Having it all..

I quite often find myself saying to people "you can't have it all" or "you can't have your cake and eat it too" because in life we often have to make choices between one thing or another but I found out that some days you actually can have it all. I belong to the online group "Take a Hike, Vancouver Island" and people post such wonderful photos of hikes they have gone on. Its a great place to get information about where to hike and what the conditions are like plus a place to meet other hikers. Lately there have been lots of pictures of waterfalls and I have been wanting to hike to one for some time but it just has never worked out. 

This past Saturday my friend and I had planned to go hiking. It had snowed the weekend before the surrounding mountains were still covered in snow thanks to the -5 weather we have been having. I had so wanted to hike to a waterfall however, I knew the weather was about to change, so if we wanted to hike up the mountain into the snow we needed to do it this weekend. So we chose to hike to the cross on Mt Tzhouhalem, a trail we have hiked many times. We would head to the cross and then go up on the ridge and to the summit making it a circular hike and hopefully find some fresh untouched snow. 

It was a great day and the trails were still snow covered right from the car park. We seemed to be the only two on the trail and the snow brought a wonderful silence and stillness to the forests. 

It was so very peaceful, although one had to be careful as it was a bit slippery in places. Everything always looks so different when its covered in snow and we were treated to many beautiful views as we hiked along. 

We reached the cross in a little over an hour and took a lunch break sitting just below the cross. 

As we started to head over to the ridge trail, I got thinking about those waterfalls I have been wanting to get to. How cool it would be to see one that could be partially frozen. Thankfully my hiking pal was obliging and we quickly changed our plans and headed back down to the car. 

We headed over to Stocking Creek trail where we knew we could be at a waterfall within 30 minutes. Once again we were all alone on the snow packed trail and surrounded in a world of white bringing with it the calming silence. 

Thankfully we found our way to the waterfall which I had never been to before. It was running quite strongly but all along the side long clear icicles were hanging. I was so thrilled to be there. 

It was a great day and doing two short hikes gave us both the joy of a mountain top and the sounds of a waterfall. 

Life is always so very busy, the days fill up rather quickly and I find myself continually making compromises. Wanting to do this but needing to do that. Its a continuous battle in all areas of life. There just isn't enough time in the day to do it all or there just isn't enough money to do it all. I can't be hiking every weekend and still find time for my family and all of my friends. 

Life is always asking us to make choices. Today however after making the one choice, I was able to make another and was actually able to "have it all" I came home feeling truly blessed to live in a valley that offered mountains to climb and waterfalls to visit all within a few minutes drive of each other. I was also very thankful to have a friend that was willing to indulge my whim. It was an amazing day that left me spiritually fulfilled as it always does when I get outdoors and connect with nature. 

Making Lemonade

Life is not always easy, especially in times when there is so much sadness and pain in our world. Vehicle accidents, people dying way before there time, countries at war and the slow destruction of our environment. We are constantly being faced with news that is hard to bear. We never really know from one day to the next what will happen in our lives. We all have our hopes and dreams, some of us even plan way into the future. Many times those dreams are not filled because life doesn't always go as we want it to. 

It's important even on the darkest of days for us all to find the good and be thankful for what we had or have and what we are able to experience. Even as we grieve, depending on the loss, we can remember the good times or we can seek new directions and allow ourselves to move forward. 

On days when life doesn't go as we want it to or be what we had hoped for and sadness enfolds us, it helps to get outdoors. When we are outside in nature we can soak in the beauty that surrounds us and eventually we can let go of some of the pain we are feeling. 

Being out in nature restores me, reminds me of all that is good in our world, reminds me to be thankful for all that I have. Breathing in the fresh air, soaking up the sun or the rain, depending on the weather, energizes me and gives me a sense of joy. Whether hiking a new trail or an old trail there is always something to new to see and be amazed by. 

Bright colours that catch my eye, beautiful greens that are even brighter in the rain and fungus of all shapes and sizes. 

Sometimes the tiniest of things in life can bring us great joy and help us to breathe and get respite from our struggles in life. When I see something so small growing against all odds it brings a smile to my face and gives me strength reminding me once again how blessed I am. It can give me hope that tomorrow will be a better day. 

Some say "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade" and for me hiking on the trails, exploring the forests that surround me and being amazed by this extraordinary world of ours, helps me "squeeze out the juice" to make that lemonade. There would be no joy or love shared without there also being some pain so on those painful days get outdoors, it's the best medicine life can give us.

Why do I Cache?

