In The Field: Orca's Island

            This time last week we were pawing through our camping gear and preparing for an island weekend- we were headed to Orca's Island in Washington State. This place has been on our Summer bucket list for the past two years- one of those places we keep meaning to visit and have yet to make time for. With some truly unseasonably warm and dry April weather we made a rather last minute decision to head out on an overnight adventure to the island.

           April on the West Coast is traditionally very wet, rainy and grey- this is not at all the case this year- I will admit I have been lulled into a false sense of Summertime! We all have faint tans starting to show- the sandals have been out for the past month or so and I can't remember the last time I dragged out the umbrella! That said I did manage to remember extra wool blankets- we are tenters after all!

         Orca's Island is situated just South of the 49th Parellel- making the boarder crossing our only real distance to cover. Hopping onto the Anacortes ferry which is only about a half hour from the actual boarder and setting sail towards the gorgeous San Juan Islands. As someone who is not Island bound the novelty of taking a ferry anywhere is still high on my list of favourite things to do- I love the disconnect a person gets as soon as the mainland fades away.

          While there are quite a few beautiful looking resorts and B& Bs to stay on we made our way to Moran State Park- which was quite unlike any state park we have camped in. Situated a little inland around two lakes the park is massive- I feel like we only experienced a very tiny slice of the beauty to be had. If you go be sure to reserve a spot- on this particular sunny weekend the park was packed and we were lucky to have found a spot close to the washrooms!

          These short little camping trips are really the best way to hit the reset button- we all unplugged completely- which for me these days is a pretty big deal. We took our books, our paints, the knitting, the coffee and of course there was the lake. The boy practiced his wood chopping skills and both Littles learned to light a campfire on their own.

         By the time Sunday afternoon rolled around the biggest complaint was that we had to head home. With weather like this it was hard to remember it's still April- we still have school and work! So we packed up and headed to the ferry- only to discover it was full. So we parked in the standby area and went in search of ice cream- obviously! If you go be sure to make ferry reservations!

        Friends it is Friday! Yahooo! It's crazy that I am saying this but as you read this we are headed East this weekend back to the Okanagan. I'm hoping for some time to sew, drink coffee with my Momma and visit with my sister- oh and I am sure there will be wine! Happy Friday Friends!

A Very West Coast Christmas

          Christmas has come and gone and with in many days of relaxing- lots of time spent where we feel most comfortable out at the beach next to the water with the cold wind on our cheeks. While the weather was perhaps not to be considered the best we didn't let it deter our spirit -with things to explore and new toys to try out- our time spent outside was perhaps my favourite gift of all.

        While the snow blanketed the hills and mountains around us we kept warm in the falling rain with wool blankets and hot chocolates- things always taste better outside! The miles of pristine- and deserted- beach called to be explored. The littles scattered while we set ourselves up- checking out familiar logs and rocks- hunting for winter beach treasures.

        Santa brought the Mr. a Biolite stove and this little gadget is possibly the coolest thing I have ever seen! Not only does the heat power a fan- which in turn creates more flame and sucks the smoke away. This diminutive little stove reduces soot and smoke by 90% and for every stove purchased Biolite donates a home cook stove to a community that needs it. This company is onto something big and exciting- not only does the stove reduce soot- it also doesn't require the usual fuel needed for a camp stove- the Biolite is fuelled entirely on sticks and tinder. As if this wasn't enough you can also charge your cell phone with it!

          So of course we needed to try out the latest addition to our camp kitchen arsenal- this tiny and easy to pack little stove is about to be a permanent fixture in our van- hot chocolate on all our adventures now! I was really surprised with how fast the stove heated or milk up- apparently it boils water in no time flat- and the heat it threw off was as good as most small campfires. Needless to say the Mr. was chuffed with his gift and we will all benefit from it!

     
            So with pockets full of beach glass- the very best is found in the winter don't you know- and our cheeks all aglow our winter holidays are coming to an end. While I feel myself holding my breath for another day or so until I can convince the fam jam to take down our tree- I know these days of December ware waning. The days are getting longer- even if by a few minutes- I will just sit back read another book and have another glass of wine! The tree can wait- at least for today!

