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© Photos above by Kay Davies |
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Photo from Official White Rock Page, on the See Vancouver BC website, by Maurice Jassak, showing "the white rock" on the right, and an Amtrak train passing through White Rock on its way from Seattle, Washington, to Vancouver, BC. |
On my recent trip "home" to White Rock, BC, where I lived and worked for many years, I had lunch with two friends from college days in a tea shop near the pier. Many things have changed but, because the town is separated from the ocean by the train tracks and the beach, some things never change.
It was a dull wintry afternoon and the tide was all the way in. Semiahmoo Bay (pronounced semi-a-moo) lay peaceful and pewter-colored to match the sky, and the only trains passing were freights.
However, passenger service was restored to the Burlington Northern tracks in time for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, and this photo from the White Rock page of the seevancouverbc.com website shows an Amtrak train on its way from Seattle to Vancouver.
White Rock legend has it that a First Nations chief once stood on Vancouver Island, wanting to relocate his people to the mainland. He picked up a large white rock and threw it. It landed on the shore where it now stands. The Semiahmoo people followed it in their canoes and have lived nearby ever since.
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20 comments:
Even though the day was, as you so poetically put it, "pewter," your shots are magnificent! I love White Rock and often go down for a walk along the pier and to poke my nose in some of the shops. The Beachhouse Restaurant is a favourite, too. Let me know next time you're going to be in town so we can meet up! Merry Christmas, Kay!
Leslie
abcw team
Beautiful place, and I love those old legends.
pretty nice place, especially when the sun shines. It's shining today; yesterday was all gray and dark.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
I just love Vancouver! Was there for the first time last summer and hope to return.
Wishing you a wonderful holiday and 2012!
This looks like a place I would like to visit. I never heard of the town before. I guess I'm getting antsy. A train trip would be so much fun.
Kay, I really like these White Rock photos you took, especially the one with the flag and clock. Also like the museum photo. It reminds there is another story about the big white rock. In this one the son of the Sea God fell in love with a beautiful mortal princess. Neither family accepted the union of mortal and god. So in desperation the young god picked up a huge rock from the Island shore and threw it across the Gulf waters to resolve where they would settle and live in harmonious bliss away from the relatives. :)
It was indeed a dreary-looking day but the memories you have garnered will colour your photos and memories quite differently.
Merry Christmas to you and Richard and Lindy and all others dear to you and a Happy and Healthy 2012:-)
And is that the white rock he threw - that one in the bottom corner of the last shot??!
i like your description - pewter.
you had weird weather too? I see from the timber and logs on the beach.
I WISH you A WONDERFUL Christmas and 2012
I love that descriptive word -pewter! But I'm sure Kay your time spent with good friends from schooldays was a golden moment!
Love the story of White Rock! Thanks for sharing.
After we left the Roadhouse, I went down to White Rock. I walked the strand and saw the rock before the sun went down. Guess it is still so white because of paint. Looks like graffiti artists use it as a target these days. - Margy
Don't you just love legends? I do! And, to some extent, find that there is some truth to them. Loved the White Rock legend.
Wonderful shots of the place. Nice place to relax.
That's a cool looking train! Love the silver muted tones in these photos.
Have a wonderful Christmas!
Beautiful. Enjoyed the legend which I hadn't heard previously.
Beautiful landscape and a nice legend !
Beautiful photos, Kay, - always interesting to learn how place names originated, especially the legendary native ones. Merry Christmas, Kay, to you and your family.
Hah! I never knew the White Rock story! I think I would recognize that pewter sky as coastal BC even if you didn't tell me it was. Hope it was a lovely visit. It certainly is a lovely town.
PS. Yes, of course I will tell you when I next hit BC. I often stay a few nights just a few kilometers from White Rock! It would be a riot to meet in person.
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