Slip the Surly Bonds

This week's contribution for Skywatch Friday was inspired by the famous aviation poem High Flight by John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

Eighteen year old Magee was an American who crossed the border into Canada to volunteer for the Royal Canadian Air Force. In 1941, he was assigned to the 412th Fighter Squadron at Digby, England.

He was inspired during a test flight in the new (then) Spitfire V to the high (then) altitude of 30,000 feet. He included the poem in a letter to his parents shortly thereafter. At the age of 19, Magee was killed in a mid-air collision with an RAF trainer.

I often think of this verse as we fly through and around the clouds. It truly feels like you could "touch the face of God." -- Margy

Sundog Reflections

We've been having on and off clouds and showers this week. That makes for some really spectacular sunsets here in Powell River, BC. Last Monday I looked across the Strait of Georgia to see this unusual sundog.

It was getting dark, so it was hard to capture the actual colours with my little camera. Sometimes the best shots are just pictures in your mind, don't you agree? -- Margy

Clearing After the Storm

Spring is an unsettled time here is Coastal BC. One day it's sunny, the next rainy or snowy. But after each storm, you know there'll be a beautiful clearing sky.

Sun peaks through the trees.

And reflects off the rock wall behind our cabin.

Please visit the Sky Watch Friday site. There you'll see other sky photos from all over the world! -- Margy

Winter 2009 British Columbia Snowpack

This week we had a cold snap with a light dusting of snow.

It stuck on the ground long enough for a few good shots against the clearing sky.

A March 11 bulletin from the British Columbia Ministry of Environment states that the snowpack for the South Coast is well below normal (63%). Peak snow accumulation will be over by mid-April, so there isn't much time left.

That doesn't bode well for river and lake levels this summer. Right now, Powell Lake is almost at it's lowest level since our arrival in 2001, and it's only March.

Low water input combined with high water extraction for electrical generation is going to make it difficult for many float cabin owners. Our cabin is in 80' of water, but others have much less depth to work with. Unfortunately, beached floats can be easily damaged. -- Margy

Snowy Days

On Tuesday night and Wednesday we got our first snow of the season in Powell River, BC. Cold arctic air has temperatures plunging and there looks to be another cold week ahead.

On Thursday, Wayne and I went up to our float cabin for the first time in three weeks. It was a winter wonderland with sparkling white snow and brilliant blue skies.

The snow was powder fine and crunched under our boots as we made our way to the cabin door. We built a roaring fire in our Kozi wood stove and settled back to enjoy the view of Goat Island and a cloudless sky.

Today we are heading back up the lake to settle back into our cabin. It's always such a good feeling to be back home. -- Margy

Day is Done

When we are in Powell River, we love to be at our cabin, but sometimes we have to go to town to get some business done. Coming home to a view like this does have its compensations.


The sun is pretty far south this time of year, but it makes a warm glow as it dips behind Vancouver Island to the west. This is one reason they call this the Sunshine Coast. Think of us next time you are planning a trip. The scenery is beautiful, the people welcoming and the possibilities for fun endless. You can obtain more travel information at www.DiscoverPowellRiver.com or check out www.PowellRiverBooks.com. -- Margy

Clouds Over Powell Lake

I love clouds and Powell Lake is a great place to find some beautiful examples. Here's the view looking south through First Narrows with the glacial eroded Bunster Hills in the distance.

Storm clouds are brewing to the north. Lenticulars like this big guy mean winds and turbulence.

On a calm day there are clouds above and clouds below.

Reflect on that. -- Margy

Sunrise, Sunset

It isn't often that we get to see a sunrise (at least a colourful one) from our cabin home in Hole in the Wall on Powell Lake.

We get the soft, diffused light of sunrise at about 7:30 in the morning this time of year, but we don't see the sun make its way over the peaks to the southwest until about 9:00 a.m.

We also don't often see a true sunset either. At about 1:00 p.m. the sun dips below the treetops on the other side of the bay. We get indirect light until about 4:30, but no spectacular sunsets.

For outstanding sunsets we go to town in Powell River. From there we get unobstructed views to the west (more southwest right now) across the Strait of Georgia. Even with a little cloud cover, the sun paints magnificent colours across the sky, land and water. -- Margy

Mackerel Sky More Wet than Dry

A old weather saying, "mackerel sky, more wet than dry," came to mind the other day as we were heading up the lake to the cabin. Clouds here in Coastal BC offer a beautiful display in addition to their forcasting properties. I am constantly taking pictures of the sky in all of its moods.

A mackerel sky is made up of altocumulus clouds, indicators of moisture and instability in the atmosphere. The clouds ride at intermediate levels from 2400-6100 metres (8000-20,000 feet). Altocumulus clouds often precede rain showers or snow flurries. "Mackerel sky" is the common name for these clouds because they look like scales on a mackerel.

Thanks for visiting! -- Margy

Waves of Storms

We're in that season when waves of storms move onshore from the Pacific. Vancouver Island takes out a little of their punch (and precipitation), but the storms are still plenty strong when they reach our floating cabin on Powell Lake in British Columbia. Here are some views of partially clearing skies as we headed up the lake on Monday.

Heading up the lake during the rain isn't a problem. But if the winds are blowing strong the calm surface can be churned up into four foot waves. That's a little scary in our runabout boat.

So on days like that we stay put in our cabin and enjoy a warm fire in our wood stove. -- Margy