Chemainus River at Swallowfield Road

I discovered this location on the Chemainus River during a walk with my sister and her dog. It’s at the end of a footpath that is accessed from a small parking area on Swallowfield Road, between Crofton and Chemainus. The path takes you through archways of deciduous forest and then opens up to expansive views of marshland pastures and tidal tributaries, with glimpses of ocean. I particularly like the exposed geology so evident in the area, suggesting to me the arching backbone ridges of rock-formed whales, just surfacing from the earthly depths. There are so many different views and interesting features along this path and the Chemainus River, a painter could be busy for a long time without tiring of its variety.