Looking back

Here are a few glimpses of our final reunion and vacation days. We're still smiling as we remember our good friends and a great visit.

Mermaids, marshmallows and more

On Thursday Rosalee, Liam, Eric, Mandy, and Karl went on a fishing expedition. They caught and released some fish, saw some beautiful sights from the boat, and met some seals basking in the sun. Meanwhile, Danielle wandered the beach finding treasures, including a mermaid - who was unaware that she was snapping a few pics. After this day of adventures, the gang invited Mandy, Mateusz, Liam and Ania (the Bamfield Dragonfly House hosts) for a delicious salmon dinner (the very salmon that Eric had caught the day before). To end a full day - we wandered up the small hill for a marshmallow roast - Rosie's first). A smoky fire, dimming light, a tired girl, a tired mamma, and memories of mermaids and the magic of a day by the sea.

Bear by the Boardwalk

Okay, it wasn't me who saw the bear. It was Ellen, Ross and Karl. But really I wanted say "bear near the boardwalk". They saw it just after they had parted ways with Cindy and I to go fishing (a successful trip) while we continued our boardwalk stroll. 

Wednesday was relaxing. Rosalee and Eric stayed at the house with a few others, Rosalee wanting to spend time with Liam and Ania. They had a game of baseball, played in the garden, found shredded snake skins (fully intact), and played frisbee. 

Cindy and I walked the boardwalk, admiring a local artist's pastels of Bamfield houses, admiring "Cat Haven"' an eccentrically lovely yard for cats, and stopping for lattes at the boardwalk bistro.

In the afternoon Eric an I worked on our feasts or the masses, Chicken Marbella, served with fresh corn, green beans and salad with plenty of avocado. It was a hit!

Visited by a Steller's Jay (BC's provincial bird) in the evening. Wish I got a picture of his dusky blueness.

Smell of woodsmoke coming in from the neighbour's bonfire. Mmmmm.

Beautifully Broken/ That's how the light gets in

Tuesday, after a somewhat leisurely breakfast, we packed a few windbreakers, some water, and some lunch and boarded Karl & Cindy's boat to explore some of the Pacific Rim National park reserve. We headed toward a group of islands called "the broken group" to see what we could see. We anchored the boat and took turns in the zodiac to get to Benson Island.

According to one website:

" Archaeological research dates traditional use of Benson Island for over 5,000 years. Tseshaht First Nation’s oral traditions name this site as their origin place where the first Tseshaht man (Naasiya’atu) and woman (Naasayilhim) were created. It became the site of their principal village of Ts’ishaa. It is from this village that the Tseshaht derive their name, as Tseshaht literally means “people of Ts’ishaa”. 

We had lunch on the beach, explored the tide pools and enjoyed the calm waters and the grey light of an overcast day lit with sunlight that occasionally seeped through  the folds of the clouds. Upon returning to the house, we relaxed until the delicious BBQ lamb dinner prepared by master chef Ross. 

I'm losing track of the post 9:30 pm bedtimes for Rosie.

The Andals know how to fish

Anthroplura Xanthrogramica

Monday was a day of play here in Bamfield. Rosalee met the children of the hosts of the B&B. Liam (who is also 5 and a half) and Ania (who is 2) became Rosalee's playmates for a large part of the day. The played baseball (R's first- and her first swing at the ball was a hit!), various games in the backyard, swung on the hammock, and compared shell collections. We also followed them down to the beach for some beach combing. This was our second trip to the beach as Karl, Eric, Rosalee and I had ventured there (via secret hobbit-path) earlier in the morning. We searched the tide pools for life and found many wondrous creatures, including starfish, crabs, anemones. 

In the afternoon , Eric, Karl and Cindy went fishing, and Eric caught a 14 pound spring salmon ( to be eaten later this week). In the quiet I had time to read and watch the hummingbirds visit the geraniums.

Dinner was Ross's chicken parmesan special - yum!

The evening was topped off with some guitar playing and singing.