There Are No Bad Days Hiking…

On October 13, 2021October 13, 2021 By Widow BadassIn Good Times, See the Beauty, The Great Outdoors, The Great Trail49 Comments

…only bad gear and bad attitudes.

Luckily we brought both the good gear and the good attitudes to this rainy day hike.

I wore my bear bell, just in case (not needed on this hike, fortunately).

Known as “The Abyss”. Apparently caused by an earthquake in the 1940s.

It’s quite deep but not very wide. However, sometimes small dogs fall into it and have to be rescued.

There were many other stunning sights and views, even in the rain and mist.

I think this is called bristly beard lichen.

Beautiful foliage. So many shades of green.

Misty view of Nanaimo and the Salish Sea.

Donna capturing the view looking east from the ridge.

Hawthorn. We were also this dripping wet during our hike. 🙂

I’m so glad we got out on this trail, despite the wet weather.

Rock on,

The WB

Giving Thanks Today

On October 11, 2021October 11, 2021 By Widow BadassIn Good Times, See the Beauty, The Great Outdoors30 Comments

For the sun lighting up the changing leaves

For someone to share the mysterious woods with

For beautiful, musical spawning streams and rivers

For witnessing the annual chum salmon run

For learning more about the salmonid species that inhabit the rivers and seas

For fish tacos and Jarritos at Tidal Tacos

For sneaky, cheeky birds eyeing our lunch

For the beauty of a Vancouver Island autumn

For Thanksgiving gatherings with family and friends

For life and for health; for everything!

Rock on gratefully,

The WB

Silent Saturday – Cable Bay Trail and Dodd Narrows

On October 2, 2021October 11, 2021 By Widow BadassIn See the Beauty, The Great Outdoors41 Comments

Now that Summer 2021 is firmly in the rearview mirror and my second fall on the island is in progress, I have decided to make it a goal to explore 1 new-to-me trail per week. Earlier this week I headed out to experience the Cable Bay Trail (and Joan Point Park and Dodd Narrows) in Cedar. Cable Bay Trail is apparently one of the top-ranked forest trails on Vancouver Island. And Dodd Narrows is known for sea life (sea lions and orcas) frolicking in its strong current. (Unfortunately no frolicking during my hike, which occurred at high tide…only 1 lonely sea lion seen although many were heard!) Here are some photos of this walk. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them.

Back home. Après hike beverage because hiking is thirsty work! 😜

Rock on,

The WB

Great Bears of Bute Adventure – A Full Day of Beauty, Wonder and Learning

On September 17, 2021September 17, 2021 By Widow BadassIn Adventures in Retirement, Good Times, Roadtripping, See the Beauty, The Great Outdoors, Travel Badassery53 Comments

Yesterday was one for the books! (My personal history books, I mean 🙂 ) My sister and Donna and her husband had arrived in Campbell River, BC the day before in order to be on time for our early morning Homalco Tour’s Great Bears of Bute adventure. (You might remember we were in Campbell River earlier this year…so of course part of the agenda for THIS trip was to revisit our favourite Indigenous woman-led businesses there and to stock up, which we happily did!)

On the dock at 7 am, a bit bleary-eyed and ~~raring~~ ready for adventure! L – R: my sister, me, Donna and Richard.

We eagerly boarded the beautiful Klohoy (Homalco word for chum salmon), a comfortable aluminum boat with 2 seats per person on the tour (1 in the indoor heated cabin with onboard loo, 1 on the viewing deck). After a brief safety lesson (including being instructed to wear our masks at all times), we were off on the 2 hour journey to Bute Inlet!

Words and pictures cannot begin to describe the beautiful views we encountered at every step of the day’s adventures.

We weren’t too far into the trip to the mainland when Captain Flavian noticed whale blow. Which meant of course we had to stop to investigate.

Not the greatest photo of 2 humpback whales. For better shots of these magnificent mammals, please go to an older post, here.

After enjoying the whales for about 15 minutes, we continued on to an inlet where Captain Flavian had grown up, to learn some of the more recent (last 200 years) history of the Homalco people. Our guide Holly also tried to teach us some words in the Homalco language.

From Donna’s notes, here are the English translations from top to bottom: 1. The language of our people (4 tribes); 2. Grizzly Bear; 3. Chum salmon (name of our boat); 4. Whale; 5. Seal; 6. Sea Lion; 7. Eagle; 8. Raven

Holly told us to notice that the waters of the inlet were the most beautiful colour, due to glacial sediment from the rivers that feed it. And that the boat’s colour scheme had come from the colour of the water. See for yourself!

