Celebrating Eight Years in Five Days: part 2

Kevin and I have always loved long car rides together.  Since being together we've driven from Ontario to the Eastern coast of Canada and back, from Ontario to the Western coast of Canada, from the very north of New Zealand to the tip of the bottom of New Zealand, we've done a big loop around part of the province of British Columbia and lots of other exploration drives in the various areas that we've lived in.  Opportunities for long drives never seem to disappoint us, but rather, we have always viewed car rides as great opportunities to catch up through conversation, engaging in those discussions that could take hours to finish up.  Often we cycle through the same ol' questions and discussions that we've had before, but its neat to see how our perspectives and ideas change from each long trip that we take.  

When thinking about what we do well in our relationship, it would have to be our mutual interest in being together, in a car, with the interest in talking about everything and anything.  I think that during these experiences we learn from each other, we challenge each other, sometimes its an argument and sometimes we reminisce about great times we've spent together. 

And so driving is how spent a good portion of our five day date together at the end of September.  Kevin planned our getaway, with the final destination being Tofino.  Being that we headed south once we got to the island, clearly we were headed away from our destination before heading to our destination.   Kevin planned to enjoy a bit of a longer route together.  

On the second morning of our five day date, we woke up at our cabin and made our way north along the west coast of Vancouver Island.  It had been over 20 years since Kevin had been up this way but he had specific memories of spending time at Botanical Beach at the Juan De Fuca Provincial Park, near Port Renfrew.  I wasn't sure what to expect, but he wanted to make sure that we got there during low tide so that we could enjoy the experience. 

And what an experience it was!  With no expectations, except to be there by around 9:30am, I was amazing by this place!  

First of all, a sign along the trail to the ocean informed us that the most recent upgrades to the trail were done by at-risk youth with provincial funds delegated to provide opportunities for youth.  This kind of stuff makes me feel good.  It was such a gorgeous trail and full of so many unique twists in nature.  

And after an incredible hike in, we arrived to the open ocean!

I could not stop taking photos.  Everywhere I turned there was something incredible to capture.
Botanical Beach is known for its tide pools.  When the tide is out, small pools remain and each one is like a mini aquarium with organisms and plants to look at.

The photos really do not do it justice.  There are layers of life in each pool.

And wildlife also enjoying the scene.

This is pretty much how he spent his time there.  Head down so you don't step in a hole or on anything.  Just pausing to take in each different "bowl" of ocean life.

I kept my head down as well.

I can imagine that this is quite a different scene when the tide is in.  Its pretty neat to think about timing this visit.  Really, it just wouldn't have been the same experience if we were any later as the tide was slowly coming in as we walked around.  

With my happy-snappy finger, Kevin managed to get some distance on me...

But this large flat surface is where the really amazing tide pools were.

Again, don't look up and walk because there is a good chance you're stepping in one of these....

It was right along the ocean that you could see the tide creeping in as we wandered.  

see all that kelp out there?  eerie! 

Sea urchins, coral, barnacles, mussels...so much to look at.

Kevin checkin' something out....

Say, Kevin what did you spot?

This is where he was looking....

that's just a bunch of kelp in the water.  like eyeballs looking around.  so creepy.  

and getting a closer look at this little guy......

hello there Sammy!  he appeared to be all alone, and he sure did keep his eyes on us!  

*shutter*  oh how i would scream if i got tangled in kelp.  

As the tide came in and rolled out  I took this really cool video of one of the tide pools overflowing and then losing its access in the current.  It was like it had a pulse.  So neat.

see what i mean about the layers?

It was neat to watch this crevice swell and then drain as the tide rolled in.

And the geology is also pretty neat. Sculpted by years of water flowing up and away.

Yes, I was shutter happy.  
I know this can sometimes bother Kevin.  He begins to wander off and gives off the "keep up with me" vibe.   But I tend to think that its ok that we have separate experiences of the same event.  I remind him that we are both taking it in in our own ways.    We start out together, then go our own way, meet up again to talk about what we saw, hang out together for a bit and then go our own ways again until its time to start thinking about going.  I was glad to have the chance to capture our experience in photos, because its my art, my hobby, my challenge  - even if Kevin thinks its a bit excessive at times.  

This is what he was capturing before I turned my camera on him.

We joked about accidentally falling in and how awful it would be, but I can imagine that it has happened a number of times before to others.  

On our way back to the trails Kevin got a bit snappy too.  He likes structures and rock formations.

He captured me again....

One last snap of the gorgeous scenery.

The road ahead of us now took us along logging roads as we cut east across Vancouver Island.  The scenery again, gorgeous, in spite of there being long stretches of clear cuts.  I've never seen clear cuts that closely and that many at a time.

