This trip has literally one highlight after another!

Let me first start off by saying what a view I have for jotting down some thoughts for the blog. Sitting here in Brown’s Bay, British Columbia~ Vancouver Island, nose to, looking at the narrow mouth of the Discovery Passage, with kelp beds just feet below our campsite and playful seals and Robins hopping around the shore entertaining the kitten. (yes Robins.. not Seagulls.. lol). Along with rolling fog banks, mountain tops, light house, marina, bluffs, fishing boats and the loan early AM cruise ship that passed by. Just spectacular.

Brent and Esther Hollink are dear friends that we have not seen in almost a decade. We would see them down island at the Bitter End Yacht Club, Virgin Gorda where Brent was the marina manager and Esther worked at water sports. They now live here on Vancouver Island and work their tails off owning, managing and running the amazing Brown’s Bay Resort. (link here) We used to call in on the radio to Brent so many years ago to request a slip at the Bitter end… in now we have done it again in our “land yacht”, somehow linking two very far points of land..! Esther working at water sports, would always let Savannah be part of the kids camps and activities even though she was barely old enough to walk. The little curly, toe headed toddler, that ran around at the Bitter end in bikini bottom, pfd, and “who to talk too” about an ice cream bar when Mom and Dad were not looking! It was fun to see Brent and Esther’s faces on seeing Savannah now! Same for us as they have two gorgeous and smart little boys of their own! We were treated to an awesome dinner with plenty of Heineken on tap and all you can eat dungenous crab. Jim also received a lesson on how to properly eat one! 😉 The kids stayed out late catching up… or should I say early..? The good times have commenced Bitter End style so soon!

The evening before in Vancouver, we met up with some dear friends David and LeAyne Dunbar that also live in Pensacola that just happen to be in Vancouver on business the same time as us. What are the chances of that?! We all met downtown and enjoyed the city sights, laughs, dinner and a walk along the waterway. We all spotted the Oriole at the same time.. an absolutely stunning, and gorgeous 102’ steel, ketch rigged, canadian naval training sailboat with the most sexy lines and workmanship. LeAyne was gasping at the teak that had to be maintained as she and David just finished a teak job on their trawler this past summer… The IPA’s had already gone to my head so I had no qualms waking up the ships on call “social media guard”… after he realized we were not just a bunch of Pensacola drunks on a stroll and all of us knew a little about sailing, we were welcomed aboard and given a grand tour. David was literally like a little kid in a candy shop just grinning ear to ear!!! Really fantastic treat to tour such a vessel at 10pm! The Vancouver skylights were reflecting off the waters around the dock, the air was cool, and it made the return to civilization quite nice actually. That compounded with running earlier in the day through the famous Stanley Park. Something about coffee shops and running trails that is so appealing. Maybe I’m a city girl after all?

Oh and I must mention the grocery shop we provisioned the next weeks groceries and supplies. We might as well have been in Holland or France.. so many exotic meats, cheeses, and cookwear. With exotic pricing to go right a long with that Kangaroo or ostrich meat or even nipple covers… (that’s another story….).

To get to Vancouver Island we boarded a ferry at Horse Shoe Bay bound for Nanaimo. The ride was very pleasant even with the nagging feeling of over indulging the previous evening… We drove the RV while towing the jeep right up into the belly of the ship. Savannah road shotgun and was getting pretty tickled at the idea of doing this. On the upper decks were comfortable seating, Starbucks and GREAT shopping on board, felt almost like an airline terminal. Pretty excited to have purchased a clearance Kiltec rain jacket and killer Koi socks! Yes, everyone needs a pair of knee socks with koi on them. Also began “Gumboot Girls”, a story on adventure, love & survival on British Columbia’s North Coast…… this won’t give me many ideas. J

Ester suggested that on our ride up to Browns Bay from Nanaimo we drive inland a bit and visit Cathedral Cove to see the gorgeous Douglas Firs of Vancouver Island, some of which are over 800 years old. This was probably the most spectacular, fairy wooded garden REAL make believe land I have ever been in. At home I often create little fairy habitats of mosses, lichens, ferns, adorned with driftwood, shells, figurines, and little houses. This was like the giant real version and absolutely incredible. I have to go back with my good camera and get some photos to frame… I only used my camera phone while I pulled off a run to really absorb this beauty. One time around the path was not enough, about 12 times around was better….

We arrived to Browns Bay ….http://brownsbayresort.com/  just before dinner reservations and were immediately greeted by Brent and Ester and their beautiful family. Followed by Heineken on tap, delicious food, and great catch up conversation. Did I mention the Heineken on tap?

One of the best parts of this trip is catching up with all of the friends that we have not seen in years and getting to spend time with them along our journey. This for sure has been a highlight. That and drinking hot tea and reflecting the past days’ events on the blog with this

incredible view from the campsite. The water is crystal clear and the seals are frolicking in the kelp beds just in front of our site. What a treat!

Looking forward to paddling, fishing and grizzly bear siting… and just some plain down time for reading and relaxation.

Note: Jim and I met in Sitka Alaska 1999.. a few miles up the passage.. 😉 The area and landscape is sparking some very fond memories that changed both our lives forever. Sheer fate.