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.

Nile Creek - Awesome hike!

 Each year for the past four years my friends have invited me to join them on their family overnight hike and camp. We've explored some great places, Cape Scott, Mount Albert Edward, Landslide Lake and last year our goal was Cream Lake but due to weather we stopped at Bedwell. Each hike has had it's challenges but taken us to some amazing places. 

Due to the fact that our trails and camping areas are over crowded this year on our island because of the covid pandemic we opted not to overnight this year. There have been reports of over 100 hikers on trails and beaches and tent pads crowded with people causing damage to our wonderful island parks. So instead we did a day hike. 

We chose Nile Creek which is a 12km hike in and back. It is now one of my favourite hikes. The trail for the first 3kms is well maintained, easy to follow and peacefully quiet among the trees. It felt so good to be out in nature and just leave the troubles of our world behind. 

The next three km's were more active with people as it passes under the 19A highway so many just hike from here. It followed along the Nile Creek where there are at least 8 - 10 waterfalls along the trail. 

The trail is muddy is places but still could be done at any age. We saw many people with young children swimming in the creek along the way. 

We climbed up the rope cliff and came to a huge lovely pool of water with a small hidden waterfall. 

No one was there so we went swimming. 

For years I have hiked to waterfalls and always wanted to swim in their lovely pools but never really had the opportunity but today it was absolutely perfect.

The water was clear and a bit cold but my body quickly adjusted and it was so beautiful. I could have stayed in there for some time and did while I waited for my fellow hikers to join me. There is something life giving about being in cool or cold water. It just renews a person's spirit allowing us to feel refreshed and energized to face whatever life throws at us. 

After our swim we chose to head back. There could have been one or two more waterfalls further up the hill but it was very warm out and we were ready to head for home.

The hike out went quite quickly and we managed to return to the vehicle with very little mud left on our shoes.

I will definitely need to do this hike again...maybe even this year!

Eastwood Park and Rosewall Creek

This past weekend I was back up in Comox again to dog sit while the kids all went camping. They do this yearly and I am glad they all enjoying getting together and having fun. I am glad I am able to help them out by looking after their dogs but I must say I do miss being there camping. 

Thankfully I had a good friend to come along with me and others to join us for the day. We did a 7km hike in the Eastwoods park not far from their home.

It is a wonderful forested area that is full of trails for folks to walk their dogs and explore. Every time I am in Comox I realize how much our valley is missing when it comes to forested trails that are accessible for all and close to home. 

On the way home we did a 10 km hike along Rosewall Creek which is another wonderful park that follows a stream. 

There is a nice waterfall at the end and lots of other small beaches that people can swim in. 

A good place to bring the young kids one day and let them get hiking and then enjoy a swim. It was nice to wade in the water as it was 30 degrees and a little warm for hiking. 

Took us around 2.5 hours with a few little stops. One day I need to return to do some caching ;). A great family trail or a place to just go and stroll and get away from it all. 

July Adventures

July started off with a few small adventures with the grandkids and friends. Always a good time to be with them especially over the summer when we can swim and go to the parks. 

Canada Day was of course rather quiet with no parade and no gatherings due to Covid but we made the most of it and went to feed the ducks and play at the park all dressed in our Canada Day shirts. 

We ended the day with a weiner roast over the fire. Sure missed the boys this year but they were unable to come. 

The next day we went down to the spit and had fun playing with the gooey ducks...very smelly creatures I found out afterwards. 

The kids had a great time watching them squirt up at us. Lots of laughter and squeals. 

Following that we were treated to a ride in Papa's boat which he sold to Garret and Sara this year.

 We went over to Tree Island just across from Union Bay. A lovely little island beach which was covered in sea shells. Lots of explore and enjoy. 

The tide went out rather quickly but thankfully we were able to move the boat further out and didn't get trapped there for the day. 

I really enjoyed being out in the boat again. I started riding around in my Dad's boats when I was around 2years old and I do love being on the water. 

I did a road trip with my parents to Lizard Lake to go and see the boys who were camping there. Was fun to see the little lizards in the water and in the bucket.   

It's a beautiful campsite and the perfect place for families to come and stay. 

Another hotdog roast was enjoyed around the campfire. 

The a few days later I took them up to Comox to visit with my daughter and family. It is good at 85 that they are both able to still get out and come on small adventures.

Then mid month my youngest daughter turned 30! It was celebrated with a girls day to the spa at the Kingfisher resort near Comox. The hydro walk was so refreshing and rejuvenating. 

It was nice to have time with my girls and share in lots of laughter as we sat under the waterfalls and walked the river walk. 

I made my daughter's favourite dessert for her birthday for the first time. My Mom has made it for years. 

It was good but apparently I haven't quite got it right yet but my little granddaughter sure enjoyed it. Hard to believe my baby is 30 but so very thankful that we get together and have so much fun. 

A busy start to a busy summer but everyone had good times. It is nice to have my family so close that we can share in adventures and I am able to watch my grandkids grow up right before my very eyes. 

Englishman River Falls

This weekend I popped my Covid bubble and let my friend and hiking pal in. We had been social distance hiking and meeting at trail heads for two months but as there are no cases on our beautiful island we decided we could travel together until the number of cases come back up. 
So off we went to Englishman River Falls Provincial Park. I haven't been there in about 12 years. The trail itself isn't that  long and so we were only an hour or two out in the woods. We even managed to find three caches along the way. 

We started out going to the Lower falls which are much smaller but so beautiful in their own way. There were people there swimming in the river even though it really wasn't all that warm. 

We then headed up along the trail to the large falls noticing some unique rocks formations along the way. I felt it really looked like the face of a monkey

There were lots of people along the path but there was also a peaceful presence. There is something about hiking along the riverbanks that I find give me a wonderful sense of peace. During this Covid time that feeling is so important to find. I am determined to not let this pandemic get the best of me!

We could hear the falls long before we saw them. They are huge and the noise is deafening as the water crashes down over them. 

We continued along the trail to reach the top of the falls and were delighted to find this calming place filled with Inuksuks that people had built. Here above the falls the water was quiet and a beautiful blue-green. A great place for snack break. I was so tempted to go wading but the thought of having wet feet in my socks is not very appealing. 

Heading back we took one last look at the falls and headed for the car and home. Our first outing was definitely a success and hopefully we can get many more hikes in before they lock us up when the second wave of the virus appears. 

Cumberland Medicine Bowls

Up in Comox visiting my daughter's family we headed out on a social distancing hike with some friends to Cumberland to visit the little medicine bowls.

 It is a huge area that was once a huge mining village. We headed up on the old roads and after a short distance came to the river. It was only a little creek really but beautiful all the same. 

I popped down and went down a trail to find the medicine bowls while the others stayed up top. I really wanted to see them as I had never been there before. There isn't much of a trail along the creek and I am not sure how far it actually goes. 

After a couple of minutes I came to this place of beauty. It always amazing me what water can do. How it erodes layers of rock over time an creates so many different and wonderful rock formations.  I could have stood there watching the water flow for some time but sadly had to quickly snap a few pictures and head back to the main road. 

This area is famous for it's acres and acres of bike trails. Thankfully there are many maps posted. We turned off on a black double diamond trail that had us going down some very steep sections but thankfully we all managed even the two parents who were carrying babies in packs. It was a fun hour hike and one I definitely want to go and do again and explore the many trails that are there. One could spend a whole day and I am certain would never be bored with the surroundings. There is also a disc golf course! 

It wasn't until we got back to the main road that I noticed that my young granddaughter seems to be taking after her Mom - out hiking with a Starbucks cup by her side.