A Paddle to Remember

This morning over 30 of us met at Maple Bay Beach here in the Cowichan Valley. We were going to embark on a journey across the bay to Saltspring Island where we would share in a feast with others. It was part of the Cowichan 101 program that I have been taking part in over these past 10 months. I had no idea what to expect on this day but had awaited it with great anticipation and the weather and water were perfect. At the beach were two tribal canoes. Both of the same shape and dimensions, one though made of cedar wood and the other of fibreglass. It gets harder and harder to find the large cedar trees that are used to make the canoes and so some people now have them made out of fiberglass. Although the new fiberglass ones are lighter they are also easier to tip.

The canoe I would soon paddle in

These canoes are built to hold up to 18 people comfortably including the leader who sits at the back of the canoe and uses a longer paddle as a rudder to steer. As the one canoe was picking up some family members on its way most of us went in the fiberglass canoe. We ended up fitting 23 of us into it so a few had to sit in the middle of the benches and not paddle. Those folks were all very thankful for the “ride” over. We had two people in the front who were the pace setters and it was our job to paddle at the same time they did. It became quite obvious that this was very important because if you were to get out of rhythm your paddle would hit the person’s paddle in front or in behind of you and inevitably someone would get a bit wet. Our leader Fred, whose canoe we were paddling in, laughed at us at first and compared us to a six legged spider trying to cross the water, each leg moving at a different time but we did actually improve as the journey progressed.


My fellow paddlers with Fred in the back steering us safely across

As we paddled along on the hour journey he told us some of their creation stories of the land that we were passing by. The story of how Paddy’s Mile Stone came to be, the reason Mount Maxwell is shaped the way it is and how Octopus Point was created.

Indian legend has it that a ferocious sea monster called “Shuh-shu-cum” (Open Mouth) once lived at the tip of the point. He would lie with his snout out of the water and when anyone tried to pass close to the point he would open his mouth and suck in the canoe with its passengers. No one knew what to do about “Shuh-shu-cum” but one brave had heard of a man called “Sum-al-quatz” who lived on the mainland and was said to have the strength of a thousand men. The brave decided to seek out “Sum-al-quatz” to ask for his help so he paddled across to Burgoyne Bay and walked across Saltspring Island where he borrowed a canoe and paddled to the mainland.“Sum-al-quatz” agreed to help. He loaded a boulder into his sling and “let it fly”. But his aim was off and the boulder landed in Ladysmith. His second shot landed near Mayne Island. The third landed in Maple Bay and is now known as Paddy’s Milestone. “Sum-al-quatz” explained that he couldn’t get a good aim as Mount Maxwell (or “Hwmat’etsum” - Bent Over Place) was in the way.
They called to the mountain’s spirit and asked him to hunch down so that “Sum-al-quatz” could get a better aim. Mount Maxwell lay down on his belly and hunched his shoulders.
The next boulder cleared Mount Maxwell and hit “Shuh-shu-cum” on the snout. That put an end to “Shuh-shu-cum’s” snout and his sucking up of the canoes but it did not destroy him. He still lives in the deep waters and whenever you see swirls and eddies near Octopus Point you know that he is nearby.
(Peter Rusland “The Legend of Octopus Point” (interview with Simon Charlie) Cowichan News Leader November 15, 2000 p.3.)

He told us how they believe that everything on the earth has a spirit whether it be a person, animal or a tree. It was great to hear some their legends. As he finished he said that the legends may be a bit hard to believe but no harder than any other faith or other countries stories of creation are. I thought how very true. All people have some creation story from their heritage and they all require us to have a bit of imagination.

He sang us songs in his native tongue which we were able to join in and sing along with. It helped us to keep the beat with the paddling. He explained how when approaching other boats or the land they would sing their songs so that the people there would know who they were and that they were coming in friendship and not for war. We sang as we approached the beach at Burgoyne Bay on Saltspring Island. As I looked up I was amazed to see people standing out in the water. A few of them drumming and singing a welcoming song and others standing with trays full of fresh fruit. I was so deeply moved as we remained seated in the canoes as they greeted and welcomed us to their land. Most were caucasian people who had volunteered to provide the meal but some were from the tribal lands. As we left the canoe we pulled it way up on shore to prepare for the incoming tide. Then we enjoyed the delicious fruit from the trays offered to us.

The warmest welcome I have ever experienced

Up on the beach were tents and tables, cooking over an open fire was salmon, moose meat sausages and yams baking on racks and pots filled with crabs. This would be part of the feast that we would take part in. There were approximately a 100 people there to share in this gathering of both First Nations people and non First Nation people. The four men of the Cowichan Tribes drummed and sang songs of thanks, for creation, for the people and then a prayer song to bless the meal. 

