Snowshoe 2022

Once a year my very sweet daughter in Comox takes me on a snowshoe adventure up in Strathcona Park. This year we decided that we would try and make it all the way to Helen McKenzie Lake. In the past we have made it to Battleship and then come back. We lucked out and the day was sunny and warm. 

We headed out across the meadow following the Outback trail which is now marked and free. (Although not knowing this we did pay) 

We found the trail turnoff to Battleship without any problems and headed up the trail through the trees. It goes up for some distance but in many ways seems much easier to do in the winter than it does hiking it in the summer. However the snow was very icy due to some rain that had fallen so I had to be careful. 

Upon reaching the lake we snowshoed out to the island where we stopped for our snack and found a cache besides. From here we just had to hike down the lake and cross over to Helen McKenzie, probably only another 30 minutes. Half way down the lake my snow shoe got stuck in the snow and I did an acrobatic dance landing flat out on my face. It was rather embarrassing but we had a good laugh once I got back up. 

We were not sure of which trail to take so we followed another group that was heading in the same direction. We came to a lake but not the lake we were suppose to be at so we decided to "bushwack" making our own trail in the direction of the lake. Thankfully there was service so the map on my phone let us know where we needed to be. 

I have to admit I did not feel comfortable leaving the trail and just wandering through the trees but my confident daughter led the way and eventually we could see the lake in the distance. I fell twice more on the icy snow in the trees and was really quite ready to head back home. 

|It was beautiful out on McKenzie lake as we snowshoed down to the trail that would take us back to Battleship Lake. So after a few photos playing with the sunshine off we went. 

After taking the long way back we were once again on Battleship heading for home. It is a very long skinny lake and I imagine that is how it got it's name. 

Lunch break on the side of the lake in a place where someone had carved out a snow bench to sit on in the snow. It was good to stop and I felt much better knowing we would soon be back to the trails. 

As we came out of the outback trail to the meadow it was an icy slippery trail and very steep. I knew I would fall again I didn't feel I would have the energy to get myself back up so I just sat down and had a nice ride down onto the meadow. It was great fun! 

Upon reaching the carpark I looked up and there was Mount Albert Edward, a mountain I am proud to have summited. It is always great to look up and see it there in the distance. 

It was a great day from start to finish and I am so grateful that my daughters continue to take me out on the trails. I am very blessed to have one here in town and one up north so that my adventures can cover both ends of the island. Today's four hour journey took us out into nature and left us feeing rebooted for life. 

 

Christmas 2021

 Well it was another Covid Christmas but this time we were at least able to have my sister and family over. Christmas dinner was small as it wasn't my year to have the kids but it never bothers me as I love to have them all for Boxing Day breakfast. That is what I enjoy most. It was a nice dinner and we all enjoyed Mom's good cooking, although with her being 87 we do get in and give her hand. 

Because of Covid only me and my family gathered for Boxing Day breakfast as my place is very small. The tree and gifts were waiting for them to arrive but of course we always have breakfast first. 

We let the little kids have the dining room table and most of the adults just ate in the livingroom. We really have outgrown my place for family dinners. 

Afterwards there is the gift opening which goes really quickly and can get quite loud. We zoomed in my sister and parents so that they could watch the kids open their gifts. They all seemed very happy. 

They all know that they cannot escape my place without having a group photo with Nana. As they get older it seems to be easier to do but it does take some time to get them all smiling and hopefully looking in the same direction. 

It was a great Christmas and I am so thankful that we could be together. Last year was okay but it was hard, and yes maybe we bent the rules a little but mental health is just as important and physical health! So we shall continue to gather as a family and have fun. 

Brown’s Bay Getaway

 We decided to have another family vacation this year with my parents and my sister and husband. We chose to go to Browns Bay up by Campbell River and booked the Fish Cabin. Road trips are always family fun! 

On our drive up we stopped in at Miracle Beach, a place where we camped as children. It was always one of my favourite places as a child but it certainly had changed. 

The weather was a bit stormy when we arrived but the view of the marina and strait was great  Dad was quite content to just sit and watch the water.

The whole cabin is decorated in theme so everywhere we looked there were fish. It was great as Dad and Mom spent so many of their years fishing for salmon mostly out from Port Renfrew. 

The day after our arrival we headed over to Quadra Island for a driving tour which contained many stops along the way. This was my second trip to the island and it was great to see things again. 

The first stop of course was the lighthouse and beach. Such a beautiful place that looks back across to Campbell River. Then we headed into the Indigenous village and looked at the carvings there. 

We drove east on the island stopping at Rebecca Marine Spit for a break and a snack. . After lunch we went up north down a gravel road to Main Lake where we stopped for lunch. What a peaceful place this was. 

The next day we toured the Browns Bay resort area, checked out the marina and the RV site and some of us went for a bit of a hike later in the day. At this time of year the place is very quiet and almost deserted. 

They have lots of carvings to see. It was here I found myself an old sailor man. 

Over by the RV park is a place where people come to have weddings etc. It was a great place to take some photos and selfies. It definitely is place to relax with awesome views.  

An old metal buoy that they have carved their logo into. A good place for a picture of the fisherman and his wife. 

As we entered the camping area up in the trees we found the Fisherman's Loop trail so us younger fllk headed on up and around. It is only 1km long but good to

be out in the trees. 

The views from our cabin were great and you never knew what sea life you would or what the view would look like as the sky changed with each day along with the change in weather. 

The cabin had lovely chairs on the covered deck along with blankets to wrap up in so it was a good place to sit and get some fresh air. Looking to the left we could see the marina but there were never many boats coming and going but we did see the odd fisherman heading out. To the right we looked out into the narrows where sometime we would see larger ships going by. 

Once again we celebrated by sister's birthday on our family trip. It is a good time of year to go away. We had brought all our own food with us as there really wasn't anywhere to eat out without driving back into Campbell River. 

The views from the cabin at night were the best. The cruise ships going by and the marina lights brought colour to water. This was such a great place to come and get away from the life of covid living. I hope we can do it again next year!