Tiny Island

I am really enjoying little island life. I've been working in the garden, doing some landscaping, and eating the most delicious food three times a day. Oh gosh I am so lucky to be here.
I've got my tent all set up and somewhat organized, it looks like this:

 I'm using a tote as a dresser, the lid for a table, and I've got a little mattress to sleep on.

I made a book shelf out of a box, and a nice cozy plaid blanket as a rug/carpet, and there is a mat outside of my door for my shoes. I hung some small pray flags across the ceiling, and usually have the plaid flannel my wifey gave me hanging up so it feels like she's here when I miss her. I also have a hammock that needs to be set up somewhere. 
The tent is orange and always seems to glow like a late sunset, and makes me feel warm and cozy.

I have a great view of the meadow out the front: 

 And the forest out the back:

Deer often come by, I hear them walk past the tent. I'm done in a far corner of a nice meadow filled with oxeye daisies. It's beautiful:

 So this is it, home for the summer, and I am so happy. I have also met some people that are around my age which is nice, and have some friends now who seem really awesome! And I found someone who has a sail boat and wants to teach me how to sail! I think I am going to have a great summer!

Oh The Places You'll Go

I have completely lost track of what month, day, or even what time it is. In the last two weeks I have been all over the island/s and I'm not even back home yet.
I have been so fortune as to have the sun follow me everywhere I go.

After leaving Victoria I spent a few nights at the lake gardening, and cooking with my second mom, and even went out tubing on the lake - something I haven't done in years.
My mum picked me up and we finally made it to Denman Island where I met everyone and set up my tent!
Sooner after I took my mum's car over to Tofino to visit friends and get some surfing in.

 Being surrounded by fog as I walked to the water's edge, not being able to see the swell, let a lone the ocean that was supposed to be in front of me somewhere out there, with my surf board under my arm, was one of the coolest experiences I've had. Once in the water and looking back to shore I had lost the point where sand and water met, and could barely make out the dark contrast of the trees against the sky. In the morning few other surfers were at the beach, and none close enough to see once in the water,  leaving the waves to myself, at one point I felt I had left to a whole new world made of water and waves and I wanted to stay and play forever. I paddled past a large pinkish jelly fish I was careful to avoid and a curious seal even came my way and checked me out, my first wildlife encounter while surfing, making my heart race a little bit(actually a lot). Soon however, the sun broke through the massive white grey blanket and cleared the sky, and I returned back to Cox Bay, out of my new world, the beach became visible again, and I watched Peter Devries surf a 100m or s0 away from me.  

I always have the best time in Tofino, and have already started the westcoast withdrawals being back on the eastcoast of the island, back in the Coastal Douglas Fir Biogeoclimatic zone.

Although I have not made it back to Denman yet, I'm in Nanaimo now, visiting my sister and babysitting my niece Araya, and her two dogs Roxy and Coach. Tomorrow we will all head back up Vancouver Island and go to Denman together.

I have been seeing so much of my family lately which has been really great reconnecting with everyone, although I miss my friends back in Victoria  a lot, especially my dear Wifey Kimberwolf (who I have a skype date with today:) !), and Mr. Jones. I am also having Discovery Coffee withdrawals, with not just the coffee but the staff and sitting in the cafe for hours just visiting, drinking great coffee, and reading.

I am looking forward ot returning to Denman Island, and getting my hands dirty in the garden.

Say Anything

Let me sleep tonight, moon I see you.
The light is brighter then eye lids shut,
For once one dreamless night I ask.
These thoughts drift into my sleep
And keep me stranded in this hole I dug.
The dark is all around as I fall deeper
And this sleepless night grips me,
Made of cloth, a coward to the day
Is running from me, however
I am unknowingly tangled in a pull,
As you drag me behind,
By a thread attached to you.

Darkness speak to me,
if not to apologize, then to free me.

I miss KimberWolf Esmeralda Von Sanshood

Goodbye toaster oven

Goodbye hot plate

Goodbye mini fridge

Goodbye small shower

Goodbye single bed

Goodbye my shoebox of a bachelorette suite!

Today I moved out of the first place I have ever lived by myself, and I feel this is a good time to reflect on the importance of this time in my life, even though it may have only been for six months. I learned a lot about myself, such as I need to learn how to cook for myself. I  learned I prefer not to sleep alone. I learned that I am really good at locking myself out of my house. I learned how to squish silverfish (because they are to fast to catch). I learned how to shave my legs in the shower. I learned how to make delicious banana bread in a toaster oven. I learned how to call friends when you get lonely. I learned when your cat scratches the walls you can't just find a can of paint in the laundry room, and try and paint over them - that only makes it worse, especially when it's the wrong colour, and when you decide maybe sanding it down would make it look better. Oops.

I am now at Shawnigan Lake for a few days until my mum gets here, and I think early Saturday morning we are driving up and over to Denman island, my new home for the summer months.

