Blessings in Adventures

It's been an awesome weekend with each day full of adventure! Friday I was blessed to go hiking with two of my children and three of my grandchildren out to Stoney Hill. The first time we have actually gone out on a real trail together with the two little ones hiking along and not in carriers. 

They did so well and had no problem what so ever. They even found a couple of Nana's caches along the way. Since the day they were born I have dreamed of the day when I could take them out hiking and caching and it was just wonderful to have that dream fulfilled. Although we have hiked together before this seemed like a true hike out in the forest with trails, views, caches and a snack a long the way. 

They are great little hikers and I can't wait til we can all go again and hopefully my newest grandson will be able to join us. 

Saturday my pals had planned an adventure for us all and off to Gabriola we went. It was raining on the way and when we arrived at the selected park the wind coming off the water was quite cold but we braved onward and found a little spot out of the wind and thankfully the rain stopped. 

We had a wonderful lunch cooked on their "Jetboil" stove and just enjoyed being together while soaking in the beautiful ocean views. 

After lunch we were blessed to be able to walk along the trails in the wind, without the rain. I love Gabriola and every time I go it is so fulfilling and lifts my spirits. It brings out my inner child and I can't help but just laugh and have fun when I am there. I'm not sure if it is because I am on a different island away from home or just being near the ocean in the wind that has me dancing inside. 

Sunday I joined one of the local hiking groups and hiked up Eagle Heights in Shawnigan Lake. It was 8 km and only 3.5 hours but it was very steep, both going up and coming down. It definitely gave me and my knees quite the workout. 

It was a lovely forested trail with waterfalls, moss covered rocks and slopes and lovely arbutus trees. 

There were lots of different tiny flowers along the way.  

The view at lunch wasn't too bad either but the trail coming down was very steep, narrow and loose rocks from dirt bikes going up and down. Thankfully I managed to get to the bottom without slipping or falling. 

It's always great to get outdoors and to have three days of adventures, each very unique from the other, made for the most fantastic of weekends. Life is so short and time goes by so fast that one just has to make the most of each day and each moment.

Tomorrow it is back to work which will be filled with blessings of it's own but I know what will get me through each day will be the respite I received this weekend. Wonderful trails, time by the ocean, awesome family and friends, great food and Mother Nature, it just totally restores my body and soul. 

Self Care in Solitude

A few years ago I stopped hiking on my own due to the wildlife that kept getting reported. I still remember the day I went out on my own and turned around because I was scared to be in the bush alone even though it wasn’t out in the “wild”. I’ve spent the last two years always hiking with friends which I absolutely love. It brings companionship on the trail and someone to share nature’s gifts with.

The view of Samsun Narrows from Stoney Hill

These past two weeks have found me wanting to be outdoors and no one available to be with. Twice now I have gone off on my own for very short hikes, no more than 30 minutes from where my car is parked. Each time I have sat for an hour or two and enjoyed the beautiful views of the ocean, once from Stoney Hill and once from Genoa Bay.  

The view from Genoa Bay  - the other side of Stoney Hill

It has been such a blessing. It has given me some much needed solitude time out in nature. I had no idea how much I missed it and yet I truly did miss having my friends with me. However, on the Genoa Bay hike two of my friends were down below paddling their kayaks. It was comforting knowing they were there and yet I was still alone in the silence of nature. 

May pals below paddling into the marina at Genoa Bay

I guess life gets busy and I try and fit both family and friends into whatever free time I have and it’s wonderful to have people to be with but I realized how important it is to have time to reflect on life and just sit and soak in the beauty around me. 

Awesome pathway through the little oak trees - looking out to Cowichan Bay

I had fun finding little treasures along the way and just sitting in the sunshine warmed me and calmed me from some of life’s frustrations.

Tiny Shooting Stars along the pathway

I obviously need to do this once or twice a month. It really only takes a couple of hours and can be so “refueling” spiritually. I don’t have to hike or drive far. Just fifteen minutes up the road and twenty minutes down the trail. I believe it is important to practice self care so that we can be healthy for others that we love. Life is full of stresses so making sure to take time out for oneself is important. It’s not selfish but very necessary.

Beautiful trillium

Today not having time to drive anywhere I spent half an hour on my patio just sitting with the evening sun on my face listening to the cute little birds chirp around me and bees buzzing happily in the flowers. 

My backyard companion

Spring has finally arrived and it was so peaceful and nourishing for my soul. Later this evening I decided to take a short drive and watch the sunset. It’s always so soothing to watch it slowly sink below the mountain. While I waited I was entertained by the sounds of birds chirping, the quail quickly dashing and the baby bunnies hopping down the trail. It was nature showing me that spring really is the most wonderful season. 

The ending of a wonderful day

Today was a great day and I feel rested, restored and renewed all on top of feeling so very blessed to live on this wonderful Vancouver Island. Life is good especially when you take the time to get outdoors and appreciate the world around you. 

Extraordinary Day!

Today I joined a hiking group to and headed down to East Sooke Park to hike from Anderson Cove out to the beach along Copperhead Mine and back through Anderson Trail. It was a beautiful sunny day and just the perfect day to be out doors enjoying the forest, trees, creeks and then of course the beautiful views of the ocean. 

Today's hike was 12.5 km in length and took us about five hours to complete. The sun was shining, the sound of the wind blowing through the trees brought a peaceful feeling to me. I quietly hiked looking in all that surrounded me.  The many greens of the forest always looks so lush to me and the sound of the little creeks bring me joy. 

I had hiked along the coastal part of the trail before but one of the hikers had just recently moved here from Ontario. Although she has traveled all over the world, it was wonderful to hear and see her excitement upon reaching the water. Her excitement was contagious and gave us all a new appreciation for sights that were somewhat familiar to us. 

Our world is so full of so many beautiful places. I would love to travel and explore the world hiking and seeing all the wonders of this planet. However, although I am unable to travel everywhere I would like to go, I am so thankful that my island home is full of beautiful sights to see and places to have adventures in.  Sometimes the best places our right out our own back doors.

Whether I choose to drive north, south or west on the island there are mountains to explore, beaches to enjoy and many many lakes and rivers, each so very unique in their own way. There is always something new to see as nature is always changing and evolving. 

Life is not always easy and there always seems to be lots of horrid things happening in our world. So many people struggle with illnesses, both physical and mental. When it hits close to home it brings many worries to friends and families. Today I spent much of the time thinking of a friend who was just diagnosed with cancer. As I stood looking out at the ocean, feeling the wind off the water I prayed for all those who are struggling that they find strength, healing and peace. We never know what will come our way in life and if we think too much or worry too much about the future we will miss out on so much of today. 

I know the day will come when I am no longer able to climb the mountains or hike the trails. Each time I go out I spend time absorbing the sights and feelings that surround me. I breathe in deeply to connect with nature and all that it gives to us and I say "Thank you". Life is so short and we never know what tomorrow will bring. It is so important to live each day fully.  

Quite often in life we get used to the beauty that surrounds us and we forget how blessed we are. Things become ordinary instead of extraordinary. I continue to remind myself what a gift life is and not to take any moment of it for granted. I want to make memories that will carry me through long after I can't get out on the trails. I want to be able to look back and say WOW..wasn't that an extraordinary day! And today certainly was!