Why do I cache? It is something I often ask myself especially when I think about what geocaching really is. It's people looking through bushes, buildings, playgrounds or where ever the cache is hidden and they're doing this to find usually a little plastic box that is full of "treasures" but what are really items bought from the dollar store. Yet I continue to go out in search of caches. 
One of the benefits of caching was that it has gotten me out on trails that I never knew existed. I would look on the geocaching map for groups of caches and know there was a trail there and head out. 

From there I joined a Facebook hiking group where people post pictures of their hikes up amazing mountains or to beautiful waterfalls. I was hooked on hiking. There are so many beautiful places on this island and off of this island to explore. 

Now I realize I could just look at the map, see where the trails are and head out and just enjoy the hike and the exploring of the area. There really is no need to spend time stopping to look for the hidden "treasures" along the way but I continue to do so.  Why? Because it is fun! That's it! It is simply fun to find little boxes or other items. I know I could hike further and see more of nature if I didn't stop along the way but I do enjoy the hunt and the find. I then come home and log them and watch the total of my caches grow and grow. 

I am very thankful to the folk that place the caches and especially for the ones that are different and fun. You really never know what you will find when you go looking for caches. 

This past weekend I went back to Seal Bay park in Comox and cached with my two caching buddies. We had a great time and although we had hoped to get 20 or even 30 caches we only had time to find about 13 of them. Still it was fun exploring the many trails and using the gps to figure out which trail to take. This park has lots of fun caches in it and on my last trip here we found about 20 of them so it was great to return and find a few more. 

 Its wonderful to have a large treed park right near the town so that one doesn't have to worry so much about the bears and cougars that one can run into out in the woods and mountains.

 It's also relatively flat so its a place to come for a fun family day. There has been a lot of rain on our island this past month and the streams were running and there were lots of little ponds among the beautiful green ferns. 

There were also many different types of mushrooms along the trails. 

They were growing on the sides of logs, stumps and the ground. 

There were so many different colours and shapes and some folks were out there definitely looking for the safe ones to pick. 

 The trails are divided for foot or horse, on leash and off leash for dogs - just a great place to bring the family. It also borders on the ocean although this trip we didn't get down to the beach. 

I can't wait til my grandchildren are old enough to go geocaching with me. I think they will love it and it will be a great way to introduce them to the outdoors. 

This park will be one of the first on my list because of the cool caches that others have hidden, it's easy travel pathways and the beauty that is found every time I come here and when one gets tired of caching there are benches big enough for three and one can have fun taking selfies. 

Autumn

Autumn has arrived bringing a vast array of colours to our already beautiful Cowichan Valley. I was thankful to get out hiking on the weekend after a few days of rather stormy weather. My friend and I explored a trail new to us both on Stoney Hill.  The trail was well marked and easy to follow with five view points along the way. It's an easy 3.5 km hike with not too much elevation gain.  

The trail itself is not new which was quite evident by the amount of moss growing on the rocks along the side of the trail, but the access point is. 
This area was once behind a locked gate and only the residents who lived there were able to easily access it. However, folks did cross the fenced area and hike in these forests before the developed road.

 I was one of those hikers and I had thought with the new road that the access point would lead to the trail I had always hiked up to the top of a rock face with a great view but that was not the direction the trail took. 

I was very surprised to find the trail led to a different area that I had never explored before. Although as first I was disappointed I was soon delighted in it. It was absolutely beautiful and as we reached each of the view points I found myself loving the trail more and more.

 Seeing the low laying fog rising off of the trees as we looked  across to Saltspring Island was great. I was able to look down at the water and remember paddling along part of it's shoreline earlier in the summer. 

 It was a quiet peaceful place to be.  Not only were the views of Sansum Narrows awesome but the colours of the berries and shedding bark on the Arbutus trees brought life to the rock outcrops.  

Then as we re-entered the forest there were the wonderful Maple trees with their yellows, oranges and reds and trees that looked white in colour with their old man beards hanging down from their branches.  

I love this time of year and I try and spend as much time outdoors as possible and having friends that love the outdoors as much as myself makes it all the better.  It was a great hike and a place I will be returning to frequently. 

The trees along my neighbourhood trail are also full of colour and I find myself being filled with a sense of joy as I look up at them as I walk along.

 I don't find I can ever really capture their total beauty in photos but I continue to try.

Year after year when Autumn arrives, I find myself taking pictures of the same tree that is close to my home. Each year it continues to bring such beauty to my day. 

 There is just so much time in life and so many places to explore. Each walk, each hike brings new discoveries as nature changes with the seasons. Nature gives us so many gifts and it's ever changing colours bless us with continuous moments of awe. 

