Back at Dryad

Well here I am at Dryad Point. This is one of the station where it all started. Nice to be back here. It has been kept up and looking good. One thing is that we donot have the house with the toliet where you burn the waste (from humans). Seems it takes 1 1/2 hours to burn it all they well who ever (they) are decided that was better than the composting toliet that a few of us have. But one thing that makes that hard to do is that there is no basement in that house so guess that they decided that a burning on would be better than putting the composter in the house or near it. Not sure but I guess that the burning is better than flies.

We are very lucky in that we will be here for three wks. It is a great place the people who are here know have really kept it up with gardens and solar lights down the walkways. Makes it look very fairy land looking in the early evening. As well the houses have been kept up which is nice as most of the empty ones on stations can be let go and not liveable. Here it is really kept nice and anyone would love to live it . I was surprised that a empty house did not have mice seems that on most stations there are mice living in the empty house and the not so empty ones as well. At the Bluff we get about a mouse every few days in the house and still have not found where it gets in. Here to there are lots of birds around so in the early morning as one sits on the porch drinking coffee you can hear them as well as the water lapping on the shore .. very nice

Well it is weather time here so off I go to give the guard my weather for this three hour period. later all.

Another day in pardise???

It is now mid April and this is day (what) 3/4 of waking up to rain. I suppose that is better than the other day when it was snow all over the ground. The mountains looked great but that was all.

This is not what anyone would call romantic day after day of no sun. I suppose there are some who would but not me. I like the sun , the wild life that it brings with it. And the gardens are starting to come up and things really are coming alive. One afternoon it was not to bad and we took our dogs for one of their daily walks and stick throws to the helicopter pad. And once down there we heard the noise of whales blowing. After searching the waters we noticed a very large male with several others. Our first sighting of Orca's commomly know as Killer Whales. Was looking like there might have been a jr. and even a wee one in the group but as they where on the other side of the channel . There could have been about 6/8 in the pod this is one of the many sightings that makes living out here so good. And we still have our large pod of seal lions coming each day.

This week will be getting ready for us to go and do what is call relief keeping. As one of the stations south of there is looked after by a couple and they are looking to head out on holidays. We will be there about 21 days well if the helicopters are all working and the weather is good.

Speaking of helicopters one just flew over head , nice they know we are still manned and when they can they do a fly by. Like the float planes that go in and out of Klemtu they will either tip wings or do a low fly by. May be hoping to get on our webcam as they fly by.

So off I go for now we have things to do.. back...it is slowly looking like it might be a good day the sun is trying to come out and the water is looking like glass . I noticed what looked like a pregrent Robin in the back yard along with the hummingbirds looking for their feeder which we put out every yr. Well off to give the weather for this period.. will keep you posted on life here at the Bluff.

A few of our girls who come to visit

 

Rain, Rain and more Rain

Here we are middle of April almost and the Bluff is still getting rain, until it overflows from the hills over the channel. You can hear it rushing down the side until it hits the channel. Along with the rain and wind we have had the dolphins back today. And the ladies (sealions) are really acting up. They start their calling early evening and can still be heard at 4:00am as my husband rises for the start of the day.

He gets up then to do the first of the weathers that are collected on all the lights along our coast line. This happens every three hours until 10:30 pm. But one is ever on duty and will give a weather report between if necessary. For things that could cause problems for the many boats that travel our coast line. There seems to be everything from the large tugs and crusie ships to the 20 foot aluminun boat that the natives will use to go fishing or from one village on the coast to another many miles away. There was on winter we had heard that there was an overdue boat coming from the village of Bella Bella to Port Hardy in some pretty bad weather. In the end he made it. But not sure why anyone in winter would want to do that .

The Bluff is known for its rain fall we have to be the wettest lighthouse on this coast. So I guess I should not be surprised at the rain again today. The fact that we had a few nice days and nights is a blessing. Here is to hoping tomorrow will bring sun and warmer days as Easter is upon us. Yet is nice to still see the mountain caps lightly dusted with snow.. looking more like someone used a strainer to sprinkle icing sugar on them. Well to all if any who pop in have a great Easter where ever you are from.

 

One of those great nights

Well here it is 10:10 pm and there is a full moon with clouds surrounding it. It is one of those great nights here at the Bluff. I almost feel that if I where outside the wolves might even be howling at the moon. These are those nights that we all read about in books so romantic.

Today here has been a nice day .. one of light rain showers and then sun in the afternoon. Yesterday and today we have heard the grouse beating his wings looking for a partner. This will be great !! Last yr we had a family of grouse here 5 very little ones and Mother walking around the station and getting into the gardens. This is one of the many things I love about living on the lights. The wildlife is something that one learns to never take for granted. They have a place just behind our house where they have a hill where they go in the heat of the summer and have dirt baths.

There has also been a couple of pods of seal lions around. We must have good food for them out front . As well it is baby time for them as well so we hope to see the babies one day soon. There are a couple that generally hang out all winter here they are called Fred and Wilima. As well there have been pods of dolls pourpoise . Very interesting to see them in front of the boats as they pass the station. Looks like they might get run over.

