Enos Lake

Yesterday, my Monday hiking buddy and I hiked Enos Lake (Nanoose Bay, Vancouver Island BC).  It was our second time there - the first time, about 18 months ago, was the one and only time we have become lost sufficiently to need our compasses to get back to the car.  The trails are still badly marked (and don't match the occasional map that shows only about 10% of the forks, side trails, etc.).  But this time we didn't get lost, though I won't say we always knew exactly where we were. We found the lake, and it was a beautiful as ever:

Enos Lake

Enos Lake is the private property of the Fairwinds community, but allows public access to the trails.  We began our hike from the parking lot on Powder Point Road, though there are other access points. Dogs are allows on leash  but I didn't take Maggie who isn't quite enough of a hiker for my Monday ramblings.  The trails go through forests, across bluffs, down to the shore of the lake, around ponds, and out to residential areas.  Varied terrain, some ups and downs, some rooty sections - I'd rate it easy to moderate as long as you have GPS or know how to use a compass.

While a sign at the entrance warned of the presence of bears and cougars, we saw only small critters - a snake, a squirrel, a bunny, frogs, woodpeckers, ducks, and several varieties of smaller birds.

Hairy woodpecker, I think, based on the length of his bill (much longer than a Downy).
Possibly a juvenile, based on the fluffy floof on his back.

He was very busy digging grubs from the ground.
Here, he reaches far under a rock for a tasty morsel. 

We hiked up to the bluffs, then down and around the end of Enos Lake and along a trail on the other side, taking a side trail down to the water.  This was the spot we had lunched at last time, where we had discovered - after eating our lunch - a nice pile of fairly fresh bear scat right behind us.  This time we checked for bear activity before sitting down on the handy log along the shore, shaded from the hot sun by an overhanging tree.  A slight breeze came from the lake, and we were joined by two lunchtime companions - a frog and a nuthatch - who entertained us as we ate.

Enos Lake, far side - our lunch spot under overhanging boughs.

This frog seemed to enjoy this spot, where slight waves from the lake washed over him.

He took a giant leap over a big rock and into deeper water when I tried to get closer for a better shot, but soon returned to his spot when I sat down again.  He agreed to let mo photograph him with the zoom if I promised not to approach him again.  Okay, froggy, I can live with that.

This little nuthatch didn't stay still for a second, and taunted me with brief but beautiful poses
throughout our lunch.  Peeking out from behind a trunk, hopping onto a sunlit bough then dancing away just as I focused, he was such a tease.  

The day was getting very warm, so we decided to keep the hike short and return more-or-less the way we came with a few detours along the way.  One of the prettiest spots we passed was a  pond covered with small lilypads in various shades of green and red.  We passed it on one side on the way up, and returned on the other side which gave us even prettier views.

Lilypads dressed in autumn red and spring green
upon a summer-blue pond.

A good hike in most weather conditions, though some trails may get muddy and/or slippery.  We covered about 5 miles (8 km) in about 3.5 hours, which include a 40 minute break for lunch and several stops for photography and nature appreciation.  As nature-loving seniors, we walk at a leisurely pace.  Get out and enjoy!