Vancouver Island | Adventures On the Road

World Views

13 11 2022

The majority of the photos I take of the girls are from behind. I follow them around like their little photographer, taking photos of all of these moments as they navigate their world. It wasn’t until recently that I thought about what that meant. Since the majority of the time I/we are following them, their worldview is wide open.

These little girls (at 5 and 4 and 3 and 2!) are experiencing a world where they are the leaders of their journey.

They are experiencing their world not following behind myself or Nathan, or holding hands and relying on us to make them comfortable, they are already subconsciously forming their sense of self, their independence, their confidence in their abilities to understand and navigate through life, on their own, and with their sister by their side.

I hope they always walk with the confidence and sense of purpose that I see at age 5. I hope that they remain confident in their place in this world with the knowledge that they will go through life with the support of their sister beside them, and the safety net of everyone who loves them behind them.

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Tags: Family, Life, Random Life, Sightseeing, Travel, Writing
Categories : California, Canada, Hawaii, Lake Havasu City, Miscellaneous, Oahu, Oregon, Seattle, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Washington, West Seattle

Spring Break: WestCoast Style

5 05 2015

Spring is here! And with Spring comes Spring Break.

Now, it’s been years since I’ve thought about Spring Break and that’s only because I happened to visit Lake Havasu City during Spring Break and got to witness the shenanigans that took place – drunk guys wearing boxes on their heads, girls sporting pasties and old men showing off what they’re working with in waaaay less clothing than they should be wearing. And before that, when I should have been one of those dancing beach bombshells (kidding) we didn’t really have ‘Spring Break’ – those of you at SFU know that what we had was ‘Reading Break’ – which doesn’t really inspire spontaneous trips to Cancun or Cabo or some other spring break sounding place.

Well this year, Nathan and I took Jonathan, who is now 16 years old, out for Spring Break – WestCoast style.

First up: Victoria, BC

After narrowly missing the Black Ball Ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria because we just HAD to stop for the ‘Best Fish & Chips’ at JJ’s Fish House in Poulsbo, we found ourselves basking in the sun on the upper deck as we motored our way across the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

After an hour and a half we found ourselves in downtown Victoria – which brought back memories of Spring Break like times from yesteryear….first year university and all the girls went for a road trip and found ourselves in Victoria. We all chipped in to stay at Paul’s Motor Inn (which I saw this trip) and after, probably more than a few drinks, found ourselves on the stage at a Karaoke Bar singing Girls Just Want to Have Fun. And I think we made it through a verse and a chorus before somehow the song was over already and we were being ushered off the stage….still haven’t figured that one out. Ha!

Well for this trip to Victoria, we took the opportunity to walk the harbor and take in the Parliament Buildings.

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After a quick overnight, we were back on the road and headed to Tofino, BC.

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Now, this is the second time we’ve been here with Jonathan so we knew the drill. Our first stop was to rent a couple of wetsuits and boogie boards. And after a quick lunch on the water we were suited up like seals with hoods, gloves and booties ready to brave the balmy 48 F waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Cox Bay Beach

An hour and a half later we dragged ourselves out of the water. I was still on an adrenaline high – for a girl who can’t really swim and isn’t the best at water sports, I was riding those waves all the way onto the beach! Now Jonathan on the other hand, well turns out his gloves had holes in them, so after an hour in the water he ended up with white hands and what locals would call ‘The Claw’. It took a soak in the hot tub and another couple hours inside before his hands started to resemble something other than an arthritic old man.

Our second day in Tofino we decided to ease back on the water activities, at least those as physically demanding as hurling yourself at an oncoming crush of water to see if it’ll let you go along for the ride or if it’ll twirl you around and spit you out on the other side. So we went on a boat ride in the middle of rainy/stormy weather to enjoy the Hot Springs.

And after a bumpy, slightly nauseating ride where we saw eagles, harbor seals, seal lions and a glimpse of a sea otter, we found ourselves at Maquinna Provincial Park and just a 2km walk through a WestCoast rain forest from the Hot Springs.

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We arrived to the Hot Springs platform and change rooms about 45 minutes later and although there was a slight sulphur smell in the air, the view was enchanting.

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There’s something about sitting in geothermically-heated hot springs with the rain falling down on you as you hear the roar of the waves crash against the rocks around you that just seems a little crazy.

After a soak and then watching some adrenaline daredevils jump from the rocks into the waves…we headed back to the dock…

…where we were greeted by our ride home! After enduring the hour and a half ride jostling in the waves to get there, the Sea Plane – with its 15 minute trip time – never looked so good!

View of the Hot Springs from above

It was a gorgeous way to see the coastline and a perfect way to cap off our time in Tofino.

The next day it was an early morning drive to Parksville – a stop in to see my parents – before hopping on a ferry to Vancouver, BC.

I always forget how beautiful and peaceful it is on the Island – I definitely took it for granted growing up there – but I never forget how fortunate I am to have called Vancouver home, even if just for a short time. It’s just gorgeous!

View of Coal Harbor from the Westin Bayshore

And so there you have it – ferry boats, boogie boarding in wet suits, marine life, Hot Springs, sea planes, mountain views and all you can eat sushi (not shown but definitely eaten): Spring Break – WestCoast Style!

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Tags: Boating, Canada, Hot Springs, Life, Nature, Photography, Random Life, Sightseeing, Spring, Spring Break, Tofino, Travel, Vancouver Island, Victoria, Westcoast
Categories : Canada, Tofino, Vancouver Island, Victoria

The Canadian Wilds

23 03 2011

Did I ever tell you about the time I was in Dallas and when hearing that I was from Canada someone asked me, “So have you ever been attacked by a wild animal?”. I was stunned. I didn’t know whether to feel angry that there was still such a stereotype about Canada or sad that this guy from Dallas had such a limited knowledge and exposure to the world. That is, until he told me that he’d travelled all over the world – Europe, Australia, etc. Then, I asked him where his cowboy hat and chaps were. Time to fight stereotype with stereotype.

Well, maybe his views of Canada aren’t so far off. Obviously not that we trudge around in the forest fighting off wild animals all of the time. But there is SO much wildlife here! Walking along the beach that I used to visit when I was growing up was like watching a show on the Discovery Channel. It also made me realize that not everyone had the childhood activities of clam digging, picking seaweed and playing in the driftwood.

I went home to visit at exactly the right time. The herring season was starting, the Brant Festival was upon us, the water was turning turquoise and the sea life was abuzz with activity.

The seals were having a party and the sea lion was barking up a storm.

The seagulls and ducks were gossiping on the sandbar…..that is, until the eagles swooped in to scatter them (for no reason other than their own entertainment – a little bit of a power trip).