Vancouver Island January 2009

These entries are for all my clients and friends that keep tellin me that I need to learn what a vacation is. Well.........while you are all sitting on a way to hot and crowded beach....drinking your water downed booze....hoping you don't catch any weird diseases.....or worse!....this is what I was up to....in my own beautiful country.....which is one big play ground!

Unfortunately due to the power of mother nature...the trail head that I was headed for was closed off due to a mudslide.....but that wasn't stopping my fun!


This by the way is the view from my hot tub...that is Washington on the other side.

sandcut beach

Natures aliens that grow in the rain forests of Vancouver Island....So Cool!!!

Beautiful colors on tis uprooted tree washed up on the beach.

I learned while taking pics of this beautiful waterfall that you should never turn your back on the ocean when the tide is coming in. I looked back just in time to make it to higher ground while a wave crashed in.

fossils in the sandstone

The mist was so beautiful!

The amazing force of the ocean is shown here. This huge tree fell over and was covered by the sand and rocks before it even started to die off.



You never know who you are going to meet in the forest!



Funky fungi




memo to me: When grasping for branches to hold onto while jumping off makeshift bridges....check for thorns....OUCH!!

China Beach

Spent some time climbing through the logs and other ocean debris on China beach. Bet alot of people don't even know you can surf in Canada in January...tested out the waterproofing on my new hiking boots here....yup they are good!

Christmas 2008

My father and step mother with the painting I did for my daddy for Christmas


In the good newfie tradition we start them early on the screech! (just joking for those without a sense of humour....it is pop)


A pile o kids


My father....this is what happens when you let a newfie off the island!!


My 3 crazy teenagers