Drummed songs of thanks while the food cooks

As we waited for the meal to be served folks visited, children played together on the sandy beach, an elder shared with us more stories and others taught us about the cedar and how they prepared it for weaving. I joined the ones learning about the cedar. They had cut it and peeled it from the cedar tree and soaked it in water to keep it soft and pliable. They then took it and cut it in wide strips. To then make even thinner strips, about a ¼ inch wide, they were using a leather cutter but in past days they had used their knives.

Cutting the cedar into strips

We were then shown how to part it and peel it into very thin, thin layers. 

The finished cedar strips ready for weaving

After four attempts I knew this was no job for me and returned to hear the stories being told around the fire. Learning to weave the cedar will come at another time.

Stories being shared

Plates were filled with food and the elders were served first as this is part of their traditions and a way to show respect for the elders of the tribe. The food was fantastic and such a huge selection of items to choose from. There were greens that were from wild plants that grew locally, salads of many kinds and all the food that had been cooked over the open fire.



The tables filled with delicous food!

I indulged in a lovely plate full. It was followed by desert which included fresh salmon berries that had been picked on the island.

My wonderful tasty lunch

After the meal, when everyone was fed, we gathered around the fire and the volunteers that had prepared our meal stood in a semi circle in front of the drummers. Words of thanks were spoken and sung. At this time the elders came down and went from person to person giving them hugs of thanks “Huy ch q'u” and the rest of us followed them. Approximately 60 people went and hugged each of the volunteers that had prepared our meal. Everyone spoke words of thanks and appreciation to each individual one. A beautiful moment with great connection between people who hours ago had been strangers but had come together to share in this experience of learning from those who were here before us. It was so heart warming and uplifting to experience such a sharing.

We then loaded ourselves back into our canoe, each taking turns, the back loading first and then up to the front. I had to say we must have looked pretty good pulling away from the beach. We had learned on our earlier journey across how to stay in time, how to focus and paddle as a team. We moved smoothly across the bay. The return trip had a bit of rougher weather on the way back but it gave us great fun to have waves coming at us from both the passing boats and the wind. An hour across and we were back to Maple Bay.

The George Family cedar canoe returning to Maple Bay

It had been seven hours of absolute delight. It was such an important and meaningful way to spend a day, learning from and connecting with those who were here first and who have such a deep respect for the land and all of its creatures. Years ago a huge injustice was done to these Cowichan “Quw'utsun” people. We came and tried to force our ways on them believing that it would give them a better life. What we needed to have done was to have listened to and learned from them. We can’t undo what we have done but now we can listen, now we can learn. This is our chance, our time to come together and make this valley a land of respect for all people. Huy ch q'u for this day. 

My "selfie" from the canoe

Learning About Cowichan

Today was an amazing day as I went with some people from the community to learn how the First Nations people cooked salmon over an open fire. We were met by a young First Nations man, Jared, who taught us about the salmon and how they used "iron wood" - wood from the ocean spray plant to cook them on. You had to find sticks that were strong and straight and split them down the middle to hold the salmon.They use this wood because it doesn't burn easily and can be used for many hours. It took hours to cook the salmon.

Jared with the salmon over the fire

While it cooked we took a walk and learned about different local plants that we could eat or make into tea or use for healing purposes. We sampled blackberry vine and rose petals and later had tea made from the blackberry branch. It was a lot like celery.

We heard stories of the past about the river and the salmon run that happens every year. We learned how the river is struggling with the lack of water we have had over the past few years. We experienced a drought like this one back in 1937 but back then the river was healthy and able to restore itself. Now with the wier at the lake and man made dikes the river is no longer able to work the way it was intended. Each year the salmon struggle to come up to spawn. The temperature of the water is not as cold as the salmon would like it to be and many don't survive.



Learning about the river

After the walk we returned and shared in a prayer that Jared offered to us through his drumming and singing. Jared had a stammer or stutter when he spoke English which would have been his first language but I noticed that when he spoke in the native language it easily flowed from him. I wonder if in someways he was meant to speak his native tongue and not our language.



The salmon is ready!

After the prayer we feasted on the salmon which was wonderful and salads that others had brought to share.

A wonderful lunch!!

These gatherings that happen each month are bringing us together in community. It is time we learn about the stories and ways of the people that were in this valley before we came. Their spirituality is a deep part of the way of their life. It is time we took up their ways in caring for the planet, having respect for the plant and animal life that surrounds us.

Long Weekend Adventures!

This past weekend was a holiday weekend here in Canada so I had three days with no work, no committments and nothing really I had to do. A few chores around the house but hey they could always wait.

