Our Covid Christmas 2020

It was a Christmas to remember. We couldn't gather but I managed to have a little Christmas time with each family except for those up island. If nothing else this year has taught me to be thankful for the little things in life because when it comes down to it the small things are all we really need. 

It's really not the gifts, it's not the trips, it's not the parties. It's the family and the people that are close to your heart is all that really matters in life. If we have people to love and be loved by then that is the best gift of all. 

From the innocent little ones who love to be with you to the elderly ones that have always loved you and journeyed beside you through you life, there is the gift of love, the greatest gift of all. 

So as we leave this year of 2020 we can have hope and thanksgivings. Hope that we will all be together next Christmas and thankful for the loved ones in our lives.

The Longest NIght

It's the longest night in what seems to have been the longest year. As the pandemic continues to cause rampage across our world I am more and more thankful to be living on this island I call home and to have my children living on it as well. Most of us managed to gather for Thanksgiving and again for my birthday at the beginning of November but since that time we have been on lockdown and not allowed to gather with our family in our homes, attend church services or leave our communities. The stores are open and the planes still fly but gathering with large groups is banned until January. 

It will be a different Christmas for us all and I often wonder if we are doing the right thing. The restrictions are causing so much stress in so many families and relationships. We have the ones who snitch on those gathering, we have the ones that wear masks and the ones who don't feel it is necessary. We have our elders being kept in care homes where the virus runs rampant and they are allowed no visitors so many have died alone. 

Yet in amongst all this there is light even in the darkness. Tonight Jupiter and Saturn have aligned giving us a view of what many believe is the star the wise men followed to Bethlehem many years ago. It's brightness gives us a sense of light in the darkness. The other sense of light in my life is all the wonderful time I am getting to spend with my parents who are in my bubble. Instead of seeing them once a week we have been visiting two or three times sharing many meals together and keeping each other company. I miss our large family dinners but the quiet meals are a good time to share stories about the past and think about the future. 

I will be able to see two of my children and five of my grandchildren this Christmas holiday, not on Christmas day as we won't be gathering together and sharing in the usual turkey dinner. It won't be perfect but it could be a lot worse for sure. I will be having dinner with my parents and we shall make the most of it and video chat with the younger families to stay connected while we celebrate the Christmas holiday.

This year of 2020 will be talked about for years and will affect at least three generations of people. There will be trauma and probably regrets but there will also be the time spent together, the way people connected virtually and took care of each other and the time parents had to spend with their children doing family adventures. 

In January I felt that this year was going to be so great. It would be a special year for us all. I was so very very wrong and I can't say I will be sad to see it end. I will be very thankful for my family and for my friends who have faithfully social distance walked with me through all of this. 

The longest night 2020 was a night where snow had fallen and the valley was covered in a beautiful white blanket, it was a night where the planets aligned and it was a night where the Christmas lights glowed outside bringing us light into the darkness we felt.

Thanksgiving 2020

 It was Thanksgiving weekend in amongst the Covid-19 pandemic. Number of cases had been on the increase these past few weeks but we decided we would gather as a family for our usual meal. As we are already seeing each other it really wouldn't make much difference. My youngest daughter and family were not coming down island this year and we missed having them with us but gathering around the table there was still 12 of us - twice the recommended limit. It's been such a struggle deciding what to do, who it's safe to see and where one can safely go. I feel like each choice I make it like playing Russian Roulette. You just never know if or how one can or will get infected and I am trying very hard to stay safe so that I don't pass it onto my family. 

So we gathered and enjoyed the usual turkey dinner with all the trimmings. The five little ones enjoyed being with each other and played so well together. It was actually very peaceful. Sadly I forgot once again to ask everyone what they were thankful for but I know we were all very thankful to be together. During this difficult time we have to take care and stay safe but we also have to take very good care of our mental health as well. For the little ones they need to be able to see their grandparents and great grandparents, the parents need the support of having the grandparents babysit from time to time and the grandparents need to have the connection with family. And so we continue to gather and at the same time do everything possible to stay safe. 

Even in this difficult difficult time we can gather and be thankful, thankful for our family, thankful for our friends and thankful for the wonderful meals we can share in. 

Century Sam Lake

Century Sam lake has been on my to do list for some time and thankfully my daughter and friends agreed to take me along on their adventure. The road to the trail head is a very rough logging road and one requires a 4X4 to reach it so I was very thankful to hop in with them for the ride. 

