Experience #41

Theme: Air: Sleeping in the spheres

Thanks Celeste for suggesting this experience. The Free Spirit spheres are located in Qualicum Beach area. Tom Chudleigh built them of local woods using sailboat technologies. His concept was to harness the healing qualities of the old growth forest and create a habitat that is in harmony with it's surroundings without causing harm to it. The spheres are hung from a series of cables and no nails go into their support trees. You enter the floating orbs by a spiral stair case which wraps around a tree. The Erin sphere has a double bed, a dinette, kitchenette, and a loft single bed. The morning light streams into the round windows, the breeze gently rocks the orb. It is truly a relaxing and healing experience.
Our host Tom showed us the facilities: the 3 orbs, the compost toilet and shared shower facility. All very clean and well maintained. His partner, Rosey, had prepared a basket of goodies and champagne for us to enjoy. Their story is worth noting. Rosey came to stay, in 2009, for 2 months to recover from an illness. They fell in love and she ended up staying. Very romantic...
We arrived Friday night and stayed Saturday. The feeling of being cradled in this suspended tree house was magical. The suspension rocked away the stresses of the last few weeks. It was a week-end just for the two of us. Let's just say that the orb got 'a rockin'...

Experience #42

Theme: Earth: Spelunking

Horn Lake caves offers 3, 4, and 5 hour tours. Our guide was a young man named Myles. He explained that the caves were created many millions of years ago through the erosion process of glaciation. Limestone dissolves under the action of water charged with carbonic acid. The dissolution process produces a distinctive landforms known as karst, characterised by sinkholes, and underground drainage. Limestone caves are often adorned with calcium carbonate formations produced through slow precipitation. These include flowstones, stalactites, stalagmites, helictites, soda straws and columns. These secondary mineral deposits in caves are called speleothems.
Our tour took us through narrow tunnels where we had to crawl on our hands and knees and sometimes on our bellies. We down climbed into the deeper caves where we saw some of the largest flowstones and stalactites. One of these resembled the Buddha sitting by the water, others resembled animals such as elephants, crocodiles and wolves. It was a very exciting day of discovery. We both ended up very dirty-great fun!

Experience #38
Theme: Water: Surfing the wave in Tofino

Our nephew, Augustin, arrived just in time to join us on our long week-end in Tofino. The weather was spectacular! We did some whale watching on our first day, but-been there-done that so it can't be marked as a "new experience" for us. We were booked with Endless Ride, out of Ucluelet, for both the surfing and the SUP. Jay was great. He got us geared up and into the surf safely. He showed us how to read the beach and surf. Lesson # 1: stay away from the yahoo's (AKA the idiots who don't know what they're doing) and the rip tides. Augustin is in track and field and young (18) so he did very well. Simon and I were a bit more slow getting up onto the board, but we all had a blast! The waves were great and for most of the morning we had lots of space to practise.

Experience #39
Theme: Water: SUP-stand-up paddle board
Early start to the day. We met Kat at the boat launch at 7am. The skies were clear, but the water was a bit choppy. The SUP board is broader and thicker than a surf board. Balance is only a bit easier on this board. I could feel all my stabilising muscles working hard to keep me balanced. We set off along the inlet and across to a fish hatchery. Coming back the winds picked up and we had to work hard to paddle our way to the boat launch. The next day we all commented on how stiff we were-it's a great core work-out!





Experience #40
Theme: Air: zip-line
This was an easy one. On the way back from Tofino, we stopped at the Wild at Play park in Nanaimo and did their zip-line course. The guides set you up and you zip across the Nanaimo river canyon. It was great fun but a bit short.

Experience #37

Theme: exotic foods

Question: if you are invited to a BBQ, where you know the host and no-one else, what can you bring as an appy/ice-breaker?
Answer: bugs of course!

I think I gave myself this challenge. As the saying goes, we are always harder on ourselves. I decided to try eating some of those creepy crawlies. I let Simon choose them. They were purchased at the bug zoo, for those wishing to partake. He chose crickets and dried larvae-yum...

Witnesses are always important, so when Mandy invited us to her BBQ, I thought-perfect! Mandy is my inspiration for the 50 new things. She ventured into this experience last year, and is repeating it this year, as well. So I thought she might appreciate the opportunity herself.

