Fallin Cowichan Valley October 2015

Enrico Winery on Telegraph Road, Cobble Hill

Fall in Cowichan Valley brings a rich palette of delights. The changing colours in nature lend a warm glow to forests and glens. The last hay crop perfumes the air,  wine growers harvest their grapes – making it earliest grape harvest in BC ever after a hot and dry summer. The vintage should turn out exceptionally good.

Covering the treasures...

Pine tree cones and grape tent cones....

The vineyards look like a forest of ghost, with vines covered with white nets to protect the grapes from hungry birds. The veil comes off for harvesting, and stays off the now stripped vine stocks.

Stripped of the grapes

Rich flavourful harvest of grapes

 

One visits the many vineyards around Cowichan Valley, who all offer tastings of their produce as well as gourmet meals to pair with the nectar of the Gods. Not a bad way to spend a sunny afternoon – sitting amongst rows and rows of vines, sipping a glass of something, listening to live music and snacking on a little delicious bite to go with the wine.

Local Champagne (sparkling wine) at Unsworth Winery

The theatre season is heating up, and Cowichan Valley was treated to a little taste of Bollywood showing the brilliant colours of Rahjastan and the skills of a fire eater and stylized dances of richly dressed women.

Balancing a clay vessel - to warm up for fire eating....

Colourful traditional Indian dress

Beauties from India...

One listens to stories of cougars being spotted, pursued and trapped on the park like surroundings of the Legislature in Victoria (the jailers are still debating of what to do with the big wild cat), racoons checking out back yards, deer mothers feeding their young in the middle of highways, Canada geese performing practice maneuvres for their imminent emigration south, and hump back whales and orcas gathering between the Gulf Islands and attracting whale watchers like magnets.

Captured Cougar - today in Victoria near BC Parliament Building

Knocked out, and awaiting 'disposition'....let's hope this beautiful cat is saved and relocated to a safe place.

 

At the head of Saanich Inlet....whale watchers congegrating, as seen from my balcony

The head of Saanich Inlet, stage for whale performances, in the morning....

Large local pod of Orca whales, now cruising the waters around my house
(Internet photo of whales near Galiano Island)

Fall Festivals abound, and it is difficult to decide whether to attend a wine festival, a country exhibition, a farmers market, or various gourmet events.

Enrico Winery - pond, tasting room and terrace...

The salmon will be running soon...

Coombs 'Goats on the Roof' enjoying an early fall day...

My garden gnomes enjoying a little rest from munching on fall apples...

Tango is hitting a peak with events featuring visiting teachers from Argentina, live tango orchestras, and special milongas.

Everyone was out on beaches, balconies, vantage points on the top of hills and mountains to watch the eclipse of the moon, which once every few decades affords the romantic spectacle of observing a ‘red moon’ a ‘luna rossa’. Vancouver Island enjoyed a clear sky, and minimal light pollution, making this rare night a spectacular experience.

The moon from my balcony on a 'normal' night....

The final part of the total lunar eclipse Fall 2015