the Koksilah river.

….the river is narrow but very fast and noisy.

Distant view from the middle part on top of the structure

…..walking over Koksilah River on Kinsol trestle

There is an interesting video of the structure from the air on youtube. it is 2 min and 52 sec long.

AUTUMNAL AWESOMENESS

 I know this season is not loved by everyone (for obvious reasons) but here are few pictures why I love it so much

Our front yard at end of October from side patio

Front yard photographed from the entrance area. My cosmos grew incredibly tall this year. I have several in different areas and they are all very tall,

down in the area I call ” Sun Valley”

Choisa stays this lime green all winter and the cryptomeria black dragon compliments it with very dark forest green colour. Leaves of the Japanese maples in the background are almost gone although other maples in various areas around the property are still holding on.

Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa Macra) in its autumn finery

In detail

Magnolia stellata in November.

Fruit and berries display

Firethorn is hiding our water spout with wonderful red berries in autumn

Leafless grape vines with their fruit.

Crabapple Red sentinel

Colour of stems of Himalayan Balsam or Impatiens glandulifera (invasive) Standing tall way after their flowers are gone. Bees absolutely love these

Very deep green colour of Cryptomeria japonica ‘Black dragon’

Shiny dark red leaves of Leucothoe fontanesiana,

Variegated leaves of Rhododendron President Roosevelt

Climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala petiolaris) in pretty yellow

Lots of mushrooms at this time of the year. When growing up in Europe I remember collecting mushrooms in the forest with my father . Here I do not . The very popular mushrooms here are big pine mushrooms which I did not find enywhere on our property but there are few patches of chanterelles. I can see these occasionally selling in the store.

These boletes in my picture are probably edible but will not try to find out.

Some of them look cute but most are not edible.

Mums are still blooming outside

Bringing some of them inside for autumn cheer

Few bits of colouful blooms but very little now

Calendulas grown from seeds do not seem to mind that it is November.

I got out all the annuals from my pots on deck but the verbena still looks good. So next year I will buy more of them.

Annual pink verbena

Red verbena

We inherited this Dawn Viburnum (Viburnum x bodnantense) and it is a huge (shrubby) plant right now. I have never pruned it and it snakes around our deck’s rail. It is quite fragrant and I am sure that is why it was planted where it is. It blooms beautifully all winter long. Leaves are turning purple right now but will fall off eventually and only these bright little flowers will dot the bare branches. Very pretty.

Inherited Japanese Barberry on edge og the forest

A Canadian garden angel on guard.

This Bigleaf Maple is close to our driveway so all these leaves will have to be dealt with (sigh) .

It is a very large tree and hard to photograph.

But slowly colours are disappearing and we will be stuck in green on green environment till spring. Such is life.