Well, actually I am kinda hoping there are lots of bears in the area 🙂

After docking, we made our way to the cultural centre to get a safety briefing from our bear guides: JJ and Ian. Basic takeaway: Listen to your guides! When they say “back on the bus”, this means NOW, not 2 more photos first! On the bus, JJ also regaled us with stories involving bear spray…er…misadventures from his childhood, and cultural stories of what the Homalco learned from observing grizzly bears.

At our first stop, a bear ambled into view even before we were all able to get off the bus. And there were bears at every stop thereafter. Holly mentioned she has yet to be “skunked” on any bear adventures she has hosted. Please check out my Instagram for the many videos I posted of this adventure!

Of course the bears were there for one thing only: to fatten up on the many chum salmon in the stream! Unfortunately the fish – although plentiful and easy to spot – were very hard to photograph through the running water.

Where there are bears, there are also many birds (including bald eagles – no good photos to share, unfortunately) – also there for the salmon…both for the eggs in the river and to clean up the fish who had already died on their journey to spawn.

My sister and I are beaming, under our masks. Taken while visiting one of two specially constructed bear viewing platforms.

Donna, my sister and I in front of the bear sign. We asked and were granted permission from our guides to move to the sign for a photo. The Homalco word for grizzly bear is pronounced “howgas”. (I hope I am not butchering the language too badly.)

After 3 hours of being awestruck in the presence of the magnificent grizzlies, we were as hungry as the bears themselves.

Eating our delicious boxed lunches in the world’s most beautiful outdoor “restaurant”.

Once back on the boat for the journey back to Campbell River, even more wildlife was spotted.

Harbour seals sunning on a log in Orford Bay.

Orca! My first sighting!!!! This male is T11A, and you can read more about him and wild transient orcas here.

Steller sea lions having a bit of a bro fest.

Adult males can weigh up to 2500 pounds.

The stunning views just never stopped on this trip.

After over 8 hours on the water and the mainland of British Columbia, it was time to head back to the dock in Campbell River, and from there back to home in Nanaimo.

Today I received the following (excerpted, from the email) from Homalco Tours:

Thank you for joining us on a recent tour from Campbell River. We sincerely hope that you enjoyed yourself!
By travelling with us, you are contributing to the growth and preservation of Homalco First Nation culture, Indigenous employment, and to the restoration of wild salmon populations in Bute Inlet. “I:mote” means “it is good” and is the word for gratitude in the Homalco language. We extend that gratitude to you.

I don’t think there is a big enough word for me to express my gratitude to the Homalco people for providing me the opportunity to partake of this adventure on their land. IT IS and WAS GOOD.

Rock on,

The WB

Wordless Wednesday – Tofino Weekend with My Sister

On September 15, 2021September 14, 2021 By Widow BadassIn Good Times, Roadtripping, See the Beauty, The Great Outdoors37 Comments

My sister from Ontario is here on Vancouver Island, visiting for 2 weeks. Last weekend we spent a delightful 2 nights in Tofino. Here are some pictures from our stay. Hope you enjoy! (We sure did!)

My sister enjoying the washed up wood on Chesterman Beach

Of course we had to visit Tacofino for a trio of delicious tacos: fried fish (lingcod, I believe), seared tuna, beef

Rainy Long Beach walk on Saturday, followed by lunch (Zoe’s Bakery: highly recommend!) and a visit to the Aquarium in Ucluelet.

There is a tuna derby going on all week long at our resort (Tofino Resort and Marina). $40K grand prize. Exciting!

This was cause for celebration on our part.

It was so much fun to sit at the pub and slurp back oysters, and watch the fishermen bringing their catch of albacore tuna in at the end of the day.

Caught in mid-bro fist. Sporting his lucky fishing wig? Or did he lose a bet? 😉

Official weighing: each team brought forward their 4 biggest fish of the day to be weighed.

Sunday morning found us on the Rainforest Trail.

Of course we had to visit the tree my daughter and son-in-law chose for their nuptials.

After checking out of the resort, we were off on a whale watching journey, guided expertly by Elder Moses Martin of Clayoquot Wild.

There were stunning vistas all along the journey. We spent a good amount of time watching a gray whale (named Orange Crush by the locals because of an orange spot on its fluke). I was too awestruck to get out my camera…sorry (not sorry).

We did see a good number of sea otters, and those I did capture a few shots of.

They are much bigger than river otters. These guys were hunting salmon.

Happy, tired faces. Ready for the drive back home over the mountains, and to get rested up for our next adventure.

