Mid Summer Night's Dream!?

I couldn’t write yesterday. It was such a blah day. We left Tofino in the rain. The rain did help having to leave the beach, but it was feeling very much like the end of a vacation. We caught the ferry and then spent 3 hours in Friday Vancouver traffic. In the middle of the traffic, I had to figure out why my mom’s iPhone is not messaging me. Oh, and also convince her that we weren’t dead, we just weren’t getting her messages and couldn’t respond. We were all spent. I kinda felt like crawling in a ditch and giving up, but the Walmart in Kelowna beckoned. Sleeping in a Walmart parking lot doesn’t do much for your mood when you’ve had a nothing day but we didn’t have a lot of options.

This morning I was feeling a little guilty about my foul mood yesterday so I was determined to show the kids a great time on the drive back to Calgary. We needed a good attraction to get us all jacked up again. Kelowna is beautiful and the drive from Kelowna to Revelstoke is a great one. There were lots of exciting places where we could’ve spent the afternoon. All Parker wanted to do was power through and get to Calgary. One suggestion was the Enchanted Forest which looked really great but everyone said no to that especially when Keith saw the parking lot. I thought the roller ride down Mount Revelstoke would be awesome for everyone. Again, no. Not even a zip line enticed Parker.

In the meantime, I saw a fruit market called the Log Barn just north of Kelowna and pulled in. It was an interesting stop. We saw everything you would imagine at a roadside fruit market, fruit, baking, souvenirs, dragons, dinosaurs, gorillas... That stop didn’t do much to convince the kids I knew where the fun was.

WTH?

If you didn't like it, why so many pictures?

The thing that DID have the 2 of them motivated was free Root Beer day at A&W. We passed about 3 A&W’s, each time they are wailing for their free warm Root Beer (it would be so much better with ice IMO). We finally stopped in Revelstoke because at least then it was close to appropriate Root Beer drinking time. Yet again, Keith and I couldn’t handle the crowds so we ended up at Nomads in Revelstoke which turned out to be a great lunch place. Mushroom panini for me – so yummy. After lunch they still thought we were going for free Root Beer even though we had just paid (quite well) for cold Root Beer at lunch…

The winning stop of the day goes to The Last Spike just outside of Revelstoke. It was already a win for the adults because Keith is a history buff and I love anything with a plaque. The kids were thrilled with the gift shop. Win all around! The best part of the stop was the lovely people who run the place. I was trying to figure out if they are volunteers but you could clearly tell they love what they do. The ladies in the gift shop have a prop center set up, complete with beards that the one lady made. If I ever need to make a beard, I’ll be using her tips. It’s funny how someone’s enthusiasm can be infectious. I’m not a ‘dresser up’ person and you can imagine how much Keith enjoys it. Soon we were all dressing up for a photo. So much fun! Who needs a zip line? Oh and the ladies even chased us out to the parking lot with our keys because in all the excitement, guess who forgot them behind???

There's the plaque!

Seriously, they said no to the ride down the mountain, but yes to this...

Feel free to zoom in and look at the beard!

Tonight we have renewed and refreshed ourselves. We are all showered and laundered and hanging out in Calgary so that Keith can catch his plane home. We will be sad to see Keith leave but fret not, Nana is joining the circus. She will fit in for sure. I have high hopes that she will be the star of a few blog entries.

The End of the Road

We’ve hit it. Vancouver Island. Our final destination.

We loved walking through Cathedral Grove this morning. Even the kids were impressed with the enormity of the Douglas Firs.

Largest Douglas Fir on the Island - 9m around

Where's Parker?

Later we stopped in Port Alberni this morning to get an oil change. Here’s a big shout out to the guy from Jiffy Lube who I will refer to as Port Alberni’s ambassador. He clearly loves his town and did his best to sell it to us. I was shockingly asleep at the time, but I heard him tell Keith that so many people come through Port Alberni to get to Icluelet and Tofino and they don’t stop but there’s so much to do! We thought we should take him up on his advice and drove down to the water. We went into the maritime museum and walked around looking at the boats and lighthouse. It was getting close to lunchtime and the girls and boys separated.  Keith wanted fish and chips and I found a taco place. Abby is my Mexican twin so she came with me. I think in my next life I’m going to be a travel/food guide. We chose the nachos and fish tacos. Both were amazing. The tacos were huge with fresh breaded fish, tomatoes, onions and cilantro and a good, spicy aioli. All Mex’d Up, Port Alberni, BC – you’ve gotta try it!

Fish Tacos

Nachos!

We were a day early for our reservation in Tofino, so we are in Icluelet for the night. This is what a $45 campsite looks like here on the Island:

Do You Like Your Neighbours?

See that log? That’s what’s separating us from our neighbours. The guy to the right of the log and Abby is our new friend. Good thing they are nice and have kids as well. Right now Abby and Parker are trying to impress the pretty daughter. Abby wants a friend and Parker is well, he’s 11… Good times.

I adore the ocean. Coming over on the ferry yesterday I was excited at the first sounds and smells of the ocean. Today, Abby and I found the perfect sign. Words on wood are everywhere these days, but this one I couldn’t pass up. This will be the Desormeaux’s for the next 4 days: 

Beach days make the best days. The sand may brush off. The salt may wash clean. The tans may fade. But the memories will last forever. Happiness is sand between the toes, If you are lucky enough to live by the sea you are lucky enough. Time spent at the beach is never wasted. Wake up smiling. Flip flops are mandatory. Relax. Feel the breeze. Wear sunscreen. Soak up the sunshine. Nap often. Build sandcastles. Collect seashells. Catch a wave. Write your name in the sand. A day at the beach restores the soul. The beach is my happy place. Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air. At the beach, life is different. Time doesn’t move hour to hour, but mood to moment. We live by the currents, plan by the tides, and follow the sun. Salt in the air. Sand in my hair. Let the waves hit your feet and the sand be your seat. The ocean is calling.

Thanks for all the concern about my hair, but I doubt that I’ll be brushing it for the next few days. Sorry Mom.