Beachward ho!

My daughter-in-law, Zenny, loves Vancouver Island, the forests and the ocean as much as I do. She and Jon had a dream of moving here for years. They finally made it a few years back. But then Jon's work took him to the Okanagan, to Penticton. Much as many people covet this location, I know, as an ocean-person, what it feels like to be landlocked in a deserty terrain, with only fresh-water lakes around. The landscape may be pretty, but feels wrong. The trees arent the right kind of trees. Ripples dont do it for wave-watchers.

So when Zenny's work slowed this winter, I enticed her here for a visit, promising her a trip to the beach, balm for both of our souls.

THIS is what has so far prevented it:

Front yard.

Back yard.

This is most unseasonal weather for the Island. In the course of one day we have sun, wind, sleet, hail and confusion.

Tonight the sun came out and there was color across the evening sky. This drives us crazy as it means at the beach, a glorious winter sunset is unfolding.

Argh!

We are waiting for one day of clear roads, to make a run for it. The mountain pass is deadly in slush and snow. Zenny needs her "ocean fix" before returning to the desert. And I need one just because it has been so long since I had a good, satisfying beach walk, heard the waves, breathed the salt air.

Meanwhile, I am living like a queen. Each night she prepares some delicious thing to eat, refusing to let me wash one dish. Tonight was an incredible quinoa salad with prawns. Be still, my heart!!!!!

I told my sister Lori we have been sadly misguided, in our lives. We thought we needed husbands, when what we really needed was WIVES!!!!!!

I am so determined the weather will give us just one day at the beach, soon. Then I will have to relinquish her to Jon, and begin hunting and foraging again.

A Day at the Beach!

It was overcast yesterday for our day at the beach, but it was perfect: one of those West Coast, cool-ish days that are typical of fall. I love it in any weather, most especially winter, when the waves lash and toss in storm. But gray and calm was wonderful too. It's a given that wildlife abounds in the park. But it appears wolf and cougar were about. Likely hungry, and instinctively trying to prepare for the winter famine coming their way. Florentia went back to the car for her big stick!

Even the word beach is exciting to this beach lover! I miss it so much. I chose Combers Beach, once one of the wildest. There used to be driftwood covering half the beach, flung there by winter storms over the years. And there was another entry, until the bank gave way under the lashing of the waves. Now they have created a new entrance, and seem to have cleaned up the driftwood at the same time. There was a fraction of what there used to be.

This is Florentia, a writer friend who lives in Port Alberni half the year, and winters in Santa Rosa, California. I dont know what that is in the upper right hand corner - some shape-shifter or other:)

There she is - my beach! Stretching off for miles in either direction. Looks like this bank is in danger of tipping too! The tide was due in in a couple of hours, at which time this vast expanse of sand would be covered. But we had time to make our circuit.

To the left, the beach runs from Combers to Wickanninish. A lovely walk as well. But today we turned right and headed to Green Point.

On the way, there was this big puddle of ocean water, and Florentia could not resist - her grandkids must have so much fun with her! I was more staid, I get cold feet too easily:)

The headlands of Green Point.

Beautiful vistas everywhere.

My love affair with rocks goes way back.

Some big waves, as the tide gathers itself up for its run to shore.

Florentia took a few shots from atop the rocks. Last time I came, I could still clamber up the rocky cliffs. But not this time. I tried, but decided toppling off a cliff would not improve the day, so I turned back. This view looks back the way we came. Wickanninish headlands are in the far distance.

So lovely.

In the other direction, we are looking at the famous Long Beach. Tourists flock to this beach because it is the one everyone hears about. Surfers love it too. But the secret we dont tell is that the other beaches are far lovelier, more interesting, and less frequented. We give Long Beach to the tourists!

As close as I can get to the cliff-top, which is to say, Still On the Ground:)

Oh, a little hidey-hole for a bear. Or perhaps the beach house of my dreams? Affordable, at any rate!

Time to head back, to race the tide along the sand.

The fun wasnt over though. We went in to Tofino, to Sobo's and had the most glorious, THICK with fish, wild west coast salmon chowder I have ever enjoyed. There must have been a whole fish in the bowl, so chunky and delicious it was. WITH cornbread on the side. Divine.

I saw some dear and familiar faces, whom I lived with for ten years of glorious community. Sigh.

Driving home, Florentia introduced me to some FANTASTICALLY interesting music: Abigail Washburn and the Four Sparrow Quartet - Appalachain picking music. It was perfect.

I was replete. Exhausted, aching everywhere, but it was a perfect day. I think it counts as my summer vacation this year!

Those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer....

Caleb, "Mr. Sunshine", on Wickanninish Beach

This was such a great day! I had just returned to the West Coast, after a snowbound winter in Kitimat, and was staying with Lisa in Ucluelet until I could find a place to rent. She and her four kids, her little Yorkie, Hope, my big old wolf-dog Pup, and I spent the day at the beach. Above, Ali and Caleb and Pup wrangle over some kelp.

Pup wins. The little globby blur in front is not kelp, it is little Hope. People walking by on the beach stopped to laugh at the sight of such disparately-sized critters playing happily together. Pup could have made a snack of Hope, had he chosen to.

Josh and Pup - more kelp :)

Caleb, Hope and Pup

Tyler running on the shore

This is my favorite picture of Lisa and her kids, when they were younger. You cant see Hope, but she is sitting on Lisa's lap. Poor Hope was hit by a truck and died some months after this was taken. We still miss her. It took some time, looking at this photo, before we became aware of a rounded shape on the left over Tyler's shoulder, with two glowing eyes looking eerily out. It is PUP! Hilarious!!!!!!

Those were happy days. Days of childhood and summer, so swiftly gone.