Kayaking/Glamping with Blogging Friends – Part 2

On August 25, 2023September 12, 2023 By Widow BadassIn Adventures in Retirement, Badassery, Good Times, Retirement, Sea Kayaking, See the Beauty, The Great Outdoors, Travel Badassery47 Comments

As mentioned previously, Joanne and I were invited to partake in a 3 day/2 night ocean kayaking trip by Jude. This happened the first weekend in August and we had a blast! Other than us 3 (who knew each other through blogging and are now fast friends), there were 5 others on the trip – all friends of Jude, who knew her from her academic life. Those folks, and our two fabulous guides made a contingent of 10 kayakers on this adventure.

Our two amazing guides from Majestic Ocean Kayaking: Jeff and the aptly named Marina! Learned so much from them. 💕

Captain Gary dropped us, the kayaks and all of our gear off at Moon Snail Beach on Dodd Island.

We each received a laminated map of the area, to carry with us while kayaking. X marks the spot we were dropped off (and later picked up) at Moon Snail Beach on Dodds Island. In the upper right (under Crawford Lake) is the location of the Broken Islands Lodge. Broken line indicates Captain Gary picking us up at the lodge and depositing us on Moon Snail Beach for our last day of kayaking.

Joanne and I in all of our kayaking gear (including spray skirt). I think Jude took this picture of us.

One of our first stops, at the tiniest of the Tiny Islands. That’s Marina (L) and Joanne (R) in the shot.

Joanne in her trusty boat (with Jude in the background).

Eventually we made it to our cozy, comfy lodge for the next 2 nights. Where we were amply fed and watered. Our boats in the foreground, awaiting tomorrow’s adventure.

Apres kayak. View from my Muskoka chair.

A young black bear came to forage at the lodge’s beach every morning.

Our mornings started out calm and foggy.

But soon enough, the fog lifted to reveal stunning views.

We took many breaks, allowing us to explore different islands and their beaches.

Jude and Joanne (and one of Jude’s friends) relaxing during one of our lunch breaks on yet another island.

Guide Jeff made sure we made it to Willis Island, to experience a giant cedar tree growing there. Jude in front of it.

I used panorama mode to try to capture the whole tree (and Joanne) in this shot.

I think I took this shot just before we headed into the roughest waters experienced yet, on this trip. On the last day. Some of our group were quite shook up by this experience (especially the newbies). Guide Jeff had said it was nothing we couldn’t handle, so I felt quite safe and enjoyed being tossed on the waves. ~~Was I too stupid to be scared?~~

I used my happy-birthday-to-me new GoPro camera to take some video and GoPro made me a short highlight reel. Yay!!!

The clouds and fog started rolling in on the afternoon of the last day, and it was perfect timing to load the kayaks (and ourselves) back on the boat and head “home”: to Majestic’s headquarters in Ucluelet.

And I wasn’t home too many days before this happened. Many thanks to our guide Jeff for giving me great advice on what type of sea kayak to look into.

Meet “Libelle” (lee bell uh). *Dutch word for dragonfly*.

I hope you enjoyed coming along for the ride on this fabulous adventure of mine (and Joanne’s and Jude’s). It was challenging and thrilling and contemplative and awe-inspiring and, and, and….it was a wonderful experience that I feel so grateful and privileged to have been a part of.

Rock on,

The WB

Kayaking/Glamping with Blogging Friends – Part 1

On August 22, 2023August 20, 2023 By Widow BadassIn Adventures in Retirement, Badassery, Good Times, Retirement, See the Beauty, The Great Outdoors, Travel Badassery41 Comments

It all started last January, when Jude casually mentioned in a Zoom call that she was booking a 3 day/2 night ocean kayaking trip in the Broken Islands for August with some friends and would I like to join their party? WOULD I?!? Is the Pope Catholic? Do bears poop in the woods? And most importantly: is it OK if I ask Joanne if she wants to join us?