Rock on,

The WB

What’s On Your Plate Blog Challenge – Staff of Life Edition

On September 1, 2021September 2, 2021 By Widow BadassIn Adventures in Food, COVID-19, Good Times, See the Beauty, The Great Outdoors, What's On Your Plate72 Comments

This is going to be somewhat of a looong story and a picture-heavy post so I hope you don’t mind. If you do mind, I don’t mind – so feel free to click away. My introduction to this recipe started way back at the beginning of the pandemic, when my good friend gifted me the most delicious loaf of homemade bread you could imagine. Jonathan somehow secured not only flour but yeast (remember those days?) and told me that this bread was not only insanely good, but insanely easy to make. He was 100% correct on both counts. His recipe came from the New York Times, I believe…and there are a bazillion versions of this bread recipe floating around Ye Olde Interwebs. Even recipes for gluten-free ~~doorstops~~ loaves, which I have tried (and failed ~~miserably~~ at).

The loaf that started it all. In my old kitchen, back in Ontario. March 26, 2020

Despite having issues with wheat (not gluten, but something else in bread), I can digest this bread just fine and without pesky heartburn. I think it is the very long rising…something that doesn’t happen in a production bakery. Anywho, here is the recipe (adapted by me from a gluten-free one I found somewhere…) told in pictures for this no-knead rustic bread loaf; pandemic and/or lockdown not required.

You will need:

3 cups of flour plus a little extra for dusting
3/4 tsp active quick-rise yeast
2 tsp kosher salt (I don’t see why you couldn’t use regular salt)
1.5 cups room temperature water
measuring cup and spoons
large glass bowl (Why glass? Does yeast hate metal/ceramic/plastic?)
wooden spoon (Don’t ask me why it has to be wood. Aesthetics? The anti-metal thing? I don’t know.)
Dutch oven
tea towel
parchment paper
cooling rack
oven (duh)

Mix dry ingredients together. The wooden spoon does look nice though…

Add room temperature water and mix (with pretty wooden spoon) to form the dough. Cover with tea towel and let it do its thing for at least 8 hours (overnight works well). In winter when the air is drier, I make the tea towel damp first so the dough doesn’t dry out too much.

Amuse yourself for the next 8 hours. I made and served a blackberry trifle for my son-in-law’s birthday. I think he liked it. 😉 (Completely optional but if you do choose to do this, invite me over 🙂 ).

What it looks like after 8 hours of rise time. Finish admiring the magic, and then take a large piece of parchment paper and dust it with flour.

Take the dough out of the bowl and mound it up on the flour-dusted parchment paper. I pre-crease the paper to make it a bit easier to fit back into the bowl, and eventually the Dutch oven.

I usually put it right back in the bowl again once it’s on the paper…so the dough doesn’t spread itself out over the paper too much over the next hour. You probably don’t have to do this. But it bugs me, OK? *There, I said it*.

Cover and let rest for 1 hour. Meanwhile, pre-heat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. When oven comes to temperature, place the empty Dutch oven (with lid) inside oven to pre-heat for at least 30 minutes.

Very carefully place the dough (in parchment) into the extremely hot Dutch oven. Can slash the top of loaf several times with a knife, ~~if you actually remember at the last damn minute.~~ Put the extremely hot lid on it, and put in the whole shebang back into the oven to bake for 30 minutes.

The loaf looks like this after 30 minutes covered bake time. Remove the lid (careful!!!!) and let the loaf bake uncovered for the final 15 minutes.

Cool the finished loaf on a rack. Resist eating it because you made it to share with friends, for lunch the next day. (Optional, but highly recommended! Your hips will thank you for sharing. 😉 )

Next day: Go on glorious hike with friends, on Hornby Island.

Take in the views: Helliwell Provincial Park, looking east.

Helliwell Provincial Park, looking west.

Me, trying to enjoy the view and *not* think of the tasty food waiting for us back at Ann’s place. Photo by Donna.

~~Finally~~ – Lunch time! Photo by Donna. Ann (between Janis and I) provided us with the most delicious Maui chicken and sides, and I provided the:

Homemade bread! And it was mighty tasty. I’ve made this recipe many times now, and it has never failed me ~~except for the gluten-free experiments that we really shouldn’t talk about anymore~~.

So…enough about me. What’s on your plate this month?

As always: please feel free to let my co-host Donna or myself know what’s on your plate at your house, in the Comments of either Donna’s or my post (or both, if you are so inclined!). My partner-in-crime Donna has crafted a beautiful post about food and friendship (a theme I have shamelessly incorporated into my own post, in a minor way). Please check out her post, to read more about the many happy hours spent sharing meals with friends over the past month.

