The Gift of Silence

Construction is a fact of life in James Bay. Already the densest residential area in Victoria, it is becoming even more dense, with new developments scattered around the community. Three of them are very close; one is across the street! So -- if a person wants to live in James Bay -- daytime construction noise is something that has to be accepted.

Ogden Point in James Bay was originally industrial in nature, so there's also noise associated with a busy harbour and heliport -- from float planes and helicopters, to cruise ships and the humming motors of the "Cable Innovator" ship which lays cable in the ocean.

But I find noise to be wearing. I need breaks of quiet to keep my mental balance. Here are some of the places I go to for silence. The first photos are of places I can walk to. The second section gives a few of the places that I have found where I get into a vehicle and drive to them.

This shoreline is perhaps 25 feet below Dallas Road, so road noise from above can't be heard. On this calm morning, with low tide, the ocean was a peaceful place. I feel very fortunate I can access it in just a few minutes walk from home.

I like the wild areas of Beacon Hill Park, although some sound from nearby roads is inevitable. This bench is near the top of the hill, and secluded enough that it's often a private place to sit. This too, is close to home.

Here is another bench in the Garry Oak meadows of Beacon Hill Park.

I've enjoyed sitting here numerous times, spotting birds flitting among the Garry Oaks, like the tree behind the bench.

The biggest source of widespread noise in James Bay, as in any urban area, is from traffic. James Bay is fortunate in that it is at the end of the road, so does not suffer from through traffic noise. It also has road closures a few times a year due to running and cycling events, which change the neighbourhood's atmosphere.

What a treat when Dallas road was closed for a bike race! After most of the riders had whizzed by, I walked the road, and had the pleasure of walking without vehicle noise. 

Here is the view down Dallas Road during the bike race. I have a daydream: to close the road to vehicles once a week, so that walkers and cyclists can enjoy it without the noisy energy of cars, trucks and busses.

Enjoying Dallas Road sans noisy vehicles. What bliss!

Given that it's unrealistic to shut down a busy road like Dallas most of the time, the next best thing is traffic control. Speed bumps in residential areas help slow traffic down and reduce noise.

This speed bump is on Montreal Street, where there are many blocks of speed bumps. There are also speed bumps on Government Street, Dock Street, and sections of Niagara and Simcoe Streets. I'd like to see other streets in James Bay have speed bumps to slow traffic and reduce noise.

Creative street design can provide other options for slowing down traffic and reducing noise. Here are a couple I've seen.

This planted peninsula near the Royal Jubilee Hospital reduces traffic to single lane, with vehicles having to yield to each other. A great way of slowing them down -- and reducing noise in the process!

Here is another way of slowing traffic down:

This barrier, on Memorial Crescent in Fairfield, forces traffic to take turns advancing, in effect forcing it to slow.

Despite the busy harbour and construction noise, there are actually many quiet streets in James Bay, especially in the "interior" of the community. An example follows.

Even though it's only a block off Douglas Street, this short stretch of road is peaceful, with the houses blocking street noise from Douglas.

I mentioned Beacon Hill Park at the outset. Here's another section that I enjoy.

One of the more peaceful sections of Beacon Hill Park. This trail used to be called "Lover's Lane". The trees block some vehicle noise from Dallas Road, although not completely. This area of the park is home to Cooper's hawks, chestnut-backed chickadees, red-breasted nuthatches, and spotted Towhees, among others.

James Bay has other small areas where I sometimes stop for a moment of quiet.

The peaceful community garden on Montreal Street.

This bench, adjacent to the Birdcage Grocery store, is an enjoyable place to sit and enjoy a treat from the store. Vehicles going down Government Street are slowed by speed bumps, and the store is located at a four-way stop sign so traffic is fairly quiet.

Around the corner at the Birdcage Confectionary. Another relatively quiet place to sit.

I've discovered a few streets in James Bay that have been closed to through traffic. As well as making the street much quieter, closing to through traffic creates a different "vibe", one that is more people-centred, than vehicle-centred.

This street has been closed to access from Government Street, which makes it essentially a quiet cul-de-sac, oriented to pedestrians for walking.

There are some days though, when I crave getting off the pavement and into the forest, for real, soul-nourishing, quiet. The grounds at Royal Roads provide quiet respite, within Greater Victoria. They are accessible by bike, bus, and private vehicle.

Forest on the grounds at Royal Roads University. Royal Roads has enough forested land that it is possible to escape traffic noise.

And, for longer walks, there are large second-growth forest areas which can be explored, all within three hours driving distance. I've found a few options, including Cowichan, Comox, and Campbell River. All require a private vehicle to access these areas. (Note that I've not spent much time walking in East Sooke Park, so I'm excluding it from this discussion, although it is a great hiking destination. The walks I've covered here are more gentle in nature.)

To begin, a photo from the forest near Cowichan.

A beautiful cedar in the forest near Spring Beach Recreation Site in the Cowichan area. I took this photo in February just a few days after a snowfall.

Next, Seal Bay Nature Reserve. We first discovered this forest in Comox - Courtenay on a visit to the Island at least five years before we moved here. I fell in love with it, because of the silence I can find there. It is about 650 ha, second-growth mixed forest, with Douglas fir and many other species, including deciduous. 

Close up of the forest floor, Seal Bay Nature Reserve, Comox-Courtenay

One of the large second-growth fir trees in Seal Bay. I was intrigued by pattern made by the moss on the bark.

Spores on a fern, Seal Bay Nature Reserve.

The walking in Seal Bay varies, from coniferous to more open forest.

Trails in Seal Bay are well-marked; a map can be downloaded to your phone, and there are also printed copies at trailheads.

The third area where I've found quiet is a little further away than Seal Bay. The Beaver Lodge Forest Lands at Campbell River provide a lovely forest experience. The airport is in the vicinity, so plane noise was noticeable from time to time, so it's not entirely free of "traffic" noise. But for me, I can take a plane or two over non-stop vehicle traffic. The trails here have fewer signposts than Seal Bay, but there are maps at some trailheads. As well, a map can be downloaded to a phone.

We saw many trees growing out of nurse stumps like this.

Beaver Lodge Forest Lands, Campbell River. Some of these trees were BCs first tree plantation, dating back to the 1930's. 

The Beaver Lodge Forest Lands were first protected in 1931 with a donation of land by the Elk River Timber Company. Since then, the area in trust has expanded with additional donations; it's now approximately 520 ha, held in trust by the Greenways Land Trust.

Some parts of the forest had good numbers of bigger trees like this one.

The trails have a variety of forest, which makes for interesting walking. Some are on an old rail trail, and are straight, unlike the one pictured here.

Some of the Campbell River trails are also used by mountain bikers. We were able to pass under this tree, but a cyclist on a bike would indeed have to duck!

In September there were few birds calling, but I am sure that in the spring there would be more.

This post has been about silence, and the importance of forest areas for finding quiet. I am aware of the irony: for me to get to almost any of these areas, I must go in some kind of vehicle, and create noise.

I recall writing about silence a few years ago. Our cities have become much noisier, so that now, sirens have to be many decibels higher than several decades ago. With that much noise, we need silence. 

May the forest nurture you.