 I shall enjoy this wonderful world of colour over these next few weeks and then prepare for the bareness of winter and the beauty it will bring to the valley. It too will bring me joy and many photo ops I'm sure.

Thankfulness

These past couple of months have been busy and full of things to be thankful for.  I've had some wonderful adventures with friends and even been caching a few times. First trip of many was over to Saltspring Island to hike up a mountain and find a few caches. We headed out and found our first cache and then headed up the hill. 

Sweet little pond at the base of the mountain

 After climbing up quite some distance we were finally able to nab a view of our home island.

Looking back at VI

 There were fun evenings of eating pizza with family and friends under blues skies, surrounded by wonderful mountains. 

Genoa Bay Farm celebrating the 1st anniversary of Sara & Garret

 Amy and I managed a trip up island to check out my daughter's new home and share in some fun at the beach even though the weather wasn't exactly beach weather. It is always great to get away and just have some mini vacation time with family, especially with little ones around. 

Beach time fun in our muddy buddy!

Seeing nature through their eyes reminds me of all that we get accustomed to and might not see or notice if it wasn't for their new inquisitiveness. 

Finding treasures along the shore line.

 Family dinners are always great times to share in stories and laughter and having four generations at the table is a blessing and a time to cherish. 

Family dinner on the  patio

The "Littles" table

A trip to Port Renfrew on the west coast with friends had us finding many new beautiful places to explore. 

Peeking out towards the water

 It was also time to visit and say goodbye to places that have been part of

my parent's life for many years. 

Saying Goodbye to the marina where my parents have camped for the past 30 years.

Next came a trip down island to Elk Lake where a lovely day was spent hiking the 10km trail and nabbing quite a few caches along the way.

Fall has arrived

 It was also a great place to try out my new selfie stick and see how it worked!

Lunch Break!

 The trail around Beaver and Elk lake is relatively flat and a great place for families. It was a beautiful trail to explore.

Lovely view

Next adventure was across the water to Vancouver for a walk around Stanley Park. It had been many years since I had been there. I couldn't help but think how great it was that there was still a park in the midst of the city. 

Vancouver

A place where people could get away and be in nature and among the huge trees that the park has. The walk around the sea wall held many great treasures and the beaches were awesome.

Wonderful parkland

 Walking along the seawall with friends is a great way to spend time together and visit. It's always great to have people to share adventures with, to share in the beauty that you find along the way.

Me and my "bro"

Very cool rock and bird

 More and more people are building little inukshuks, usually on trails but here they were right on the beach.

Beach creations

It was a short trip across the water but good to be in the city for a day of exploration.

Beautiful twisted fallen tree

 Next came a trip up island to Strathcona Park to do the short 4 km trip around Paradise Meadows. The weather was much cooler than I had expected but eventually the fog lifted and we warmed up.

A chilly wet morning

 The trail is mainly on boardwalk so accessible to many folks. It was however rather quiet this day and so very peaceful.

Looking across the meadow

 I find that every time I come here, the beauty of the land has me thinking "nature untouched". It's just an amazing place to be. 

Nature "untouched"

 The small ponds along way reflect the beauty surrounding them. 

A couple of my Adventure pals

The fall colours were just starting to come alive in the grasses and trees. In another few weeks this park will be full of amazing colours of nature.

Marsh land

A bear tree? 

 It was a great day in Comox Valley and a place that I will continue to visit throughout the year. Thankfully I am blessed with a few adventure buddies that don't mind the road trip so I will soon be able to head back up again.

This thanksgiving weekend I was so blessed to have family and friends to share  a lovely meal with. It's always such a special time when we are able to gather around the table and share in some laughter and good conversation. 

Gathering to share a meal

Time goes by so quickly and if we're not careful we can get so busy in life that we forget to take the time to be with the people we love and care about. 

The following day as a few of us hiked up to the cross I realized how lucky I am. My life is so full of family, friends and time spent in creation. 

Great trail through ferns and forest

Hiking to the cross only takes a couple of hours and is one of my favourite hikes. There are many different routes to take and so much beauty to see along the way. Then of course some amazing views of the ocean and valley when you reach the cross.

Arriving with a very special package on my back!

We made it!

It has been just an amazing couple of months. So many adventures with friends, so many family gatherings. It is so easy in life to take things for granted, to want more than what we have and to want to do more than we are able to do. It can make all the difference in our lives if we can just be thankful for all that we are blessed to have. My heart is filled with joy and contentment and also with a little excitement for all the future blessings that will soon come into my life and touch my heart.  

Future blessings and adventures!