Saturday, January 22, 2011

Kayaking in Ucluelet

We spend a day kayaking in the Ucluelet inlet. It is the first clear day all week. And very bright kayaking into the sun. To get this close to Nigel's canoe I have to crash into it. I have to. Oh isn't that a nice shot before the tide drifts me off in the wrong direction. I nervously pass the camera over the ocean to Nigel. As he floats away in the wrong direction. We see and hear some loud splashing and see a pod...flock...group of seals having fun in the sun. Of course, we chase after them in our kayaks trying to guess where they will surface next. Nigel waiting. Then the seals surface to the right of Nigel. Hello, starfish. Radar Hill. Long Beach.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Ucluelet, Vancouver Island, Canada

A week spent in sleepy Ucluelet in the winter season is entirely relaxing. We overlook the little harbour. The little town has some nice little shops including a Co-op food store. The marina and and where we stay right behind it. We take a walk down the rain forest path towards the beach. I keep telling Nigel I want to plant some ferns because they remind me of Canada. The dark forest floor. We venture down the boardwalk in the rain when the forest floor is too flooded to walk. There is a steep decent to the beach. The last time we were here 4 years ago, this path was destroyed from falling trees and an unusually stormy winter. We make it down to Halfmoon Bay. It is smaller than Long Beach and completely isolated. Okay, we did see one dog (and his owners). The mist is so heavy it drenches us. Last time we were here this tree had a swing. We find no trace of it. We also wander down to Wya Camping which is a new camping site on the beach right near Half Moon Bay and Florencia Beach. We are told by a local that the spot used to be a secret camping spot but now has a road down to it and has become a proper paying campsite. It is beautiful. Nigel and I stare at little bobbing things in the water for a long time. I am convinced they are sea otters (which we can watch in the water from out accommodation) and he is convinced they are just debris or logs. We never agree as they never move close enough to us.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

The New Vibe

I am so excited to see a new vibe emerging in the arts. For female stars it is the intelligent artist/musician/actor. The over sexualised model beauty is being replaced by an understated "brains over sex". I absolutely love it! Agnes Obel with the sparse nature of her debut album, is from Denmark. BBC review here. Rebecca Hall is a British stage actor who turned heads in the film Vicki Christina Barcelona (also starring Penelope Cruz and Scarlett Johansson). We thought she stole the show and kept asking, "who is she?"

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Look Alikes: Actresses

I do start noticing in the film industry that actresses often have similar looks.
Zoe DeChanel (USA) and Emily Blunt (UK)
Kiera Knightley (UK) and Katie McGrath (UK)
 
Carey Mulligan (UK) and Michelle Williams (USA)
Uma Thurman (USA) and Sarah Polley (Canada)

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Driving up to Manchester

Driving up to Manchester and taking pictures out the car window.