Remember: if you decide to blog or Facebook or Instagram about it, to use the tags #whatsonyourplateblogchallenge or #woypbc so we can find you out on ye olde interwebbs!

Rock on,

The WB

Can You Go Home Again?

On August 18, 2021 By Widow BadassIn Hmmm?, See the Beauty, Village Life55 Comments

The days and weeks since my last post seem like a bit of a blur to me now. The day after my birthday, I left home to go camping with my daughter and her family in Ucluelet, and while I was there I received a message that my brother-in-law (in Ontario) was near the end of his brief and intense battle with cancer. Sure enough, he passed away the following day as I was making my way back to Nanaimo from the west coast of the island.

The next few days became a flurry of travel arrangements and packing. I arrived at the Victoria airport only to find out my direct flight had been cancelled 20 minutes after I left the house. So yet more arrangements had to be made to ensure I made it back to Ontario in time to pay my last respects at the celebration of life that was planned. I flew out of Nanaimo the next day, with a stop to change planes in Calgary.

Sunrise. Leaving Vancouver Island on the first leg of the journey back to Ontario.

I did make it and in time, and with my luggage (whew!). I also tried to fit in as many visits with people as I could, since I was “in town”, anyways…in fact I had to extend my stay for a few extra days when I realized I would never be able to fit everyone in, otherwise. I consider myself so fortunate to have all of these good friends who made time for me, on such short notice. I was thrilled to be able to spend time with my son and his girlfriend (and my grand-doggy!), and on his birthday too!

I did not take pictures of any of these meetups (deliberately) as I wanted to just be in the moment with my friends and family. However, on the rare free evening I did get out on walks with my gracious and lovely hosts and I had my phone camera at the ready, then.

I managed to get in an early morning solo walk too…on the trail I have been using for at least 55 years.

The new bridge had been installed. Read about the time I risked life and limb to walk on the old bridge 😉 , here.

What was gained in safety and accessibility was gained at the expense of the charm and beauty of the wooden bridge.

I feel like I am looking through the bars of a playpen…or a jail cell.

This is my “how do I feel about this new bridge” face.

Beautiful views soon distracted me from thoughts of the new bridge.

I made sure to say hello to all of my favourite trees.

On my way back from my soul-restoring walk, enroute to my host’s abode I saw this vanity plate on a car.

Special shout out to this lady (and her hubs): my wonderful host and long-time friend (with *her* long-time pal – 30 years old and *still* wearing out much younger horses on their rides!)

After a jam-packed 9 days of seeing friends and family I was back on a plane heading west, exhausted but content.

Flying above the smoke from the wildfires during sunset, on the Calgary to Nanaimo leg of my journey.

Besides catching up with people, I learned a lot about myself on this trip back to the place I have called home for the previous 60 years of my life. Other than the people I left behind, I no longer have any attachments to my old stomping grounds. I even visited my old building (and the good friends who now occupy my former home there) and I felt…uh, nothing…nothing but curiosity and joy at seeing the changes/improvements being wrought. It’s like I never lived there…and yes, the me who I am today – in my new Island home – never did live there. Am I making sense?

They say you can’t go home again. And they are right…not because home has changed, but because YOU have.

Rock on,

The WB

Addendum to Wordless Wednesday – Ucluelet Edition: A Secret Revealed!

On July 4, 2021 By Widow BadassIn Good Times, See the Beauty81 Comments

Finally! After what seems like forever, I can reveal the true purpose of my recent trip to Ucluelet. It wasn’t just for some R and R. It wasn’t just to get out of town. It wasn’t just for some pampering. It wasn’t to once again take in the majestic west coast of Vancouver Island. It wasn’t just to visit my fishy friends one more time, at the Ucluelet Aquarium. It wasn’t just to watch the sun go down. It was for THIS:

My daughter and my newly minted son-in-law’s intertwined hands, revealing their wedding rings.

Here’s some of what you didn’t see (but I was DYING to show you):

My Mother of the Bride dress with totally impractical shoes for a forest wedding (I ended up wearing them only to dinner). Good thing I packed my Birkenstocks as well!

I was so happy to have found these special earrings, at the Flying Fish in downtown Nanaimo. Cristy’s Jewelry Designs.

The beautiful, happy couple in their element: the rainforest and the Pacific west coast. Photo Credit: the talented Tofino photographer Marnie Recker.

I started amusing myself by taking sneak photos over my shoulder, during the photoshoot at Wickaninnish Beach. What a relaxed and happy day! I can’t stop smiling.

I don’t think anyone noticed what I was doing. Do you?

