Nanaimo River by the Cedar Bridge (2013-01-31)

Many times each year, for many years now, I've driven over the Cedar bridge that crosses the Nanaimo River.

Bridge over the Nanaimo River (2013-01-31)

In the summer, the little gravel bar just visible to cars whizzing by, is full of families enjoying wading or swimming in the warm waters of the river. As an aside, I know this river to be warm in the summer from first hand experience. Some years ago, Barb and I used a rather flimsy flotation device to "float " from the bridge by the highway, with this Cedar location as our destination. We never made it. It's a journey Barb prefers not to discuss. So, for now, we'll leave it at that. Perhaps another time.Now back to this location and it's apparent charm in the summer. Often I've thought it'd be nice to stop, have a seat, or perhaps even pop into the water. That'll have to wait.

Crooked WC marks the location of the 

trail down to the 

Nanaimo River spawning channel (2013-01-31)

In late January, I decided to give the gravel bar another look. I was surprised to see hundreds (thousands) of salmon skeletons strewn all over the gravel bar. Exploring around the area, it became clear that the depression to the side of the gravel bar was a spawning channel.

The banks of the Nanaimo River, littered with the 
remains of the autumn spawn (2013-01-31)

As I explored this now-dried channel further, I noticed that, further along, in times of higher water, it would join up with the Nanaimo River.

Spawning channel; off the Nanaimo River (2013-01-31)

So, it really was a channel; a part of the river itself, not some dead-end. This channel had even more evidence of autumn spawning. It was quite an amazing sight. And to think, some months earlier, this gravel bed and these waters would have been teeming with life.

Look at the size of these salmon! (2013-01-31)

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Look at the size of these salmon! (2013-01-31)

Look like somebody is ready to cook salmon (2013-01-31)

Salmon spawning channel off the Nanaimo River (2013-01-31)

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