So the first day a friend and I hopped on a ferry and went to one of the little islands off our of our island. We spent four hours hiking a fairly easy trail looking for caches. Geocaching is one of our "hobbies" and it gets us out on trails we normally would not find or know existed.

We met some friends along the way...smaller than us, slower than us but still enjoying all the amazing things that nature brings to our lives.

We found more than caches...we found some fantastic Arbutus trees. This one was especially fantastic looking so with a little help up I found myself a seat on its lowest branch...a little high for my comfort zone but it gave us a laugh to be up in the tree.

The views along the way weren't too bad either...we could look back at where we had come from across the water. It was a great day - 5 miles 21 caches found, laughter shared, nature admired.

The next day I took my parents up to see my daughter and her fiance. It was another wonderful day bringing three genereations together. My parents hadn't been up there for a year but a couple of hours on the road and we arrived in Comox at the north end of VI.

A stop along the way to stretch our legs and enjoy a hot beverage. The young folks weren't expecting us quite this early so a break was needed to postpone our arrival.

My soon to be son in law was fixing up an old 56 Chevy so he and Dad went for a ride. The young and the elderly sharing a fun adventure only guys can understand.

The last day of the weekend arrived and my daughter along with my 4 month old granddaughter decided to go for a short hike and explore a trail we had noticed but never travelled. It was another adventure for three generations to take part in.

The two legged, the carried and the four legged all heading out in the woods exploring all the wonders of nature. It was a hot day but thankfully it was cool in the trees.

We then came across a tunnel that we would have to travel through in order to reach the view site. It was dark and cool inside the tunnel and tempting to just stay there.

Less than an hour later we arrived at the bluff looking over Genoa Bay. We were blessed to find such a lovely view after such a short easy hike. We chatted and rested at the top and decided next time we must bring the rest of the family along. A family picnic was in order!

It was an absolutely fantastic weekend. Everything was so beautiful and as it came to an end I had nothing but thankfulness in my heart. So blessed to have had such a wonderful time. Friends, family, three generations in two different combinations on different days, time on two islands, two trails hiked, time spent surrounded in nature, a road trip and stories and laughter shared. Life can't get much better.

Praying and Playing

I had a marvelous day out on the beaches of Tofino earlier this week with some adventurous friends. I realized that Long Beach is my “happy place”. The moment I set eyes on the beach I can’t help but smile. It makes my inner child come alive with joy and playfulness.

Peering out at the beach with joy!

As I walked the beach, heading back to the car, I was deep in thought, about life, about my work at the church and about being out in creation. I realized that church is important to me. It’s a place where I go to pray especially during those dark times but mostly it’s a place where I make connection with people and friends. It’s a time to come together and not only worship but to get caught up with each other’s lives. It gives us community and a common interest.

Often at church we will sing the song:

Lord, listen to your children praying,

Lord, send your spirit to this place,
Lord listen to your children praying, send us love,
send us power send us grace.

I also sing this song when out walking on the trails trying to discern my life or a certain problem that I am having. It calms me and helps me be present in the moment and let go of whatever is troubling me and mostly it strengthens me. I don’t believe in giving God a wish list and constantly praying for things but I do believe in conversation with God. I feel it gives me strength to handle whatever may be happening in my life. I pray for others to have strength and healing too and I believe that when we pray together there is an energy that others can receive and feel.

This week as I walked back across the sandy beach with the strong winds blowing in my face I started once again to pray the song quietly out loud but I soon realized I couldn’t. It didn’t seem write to be praying to God for things that I already had at that moment. I quickly changed the words to:

Lord, listen to your children playing

Lord, I feel your spirit in this place
Lord, listen to your children playing
I feel your love, I feel your power, thank you for your grace.

Walking back along the beach with friends, playing along the way.

I don’t believe there is any better connection to God a person can have than time spent out in nature, on the trails, up the mountains and hillsides, down along the waters’ shores. It is time well spent, time to be thankful and joyful for all that we have. It brings an inner sense of peace to me, puts a smile on my face and has me laughing in youthful, playful fun. I wish more people would get out and explore this marvelous world and just experience living in the moment.

The beauty of creation

I will remember this day’s adventures with very special friends for a very long time. I will remember the laughter we shared in the cold wind, the joy we felt walking through the water, and the shared closeness we all felt. I will also remember to be thankful to God, not to always be asking but to be thanking for all that I have. It’s an amazing planet we live on. It offers us such joyful, playful moments. I plan to let my inner child play on those beaches again, very soon!