We've all swallowed mosquitoes accidentally while being outdoors-but that doesn't count. The aim is to bite and chew the bugs. The mental challenge is to put that icky little critter in your mouth; after that just chew. I was amazed at how many ladies joined me for the "degustation" (french for tasting). What a brave/crazy bunch! After all the psyching-up it was just a crunchy little morsel. The drying process took away any possible flavors. I may try the real, juicy, thing, one day...

For the record, Simon also ate the bugs. Here is Paula, Mandy and I with our larvae... mmm protein....

Experience #35

Water theme: white water rafting

Simon and I booked this adventure a while back. We invited friends to come along. Too many wanted to join us-so sorry for those that didn't make the final cut. No reason, other than: first come first serve.

Mandy got us a great deal at Painters Lodge in Campbell River. The rooms overlooked the water and the docks. We arrived on Friday night as Saturday would start early. Our dinner in the pub was entertaining with the gang getting acquainted and our waitress being a bit (a lot) ditsy...

Morning arrived quickly. We met at 7:30 at the Destiny Adventures shop for wetsuit fitting, and a long bus ride up to Wass and the Nimpkish river. Jaime, our guide, decided that the water level was not right for the upper Nimpkish, so we joined the two other groups on the lower river. It would mean lower rated rapids but the chance to use kayaks.

The bus was an old school bus, the ride bumpy and dusty. We all changed into our wetsuits while on the road. At the landing site we all helped set up and got the "talk". I admit it made me nervous. eg. "if you fall out and get sucked under the raft, push up against the raft bottom and you will get pushed out to one side...." Yikes! No backing out now. We were given some quick paddling instructions and off we went. It would be 21 km on the lower river with class 3 rapids.

The first little rapids gave us the feel for our zodiac. It was very flexible, one could feel every wave and rock under its ribbed bottom. There were slots for our feet to keep us braced when we hit rougher waters. Simon went into the kayak first. He took the first white water with style, but the second set of rapids spit him out. Our boat went to aid him and accidentally squished him against a large boulder. We all heard the air being pushed out of him. SORRY! Good sport that he is, he didn't complain and got back into his kayak for more fun.

With a bit of encouragement from Jaime, we grew more comfortable with the rapids. Sonya and I went to the front to "block" the others from the big waves. We got totally drenched! What fun! After lunch on a beach, we set off again and played in some of the back flow. We paddled up into a "dip" in the rapid and the front of our boat got sucked into the water, filling with the cold clear river. Shawn and Tim got their turn getting wet.

Jaime allowed me to steer the boat down a small set of rapids. I was hopeless, always steering the wrong way. It showed me that our guide was quite an expert in manoeuvring our craft exactly where he wanted it.

Ian and Sonya took their turns in the kayaks. They both managed the rapids well and did not fall out. We arrived at the cliffs where we stopped to allow any fools who wished to jump to-well-jump. So being afraid of heights and a bit crazy, I was first up the cliffs. It was quite high. All I could feel was my heart pounding. I focused on the edge of the cliff and not the fall. One big step and I was met by the cold clear water. Whoeee! Experience #36-theme air/water- cliff jumping.

The day finished at Nimpkish lake, where our bus met us at an old dry-land sort. I think we all slept in that uncomfortable bus, tired from the days excitements. A great meal and a hot tub (with desert wine) finished us off, and we soon were all in dream land. Thanks to Mandy, Tim, Shawn, Chantelle, Sonya, Ian, and Simon for joining me on this wonderful week-end.

Experience #33

Theme: fine dinning: RV dinner

Simon and I were invited to dine in Dinah and Barry's 5th wheel trailer. It is in the front driveway of their beautiful home. They've been using it while doing reno's to their kitchen. Since I'm over the halfway mark on my experiences, I gladly accepted the offer to enjoy an entertaining evening where I wouldn't have to go too far out of my comfort zone.

Dinner was great. Barry made some terrific ribs and corn on the cob on the BBQ. Dinah added to the feast a delicious salad and a charcuterie platter. Generously pour wine, add good conversation about RVing and you have a very enjoyable evening.

I'm sure their neighbours thought we were a bit quirky but we had a ball. Go RVers!

Experience #34

Theme: social: Gay pride parade

I'm rarely home on the pride week-end. So this year, I made a point to participate. I feel that we, as a society, should be more inclusive. I have seen and heard hateful things done/said to gay and trans gender friends. Celebrating freedom of expression and identity is a powerful statement, that should be encouraged.

