We went for a walk at the Morden Colliery Mine Park this morning.  We had visited once before, about six ago.  There have been changes since then.

There have been changes since the write-up in the link as well.  The park now has a well-developed trail to the river with an overlook and bench.  This trail goes along a railroad access route.  There are bridges over the marshes created by beaver activity.  There are new trails and signs that circle around the remains of the mine buildings.

The walk is mostly level.  But there are roots and rocks underfoot.  The ground is very wet in spots and the mosses, ferns and lichens are verdant and green.  I saw my first wild snowdrops of the Spring,  They were underneath the bare trees and pushing up between downed branches and leaves.

The atmosphere on the trail was bright and alive.  There were eagles flying overhead and many signs of beaver activity.  I saw human art pieces on a tree and pieces of the past here and there down the trail.  Evidence of the former mining railroad runs beside the trail in places, the iron tracks merging with the tree roots as they push up to the surface.

The mood around the former mine is a little more moody.  Only the cement foundations are left of the former mine buildings.  The new trails wander through the forest; showing trees and concrete fighting for space.  Man does not leave much of a permanent mark.

A partial smokestack, and the tipple coal hoist are the biggest remaining signs of the mine.  The tipple hoist is the only one left in existence on the Island now.  Mute evidence to an important piece of Nanaimo’s past.  It is a past that I take a little personally.  My Grandfather came over from Scotland in 1915 to work the Nanaimo coal face; my Grandmother followed shortly after – 1916.  These were my Mothers parents.

I also finished the Moebius this morning.  Victorian Grace Moebius is the new name as the lace and cable patterns remind me of Victorian scrolling Silver Work.  It came out just as I had seen it in my head!

The pin is one that Joan Hoye made for me out of Sterling silver and Blackstone.  It looks like a Paisley type of pattern.

Hope that you are having a great day!
Happy Knitting
Lynette