The trail is around 9km's in and out to the lake with just over 400m elevation gain. So short but steep. After driving through four or five washed out areas we were unsure if the truck could make it through the next one so we ended up walking the last 1.5 km to the trail head. It wasn't steep but definitely up hill all the way. 

The trail is a well used one and this summer with covid has been extra busy with somedays finding over 100 people at the lake. Thankfully we waited til after the summer rush. 

We started out with the trail being muddy but rather level. Lots of logs to climb over and rocks to walk around and one log to cross over the river.  

Then we hit the uphill portion and it was up and up and up. Climbing up over tree roots and finding whatever we could to grab onto to pull ourselves up. I didn't take pictures as it was taking all my energy to carry on upward. The younger folks weren't struggling as much as I seemed to be but thankfully they waited for me and we took lots of breaks which certainly helped. 

The last 30 minutes we were out in the open walking over rocks and along a lovely creek with waterfalls from the water running down from the lake. 

The lake is a lovely green colour and very very cold. We continued on and climbed up over a rock bluff and headed to ward the ice caves at the end of the lake. 

I believe this waterfall comes from the Comox Glacier which is right above us. The trail to hike to the glacier starts at the same trail head but branches off and goes up and around the ridge  

There were quite a few caves and before we had reached them we could feel the cold air blowing off from them. 

As we entered them the cold water was like a shower dripping down from the ceiling. 

After a short exploration we headed back to the lake for a lunch break. It was a beautiful sunny day and it was wonderful to sit lakeside and enjoy the warmth. 

Heading down was just as slow as it was going up. I was just as slow going down making sure to not step on the wet roots, to find places to hang onto and to wind my way through the rocks and across the mud. At least doing down I wasn't out of breath but I did find myself having to sit down and slide over logs and rocks. I don't think I have ever been so muddy on a hike. 

Throughout the hike we had many people pass us in both directions which slowed down our progress. Thankfully it wasn't as busy as it had been but we probably passed at least 30 people on the trail. It always surprises me to pass people heading up when we are heading down and it's late afternoon. Often they are young people and not carrying the proper gear and yet I suppose they can hike much faster than I can. 

Eventually we reached the trail head and headed back down the logging road. We passed many trucks along the side and eventually reached our vehicle. We had hiked approximately 12 kms in 6.5 hours with lots of stops along the way. I sometimes feel like the time has come for me to give up hiking up to these mountain lakes and summits but as long as I have people to hike with I shall keep on going up as I know the exercise is good for me.

We live on a beautiful island and the more places I hike to out in the wilderness the more I appreciate my island home. The mountains and lakes are so beautiful and full of colour, especially in the fall when the leaves on the trees are changing colour.  Our creator certainly did an amazing job in creating all the living wonders in our world. 

Family adventures in Uclulet!

My sister celebrated her 60th birthday this September and after having to cancel her dream trip to Greece she invited my parents and myself to go to Uclulet for four days. It was so much fun being together again and going on a road trip. As children our family did lots of camping and traveling - once spending five weeks camping all across Canada going to every province except for NewFoundland. We were pretty lucky to see so much of this beautiful country of ours. 

The west coast is my favourite place to go but for some reason I hadn't made it out there in the last two years so I was so thankful to be given this time to be out by the open water and the sound of the crashing waves. 

We heading out fairly early in the morning stopping at a few of the places we did years ago. It was fun to drive along sharing memories and making new ones. I love stopping at river and walking out on the rocks. As a child I was always off exploring and earned the nickname of Simon Fraser so of course as I headed off across the rocks they were once again calling me Simon. 

One must make the most of every stop and check it out as nature is constantly changing and it is never the same year from year. 

As we arrived an hour before check in we headed to the Lighthouse to sit and watch the waves crash against the rocks. The strength in the waves is just amazing. The power they have as they hit the rocks wearing them away wave after wave, year after year. There were benches to sit on which as great for my parents as my Dad can't walk far these days so we just enjoyed sitting and watching for the big waves to come. 

We checked in to our home away from home, The Cabins at Terrace Beach and found our beds and settled in. Shared in a meal and then my sister and I wandered down to the beach which is a little protected bay. It was quiet and peaceful place to sit and get caught up with each other. We don't see each other a lot as she lives on the mainland and only comes over three or four times a year when able. 