Today as well I have see a young eagle as he/she is losing their young feathers and now turning to the white tails and wings and head.. As time goes they will become to the Bald Eagle we all know. There is a nest just behind the station off a path we have that takes us to the point of the island here. We try and stay way from them during breeding season.

This is such a great thing about living on the Bluff is the wildlife. There are four dogs here so with the wolves we do have to keep an eye out but overall in the past three yrs we have only seen two on the station.

Well so ends my day here and wonder what the weather and wildlife will be seen tomorrow. Who knows might get lucky and see a pod of Killer Whales. Night and yes this is one of those nights here when it is not just romantic but you know the full beauty of the world we live in.

Here it comes

Well here is the next wee bit of the story. Being at Dryad Point was great we had sat tv!! That is was a big thing as we where one of the few who had tv. Being at Dryad was nice sunny, great boat trips around and getting to Bella Bella. And have the helicopters arrive was like having Christmas every time they arrived. They always brought mail and goodies. And I was under the impression that this was only for 6 months and then we would be off to our house. (What thought did). I was able to head to the house off and on so I got to be in town which was nice.

I had learned that groceries and goodies came once a month. But we had the village close and there was a store there expensive but still things could be gotten fresh once a wk. That was when they had the barge come in. And as well if a helicopter was heading out our way they would bring what ever was sitting waiting for the once a month run.

It was very lovely. Then it happened the Coast Guard said that they needed an assistant at Cape Scott. And of course three guess who applied saying that he would never get it ... but some how I knew in my heart he would. The other thing was we where told that the lights where being closed down and so it would only be a matter of months maybe. So again I thought what the heck if he gets it... and of course he did.

The worst thing was that our house was broken into not once but twice while I was out at Dryad. So it was decided that we would sell the house and move all our stuff to the light at Cape Scott. I should have seen it coming. So we did. This is where I learned that a winter on the lights is not romantic. Up there we had lots and lots of hikers which was great. But it was hard to get in and out of there not as many helicopters. So things came only once a month. And the only phone was the open line. That is an interesting way of chatting it is like a party line but with 10 families on it and all can hear as they have put speakers in each house which we have to monitor. So everything you have to say is heard.. and if you try and be criptic well you know that they (other keepers) listen more. As well they cut into your conservation if they feel they have something to offer to YOUR conservation.

Being on a light that is out of the helicopers regular path means alot less in the way of stuff as well your mail coming and going. I had to learn to have a grocery order ready to go out at the same time as one comes in. This makes it interesting as if you need stuff after it has gone in you have to try and call them and do what is called add ons. This was my first time with this and at Cape Scott they did deliver of stuff from Victoria by ship that was a real joy. In the pouring rain , snow or what ever weather the ship comes almost to the station then transfers the boxes to a smaller boat which takes them to a cut out and we would drop a hook. Pull up the bonnet of boxes transfer them to a tractor and then this process goes on until all are delivered. Then you drive the tractor to the station as this is about 1/4 mile from the station. One can only guess what condition your boxes are in by the time you get them. And sugar and flour well they are soaked. If the weather is to bad then they will just by pass you and not leave grocreies head off to another station and come back to you when they can get the small boat in. Fresh veggie are no longer fresh as it used to take them a wk just to get to your station and with bad weather could be a wk more.

I guess that with all the people putting in claims they decided that the helicopter was better. But even then you have to off load in the rain.. and smell of fumes.

Well off to see about my day here at the Bluff. Will add more later

One of those super days

 

My first

Well this is my first every attempt at writting. (ok just a blog)

It really started when we married some 35 yrs ago and he told me he always wanted to be a lighthouse keeper at a place called Cape Scott. To which I told him no way in double hockey sticks I would move to some place where there was no people, no phones, no tv and no SHOPPING!!!!!

So for years we moved about with the Canadian Air Force and I must say it was a great life. Then he retired. This all started about 11 years ago just when I thought we would give up the gypsy life . Boy was I wrong. He some how got to work for the Canadian Coast Guard and heard that they where looking for a person to do what they call relief keep. Well I thought he can have his dream for one month and that will be that. (WRONG) It only got it more into his system that this was what he wanted to do.. As for me I had the house , and was busy putting down roots in this nice small town.

I came to visit him on his second light and thought very lovely how romantic. Well it is when you are just visiting. The Guard asked him to take another station for a bit of time and I like a nut said sure why not. With the thought that I could come and visit and then go back to our house and whent the 6 months was up that would be that.. little did I know.

It was so lovely the first helicopter flight to Dryad Point Light. Flying over the mountains it was like seeing Toblerone bars with a dusting of white chocolate on them. As we landed at the station I was greeted by hubby and the other couple and a silver broom. As it was our 25th wedding anniversy. That eveing we took the small boat from the station to a native village called Shearwater about 10 mins by boat. It was truly romantic full moon, calm waters and you could hear the wildlife. It was everything you hope being on a light will be. Well enough for the first attempt. I will add more as time goes about living on the lights here in British Columbia