The answer to all of the above was a resounding YES! (And a resounding HELL YES! came from Joanne as well 🤭.) Who immediately started researching flights to the island.

We had to be at Majestic’s headquarters in Ucluelet the night before, to get sized for our wetsuits and lifejackets so that meant booking an overnight stay in town.

Actually, we could not find a hotel, resort, AirBnB etc., that would allow us to book only one night so we had no other choice but to book for 3 nights at the Black Rock Resort. As one does.

It was quite the hardship 😉, but we screwed up our courage and made the best of it (including starting our visit with a trip to the Drift Spa, visiting the Ucluelet Aquarium, noshing at the iconic Tacofino, AND enjoying the most delightful restaurant meal I’ve ever experienced at Pluvio). Making lemonade out of lemons, ya know? 😜

Full moon view from the balcony (right before I scared Joanne to death as she independently decided to ALSO step out on the balcony at 2 am 😂).

View from the Wild Pacific Trail as the fog was lifting.

Joanne snapped this beauty from the side of the road in Ucluelet.

We made friends with the locals:

And then (in a heartbeat, or so it seemed), our time at the resort was over…and we were departing for the Broken Islands.

All of our group’s gear on the tarp, waiting to be loaded onto the boat.

To be continued…

Rock on,

The WB

The Sunday Schnauzer – Heat Wave

On August 20, 2023August 19, 2023 By Widow BadassIn Adventures with dogs, Bowser the Schnauzer29 Comments

This past week brought high temperatures to our usually moderate coastal climate. But it didn’t stop us from heading to the creek for some fun and exploration…we adjusted our schedule to leave the house even earlier, before the sun got too high in the sky.

And I made sure we spent a lot of time cooling off by trudging through ~~what remains of~~ the creek.

Bowser’s mommy sent me this shot of Bowser, post-walk 🤣. Same girl, same 😉

The following day: rinse and repeat!

What a life!

We hope you stay cool, explore and relax this weekend.

Rock on,

The WB

The Sunday Schnauzer – Mommy Styles Me

On August 13, 2023August 12, 2023 By Widow BadassIn Adventures with dogs, Bowser the Schnauzer39 Comments

Mommy plays with my hair.

I think it’s weird but it’s Mommy and I love her, so OK…I guess?

Send help. Please.

Rock on,

The Bowz 🐾

The Sunday Schnauzer – Oma Is Away, Again

On August 6, 2023July 31, 2023 By Widow BadassIn Adventures with dogs, Bowser the Schnauzer21 Comments

Bowser here. Oma is away again on another of her vacations. Mommy says she is on the west coast of the island, doing some broken kayaking….no, wait…kayaking around the Broken Islands.

So I am a bit lonely for her. But I have the rest of my pack taking me on adventures (take that, Oma!) so that is helping a lot.

Helping the pack fish and catch crabs at Roberts Memorial Park. I was here before, when I was a young pup – see this post.

I hope you are helping your pack out this weekend.

Rock on,

The Bowz 🐾

p.s. Mommy says Oma probably doesn’t have internet or even cell coverage (whatever those things are) where she is, so she won’t be able to reply to any comments for a couple of days.

What’s On Your Plate Blog Challenge – It Came Out Of A Jar Edition

On August 2, 2023July 25, 2023 By Widow BadassIn Adventures in Food, What's On Your Plate44 Comments

🎵Summertime….and the living is ~~easy~~ BUSY🎵

All of this stuff is happening around Chez Badass, all at the same time. The weather has been hot and super sunny, the garden is going gangbusters, the grandkids are here, nature is calling, the wild berries are ripening, AND I am undergoing some long awaited renovations (of my 2nd bathroom and my entryway). Whew!

What’s a gal to do, with all this mayhem happening ALL at the same time? Turn to the pantry (or in this case, her daughter’s pantry 😉), that’s what to do!