Losing out to Fear

I hadn’t been out hiking in quite some time and was really looking forward to getting outdoors and reaching a summit. A friend agreed to join me and hike up Bald Mountain...it would be about a 4 hour hike and we would find a few geocaches along the way. Bald mountain’s summit sits at about 600 m so not a huge hike but I knew there would be some great views of the lake. The trails were made years ago by Scout groups and were well mapped. The Scout camp had sat right below the mountain on the lake shore.

Arriving at the destination I was surprised to find that the instructions were all for the old camp and not the new camp they had put in a few years ago. Thankfully though we found the trail head and headed off. The plan was to hike up to the “lookout” on the first hill, down through what they call the saddle and up to the second summit. Following that we would have to hike down, what was described as a steep trail, to the marine park and then back to the car via the lake shore trail. It all sounded great. I had printed off the map and the details, packed a lunch, rain gear and was totally prepared for anything.

Hiking up the Switchback Trail

We headed off hiking up a switchback trail that helped with the steep incline. This part of the trail had been redone by the CVRD and was easily marked with sign posts and map. After an hour and half we arrived at the “Lookout” just like they said we would. The weather was cool but at least it wasn't raining. It was great.

A short break on the way up



A great view from the lookout

We headed off toward the second summit. Now we were on the old scouting trails that were nicely marked with orange blue and yellow flagging plus some white metal triangles on trees. This part of the trail was quite steep through forested trees but along the way we were treated to some lovely views of the lake and surrounding hills. An hour later we arrived at the summit marked by an old forestry tower from the logging company when it was logged years ago. A great place for lunch!

At the summit looking west

Heading down towards the marine park we were greeted along the way by some friendly little birds that I believe were whisky jacks. They are the most people friendly bird I have ever encountered and would quite willingly sit on your hand.



A friendly fellow

We continued down and further down along moss covered hillside. There wasn’t much of a trail but we followed the flagging...until the flagging ended. We hiked over to the right and up a bank in search of a trail and more flagging but there was nothing, looking to the left there was still nothing and we couldn’t go forward as we had reached the cliffs edge. Now heights are not my thing. I have always had a fear of heights but it has never really bothered me hiking until now.

Sadly we turned around and hiked back up to the trail but soon found some more flagging down a steep bank. I scooted down and sure enough there was a trail below...we just had to get down to it. Bravely I carried on and made it to the bottom. Off we headed down through the trees following what was now marked with only the yellow flagging. Once again though we came to a cliff edge and the flagging disappeared. Now whenever my friend and I hike I am pretty much always in the lead but by now we have been on the mountain for four hours and I am tired and my fear of heights has kicked in. I gingerly creep down to have another look but plant myself next to a tree to scared to move and allow my older friend to check for flagging and trails along the edge. Nothing can be seen and my fear of one of us falling off the edge (apparently there was land down there though but I never got close enough to look) or being stuck on the mountain after dark had me deciding we are going to have to backtrack. It was tough. We had come down at least 200m from the summit and the rain was now falling and we were going to have to hike back up to the tower and over to the lookout and back down to the car. This certainly was not in the plan and would take much longer but it is what we did.

Heading back up to the summit

As I walked along the trail, disappointed in not making the loop, I found myself singing quietly "Lord, listen to your children praying". It brought to me a sense of quiet and calm as I wandered back through the trees.





Beautiful moss along the trail through the trees

By the time we reached the saddle our bodies were quite done in. My knees were in pain and my legs were wobbly. I had fallen once already coming down the mossy bank and then as I climbed over a small fallen tree I slid, grabbed onto the branch sticking out which broke off causing the side of my head to smash into the broken branch. Thankfully it didn’t break my glasses and only left a small mark and bruise. At last, after much groaning and moaning and after six hours of being on Bald Mountain we returned to the car, totally soaked and very sore and tired.

It really was a great day but I still wonder where the trail actually is. How steep was it? Did I let my fear of heights get out of control and why couldn’t I have been braver and gone further down to see if there was flagging? I am disappointed in how tired I was after six hours of hiking. I love hiking and really want to go on some higher and longer hikes but obviously my body will not be willing. It makes me think about how much I have missed out on life. Why did I not go hiking in my twenties instead of waiting til my mid forties to experience this wonderful island? As a child camping I always loved to explore trails and forests why did I not continue to pursue my love of nature?

Next time I'll be brave and take some risk!

I don’t have the answers to any of these questions nor will I ever but I do know I will be back out to Bald Mountain and this time I shall go along the coastal trail and hike upwards to see where I went wrong. It will be a challenge that I will try and meet. Hopefully my love of exploring will over power my fear of heights and I will not turn back the next time around. I want to live life to the fullest and not let my fears keep me home just so I can feel safe. There is too much out there that I haven’t seen and experienced. Sadly my life is well more than half over so I need to get a move on and make the most of each day, explore all of nature, be thankful to our Creator for all that is and once in awhile, be brave and take a risk.