At some point my daughter plopped her flower crown on my head. Look who’s ~~tragically~~ hip now! Photo credit: Marnie Recker

I love the reflections of them in the wet sand. Photo credit: Marnie Recker

Back at the Black Rock Resort. About to enjoy some blackberry and white chocolate wedding cake, from Wild Poppy, a gluten-free bakery in Ladysmith. So delicious!

This ~~wedding~~ elopement was so low-key, relaxed and joyous. As all weddings should be. Besides myself, the groom’s mom and step-dad were also guests of the happy couple. And that was it. A perfect day in a perfect setting that perfectly suited this young couple and their values. I couldn’t be happier or more proud of the both of them. Congratulations to you both!!!!

Rock ever on,

The WB

Wordless Wednesday – Ucluelet Edition

On June 23, 2021 By Widow BadassIn Good Times, See the Beauty, The Great Outdoors, Travel Badassery63 Comments

No need to sacrifice the view in the name of cleanliness or relaxation.

Sequoia candle. Indigenous women-owned and operated company.

Watching the sunset, moonrise from my deck.

Treatment room for my massage/facial package. 90 minutes of uninterrupted bliss.

Seaflora products used. Locally made in Sooke. Organic. Sustainably harvested by hand.

Kennedy Lake views. See you and Ucluelet again, in July!

Rock on,

The WB

Tofino Camping Adventure

On June 4, 2021June 3, 2021 By Widow BadassIn Adventures in Retirement, Camping Adventures, Goals & Dreams, See the Beauty, The Great Outdoors103 Comments

Last weekend I headed out to Tofino, to stay at Green Point Campground at Pacific Rim National Park. My friend and blogging buddy, Donna, had booked a site and let me know there was at least one other site available, and would I be interested in joining them? WOULD I???? In a hot minute, I had my site booked too. Then, in the most incredible coincidence imaginable, another friend and blogging buddy Erica/Erika let us know that she and her husband were staying there too. And their site turned out to be the one RIGHT BESIDE MINE. If we had tried to scheme and plan and pull this off, it would be next to impossible as this campsite is harder to get into than it was to score tickets to The Tragically Hip’s final show.

Hammock set up, with Erica and Chuck’s campsite in the background. Note kindly left on the picnic table by Erica, letting me know they were down on the beach.

Tent interior. Due to the campsite’s BARE policy, all food had to be locked up in your vehicle or a food locker (provided every few campsites). I decided not to hook my car up to the tent, and instead use it as my food locker. So my memory foam bed ended up in the tent instead of the back of my car, due to space considerations.

After meeting Donna and Richard at Tacofino for lunch, and setting up and settling in at camp, it was time to hit the beach!

The sky, sand, and water combo was stunning.

The next day was a bit drizzly and Donna and I went into Ucluelet to check out the downtown and the Ucluelet Aquarium. Amazing place!

Mr. Giant Pacific Octopus put on quite the show for us.

We also stopped at a delicious local bakery (Zoe’s, to fuel up for our next adventure), that had this sign posted outside. Cute Schitt’s Creek reference!

And here’s why. Within seconds of us vacating this area, they descended upon it. Looking for crumbs.

Speaking of birds stealing your food: Donna, Richard and I had to defend ourselves from some very aggressive sparrows outside of Rhino Coffee, in Tofino. I had my doughnut in my hand ($4 for a doughnut??? But man, it was good!), turned my head for one second and felt something pulling at my treat. It was a~~n asshole~~ sparrow, grabbing a chunk of doughnut in midflight, and then retreating a few feet away to ~~gobble it down~~ enjoy it.

You can bet I kept my eye on these cheeky ~~assholes~~ Steller’s Jays, once back at the campsite.

The evening ended over at Chuck and Erica’s for one of our delicious, communal camp meals.

The next day was spent beach walking and exploring.

Donna, the intrepid beach walking buddy.

There are always surfers to be found on Tofino beaches. Year round.

Donna and I played around with taking simultaneous selfies. Like a simultaneous orgasm, but waaay less work. 😉

We eventually met up with everybody else and went off to explore the rocks exposed by low tide.

Ever since I was a little girl reading picture books, I have been captivated by the idea of walking the shore and exploring tidal pools in search of marine life. But in my land-locked former home, there was no opportunity…until this trip! At almost 62 years of age, I finally got to live my childhood dream.

Red sea stars and goose barnacles and clams and mussels (and probably a whole buncha other things too).

After returning to camp for another delicious communal meal (Chuck’s homecooked BBQ ribs were amazing!), it was back down to the beach for another sunset.