I had some long-suffering frozen shrimp thawing in the fridge and we combined that with a jar of sauce, some frozen mango chunks, chopped onions, and these babies:

Fresh picked pole beans from my backyard!

Languishing jar of sauce, from my daughter’s pantry. I’ve been disappointed by jarred sauces before, so my expectations were ~~non-existent~~ low.

Simmering it all together. Looking (and smelling) good so far!

Dear Readers, it was ~~unexpectedly~~ amazingly delicious. The fam came trooping through the back garden gate – lured by the pleasing aromas wafting from the kitchen – and everyone enjoyed this hastily put together masterpiece! Now, please excuse me while I make an emergency run to the store to pick up more sauce…🤣.

So that’s it for me, for this month! Please join my co-host Donna (she lost the golf game but won at dinner!) and me in sharing what’s been on your plate lately!

Here’s the Link Party deets if you care to join the party that way:

Otherwise, I hope to see you in the Comments!

Rock on,

The WB

The Sunday Schnauzer – Mopey

On July 30, 2023July 25, 2023 By Widow BadassIn Adventures with dogs, Bowser the Schnauzer29 Comments

Mommy just told me that Oma is going away again.

Also, luckily I am a dog. So I have already forgotten to be sad because I live in the moment!

I hope you are living in the moment too.

Rock on,

The Bowz 🐾

Wordless Wednesday – July Garden Update

On July 26, 2023July 25, 2023 By Widow BadassIn Dragonfly Cottage Garden 2023, Gardening51 Comments

What’s dangling inside the arch – pole beans

Kabocha squash blossoms, with bees hard at work

Gifted to me from a neighbour – orange daylily

Black cap raspberries (done now, for this season)

Black currants (harvested and dried at this point)

Swiss chard, cherry tomatoes, butternut squash and cucumber plants

Marigolds peeking out from under the squash

Rock on,

The WB

The Sunday Schnauzer – Critter Fest At The Creek And Beyond

On July 23, 2023July 22, 2023 By Widow BadassIn Adventures with dogs, Bowser the Schnauzer, See the Beauty, The Great Outdoors39 Comments

It’s been very hot and dry here and the family has been walking to the ever-shrinking creek nearby, to cool off. When Bowzer’s daddy and siblings are involved, there will be critters found!

First up – a froggy friend getting a ride on Daddy’s shoulder:

Next up: a crayfish was found (and quickly released).

Bowser got brave and worked on his swimming skills (not his favourite activity, but needs must at times 😉). We were all very excited to see him actually swim ~~in case you couldn’t figure that out~~ 😂:

We went to our favourite tree, dubbed the Magic Tree. It seems a bit other-worldly, with all those exposed roots in the water. So many little fish love to hide and swim among these roots:

Bowser loves climbing on this tree to better watch all the water shenanigans.

Although Bowser is not a fan of swimming per se, he loves exploring the shallower parts of the creek.

Here he is, crossing the creek where it is shallow enough he doesn’t have to swim (always his first choice!):

We eventually made our way back home again, but it didn’t mean the critter fest stopped. Bowser’s big brother (henceforth to be known as The Snake Whisperer) found the most beautiful little snake in my garden. Who was quite content to wrap him/herself around his hand and observe us all. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree – just saying!

All this exploring and critter-talk makes a body tired:

We hope you have some fun this weekend, and also take time to rest.

Rock on,

The WB

The Sunday Schnauzer – Looking Pretty

On July 16, 2023July 15, 2023 By Widow BadassIn Adventures with dogs, Bowser the Schnauzer, Move to Dragonfly Cottage, Renovation36 Comments

Bowser here. Oma has been pretty busy the past couple of weeks so I’ve had to stay over at Mommy and Daddy’s more than I am used to, during the day. There have been big white trucks in the front yard and strangers over at Oma’s. Here is a picture of me looking good at Oma’s – she just washed her ~~kitchen~~ yum-yum room mat and I am decorating it.