the c's complete

we hit the road with both kids for another journey...and turns out all of our stops this summer have been in communities that start with C. july was Cache creek, clinton, chase and castlegar. last week was campbell river and cortes island. now everyone i know needs to move to a place that starts with D - teehee ;)

as we were distracted by the strike upon our return last month, this trip was not as well planned so there was so much we wanted to do that didn't happen - the biggest being that we didn't get to visit with Judy & Gord who I really wanted to see and introduce Sasha to.

we did get to spend a night with Heath and Melissa in their digs they moved to last fall. short but very sweet visit!

here's Mark and the kids enjoying their hot tub...oooooh...verra nice...

it was a full house at Heath & Mel's too. not just the 4 of us as guests...there were also 2 dogs, 2 cats and 2 kittens running about! great fun - and Che was in heaven...bit of a cat lover he is.

then we camped a couple of nights at Elk falls just the 4 of us. the first night wasn't the greatest for two reasons: it had been a bit rainy so it was cool and damp (this pic is the next morning when it was sunny)...and the ranger didn't come by with wood for us 'til about 10pm...long after the chill had set in on our dark camp site. silver lining to this though was that we borrowed wood from the family across the way and got to know some nice folks...too bad I thought of it so late...just as we got the fire started the ranger finally came...
but that 1st 10 minutes on borrowed wood was super sweet! gratitude aplenty in that moment :)


the 2nd downside to the first night of camping was only a downside for me...involves lotsa bugs. while sittin' around the fire I found a spider crawling on me...jumped up to swipe it off and Mark pointed out a second spider (you all know how much I love spiders right? aaaaaaagh!) So then it's bed time and after pulling back the blanket I feel something I think is a rock...start brushing it out of the bed...only that doesn't feel like a rock. flashlight shows what looks like a glosette raisin...what the heck? then it moves...and unravels...a worm? no...it's got lotsa legs...a centipede!!! aaaagh!
so to calm down after all bugs were removed...I pick up my book...and the chapter begins with some descriptive cockroach info...then I just lay there for a very long time trying to get the bug images to leave my brain...nice.

we also saw many many slugs...like this one...but they also come in black and other patterns. slimy but not bothersome.

the next day was beautiful so we played at the park
and we went for a hike at Elk Falls...beautiful. that's the water falling behind us in the pic up top. there is a hydro dam that releases water now and then and the spot we were sittin' then is flooded by a great rush of extra water. kinda feels weird when you imagine facing a wall of water comin' your way...so you hope that siren actually will go off when they are about to open the floodgates...

after packin' up camp the next day, we went to the Discovery Pier for frozen yogurt...and some cute photo ops...check out our new reality with Sasha. turn your head for a moment and she says 'see ya!'






we met up with Johnny, Kristen and Jacob at the ferry terminal to end our journey with 3 nights at their place on cortes island. while we wiled away the time on the waterfront...

and Che climbed about and Kristen played with the kids...I just happened to bump into the other friend I wanted to reconnect with in campbell river! I haven't seen my buddy Wayne in years and had wanted to touch base before we left...but I couldn't find his info in our office (every time i take a step forward in organizing this room, we get busy and then things pile and I end up taking another step back...hohum) only moments before we headed back to the ferry terminal...I see a familiar face along the waterfront...it's Wayne!! yeepa! got to hug my friend after all...funny thing that synergy that keeps people in our worlds :)

our stay on cortes wasn't long enough of course...so many great people to meet...so much beauty to take in! but it was quality time we will never forget! On Lisa Joe's farm (where we got fresh eggs and figs...and super company...gotta love a woman with the moxy to stand in front of a speeding truck to make them slow down for the safety of her kids and animals!) Sasha got to meet some sheep and chickens. turns out Che is a natural chicken catcher...that will come in handy one day ;)










we spent a fair bit of time just hangin' out enjoying our families being together again...fabu!



if any of you are fans of that show 'Weird Homes' you'll appreciate one of our day trips...a visit to Wolf Bluff Castle! built by King Carl...over many years...a castle yes...but you really wouldn't want to live there! nice to meet his majesty though...really nice man who still gets a real kick out wearing his crown...and he has plenty for everyone. speaks to the true nature of all the folks we met on cortes :)







did I mention our time there was not nearly long enough! what a great place...full of great people! made a few new friends and have not eaten such great food in a while...Johnny is a superb cook and Kristen is the best baker I know...mmmmmmmmmmm...we even had fresh venison...so fresh I actually saw the deer in the final stage of slaughter...watched it being parceled...a genuinely honest food moment for me...and the small gathering we enjoyed the roast with provided an excellent finish to the experience!

with many thanks to Dad & Liz for hangin' with Sasha, last night Mark and I finished our vacation time at Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park...for a rain soaked good time at the Michael Franti concert! (I also got to hug Michael Franti before the show started...he gives a great bear hug!) and at the show we got to reconnect with our buddy Nathan who we have only seen in passing the past couple of years...i miss his insights! he commented that the only thing Sasha could do wrong in our eyes when she grows up is to become a right-wing conservative! LOL :)

once again I am immersed in a deep sense of gratitude for soulfull music and the privilege of good friends and family to share my life with, and that help fill our life with rich memories and experiences...never a dull moment ;)

tomorrow we're back to the picket lines...for now I will relish the lazy day and this blissful afterglow of a wonder-full week that marked my 10th anniversary in BC!