Two girls and a west coast adventure

Sometimes, when a girl is wallowing in self-pity, the best medicine is an adventure.
Three weeks ago, my cousin showed up in BC. We had pre-planned the trip. we were calling it Kim and Sherie's Big Adventure Weekend.
We were going to run! kayak! workout! hike! explore!

Then I tore my MCL.

I sent her a picture of me in crutches. "Change of plans",  I wrote.

"We'll make it work," she said, ever the optimist.

I haven't seen Sher in probably 8 years.
We are exact replicas of each other: lovers of sports and stubborn as all heck. We are tomboys and go-getters. We like challenges and adventures. We've completed in triathlons, duathlons, and runs together.
We've shared our love for training and fitness.

We should really hang out more.

So after 8 years, we hit the ground running (well... hobbling).

On the way to Tofino

First stop: Tofino.

The usually 5-6 hour trek to this little piece of paradise on the west coast of Vancouver Island went by so quickly. We gabbed on the ferry as the wind blew in our hair. We laughed in the car as we wound around the mountainous roads on the edge of the continent. We took turns catching each other up on 8 years of life and love and family and career. We saw bears and deer and raging waters. We stopped to do cartwheels on the beach (well, she did) and to breathe in ocean air.

I've never really been a road tripper – i always love the destination more than the trip.

Sunset in Tofino

But this trip was like 6 hours of tea with an old friend and a warm heart. It was magic.

We stayed at the Tin Wis in an oceanfront room. We watched the sunset as we ate. We joked around as we explored the town. We woke up early and did a workout on the beach.
Mine pansier than hers as I nursed my knee. But we were out there, doing bicep curls with rocks, situps on beached logs, and pushups in the sand. (That girl has pipes!)

We ate breakfast as the waves crashed on the shore outside. We watched seasoned surfers brave the cold Pacific waters and carve moves on waves that made us jealous.

On Long Beach, Tofino

Then we packed our bags and headed to the east coast of the island.

Our next destination: Qualicom Bay and a bucket list item for Sher: Spirit Spheres.

Owned and manufactured by Tom Chuleigh, these beautiful spheres are hoisted up in tall Douglas Firs on his property. They are suspended pieces of paradise.

When we first arrived, we thought we might be "roughing it". But far from it. Tom gave us a tour of our sphere (Eryn).

We climbed up a spiral stair case around the trunk of a douglas fir. At the top, a mini draw bridge took us to the "front door". Inside was a double bed, a loft, two bench seats and a table, a sink, a fridge, wi-fi, and even a stereo with surround sound. It was paradise in the sky. 

Eryn – our sphere!

Me in our sphere!

Rosie, Tom's wife, made us a "snack" – a platter full of homemade muffins, granola bars, chocolates, pastries, fruit, and champagne. Tom whistled as he delivered it to us. We smiled widely with the friendliness and beauty of this place.

There was a compost toilet beneath the sphere and a bathhouse 100 meters away – complete with flush toilets, sink, showers, and even a sauna! There was a kitchen and barbecue. We were spoiled!

We suited up for a nice local hike that was short and easy on my knee yet beautiful and lush all the same. 

We came across an abandoned railway bridge high above the river, climbed up, and did our best Stand By Me impression:

It was slightly terrifying and totally exhilirating. We could see through the tracks to the river below. And we could see miles out – forest and ocean and towns, oh my! Luckily there was no running or crying. ha!

We walked back to our sphere, grabbed the car, and headed out to another sunset dinner overlooking the Strait of Georgia (in between Vancouver Island and mainland BC). 

After beers, a veggie burger, and a sauna, we put on our jammies and the surround sound stereo, cracked open the champagne, and enjoyed a riveting game of cribbage – Sherie schooled me. She's a bit of a hustler. And I'm fairly certain she practiced religiously before she flew west. I'll get her next time.

In the morning, we packed up again! On the go!

The ferry ride back to Vancouver was spectacular: a pod of killer whales followed in the wake. The sun shone brightly and we tanned on the deck.

We might not have been kayaking or embarking on a day-long hike in the interior, but it was a beautiful adventure.


Next stop: Vancouver Seawall!

Me and Sherie on the seawall

We decided to explore this great city by bike and suited up for ride around the seawall, 20km or so around beautiful Stanley Park, under the infamous Lions Gate Bridge, past English Bay, Second Beach, Third Beach, and Burrard Inlet.


We stopped to laugh, to chat, to eat sushi, and relish in the beauty of the day.
We saw seals, blue herons, and a guy on a bike about 20 feet tall. Like a circus act except he was just out for a pedal like the rest of us (I love Vancouver for this reason. It's not odd to see this. It just "is".)



Final destination: Whistler!

The next day, we headed Northwest to the skiing mecca for a sweet taste of what was left of winter.
It was raining at the base and snowing so thick at the peak that we couldn't see the vast mountains around. Still, it was perfect for snow angels and snowballs – and hot chocolate laced with baileys. So not all was lost!

We hopped on the Peak 2 Peak gondola – the world's longest unsuspended ride in the world – 4.4 km between Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain.
We spent most of it sitting in a sea of white clouds that opened up sparsely to show us pockets of mountainsides and even a grazing black bear. (Wildlife came out for Sherie at every chance this trip!)

The thick clouds and precipitation meant that the view stunk (it's usually breathtaking), but the company was exceptional!

We went from sunshine and bikinis to snowfall, fog, and layered clothing in the span of a day and a half! It's what I love most about this lovely left coast – it's all here.

"This is one of the most beautiful places I've seen," said my cousin after our whirlwind adventure.
"That's why I live here," I said.

Thanks for comin' out, Sher! We had an adventure after all!
Next stop: Austin, Texas!!