The Berge Family Visit - Day 1, July 3rd

We met Laurie, Larry, Josh & Garrett at Gibson's Landing after they arrived on the Ferry from Horseshoe Bay. After breakfast at Molly's Reach, where the original TV show "The Beachcombers", was made we headed toward Sechelt. We stopped at Wilson Creek to pay a visit to the Hunt family consisting of dad, J. Bradley Hunt and sons Shawn and Dean. We first met them a week ago while visiting with Ken and Maureen who live in the neighborhood.



The Hunts are carving "Totems" they say are best described as sculptures carved out of Red Cedar trees. They are doing them for a Vancouver resident who is building a waterfront home at Roberts Creek. The poles will be used to frame the entrance to the home. We were all entralled with this very rare and unique experience of being permitted to watch these guys perform their art. We were also allowed to take a few pictures of them working, but were cautioned about taking a picture of the full length of the pole to protect the design from danger of being copied. Helen and I will make future stops when passing back and forth to Vancouver so we can check the progress.

From Sechelt we poked along up the Lower Sunshine Coast to Egmont where we decided to make the 4 km hike along the Skookumchuk Narrows trail to watch the change of tide where the currents can boil up to 30 kms per hour. Helen used both hiking poles and we made the trip to the narrows without incident. Unfortunately, there was a "small" tide and the water did not rush through as it usually does, but everybody was able to get the idea.

Our trek back along the trail to the parking area was NOT WITHOUT INCIDENT AND IN FACT DOWNRIGHT SCARY! It was a gorgeous, hot day and we were walking along this very well groomed trail and had reached a point about 1 km from the parking area. Suddenly, all hell broke loose with very loud cracking and crashing coming from the heavily forested hillside above us. It didn't take long to realize a tree was falling down the hill toward us and it sounded like it was breaking into pieces as it got closer. It sounded as if it was being aimed right at us! Helen hollered at the kids to run, I grabbed both Helen and Laurie who were beside me and pushed them off the low side of the trail into a hole that had been created by trees and rocks when the trail was made. I crouched as low as I could over them. I couldn't see Larry, but later learned he'd started to run back down the trail, but had only gotten a few feet before he tripped and fell. We heard a very loud "Thump" and then complete silence. I looked around and saw Larry picking himself up off the trail and about 6 - 8 feet beyond him I saw a length of big, heavy, rotten log lying on the trail. The trail in the other direction not far from where Helen, Laurie and I were huddled was covered in debris from the tree as it broke apart on its route down through the bush. That we all made it through this experience unscathed is truly a miracle and the stuff of which family legends are made. We're sure the story will be told around the Berge Family bonfires for years to come! I'm going to try to describe each of the pictures I took.
Larry poses beside the piece from the tree that crashed down on the trail a few feet away from him. The expression on his face pretty much reflects the total feeling of disbelief and relief.

This picture shows the trail of debris and large pieces of the tree that broke apart before reaching us.
Laurie cleans the dirt and debris from her Mom's ear that somehow accumulated when I pushed her down off the trail. Debris left by the falling tree can be seen on the trail just beyond where they are standing.
The hole at the side of the trail where I pushed Helen and Laurie. Looking at it now I don't think it would have afforded much protection if the chunk that landed beside Larry had come our way!
Debris that ended up beside Helen, Laurie and I. We never did find the piece of wood that left it there. The fact is we didn't hang around very long after this incident. We were all pretty shook up!

After the excitement of the afternoon we had supper at Egmont and caught the ferry over to Powell River. We were treated to an impromtu concert by a choral group here from Hong Kong attending Kathaumixw, an international choral festival being held in Powell River this week.

Tomorrow is going to be a restful, quiet day!