Our GPS unit was having a fit because it didn't recognize our route at all.  But it wasn't long before we caught up with the highway that would take us up and back over to the west coast to incredible Tofino!
Our drive up this highway certainly didn't seem as long as it did nearly three years ago when we had 9-week old Karis and almost-three year old Kamille in the back seat.  It was enjoyable to take in the scenery, switch up drivers from time to time and make pit stops to stock up on snacks and fuel.

We were Tofino bound and we already had kilometres of conversation behind us.  
Both of us were relaxed and excited as we made plans and booked adventures for this next phase of our five day date.      

More on Tofino to come......

Celebrating Eight Years in Five Days

This week, Kevin and I celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary.  EIGHT years?  It seems like no time and yet a lifetime.  We've been together for 11 years (wait a minute, really?  geesh!!)!  In the eight years since sealing the deal, Kevin accepted a new position that moved us across the country together to Vancouver, I struggled to find work I enjoyed, Kevin's new job had him travelling weekly, I got pregnant, we moved out of the city, Kamille was born, I found a steady part time job and tested out two other part time positions as well, I got pregnant again, we moved again, Karis was born, and then I started a Masters program.  Whew!!!  Over the past two years we've been in the same home, with our two girls, the same one job for me, and Kevin's job.  The past two years have really been a settling into our new norm for us. 

Its not until I reflect on the past eight years in this way, that I see just how much change we've adjusted to as a couple.  No wonder it seems difficult at times to still have room for each other in every day.  The lifecycle transitions themselves are challenging at the best of times, and fortunately it seems that I have found a partner with whom I can weather the many challenges we as a couple and family have experienced. 

How do we do it?  Well, honestly, some days it feels like we just manage to do it.   There is no secret to  us being "us."  If anything, I am seeking the "secrets" of others to go on.   What we both know is that when we are together doing things we enjoy, life feels rich.  We connect, we communicate.  Life feels good together.  

This year, Kevin and I decided to take a mini-holiday together, while my mom flew out to take care of the girls.  Oh my goodness, what a gift.  This, as we knew, was well overdue for us.  

Kevin and I pondered a number of options, but ultimately decided on a trip that we knew would allow us to connect, keep us in our element and allow us to have fun together.  

Our destination - Tofino.  

Kev has been to Tofino couple times, but my only time was as a whole family when Karis was 9 weeks old.  This sure was going to be different.  This was just the two of us and we planned a full 5 days of adventure.    

Allowing Kevin to take the lead on planning meant that we would have five full days, taking in as much as we possibly could..... a little bit of a road trip for ourselves.   Road trips always give us plenty of time to catch up.   

In true Kevin fashion, before Tofino we headed in the opposite direction to enjoy the sites of Shirley and Port Renfrew along the lower west coast of Vancouver Island.  

This is how it all went down.  

We're on a boat y'all.  

We caught the early ferry to Vancouver Island and headed to Victoria.  The sun was shining and we casually stocked up on groceries.  We had the best lunch sitting outside of The Noodle Box.  Oh my goodness, it was the perfect start to our 5-day date.  

After hitting the road again, we moved along the west coast of Vancouver Island towards our destination, Point No Point Resort in teeny tiny Shirley, which isn't really a town, but a marker along the highway.

Why Point No Point?  Kevin has the best story.  Back in the summer of 2009, when I was home packing for one of our moves and very pregnant with Karis; Kevin, his mom, step Dad and Kamille were on an RV trip along this same coast.  Because the fridge in the RV broke, they needed ice to keep Kamille's milk cold and so they stopped into Point No Point resort to ask.  It was quaint and the staff were very friendly and accommodating.  Kevin told them he would be back one day.  

This was the day.  By the time we arrived, our gorgeous sunny fall day had turned quite cool and the fog was low and thick.  

But our cabin was more than welcoming.  

The delicious smell of a wood burning fireplace filled the small, but perfect for us, space.   I wanted to move in.

A hot tub overlooking the ocean?  Yes please!

We settled in and layered up so that we could enjoy the many trails through the resort grounds.

Red benches were found throughout and so together we stopped, took a seat and settled into this gorgeous place.  

The wind was whipping off the ocean, the air was cool, but it was so amazing.

I love how the force of the wind shaped the foliage all around us.

We sat at this first red bench watching this log (below).  It was so close to the shore line, yet never reached it.  It bounced back and forth between these rocks, got pushed out to one side, came back into the rocks, only to be pushed out the other way, all the while being washed over and over with powerful waves.  No wonder driftwood is so smooth and worn.  

