Boats, Summer xmas and fun in the sun

July 18^th - 30^th

I’ve been hiking the Grouse Grind once a week usually with Paul and Sandra my friends from Trek BC.  It’s a mountain pathway that goes straight up Grouse Mountain, used for training. Paul has a way of pushing me to go to my limits and the first time I did the grind (no puns please) with him we did it in 46 minutes, I felt like puking on route but at the top I felt great :-) .The best bit is we get to take the gondola back down again.

Theresa came to visit this week.  I met her in Alaska while she was traveling with my friend Greg and we all went on that amazing 4 day kayak experience together.  We had a few random fun filled days including meeting her new friends and watching the sunset over kits beach while learning to play an African musical instrument, learning capoiera and climbing totem poles ending in a hot tub…  It was also the Caribbean festival on the weekend and the parade goes on the street right out front of my place so Sue, Theresa and I went to check it out.  That afternoon she wanted to chill so we went to Ambleside beach and relaxed.

I was out to drinks for Hildes goodbye party Saturday night and met some nice new friends including Robert who is keen to take me out on his sailing boat yay :-) One big cocktail in a coconut and lisa was more than on her way to giggly drunk.

Sunday I was off for an Adventure with Rory.  He had purchased this old authentic boat last winter and had been fixing it up, on Saturday he got it working and so we were off to test it out.  Leaving from Squamish it was an early drive out there and the boat well you have to see it to believe it, quite the character, really cool 

I got to do a lot of the steering as I had wanted to learn more and find it really fun being out in a boat.  It was an amazing sunny day and so special to finally be out in the Howe sound exploring. I’ve driven a lot on the road from Vancouver to Whistler looking out at the beautiful water and islands so it was quite a treat to be able to get out in the water. It was great having a different perspective seeing the chief and Shannon falls from here too.  We even stopped off to see some pictographs drawn on the rock.  A really chilled out and happy day.

July 25^th 2011

Christmas in July. I’ve celebrated this for quite a while now, so wanted to keep the tradition going plus an excuse to have a BBQ and get new friends together.  We held it in John Lawson Park West Vancouver and I set up my slack line, made lots of food and everyone bought something to share. The weather cooperated and everyone seemed to have a good time. As I opened it to bringing anyone there were new friendships made which was great and we were quite the multicultural group from Aussies, Canadians, British, Sweden, Germany. We ended the night after the sun had set so a great way to spend a Monday evening and show others what its like to celebrate Christmas in the summer time like we do back in Aus.

July long weekend :-0

Friday 29^th  Rose my friend I first met while traveling in Utah earlier this year, you will remember from previous blogs our travels together and with my friend Greg.  Sandra had invited me to the VOC gospel choir who were singing a free concert in the Deep Cove park that night which overlooks the water and harbor.  Sandra has become a really good friend since I've moved to Vancouver, its really nice to meet positive happy people and girls that love getting out hiking as much as possible too, I'm lucky to have friends like her in my life.


What a nice start to the long weekend, the sun was out, the choir were great (bringing back fond memories of my housemate in tassie also a Lisa singing with me as I used to play the piano) and Rose, Sandra and I were able to chat and enjoy the concert.  Rose and I missed the bus home by 2 min with another 30min wait and still in the mentality of Alaska I suggested we try hitchhiking haha! Well we did get picked up but the guy misunderstood our drop off point and literally took us a few kms down the road to a bus stop where we waited for the same bus we were going to have to get from Deep Cove, pretty funny though.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world" Gandhhi

 Summer in 2 countries??

Since my last blog lots of changes have occurred again, 2011 seems to be a big year of change for me whether it be change I was expecting or unfortunately wished it wasn’t so, yet have been forced to embrace it and grow from the experience.

I had high hopes I would be allowed to sit my physiotherapy exams this year and hence stay in Canada, unfortunately that isn’t the case and to make things worse I received a letter from the physiotherapy board at the end of June stating it would be another 30 weeks for them to process my paperwork and only then can I even be allowed to sit the exams.  This would mean if I stayed in Canada I wouldn’t be a physio for 2 years (already had a year off) and that for me is too long.