PS- who says city kids can't learn to handle a hatchet or light a fire? Let them be curious- let them take risks- let them alone!

Field Trip: Springs RV Resort

 
          It's no secret that for a while now our family has been lusting after own own little slice of paradise- a home away from home- a get away of sorts. In Vancouver and surrounding area the real estate market is fierce and even recreational properties in our budget are difficult to come by. So when we were offered a weekend out in Harrison Hot Springs at the Springs RV Resort we of course jumped at the chance. We are always game for a new adventure!

          When we pulled into the resort we were greeted by the ever friendly Natalie and her staff- they introduced us to the resort- explaining the ins and outs as well as showing us the way to our home for the weekend. Being experienced tenters we have never really considered Rving before- we are pretty happy with our nomadic and compact way of travelling- Our in-laws are RVers and we have always been curious about the appeal of RVing- more glamping than camping! When we opened the door to our RV for the weekend- in an instant- I understood- a queen bed, flush toilet and running hot and cold water-  all the amenities of home!

        Springs RV Resort takes a really unique approach to the traditional RV resort- complete with beautiful wooden decks and "shabbins" at the back of each lot. In addition to being beautifully laid out the resort really caters to families of all ages- there were many multi- generational family groupings that we encountered over the weekend. Grandparents with their children and grandchildren- everyone together having a good time. During our time at the resort we participated in a number of events designed for the younger crowd- arts and crafts on Saturday morning as well as an awesome animal encounter with the folks from Urban Safari Rescue.

          When we weren't busy hanging with giant tarantulas and snakes there was plenty for us to do- in spite of the rain we hit the pool and hot tub at the Whistler style kid's clubhouse- which of course no one wanted to leave! The feeling of family permeates everything at Springs RV Resort- from Friday night burgers to movie night and Saturday morning coffee- this is a place to be social- a real community of weekenders. More of a luxury resort than your average trailer park!

           Springs RV Resort offers so many different types of escapes- from overnight rentals, seasonal leases to sites for purchase- making the dream of affordable recreational property a reality for many folks. We enjoyed our getaway from the city- exploring a corner of B.C. we had yet to visit- we had no idea that such a place existed only a 90 minute drive from downtown Vancouver! Many thanks to the owners and staff of Springs RV Resort for our wonderful weekend- we can't wait to make a return visit!

Travel Bug: AKA It's Almost Camping Season

           I have the travel itch and it's bad- right now I want to be anywhere but in Vancouver- I'm feeling a bit trapped. Not trapped by my family or life but trapped by the normalcy of it all- right now there is nothing new and exciting happening- this is a very common feeling for me to get at this time of the year! The picture above is one of my favourites- it was taken on the ferry home from Pender Island last summer- the breeze was warm and we had all had an excellent weekend camping- it's amazing what a weekend in the woods will do for the soul.

      It is soon time to start planning and reserving campsites again for the coming season- this is possibly one of my favourite things to do- making firm plans to travel months in advance. I'm excited for this year as the kids are just a little bit bigger than they were this year which means they can hike longer, learn new skills, stay up later and most importantly everyone is now tall enough to go on the whale watching zodiac!

      After our California adventure a few months ago I think we are considering heading South again for a short camping trip- our friends have told us such good things about  camping in the Red Woods of Northern California- which is an exciting trip to think about. Also there are many State parks in Oregon that we are wishing to check out. So this year we will be traveling a little further afield- most likely sticking close to the coast- but seeking out new places we haven't explored as a family yet.

        The truth of the matter is that I really can't wait for warmer weather- I can't wait to be sitting around a campfire again toasting smores and drinking a cold beer- my face hot and my back chilly. I can't wait to wake up to rain falling on the tarp- that gentle pitter patter that makes you have to pee and at the same time cozy further down into the sleeping bag. I can't wait to wander down a path my feet have never traveled- eager to see whats around the corner. I can hardly wait to be outside for a full three days and come home sunburned, windswept and utterly content.

