Up island

Another day we had a trip up island, over the Malahat a high pass, to Duncan and Chemainus.

At the top of the pass is a viewpoint over to Saanich and mainland British Columbia again, and marked with a totem pole.

 

 

Next we stopped for a quick look at Duncan a small town on the coast, before continuing up to Chemainus.  This was a small logging town that almost died when the recession hit in 1981 when the natural resources of the area gave out and jobs ended  there, but the residents of the town were not prepared to let that happen, and an idea was put into practice.  All round the town on any large flat wall murals depicting the history of the town have been painted.  Artists have taken various different aspects of the place,  etc, and painted their interpretation on the walls of the town.

e.g. the native population - you may have to click to enlarge these to get the benefit of the pictures.  This I think is the most stunning of them all.

 

 

the first white people to arrive here,

 

 

 

the first white woman to be born here,

 

 

 

 

the arrival of the railroad.

 

 

 

logging, the first school, the Chinese logging gangs, the Chinese store, the hotel, the company store….. the list goes on.  There are about 40 of them scattered around the centre of the small town, and Chemainus’ fortune has changed.  It is now called The little own that did, and tourists come from everywhere to view the murals and spend time and money here!

The pics here are my favourites!

All for now.

Talk again soon.