Awe Wonder and Blessings

In this past year I have been blessed with the gift of two wonderful grandchildren. They have brought a wonderful and amazing change to my life. The first grandchild was born almost a year ago and up until a month ago lived on the mainland. I only saw him every couple of months and was always amazed at how much he had grown and changed. He is now crawling around, eating table food and making wonderful baby gibberish.


My wonderful granson at 7 months

My second grandchild, a little girl, was born only five minute walk from my home. I saw her when she was only a couple of hours old and have seen her pretty much every day since. When you are a parent you are busy, keeping the baby fed and changed, cleaning the house, preparing the meals. Being a Nana is a whole different experience. I can just sit and hold her in my arms and look at her with wonder and awe. Day by day I’m watching her come alive and wake up in the world in slow motion. It’s absolutely beautiful!

My new granddaughter at 1 month

The first month she basically slept and ate and slept and ate but during those awake moments her eyes began to focus, she started to look around at her world. She would follow a toy and then she began to turn her head from side to side.



Learning to Smile

Her facial expressions are so expressive. From frowning to pouting to those wonderful little smiles that are now appearing. At first you could tell she was smiling from the joy in her eyes but now her mouth is smiling along with them. She looks at her Mom and recognizes her and smiles with happiness.

This past month she found her hands. She looks at them a lot. It’s like she knows they are attached to her but she hasn’t quite figured out their purpose yet. She almost looks at them with amazement saying “wow these are so cool...I can make them open and then close!” Lately she has also found her feet. Now they don’t seem to be as exciting as her hands but wait til she finds out their purpose...she will be very happy. Exciting news today is that she rolled over. Now I wasn't there to see it happen but I wonder if she was surprised or shocked or did she have that all planned out.

Bunny Feet!

I would so love to know what she is thinking and what she thinks of this place. It must be a wonderful sense of wonder and awe. Life is like that. If you look around you out in creation and see it in all of its beauty you can’t help but have a great sense of wonder and awe. It’s amazing. From the little bud that turns into a beautiful flower, from the little egg that hatches into a lovely bird that can fly, from a little seed that grows into a massive tree...it’s all very humbling. We are but a small part in this vast world. The miracle of life in all forms brings me such a sense of thankfulness and many moments of amazement.



Me and my babies

I love being a parent even with all of its challenges it is such a blessing. The joys and gifts that children bring to your life totally outweigh those small little difficulties that pop up from time to time. Being a Nana...well now that is totally superb! I have decided that the ultimate gift of becoming a parent is becoming a grandparent and being there to watch a small baby awaken to the gifts of the world. I pray that we can learn to respect this planet and keep it safe for all future generations so that all babies can continue to grow and experience that wonderful sense of wonder and awe.

Thankful for the Light in Life

This weekend I spent a day up in the Comox Valley wandering through some park land geocaching with my youngest daughter. The weather wasn’t great but not as wet as it could have been. As we wandered back and forth through the trails at Lazo Marsh Park looking for geocaches we chatted about life and an upcoming adventure we are planning. It was a great day and relaxing although wet and mucky and sometimes frustrating not know which of the many trails to take.

In amongst the trees

I started this blog a year ago to talk about my spirituality both inside the church and outdoors on the trails. At the time I was wondering if a person really needs to attend church to be spiritually fed or if spending time outdoors in nature would bring to me a closer feeling to God. I have always felt that being outdoors in creation would be enough. I always feel so fulfilled after a good hike through the woods. I feel in awe of creation and so thankful for all that I encounter along the pathway.



Pathways in life

These past two months though I have attended church only twice and now realize that there has to be balance. That being out on the trails is great but I am missing something spiritual. Although I have been practising to be thankful and feel gratitude for all of my blessings I’m not feeling as connected to God at this time in my life. Although feeling gratitude for my blessings, a new granddaughter, my son and family moving back home, so many good things happening, I wonder if I’m not directing my gratitude towards God. If not am I truly being thankful for all of the gifts in my life.



In amongst the darkness there is always light

As we journey along through life we never really know what we will happen just like when we travel along the pathway through the trees....we don’t really know what will greet us as we come out in the open. Sometimes when life gets so good we forget to be thankful and take it all for granted. When life is stormy and we find a gift of light we are so thankful for that moment, we treasure it and feel a deep sense of thankfulness. I need to remember to always be thankful, show gratitude and don’t ever get so comfortable in life that I take it all for granted. If I do I will miss the light shining through.