I'm looking forward to setting up my tent, and getting my hands dirty in the garden. And getting over to Tofino as soon as possible!

As excited as I am, I miss KimberWolf Esmeralda Von Sanshood terribly. I am not sure what I will do when I won't be able to talk to her numerous times a day.

love you wifey.

<3

Sand-Worn Side of You.

I found a local jewelry artist who makes rings and pendants from recycled copper wire, entwined around sea glass and shells she collects. They are absolutely beautiful.
They remind me of you. 
The contrast of the structured copper metal wrapped around the soft, sand-worn sea glass embodies you.
You have a protective outer wall wrapped around your secrets and sensitive side to keep people out. I know this because I've passed this barrier and have seen that soft, sand-worn side of you.

I thought about taking the sea glass we've collected together to the artist to make a custom piece, something to remind me of you, because I'm scared I will forget. 

Last Day of Classes and Catch Up.

The last 10 months of my life have been the best of my life.

Hands down.

I can't believe the amount of things I've done and seen, and the relationships I've built in this short period of time.

And I blame it on these three:

My life would not be as full of love, laughter, and adventure without them.

Thank you.

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Starting the Environmental Technology program when I did was the BEST decision I have ever made! And it's been an amazing program, at the end of the first year I have my GPS certification, Pleasure Craft Boating License, Stream Keepers certification, Restricted Operator's (maritime) certification, and WHMIS certification. Not to mention hours of actually field experience! 

I was so hesitant of the week long field camp component of my spring semester, but when I got out to Fairy Lake near Port Renfrew I had a really great time. 

I drove my first power boat, I canoed around Fairy Lake and up the San Juan River and it's tributaries, which is such a beautiful area (Besides the copious amount of logging happening in that area)

 We collected insects and salamanders using different techniques as part of an on going study of populations at Fairy lake which was really neat to be apart of. It was great doing actually field work that is being used and is meaningful. We also did Telemetry which was interesting, I wasn't very good at it. Although while practicing Nathan and I did find a real frog instead of the fake ones that were hidden.

We did another stream survey, which I really enjoy doing. I love doing the field chemistry part, finding the pH, and dissolved oxygen in the water. It combines my favourite things: Chemistry and Nature.

The timber cruising module I think was my favourite though. Learning how to fill out mensuration forms, using calibrated prisms, and calculating the volume of wood in a stand was really interesting. I want to go into foresty, developing sustainable forestry practices and these are my first steps in the field. We didn't do any tree coring, which is something else I am really interested in, but I'm sure if I ask,  I can get someone to take me out to do some.

While at camp I also learned how to chop firewood! It was so liberating, and fun to be able to cut my own wood, then start a fire with it. I am one step closer to being self sufficient! I also filleted a salmon! I really manned up.

My wife and I have also made another Tofino trip since I last posted, May long weekend we made yet another trip to the West Coast to visit friends and surf, although this time with our own gear!

We also got to take a boat ride over to "Stubb's Island" that only opens up to the public once a year

And more recently Perry, Kim and I went for a hike around East Sooke Park after having an amazing lunch in the sun on the patio of the Smokin' Tuna Cafe (which is randomly located at the end of an amazing trailer park near the Park).

We saw this really cool weather system that caught up to us just as fast as it passed by.

Camp camp camping

Okie dokie, off I go into the almost-wild until Saturday!
I have feelings of excitment somewhere in there!
I hope I haven't forgotten anything.

Bearing Off

Ugh.
This debby-downer mood is clinging like a greasy flim all over my body, and will not wash.
I find myself in a constant state of unease, and flooded with anxiety.
I feel uncomfortable, replaced, and unwanted.
There's a burning inside I can't put out, and everyday it grows, and will soon engulf me whole.

I have so much coming up, loose ends to tie, good-byes to say, with adventures ahead.

I'm stressed

I'm nervous

I'm excited

I'm going to vomit.

My last day of work is tomorrow

I don't no where I am going to live in September

I miss my kitty-cat already

I'm scared my friends are tired of me

I'm moving in < 2 weeks

I'm overwhelmed



I feel like I'm falling apart a little bit at a time,

at the seams, stich by stich.

I'm all over the place, scattered pieces

Bearing off route

a little bit lost.

a little bit loney.

I need to stop

breathe

calm

breathe

smile

breathe

Blue & Butterflies

School has been busy, and all over the place, the days have been filled with: Orienteering, birding, GPS certification, horticulture, gardening, coast and stream surveys, soil and site surveys, and getting my pleasure craft boating license (test results pending), among other fun things. All in preparation for the week long camping trip next week. 

But oddly I am not really looking forward to it.

I am a bit upset with myself for not being as excited about this spring semester as I ought to be. This is suppose to be the BEST part of my program yet I am letting it go by without really enjoying myself to the full potential.