I sent out an email to a few local hospitals and joined a locum agency back in Australia thinking it would take a few months to get any feedback and would allow me to spend the summer in Canada and then move back and work the summer in Australia. Again change sometimes occurs fast! I got an email within 2 weeks from the local hospital near mum’s on the Gold Coast asking how soon I could come back as they needed someone. With a few international phone calls and lots of emails he agreed to push it back to a start date of 22^nd August, still sooner than I’d hoped but as far as I could push it without losing the job.  So here I am just having just moved to Vancouver taken on a new job, a new place to live, meeting new friends and starting to feel settled in a place I want to call home and I’m leaving again.

I have booked a return flight as Canada and BC do feel like home for me, as I’m most happiest surrounded by the mountains and the ocean and that’s right on the door step here in BC.  Its hard to describe to people why I would want to live in another country other than Australia, but I do.  The simplest way is to say yes we have the ocean and a good laid back attitude but not the mountains, where here I can have both.  Its a lifestyle choice but with the option of being able to eventually continue my career as well. My flight back has to be flexible as I’m still at mercy to the powers of the physiotherapy board of Canada. Also for me to apply for residency here isn’t proving as straight forward as I’d hoped either and I have to work a while longer before I can apply, so even more reason to return for a bit.

The last time I felt this unsettled about leaving, was when I left Tasmania 3 1/2 years ago, I had a fun happy life there with great friends and adventure but wanted to see the world.  If I hadn't stepped out on a solo trip into the unknown I never would have had so many experiences to grow from.  I left with the knowledge that I would travel as long as I remained happy and enjoying myself, now it seems I have found that happiness in another country than the one I left.  Its not a quickly made decision, I've been traveling on and off in Canada for the past 6 years and have always been drawn back with the feeling of 'home' and I now have the opportunity to make that a reality. Its always harder to make such a big life decision when your on your own but it means this decision has to be totally my own and for me and for the right reasons.

Lets say I’ve tried to ride with these changes but it has been a  really difficult first 6 months of the year. I do believe things happen for a reason and I'm growing with every new challenge and experience I'm going through. I am grateful I’ll get time with family and friends by returning back to the Gold Coast and Australia as I’ve lived away from Australia for 3 ½ years now and haven’t lived on the Gold Coast for 8 years! I am excited to arrive back in time for my nephew's first birthday party and the chance to really be an Aunty for him.  Particularly if all goes well with Canada and I stay here for a long while, I’ll really value this time back in Aus. So in just 5 short days it will be Hello Australia, see you soon Canada....

Summer Fun in Vancouver

July 5^th -  17th 2011

I have secured a job as the office manager and assistant (well that is my title but its such a small office I hardly feel like I’m doing much let along being a manager) for a chiropractors office.  I tried to get assistant physiotherapy work but nothing seems to be around. It keeps me busy, pays the bills and I only have to work 4 days a week so fits in with summer nicely.

I’ve been making some lovely friends while I settle into life in North Vancouver. Sophie is from the UK originally and has been working and travelling around the world and for her too, BC feels like home. It’s been nice to find another hiking friend, a real friend I can talk to anything about and also someone going through the same difficulties regarding visa’s and decisions on residency too.  We went and explored Lighthouse Park together, her first time there, my chance to do a recky for the climbing possibilities plus it was such a beautiful blue sky day.  That same night we met up with a meetup group to watch Jurassic Park at the free outdoor cinema in Stanley park. A lovely picnic and meeting more new friends Jenny, apart from getting cold after the sun went down it’s a fun free summer activity being held weekly here in Van.

Vancouver City and Mt Baker

Friday 8^th and a spontaneous acceptance of a last minute offer to join Christie , Ryan and their friends for a round of pitch and putt. I haven’t picked up a golf club in years, but surprised myself with a great shot out of the sand bunker straight into the hole! Fluke you bet, but no matter great laugh for everyone.  It was lots of fun pitching and then as the name suggests putting till the sun went down. Here I was remembering back to high school learning to play golf for PE and the profanities that came out of my mouth, never knew that was even possible. Again making new friends from different circles always means a great night out.

