Even before we left Mexico, we were talking about when the kids and I could get out of town again. I’m not actually a city person, so when we moved down from Pemberton almost five years ago, Jack and I made an agreement. We’d move to a walkable neighbourhood so that I could have the illusion of still being in a small town, and we’d make it a priority to get out of the city as often as possible, even if it was just me and the kids.
We’ve stayed true to our word. We live in a very close-knit neighbourhood, with everything we need within walking distance (pool, library, rec centre, shops, parks, friends, transit) and we get the heck out of here whenever we can.
My Auntie Ruth and Uncle Ken graciously let us use their trailer at Honeymoon Bay on Lake Cowichan, so I packed rain gear and beach toys and lots of warm layers and off we went. Auntie Ruth had been visiting us, so we took her home to Saanichton first, where we had a visit with Uncle Ken too. Hawk was thoroughly impressed with his vast array of tools, and had him bring a box of them up to the living room so Hawk could ‘work’ while we were there.
The next morning, armed with directions, and instructions on how to de-winterize the trailer, we headed to Lake Cowichan. The rain was pounding and the wind was blowing, and once we got sorted out and cranked the space heater up a bit, we were warm and snug.
We ventured out to meet friends at Gordon Bay Provincial Park the next day, played on the beach, wandered along the roads and explored, read stories, drew pictures, visited the gorgeous new library in Lake Cowichan, collected bits and bobs of foresty goodness, watched videos on my computer, went swimming in Duncan, and visited the same friends at their scrumptious new home in the countryside outside Duncan before we went back to Victoria for one last night at my aunt and uncle’s.
The thing about being away for five weeks, is that one week zooms by at lightening speed. We were glad to get home to see Baba, but we wish she could’ve come too and we could’ve stayed longer.
What next? We’re looking ahead to the summer and lots and lots of camping! I need to pull out our gear and do the annual sort and cull, so that we’re ready to go at the first chance to get back into the woods. Yay, campfires and star-lit nights, hooting owls and singing frogs, towering trees and crashing waves. We love you so.