"Adventure is out there"

End of the Season Camping

              This morning we are waking up in or own beds- getting ready for school and settling in for the fall- we are all a little out of sorts and wishing we were waking up in our sleeping bags instead. This past weekend we took one last camping trip- we headed East to the Okanagan to Bear Creek Provincial Park- a place I have not camped since I was a kid. There is nothing like sleeping outdoors that confirms a change in seasons- gone are the soft winds of July- Fall can be smelt in the air.

       While we may not have had the most stellar of weather we did have breaks in the cloud that revealed a magical forest behind our tent- a short fifty foot path lead directly to the lake- though no one was swimming and the forest held more appeal than the beach on this weekend. One of the things I love most about camping is watching my Littles amalgamate into a heard of wild camping children- venturing out in a fairly safe environment- testing their boundaries.

          The forest yielded a variety of beautiful and dangerous plants to look upon- "leaves of three let them be"- large patches of stinging nettles and poison ivy abound at this time of year. So also do the Rose Hips - a few of which came home with me to be turned into tea. Rose Hip bushes are plentiful on Westside Road- almost like a hedge row in places.

        We arrived home late last night- smelling of smoke and covered in dirt- tiered after our six hour car drive- minds content and quiet thinking about the adventures had over the past few days. Sometimes I think one of the reasons I go away is so I can come home again- coming home is ever so good! We are finally ready to hit the reset button and settle into our Fall routine- Fall always feels like the true start of a new year for me. Time to settle back into our space in the city after months of flying by the seats of our pants- in and out- doing scant loads of laundry and existing on minimal cooking. I am ready to surrender to Fall- transition from outdoor to indoor living- get organized and put things back in their places.

       This last camping trip was just what we needed to wrap up our totally epic family summer- our Littles have grown by leaps and bounds in the outdoors this year- we have relaxed as parents- we have gelled as a family with kids instead of babies. Living in the heart of a large city engaging with nature is always on our minds- how to get our kids outside and connecting- I feel we have done pretty good this summer!

"Teaching children about the natural world should be treated

as one of the most important events in their lives"

Thomas Berry

P.S.- thank you to the Gruending family for organizing the weekend- getting our spot and letting our children mooch food off of you all weekend! We always have super fun times with you all and look forward to many more camp outs in the future!

Camping: Porteau Cove

        We are home- in the city- home from a lovely weekend spent at the edge of the forest and the shores of Howe sounds- at Porteau Cove. I have written about how we love this spot before but oh- it is magical- to say I came home reluctantly is an understatement. In spite of the rain we had quite the adventure- searching for crabs, learning about rocks from Lovely Cousin Laura and of course holding Miss Lo's fourth birthday party.

        The Littles and I spent all day Friday at the camp site as the Mr. went back to the city for work- I will admit that I was a little worried about being left alone in the forest with these two wild children- but  we all rose to the occasion and found lots of different ways to entertain ourselves. Just being quiet with no fancy toys or television to distract us was exactly what we all needed- separation from life in the city.

        I knitted and drank copious cups of coffee while the Littles scooted on their scooters up and down the road. We took a long walk on the beach- poking around under rocks and in the shallows- cross referencing our handy pocket guide of B.C. Seashore Life.

          The land here at this spot is beautiful- magical- quiet and ancient- huge logs have washed onto the shore- eroded away by water- roots and all- to form a natural breakwater that is possibly the best climbing structure the Littles could ask for! We watched the rain coming up the sound in sheets- watched as it passed by from the comfort of our tent before heading back out for more exploring.

       So here I sit on a Monday morning miles away from that magical spot- the soundtrack to this day so very different to yesterdays- so much more jagged and rough. As much as I love the city I am ready for a change- after this summer of exploring our amazing province I know with great certainty that what I need- what my whole family needs is to be in a place with more magic- more quiet- more trees. I have left bits of my heart all over this province as I fall in love with the land so easily- but this is different- this rugged land feels like home.

       I want to just give a great big shout out to all of our amazing friends and family who came out this weekend to help celebrate our special Miss Lo- thank you all for going so far for such a special day- it means so much to us! To Lovely Cousin Laura, Brian and our favourite furry friend Rocket- thank you for spending the weekend with us- it was so much fun! I am going to venture out and say that this was one of my most favourite birthday party ever- so much fun!

