Thèmes

England never abolished traditional rights of way over private and public lands. Old roads that became disused remained as footpaths, the integrity of which is guarded by organizations such as the Ramblers. One can literally walk anywhere in England, a concept that is foreign to North Americans, where most prescriptive rights have been abolished from the earliest days of European settlement.

Although blighted by urban sprawl, the Fraser Valley of British Columbia still retains much of its natural beauty. Lying just a few miles east of Vancouver, the Valley represents a vital food supply with most farms lying south of the Fraser River, while north of the river the areas in the shadow of the mountains shelter much wildlife and bird habitat.

The autumn colours in central and eastern Canada reach their peak in late September and the first week of October, varying slightly due to factors such as the seasonal rainfall and summer heat. New Brunswick is where I travel in the fall, where I maintain part of my mother's old farm, and spend time in a cabin on the edge of the woods where I contemplate the beautiful St. John River Valley.

Pender Island is one of the most southerly of the Gulf Islands of British Columbia, Canada, and actually consists of two islands which are joined by a bridge crossing a narrow channel. The climate here is northern Mediterranean, the winters being very mild. The population varies from 2000 or so people in winter to over double that number in winter months.