 Saturday was a blue sky day and I had responded to a Climbfind request for people to go climbing with.  We ended up with 4 of us going, which was great setting up 2 ropes, Joey and I just top roped that day and the guys set up harder routes on lead. None of them were confident trad leading so we stuck to the sports routes, but it was nice to keep improving my slap skills and foot work and balance being the key. With beautiful views of the Howe sound and new climbing friends, a day out climbing in Squamish is always fun. I would still like to do a multi pitch route up the chief but that will happen at some point.

The weather improved on the Sunday so I rode from north shore to Jerico to check out the MEC paddle fest on my own.  They had all these great free events including yoga by the water, free stand up paddle boarding lessons and free kayak lessons, plus you could take out just about anything on your own for a demonstration run.  Great day out, I enjoyed learning stand up paddle boarding but know its not a sport/hobby I’ll pursue getting any kit for, though it is becoming super popular here.

Squamish climbing festival started on the Wednesday 13^th and we got free tickets to see the opening movie night and speaker presentation. I was able to get a lift from work to squamish and enjoyed it so much, being inspired and bought the book All that Glitters being signed by the author Margot Talbot.

A girls Friday night out was inorder and as Sophie had found a job for the week working at the pro golf tournament that was excuse enough for Jenn, Sophie and I to have a bottle of Champagne, nice dinner and a comedy show. I laughed so hard and it was nice to just spend time with the girls.

Saturday 16^th a wet day not great for the climbing festival in Squamish but still keen to check it out, I went with Steve and his friend Katelyn.  She has been travelling around the world, similar to how I was enjoying every minute, yet still unable to settle more than a few months before needing to move and discover more of the world.  A fantastic natural ability climber, she had her first alpine experience in Huaraz Peru as I did so we had some great stories to share. Again so nice to meet girls into outdoors sports and loving life as much as I am.  The rain meant no climbing but we did get to be inspired by the movies, and the tug of war in the mud as well as check out the pro deals.

Sunday 17^th all weekend long is the Vancouver Folk festival and finally the weather wasn’t raining so Sophie and I went along and met up with a meetup group, Katelyn was able to join us later after work and though the ticket prices were a bit steep, considering the 'iffy' weather, we had been told you could hear and see as much from the outside, so we opted for this, enjoyed the markets and peeping through the fences then dancing on the logs on the beach with some wine, food and good company.  Caitlyn gave us a lift in her work car the google maps and we finished the night with yummy frozen yoghurt.

Talk about burning the candle from both ends, I’ve found myself out almost every afternoon/evening after work really enjoying myself, making new friends and just enjoying every minute I can.

Juan De Fuca trail - Vancouver Island

June 30th - July 3rd 2011

Every time I visit Vancouver Island, I find another reason to love it.
It reminds me of Tassie, the people are relaxed, the areas run at a slower pace yet there is still so much beautiful natural places to explore.

A trail I'd thought of doing back in 2006 when I visited but chose to do the Cape Scott trail instead, this is one I wanted to get out on this year.  With 4 other friends, Sandra, Paul, Raphael and Mike we were all set on completing the 47km over 4 days 3 nights.  This was the first time I've ever had to carry everything for myself.  A fully laden pack with my 2 man tent, cooking stove, food and all the usual stuff that is shared normally with someone else.  Still it was a good opportunity for me to see if I could ever multi day hike on my own but it did mean I had to leave my big camera behind.

An early pick up from Sandra and Paul meant we caught the first ferry at 7am over to Vicoria and then drove out to China Beach trail head the starting point.  As we only had one small car the 2 guys managed to hitch their way to the trailhead and met us at the campsite that evening.  It was an easy first days hike, we hit mystic beach after 2km and were greeted by a lovely natural cascading waterfall.  Paul was keen to have a photo walking under it, I made him go twice once for a photo the next for a video he ended up quite soaked and had a little slip, adding to the comedy. Being a long long weekend we were expecting a lot of people on the trail.  Injury  number one occured when Paul thought it would be a good idea to use his brand new very sharp knife to help pull through the string for his hat, needless to say he missed and made quite a gushing cut deep into his finger. 