Craft Camp: Watercolour Beads

        When I call this project Craft Camp it could also be called Camp Craft- these Littles love to draw and colour and did so all weekend- stickers, markers, post cards, water colours and  plain wooden beads- they had a blast! This little project is super fun and great for the outdoors as it can be a tad messy- perfect combo for some camping quiet time!

        What you will need are some watercolours, brushes and water ad well as plain wooden beads( we got ours at Collage Collage) and a few pipe cleaners or string for threading your jewelry- paper towels and a few spare plates are also good to have on hand.

        I set our station up with two plastic plates side by side- one contained the plain beads and the other some paper towel- then we unleashed the Littles for an hour of painting- they just decorated their plain beads till they were all gone. The idea here is more to stain the beads than goop on the paint- excess paint will rub or wash off if the beads get wet again so use colour sparingly.

        Place painted beads on paper towel and allow to dry- then start threading the colourful beads onto pipe cleaners (our choice here) for bracelets or string for necklaces. This project is good for all ages and can be slightly tweaked for the older kiddos- just add glitter glue for those with a more sophisticated pallet or glow in the dark paint for Ben Ten fans!

        Friends it is Friday again- this shortened week really flew by- I really hoped you enjoyed my week of Pender Island loveliness! I am going to round things off with a few final images that I could just not pass up- my girl and her caterpillars, The Tree of Life Farm stand and the Pet food barn- all so good I had to share! I hope that this weekend finds you with joy in your heart and sunshine on your shoulders- life is an adventure- go have one!

PS- The Mr took those adorable photos of Miss Lo and her "pets" a few almost came home with us but I am happy to report all caterpillars were released in the forest before we left!

Pender Island Adventure: Part 1

           Good morning Friends- we are home- reluctantly but here we are after an amazing long weekend spent relaxing in one of the loveliest of Gulf Islands that B.C. has to offer- Pender Island. We pulled out of the city early Friday morning with the van fully loaded down with way too much stuff and headed out to the ferry terminal- after a few tense minutes we made the ferry and as the city fell behind us so did all our daily worries.

           Pender Island is in fact made up of two small islands connected by a short causeway- our campground was located on the North Island and was very central to everything- Prior Centennial is a small campground with only 17 sites but it is lovely! A lush green oasis- each site is quite private and surrounded in giant second growth Douglas Fir, Cedar and Arbutus tress- making this the perfect refuge from the heat.

         The Littles had a super time- we went with another family so the kids were all quite pleased to play from sun up to bed time with their dear friend. Camping with kids can be tricky and this trip was no different. While our site was fairly safe there was of course lots for a curious boy to get into- including stinging nettles and wasps.

          Food always tastes better when eaten outside and I would hazard to say that things tastes even more tastier when camping! Coffee, pancakes and sausage- oh so good! Filling us up for full days of exploring the island's beaches, Farmer's Markets and hiking trails.

        There is so much to do and see on Pender- I am going to write about all the lovely beaches we explored tomorrow- but there are also many charming marinas, whale watching (which Miss Lo is doing below), an interesting little island museum, heritage houses and of course the already mentioned Farmer's Market. For people wishing for a bit more luxury there is Poets Cove on the South Island which boasts one of B.C.'s premier spas- or stop at one of the three cafes. Whatever your tastes or budget Pender is the perfect place to relax.

        The weekend was pretty amazing all in all- I am still trying to sort out my thoughts and photos of the weekend- oh there are so many photos! I'm pretty sure that I am in love with Pender Island- I did not want to come home and almost didn't when we missed the 3:20 ferry- if you go be sure to reserve a spot to and from the island! We caught the 7:40 ferry home and completly enjoyed an extra four hours relaxing and catching crabs on the beach!

          Four full days spent outdoors in the quiet, surrounded by trees and water was balm for my weary city soul- I crave the sound of the surf, birds in the trees, the silence. My cup is filled up and runething over- I am so very happy after this wonderful weekend. We were so lucky to have had such amazing weather and great friends for our first camping trip of the summer!