The next morning after a great breakfast we left Dad at the cabin and headed out to do the loop of the Wild Pacific Trail at the Lighthouse. The trail is one way due to Covid so we headed off and looped through the Bog area where there were lots of little plants and many cool trees growing on the soft squishy soil. Even the trail was a bit bouncy. 

Back on the mail trail we headed towards the water. There are many lookout and benches along the trail and a great place to bring the kids to. 

Our west coast can be pretty rugged in places but thankfully there are trails where all people can stroll along and enjoy the views.

 It was great that my Mom of 85 years is still able to get out on the trails and take in all the views. I think it helps to keep a person young if they are able to be out in the woods and by the waters. 

Returning to the cabin a couple of hours later we had lunch and then headed out to tour the area. Ucluclet, although not as well known as Tofino has a higher population and hosts the schools for both towns. We drove down the the marina on the inlet side of the town.

 Then crossed back over to the outer coast stopping at Brown's beach. A beautiful park that made us think we were in Hawaii and not Canada. LOL Lots of interactive items for children to enjoy and learn about nature. I would definitely  love to bring my grandchildren out here. 

That evening we headed out and went chasing the sunset ending up at the Lighthouse again where there was the best view. My sister and I headed down the trail taking loads of pictures. 

When we returned to the lighthouse my parents were standing at the best place of all. They had the sun setting on their right and the moon rising on their left. It was a magical evening and one I will treasure. 

The following morning was my sister's birthday and we headed off to Tofino to the very popular Long Beach. This stretch of the coast is long sandy beaches, not the rocky coast of Uclulet. 

Many surfers come here to try their skill on the waves. We walked along the beach and just watched the waves. Not as much action of course as when they are crashing up along the rocks but peaceful. 

There were so many beautiful artworks created by nature along the walk. We are so blessed in nature on this island. 

After the beach walk we headed in to the town and found a lovely park over looking the marina on the inside waters. We had our lunch here and then headed back to our cabin in the woods. 

Dropping off our parents my sister and her husband headed to the other end of the Wild Pacific trail and wandered to through the Cedar forest and then went out to the bluffs on the end of the trail. 

It was a great trail and we should have taken more time to sit and enjoy the views but didn't want to be gone too long. We stopped on the way home at a park so that I could grab one cache to mark the trip. 

We did a short walk to Jeff's bench, nabbed the cache and returned home. 

That night we picked up a cake and some Fish n Chips from Howlers Family restaurant and celebrated by sister's 60 years of life. As our family is big on card playing the evening was spent playing Wicked and sharing in lots of laughs. 

The following morning we packed up our belongings and headed for home along the same highway. Did make a lunch stop in Port Alberni for a picnic lunch and then we were home by mid afternoon.

It was a great family vacation. We hadn't gone on a trip like that together in years so it was a very special time and one we can treasure in the years to come. Family is so important and we are all so thankful that we are a close family and can still have fun together after all these years. 

Celebrating Milestones

This August we celebrated! We had hoped to have a big gathering of family and friends but due to Covid we had to change our plans so only the immediate family gathered. Even that brought us to 18 people which is over the limit that is suggested by Dr. Bonnie Henry but we are a close family and sometimes mental health over rides physical health. Besides here on the Island our numbers are so much lower than the mainland that as long as we do all that we can to stay safe we should be fine. 

It was my parents 65th wedding anniversary plus my Mom's 85th birthday all with in the week. My parents have been together since forever. Their care and love for each other has grown and changed as they have but one thing they have always done is put us kids first. 

They have done so very much for my sister and I plus our families. Here they are 85 years old and still babysitting little ones, now great grandchildren. They are just amazing. Mom still bakes the cookies for everyone to enjoy. Dad still grows his big beautiful garden for us to enjoy the all the veggies from. I hope at 85 I am still as fit as they are and am able to care for all of my children.

 

So we had a dinner outside in the carport. It was great. Outside is safest these days so lots of outside eating has been happening which just happens to be my favourite place to eat. 

The young ones played on the bouncy castle and had a blast running around with balloons.

One always needs to look for the good in the bad and I must say the one good thing that has come out of this Covid time is family. We have spent much more time together as we all bubble up. It makes one appreciate the family that sometimes you can take for granted. 

It's hard to believe that two people falling in love can create so many more lives. The love just continues to grow and spread. I am so thankful and blessed to have a family that is close by and who all get along. It isn't always that way with families but we were raised by good people and love shall continue to flow down from generation to generation.