Category: Nature

Categories
British Columbia Canada Kamloops Nature Prince George

Trip 2023

It has been about 20 or more years since I traveled this highway. Even longer by bus. In 2018, the only intercity human transportation and one of the few shipping centers in Prince George shut down with little forewarning. At least it caught me unaware. Greyhound. Wasn’t too fond  of people in general, refused to comply with Transport Canada’s emerging Accessibility standards for intercity transportation of people.

Why did I not use Greyhound more? They had a route for a very long time, connecting not only Northern BC to the nation and beyond, they brought that beyond to Northern BC and beyond that way. That is a question I would ask another who spent that time apart from a family. Particularly if at a basic level, this service was available.

No excuse, I had a hard life. My Multiple Sclerosis arriving in 2000, expected to put me in a wheelchair within 5 years. Within days of diagnosis, my father died. Within two 2 years, my mental health condition was apparent and diagnosed with MS treatments, new at that time. Medical support denied me as I was using Marihuana. No vehicle. My legs decided I would lead a pedestrian life, avoiding vehicles. ‘Disabled Income. I’ll say no more.

By 5 years, I had given up my car as my right leg could not move from the gas to the brake pedal fast enough. I also quit smoking tobacco, which put me in alternative places within my community. Greyhound would not accept me as I was disabled and invalid in their minds, which is the basic reason, and I had no vehicle. My medical support accepted me back, as they could not deny me. I feel they were forced. 

I have no fond memories of Greyhound anyway, who did not mind tobacco and alcohol as long as people were on board when doors shut and wheels moving when I last rode. They left many people behind. Alcohol was still forgiven, but Canada forced tobacco out. No Cannabis allowed, but to be fair, Canada called it Marihuana, which came straight from hell. Onward to 2023. Side note: Cannabis is legal now but still can not be consumed on board.

I arrived at the stop for multiple buses running for my city. Northern BC just got away with BC Bus North, and now at 8:16 am, we wait. Soon, it’ll arrive. 8:17 now… Hurry up and wait. Well, en route now past city limits at 843 am… Ebus underway!

This would’ve shortened my trip not so long ago. Actually, it would cause adventure as I might’ve been placed between communities, awaiting the RCMP and a ride to their offices. Past is the past, Onward to Kamloops

Well, we’re all on board by 8:25, Mike does the welcome aboard speech. This Ebus is not accessible. No, it does not have a ramp. This bus has 7 stairs. I saw that it has to be requested in advance 48 hrs minimum for access. They bring a unique bus to the pickup location. Scooters always go under one bus design, and another bus can take a fair-sized power chair, untested with a scooter. Washrooms in the back. Meh. Lots better than Greyhound. Not quite as good as Northern or another Health Authority’s Connection Busses. Coincidently, A division of Ebus company manages the medical transportation I learned. There is a price difference lol.

Stops announced Williams Lk, 70 Mile House. Shouldn’t that be 112.7 Km House here in Canada? Hmmmm. Stay tuned. This ride is much smoother than Greyhound, and seatbelts are mandatory. 9:47, just entering Quesnel.

Underway, I’ll be 500 + KMs before this day is done.

Well, 1135 and the stop at Williams Lk was another memory to behold. A single bathroom satisfied my 3 hrs travel to find it, but I didn’t feel like the ‘back of the bus’ bathroom was close enough. Well, onward after Mike, the driver, does a headcount. Onward to the next stop and stretch. Time to charge and enjoy the puff. Lol, This stop by a liquor store… Iconic memories of being left here, with Greyhound… Onward.

Miles to some, kms under the wheels, moving under us. Onward!

We stopped for lunch at 112.7 km house. I’ll bring lunch on my return, just saying. A bathroom break to wash my hands, puff and consume some truck-stop-packaged something. It’s time to huff a vape puff and get on board.

The city marker was found in a city park.