And i can't really figure out why.

Part of me feels it's just the absurd amount of gravel and antihistamines I've been taking that always make me feel off and not myself.

But another part of me says it's because I would much rather be living somewhere that I can surf everyday, and have a real break from school.

...

These long lit days seem to pass in a blurrrrr, but they just can't go fast enough. 

I'm not sure where time has gone, or where I am going.

Life as I know it is going to be changing very soon, I am anxious, and most excited all at once.

I leave for Denman Island so soon. I want to leave now.

A tent in a secluded meadow awaits my arrival for the two months of summer I am allowed.

...

I've just finished reading Longitude by Dava Sobel.

The long pursuit for time at sea is Riveting.

John Harrison is a Boss.

The opportunities in which he opened this world to is fascinating.

Great sea voyages such as those of James Cook or Darwin's discoveries that created and defined our history may not have been the same or even successful without Harrison's "curious watch".

I highly recommend it.

The Ocean is a giant Neti Pot.

     It's been in these days of past I have had such enjoyment, having been consumed by the ocean's crash, and conversation with most excellent company. Again adventuring I have been with my partner in crime, to the west and south shores of this island rock. With our ever unfolding addiction to adventure, we came out of the forest, and into the sharp salt of the ocean's bluegreen, and played in it's mechanical waves.

     Kim and I again have been off having the time of our lives, taking full advantage of the short break between our winter and spring school semesters.

     Last weekend we took off for Tofino at the "Crack O'Dawn", literally, we left at 5:30am and arrived on the west coast by around 10 in the morning. In the 5 days and 4 nights spent camping at Green Point we managed to be in a box parade, have a beach fire followed by a beach sauna and polar bear swim, surf with great people, have an impressive camp fire dinner by the "Cast Iron King", visit almost all the beaches in Tofino, walk in the forest, and watch amazing sunsets, all with our amazingly awesome new friends who really made this weekend fantastic!

     This was the first time I have ever been surfing, and I absolutely loved it! As soon as I caught my first wave I was hooked. Paddling with tired arms for an oncoming wave, feeling it's power push behind you as your board slides forward, finally catching the wave and popping up to your feet, and harnessing the oceans mechanical energy is a rush I want to experience again and again. Mind you I spent most of my time with more salt water in my nasal cavity then under my board, after the first day out I started to get the hang of it, and managed to get my feet on the board in the whitewash. 
    
     The second and third day we went out further and started attempting the green, unbroken waves which was much more challenging, and again I found the ocean to be a giant neti pot. But with sinuses clear I manged to catch some waves and have an amazing time on the water. Just paddling out past the breaking waves, although difficult and tiresome, is incredibly enjoyable, bobbing up and down in the passing waves and watching the shore from a completely different prospective was brilliant.

     I find this sport incredibly beautiful and at the same time totally badass. Watching the experienced surfers amazes me; there is skill required to glide so elegantly along the surface of a wave, yet the transfer of natural energy between water and board is so raw. The physics behind this sport alone fascinates me, and leaves me to study the mechanics of waves and tides and I'm left in awe at the fact it's all possible by a celestial body orbiting us.
     This activity combines all of my favourite things: The ocean, science, sport, and incredible people and I am not sure why I didn't try it sooner. 

Life? I Got Some.

I have been busy doing things like this:

 At East Sooke Park,

 With this lovely lady,

 Loving Life;

Driving to Tofino,

 Playing on the beach,

Absorbing some Vitamin D,

Always being silly!

 & Having Wild Adventures

In Cathedral Grove's Old Growth Forests,

And at China Beach,

With more Amazing people,

 Discovering amazing treasures,

(at Botanical Beach)

 In our own backyard!

 Having the time

OF MY LIFE!

(Avatar Grove)

So understandably, I haven't posted in my blog in a while.

:D

The Ocean Washes Me

Shine like the sun, you are beautiful.

     An unexpected bouquet of sun shine was delivered to my door this morning. Or I should say this afternoon, seeing as I slept at Mel's last night and woke up too hungover(as usual) to really appreciate the weather on my way home (or read the bus schedule right). But after my afternoon nap I was ripe and ready to get me some Vitamin D! 

     This afternoon you could have found  me sitting drinking orange pekoe tea, calculating confidence intervals, ease dropping on sailing adventures around the world at Oak Bay Discovery Coffee; Or at the ocean clearing a head full of negative thoughts and feelings, watching clouds cover mountains like blankets, and biking along a coast line with wind in my hair, and sun on my back.

     Now I sit pressing spring flowers, snacking on salty olives and Camembert, wishing I had a glass of Merlot. Also I've decided I don't want to be upset anymore, my life is too great to go around moping around with this heavy heart. I have the best friends in the whole wide world and if that is all they can be right now I am okay with that.

I am the luckiest girl in the world.