I am sitting in a cabin nestled in Roche Lake Provincial Park, in British Columbia, Canada.  As I write, I am looking out the window, watching the sun begin to warm the surface of the lake.  The morning air is brisk as it was cold enough to frost last night.  The coffee is warm and rich.  I am with my friend Rainbow… a friend of over 20 years.  We have been together physically maybe a dozen times in the lifetime of our friendship, but our ease of being together would be that of two sisters, picking up quickly from where we left off the last time we visited. 

In the past, Rainbow and I would have been all about the chase.  Fishing.  We would have been preparing our trip weeks prior with discussion of tackle and gear.  She would have been doing her homework on where the best spots to fish would be, and and gaining access.  There would have been licenses to buy, a boat to prepare, and logistics of travel.  Our perspective would have been on the catch!

Yesterday, we visited the Adams River in Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park.  The Adams River flows through the park and the sockeye salmon run that river in preservation of their species.  This was the dominant year in the four-year cycle.  The fish come in to the rivers in British Columbia from the Pacific Ocean.  The are bright and silver when they arrive.  As they prepare for the spawning run, the colors change to a vibrant red and green.  As we walked along the river, we could see the magnificent fish boldly fighting the current as they made their way upstream.  

There were signs of the fish coming close to the end of their journey.  Some of the fish were faded.  Some had battle scars.  Some, lying still, belly-up in the bottom of the stream.  Survival is tough business.  Other areas we traveled we saw eagles lining the edges of the water feeding on the spent carcasses.  It is the circle of life.  From my perspective, I watched in awe.

Rainbow and I were prepared for our trip.  This time, there were no rods and reels.  We packed cameras and lenses.  We took time out for a tailgate lunch of veggie sandwiches and snacks.  We nibbled on dark chocolate as we strategized our next steps along the river.  The sunlight was glorious and warm, considering just a week or so ago, there was snow in this area of the world. 

We walked through the woods, catching the sunlight shining through the canopy.  The light magnified the golden leaves still clinging to a few birch and aspen trees.  There were enough people in the area that we did not fear the bears or cougars that frequent this place, and our ongoing chatter and laughter certainly helped keep us out of harms way.  

We came to a small parking area that Rainbow explained would usually hold the vehicles of anglers.  There was a man standing near the back of a pick up truck and the truck held a camera carefully enclosed in a waterproof case.  To our surprise, the man was not dressed in hiking or angling gear.  He was in a full neoprene dive suit, with a weight belt.  Eiko Jones was preparing to see the river from a different perspective indeed!

As I sat this morning and sipped my coffee, it was a time of reflection.  I love that my life is rich with old friends, and that I have the capacity to open myself to the treasure of new encounters, and new friends.  My life is colorful, like the palate of autumn.  I contemplate the coming of the winter months, and I am full of gratitude and joy.  Despite my love of adventure and travel and reunions, I look forward to being home with Hubby and Jaxon and our life our corner of the quiet countryside.

From my perspective, I see the beauty of this moment in this day.  From my perspective, I see the adventure of a new tomorrow.  From my perspective, life is good.