We eventually left our first red bench to explore the many other pathways and red benches throughout the property.

Down to the ocean.....

See, the sun was there!  It was just bright enough to want to wear sunglasses...or not.

Kevin was so excited to stumble across this.  Of course his immediate thought is, "Kamille would be so excited to see this!"  So true.

Whipped by wind, but Kevin had offered to take a photo of me enjoying this place and I could not refuse.  

Does kelp creep anyone else out as much as it creeps me out?  Snakes are one of the things that give me the willies, kelp reminds me of snakes.   Piles of snakes.  I kept my distance.

I just love the way that nature provides so much to look at and notice.......
Stones that have taken up a place to settle in the nook of a log, and the way that sand and stone have a definitive meeting place.

Wood that has been shaped over time.... (although not sure how. waves from the tide flowing in and out upon it, maybe?)

love all those layers that have warn away

Back onto the trails....

It was this enchanting.  Kevin took another break to watch the ocean.
Kevin is such a water boy.  He has spent a lot of time in water for fun and for work, and is just in his element when he is on the coast.   He is drawn in, literally.

Point No Point Resort is known for its Red Bridge.  This actually is the Point, of Point No Point.

It must be the place for weddings because we stumbled upon the "Sweetheart" bench that had hundreds of names and initials engraved into it.

no, we didn't add to it.  ; )  

Sooooo windy......

The bridge is actually built on a fallen log....

Back into the enchanted pathways.....

Beautifully accessorized with newly coloured leaves and spidery tree veins......

We eventually stumbled upon the Beach House.

Its this great little covered outdoor spot for guests to enjoy time by the ocean. 

 Kevin, being beside the ocean, drifted off into a nice late afternoon nap, while I took off to explore...

 The log "fence" was lined with gorgeous painted rocks....

PNP, Point No Point

So many rocks to look at and be curious about their meaning to the guests who had painted them.....

I walked around and enjoyed the space with another woman who was doing this same.  Head down, as we walked along the beach, looking for treasures, looking at how amazing nature is.....

art

lifecycle

Everything with its own story of how it came to be.....

I spent some time balancing rocks.  Nothing complex, but simple and enjoyable, alone.   I wonder how much of it is still there today?

Self-timer capture....

I collected my napping husband and we headed on back to our cabin to dress up for our dinner reservations.

Point No Point has the most incredible restaurant.  Two little rooms with about 8 tables in each, all with  incredible views overlooking the ocean.   As we sat at our table,  the outside darkened while the room brightened with candlelight glow.  We could see the dark shadows of trees blowing in the wind, and hear the power of the ocean at high tide, but we were toasty warm and enjoying martinis and wine to begin our night inside.

Our server was a lovely woman about our age.  She was a local and lived just outside of Shirley in Jordan River, down the road.  She had moved to Canada from Ireland some years back and settled there with her husband and her now 3 year old daughter.  She doesn't have internet at her home!  (Can you imagine?)  Anyway, she was great.  But nothing topped how great our meals were.  INCREDIBLE food.  Seriously, the best restaurant food I have had in like...forever.

I wish I had written down what we had because it escapes me right now....steamed mussels in a delicious curry sauce, I had a pork dish that was served with mash and veggies.  My pork was incredible and served sweet and with a side of what tasted like a minced meat tart.  Unbelievable pairing!  Kevin had a chicken dish that was equally as impressive in its flavour combinations.  We raved about our meal and expressed our compliments be passed on to the chef.   Who, according to our server, had been working at Point No Point since he was a youth, basically working up the chain of command and with an interest cooking.  Without formal training, he is it.  The Look Out restaurant is award winning, and it certainly deserves to be.

Kevin and I left there completely stuffed and high on delicious food.  We opted to skip dessert but the small chocolates that came with our bill were the perfect cap for the night.

Walking back to our cabin was the coldest walk I have experienced in a long time.  The wind was wild and cold.  I felt so tight inside from shivering in our less than 5 minute walk back. ; )  My, how the season changes take time to get used to!   Kevin quickly sparked up a deliciously warm fire and I tucked myself into our perfectly made loft bed with the sound of a hot crackling fire soothing me into the most incredible night's sleep.

We awoke to light coming through the window.  It was so quiet.  I asked Kevin to stoke the fire that had gone out through the night.   I lay there listening to that incredible cracking sound.  It felt like that experience.  You know, when you think, "Wow this is my life for today!"  I started my day beside a hot cracking fire in the most amazing little cabin!  

It wasn't long before we were packing up and leaving for our next destination.  We had to be there during low tide, so we had an agenda to stick to.  

Point No Point was such an incredible start to our Five Day date. 

More to come on the rest......