The weather was perfect and the downtown was filled with spectators and tourists. The floats were, as one might expect it, flamboyant. The last float had this amazing singer that worked the crowed like pie pipper. By the time we reached the James Bay park, there were thousands dancing and following her into the field. The band stand featured some local bands, and there was some kind of "talent show" by the baseball diamond. I was fun to see all the folks dressed up. Some had even dressed their dogs!

Experience #32

Theme water: Kayaking with the Orcas

What a weekend! Simon and I have been planning this one for a while. The level one kayak course we took in June was in preparation for this event. We purchased the charts and the tide books. We had our camping list printed weeks in advance so we wouldn't forget anything important such as the chocolate or wine. Our course was charted and we knew at what time the slack tide would be in the Haro Strait area.

We took the ferry from Sidney to Friday Harbour on Saturday June 30th. Friday Harbour is a quaint, hilly town. We were "car camping" which meant bringing anything we wanted, eating fresh foods,  drinking wine and eating cake. After shopping for necessities, we arrived at the camp site at 8pm. Camp was set up and the week end started by catching up with our good friends, who had joined us for the event. Our crew consisted of Roby (world kayaker), Grant (great guitarist), Jesse (cutest kid ever), Chris (birthday boy), Shira (supper athlete), Jeff (troubadour), Simon (best husband and man servant ever), and me (instigator of event).

Canada day, we had the best weather possible. It was sunny and calm. Our departure time was between 10 and 10:30. We kayaked out of Small Pox Bay by our campground and headed south with the ebbing tide. The water was mirror calm (0 on the Beaufort scale). It did not take long to see our first orcas. We were alone for a while listening to their breath and watching as they swam by. Once the whales were spotted though the tour boats showed up. With their loud motors and speakers blaring it altered the mood. Soon the boats "chased" the pod away and we were by ourselves again. More pods came by, but we needed to turn back before the current became too difficult for our paddle. The winds picked up and the swell increased and we had to work hard to get back to our little bay. I was glad to be in a double kayak with Simon. He kept me calm and focused to the task at hand.

The afternoon was spent playing bocce and snoozing in the sun. The evening meal was enjoyed beside our campfire. Simon spotted the fireworks in Victoria, off on the horizon, and the gang sang "Oh Canada". The guys played their guitars and we sang the night away. What a splendid way to end our day.

Thanks gang for sharing in my adventure!

Theme: Food and Wine

Experience #31: Wine tour

Yippee! Simon's new employer invited us to their annual retreat in Ossoyous. The boys got to play golf and the ladies enjoyed a morning at the spa...ah... But the best part was the afternoon of wine tours! I've never done one! I LOVE WINE!!!!!!
 You may sense that it wasn't hard to convince me to participate in this experience.
I learnt a bunch of stuff on wine making.
Did you know:

• Vines reach their maturity at about 3-5 years. The vine roots can dig deep (50 feet or more) into the poor arid soil to reach water.
• The winemakers may cull up to 50% of the grapes on the vines to encourage optimal sweetness in the remaining grapes.
• Most wineries hand pick the grapes and place them in a tank with an air-filled sac that squeezes the juice out gently. The grape juice is then fermented in vats of aluminium and then oak (young or old oak depending on the type of wine/grapes) until it reaches maturity. It is then bottled.
• An acre of grapes produces about 5 tones of grapes and makes 4,336 bottles of wine. One bottle of wine contains 2.3lbs of grapes.

Tasting the wine:

1. Tip the glass and look at the LEGS of the golden/ruby liquid.
2. Smell the NOSE. Your nose can distinguish thousands of flavors. Gently swirl the wine in the glass.
3. Taste. The tip of the tongue senses sweetness. The back, bitterness, and the sides detect acidity. Swirl the wine in your mouth blending it with some air bubbles.
4. Feel the wine on your tongue. Is it rich, full, lean, bubbly? Tannins feel dry.
5. Spit. The more you spit, the more you can sample without the risk of making a fool of yourself.
6. Cleanse with a couple of crackers, or water to make space for the next tasting.

The Okanagan is developing a reputation for its wineries. If you haven't visited this beautiful area I would recommend that you do. Thanks Quartech!