My impression of Kamloops by Transit any of the modes is great. Ample wide open nature parks, accessible and ‘walknrollablable’ by City Transit. They built sidewalks for community health. All built on hills, busses struggle to climb. No wonder it’s considered the ‘City of Tournaments‘. My morning walk was a walk to the 7-11, a block by sidewalk but 20 meters above my sister’s place. Meh. A surprisingly meagre amount of benches and garbage collection areas exist on the sidewalks. But again, the city was clean along those sidewalks. I noticed very few mobility devices in use. Had I brought mine, I would’ve seen more, I imagine. I was told Tranist, HandyDART services, and private vehicles are the standard modes of Kamloops’ mobility. Walking is done mainly in those parks, so common with benches and garbage cans. People rarely walk to the park, I was told.

Peterson Creek Park affords many views 30 or 40 meters above a busy highway. Well-placed benches are along a mega km natural trail connecting some other large area parks and sporting areas.
 They donate benches as a legacy. We give thanks for the views these people enjoyed in life. There’s no litter to distract the views. Thanks as well to respectful visitors who came before me and any who picked up after those disrespectful visits.
The Highway below the park and mountain views.
 The mountains overshadow Kamloops
Another Bench
Sage grows everywhere, among the diversity of nature.
 Trail markers, so an exploration party does not get lost (easily)
That highway so far below
This deserted mall serves as Ebus HQ in Kamloops. The office to register is inside, and a restaurant, a couple of computer tech support offices exist. Most of the places are closed inside.

 As it is Aboriginal Day in Canada, while I traveled back, I respected these lands I traveled upon. I am traveling between the TKemlups and Lheidli T’enneh territories. Such beautiful territories they’ve managed since a time before time was recorded. As we travel, my thoughts are of ancient trade routes and past explorers to this part of Canada. I called PG Taxi along the road and booked a taxi for my arrival at around 830pm. Back home.

Categories
drugs from nature Fungi Mushrooms natural drugs Nature Opium psilocybin

Weed and human evolution?

Weed in the beginning

Weed. Ganga. Refer. What do you call it? Would you think it could be a part of human history before ‘recent’ history? Perhaps even before the Egyptian empire? It was. Plus, it wasn’t just Cannabis. Many plants, mushrooms give similar feelings. Some give strength and tolerance beyond normal capacities. Their major selling feature was to ease pain due to conflict or a hard life. They were almost certainly used for religious events. They influenced the body as they mimicked naturally occurring chemicals in the body. But did they start human evolution?

Weed and other drugs in the very beginning

As discussed in previous posts on this server, Cannabis developed on land during the time of the dinosaurs or before, perhaps waiting for life to crawl from the seas. It’s a basic weed, as tolerated by biodiversity as Dandelion and improving soils with its life cycle uninterrupted. Most life today has an ‘Endocannabinoid System today because of it. We came across the plant early in our evolution, and then life branched out in our direction over millions of hard years. Also, as a species that became us, we came across other plants with different reactions in the bodies that would later become us. Animals also have other hormones and chemicals in our bodies that other drugs mimic, such as Opiates that are made artificially or changed from natural overwhelm the receptors for it. They came about to fit into our ‘receptors’ in the same way.

Stoned Ape Theory

There is a thought that all life on land developed from fungus. Lets look at Mushrooms, the very first form of life on land as proven by ‘fossils’ of mushroom found in ancient lava, preceding all plants by a billion years or more. They come in a variety of forms today. Some are good for consumption, adding flavor and nutrition and fiber in many recipes. Many more will kill you. There are some that are used medicinally for the vaccines, as many of the same diseases and viruses ravish both species of life on this planet. Fungi has been here much longer dealing with them. Some will make you high. Religious leaders through history have used them in ceremonies and rituals. Perhaps the following video will help explain it better.

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In Conclusion

Drugs, like Opium derived naturally from poppies, help pain without cause and effect unless overused to overwhelm the system in sensitive areas. Religion has surly been influenced by Cannabis, Mushroom and opiate influences. Even pure oxygen can kill us, it slowly kills our cells as we age mixed as it is in our atmosphere. Meh. Moderation and function, the ancients knew how to use the plants without too many if any non natural additions. They knew the limits, as they used some against enemies for a win to a conflict. I know for a fact Mushrooms considered ‘Magic’ in particular and even more so Cannabis just now becoming mainstream in North America post the year 2000 were commonly used by influencers of the past, nation and empire building leaders. We have much to learn for sure about addictions and even death I feel. We need the laws to relax, and research all the drugs we now criminalize.

