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.