Exploring Around Clayburn

In our two weeks out west I got a chance to explore on my own around the area where our daughter lives, in east Abbotsford.  The historic village is Clayburn, one of Canada's first 'company towns', for a brick-making operation.  I walked Clayburn Creek Trail, visited Devon Falls, and enjoyed a little bit of the western rainforest.

Clayburn Creek Trail follows the route of the old narrow-gauge railway that carried clay from the quarry down to the brick factory in Clayburn.  It's a really easy walk, especially going downhill!

The trail parallels the creek itself, and future plans call for more trails in the area.  I look forward to that.

Coming from southern Ontario, I still can't get over the rainforest moss coating all the branches down in the ravine.  It's a very green forest, all year round.

Ferns were just unfolding, a month ago now.  They're not this far along here even now.

I saw my first western Skunk Cabbage, also known as Swamp Lanterns.

And the leaves were well on their way to unfolding.  Ours are still struggling here!

That trail ends at these crazy but very well-built stairs, spaced exactly right for walking up (provided I stop for a rest several times - it's over 300 steps).  I provided a map of this trail in a post last December.

I also stopped in to visit Devon Falls, a beautiful narrow waterfalls a few blocks to the south.

I'm also slowly getting to know the ferns.  It's Licorice Fern that grows out of the moss on trees.

And the huge 3 or 4 feet high evergreen Sword Ferns that are most common in these areas.  Here come this year's fronds while last year's are still green.