Police lights
Prior to legalisation and public sales, this sight brought fear into the hearts of recreational Tokers and still does for all drug users of all ages. Does nothing to help addictions except to increase stigma, causing more use

Categories
Boreal Forests British Columbia Canada Forest industries Nature Recreational uses

Nature is natural

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Nature in the beginning

Nature. When a tree falls in the forest, and no one, no animal is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Perhaps it does, maybe in practice, or perhaps it saves the sound for a listener to keep them out of the way of the falling tree. Only Mother Nature can answer that question with credibility. She’s been doing this since it grew the first trees on our planet before humans or animals were there to learn the dangers of falling trees and hear the warning sounds of Ms. Nature. Falling trees are not the only danger. New forests with diverse plants grow in stages small and fast-growing plants, soft broadleaf trees to slow growth with larger, more dense wooden plants such as trees like Pine, Spruce and Douglas Fir in the Forests. No one knows for certain, but large trees may have been preceded by Wild Cannabis and shrubs, which were likely the first plants on this planet. It was likely once part of nature on the entire planet.

A picture of nature, with a river flowing through a valley
Fishing, peaceful activities can be found in nature. We should all respect it and work to preserve its beauty.

Nature’s tools

When plants like trees grow, they drop seed as they mature. Some tree species like Aspen will spread out by their root systems with just one method of reproduction. When one tree drops the root system and the fallen trunk provides ‘starter material’ as it decays with branches that take root and grow with the root system. A single thick stand of aspen may be thousands of years old, perhaps even Millions years old. Large herbivores like Moose and Deer control the species that eat leaves and small saplings. They are the start of a forest construction along with the bushes and shrubs with seed and fruit for the smaller ‘workers’ like birds, squirrels and mice. Those animals eat seeds, nature employs them. They never stop eating. They are not really particular, munching on a diverse range of seeds. Predators eat vast amounts of seed eaters and some eat both animals and seed. The seeds survive the digestive tracts of consuming animal. Most animals poop, and that provides a good fertilized pile for the seed to grow in. The resulting plants condition the soil for larger plants like trees, most grown by seed themselves.

Nature’s way of regeneration

Well, we’ve already explained the ‘Poop cycle’ of natural workers to create new forest but there are other regeneration methods used naturally. Fire is one way. Pine trees have cones that contain seed.  Through their life, which could span eons, it drops seed in these cones.  Some of that seed is eaten, as some animals can eat cones and pooped all over the forest. The cones open naturally in heat drop seed.  Pine produces a powerful scent when it gets hot. That aroma is flammable and will ignite naturally. Often, nature will provide the spark with lightning, but more recently, humans have caused many wild fires in a forest, either by carelessness or industry. Human-caused fires can grow dangerously hot, making land sterile and seeds hard to grow naturally. Many times, it takes human intervention to regrow the natural forest quicker after a huge hot human caused wildfire.

Humans and Nature

Recreation

There are activities that support nature and are sustainable. We drop lines for fishing in our rivers, lakes and streams. We hunt game in the forests, as we are predators and herbivores. There are several berries, edible plants and some mushrooms we collect to consume. We can find holiday decorations and trees for Christmas in a forest. A walk in a quiet forest is mentally stabilizing for everyone, particularity those with challenges. It teaches the human child of all ages to respect nature.

Industry

Several activities occur in the forests that immediately don’t seem good for nature. Many seem to be conducted to collect wealth from the forest and nature takes a few generations to recover. Logging happens with clear-cutting and most times, the natural forest’s diversity is replaced with a monoculture of merchantable single tree species, Pine and Spruce mainly.  This practice must stop. It’s totally not natural. The trees use fire to regrow naturally, clean out dying and dead matter clearing soil for recent growth. A monoculture of trees that use fire to regenerate concentrates the heat so it completely burns the soil and there are no firebreaks like broadleaf plants to slow or stop it. Monoculture stands are suspected of being one cause of huge infrastructure fires seen in British Columbia during the summers of 2017 and 18 and could be a reason for declining animal populations. It is the most destructive use we have of the forest, but other activities like oil and gas, as well as mining also have an impact, but mostly those try to make the land natural after work is finished.

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