 

The first night saw us arrive to Bear beach, we found a camping spot area where a group of guys were, so good banter started as we'd see them most everyday on the hike.  After collecting the dry logs (quite difficult due to all the past rain) we eventually had a roaring fire, due to girls and guys team work.  A lovely relax to the start of a great hike, enjoying stories around the camp fire, strolling along the rocky beach, yoga on the logs after dinner and watching the sunset, our only cloudy day for the rest of the hike.

 


Day 2 we headed off as a group of 5 again to Chin beach through what was written as the most difficult part of the hike. It wasn't difficult though there was certainly mud and slippery rocks to contend with, lots of elevation gained and lost as we traversed the waters edge, getting mostly porthole views of the ocean through the trees, Paul was great at spotting wildlife including otters and seals. The path took us deep into the forrest and it was really nice to just stop and listen.... complete silence except for the rustling of the leaves and the birds calling.... ahh tranquility.... So now we weren't getting the beach walking but more forest it was nice to pop out towards the end to Chin Beach another great beach our 2nd nights stopping point.  We had time to have a quick swim, well um paddle I guess you would say as the water was freezing actually hurting my legs to get in and the rocky beach was quite trecherous as the pounding waves slammed into the  rocky shore.  I climbed up to a little island off the waters edge with the guys and chilled out. Our usual sunset after dinner walk, with some delicious french wine supplied by Raph  we found this great big log half out in the ocean, 3 of us walked out to the end and it was quite trippy as the waves splashed around you attempting to throw you off balance but a fall from this height would not have been pretty.

Day 3 We were hiking to meet one of Sandras friends Joanne, who was going to join us for the rest of the hike.   We past a couple of suspension bridges until we got to sombrio beach.  A sandy beach we were all keen to stop here for a lunch break. The beautiful sunshine made the water look inviting and before we knew it Raph the frenchy was in, then not to be outdone Paul went in straight after, Sandra and I looked at each other, it was now or never, in we went underwear and all ;-)  Mike was the only one left on the beach when we got out, so of course we all had to go back in and he had his turn all in our underwear in the cold ocean, Joanne being our photographer for evidence.  This was to be our last beach stop for the day as we had to push on to the next campsite at Little kuitshe.  Our one big overlook was the tides, we knew this was a tidal hike we had them all written out but we had been so excited and enjoying our fun time on the beach that when we set off we couldn't do the costal part as it was now high tide. So with some exploring the guys found an access route that went up and over the headland.  This campsite was by far the most dreary, the tree canopy was so thick it looked dark all the time even when the sun was shinning brightly, but Joanne had brought some wine and Mike had whisky so we found a rock by the ocean and without the campfire just had some good banter. A very unthoughtful group arrived late made as much noise as possible and stopped us all from getting a good nights sleep.

Day 4 our team now up to 6 and soon to become 7 for the last part as we picked up another Trek BC member, Karina, who wanted to just join the last part.  Unfortunately we did have a time schedule to keep as we were booked on the only bus that afternoon to get back to the car and then ferry home. Id rather not have had that schedule but sometimes you have to.  Today was lovely as we had used the tides correctly we could walk out and along the rocks to look at great tidal pools and wildlife, all while the sun was shinning off the ocean causing it to sparkle.  We went looking for the Seal grotto though we found it, unluckily there were no seals out today.  We ended the day at Botanical beach the final stopping point for the trek and said good bye to the others, we had a bus to catch so instead of doing the road walk into town Sandra and I were thumbing it for a ride, we got one but Paul had disappeared and the couple didn't realise there were 3 of us, still they were willing to give us a lift if we could make the big squeeze, 3 of us with massive packs on our laps in a small car and we must have looked like a clown show at the circus but we had made it  :-) A lovely lunch at the pub and then the delayed bus our trip was complete.

 

I love multi day hikes as it gives your body the opportunity to gain endurance and hiking strength, lots of time for thoughts and reflections and plenty of stories to tell.  I was pretty happy with how well my body held out carrying all that extra equipment weight too. What a great group of friends to share this experience with, I know I had a great time living in that moment and will always look forward to more adventures with friends.