Already it is November 16th and I thought I would be somewhere in Oregon at this time! It's funny how I had this idea that I understood the concept of time in terms of how each of us fills our days, but I think I have lost the ability to work with the clock. I sometimes feel as though a day on a bike can feel like many days, or vice versa.
It is hard to believe that I spent just a little over two weeks in and around Port McNeill. I've met quite a few people that have asked me, "Port McNeill? Why?" and I've come to realize that location, even though I do love the sun, is not what makes or breaks a place, but rather the people and how they view where they live. You can take the uglisest most run down place, and still find the magic in it, if you take the time to look and get to know it.
I had the pleasure of staying with an amazing, charasmatic and passionate individual and we wasted no time in enjoying and indulging in all of life's greatest pleasures. We ate good food, played incredible music together and explored the surrounding area. I even had the opportunity to stay at a hidden cabin right on a cliff overlooking the booming ocean just outside of Grant Bay, Cape Scott area. The cabin was built by my friend's co-worker all on his own, simply using what logs managed to escape from large log booms and wash up on the shore nearby. That whole weekend passed in a daze. If I were to imagine paradise, that would be it. It was all so serene... falling asleep to the ocean pounding on the rocks outside and listening to the wind rage war against the cabin walls, while we snugly sat around the woodstove, the scent of cedar tingling our noses and playing music by candlelite. Looking back it seems so surreal. Those are the moments I cherish most and motivate me to continue seeking moments like these in my life. At times I wonder if it's possible to find a way to string moment's like those together, so one can replay them like a magnificent movie over and over again whenever life's challenges are seemingly too overwhelming to deal with. Memories are like that in the beginning, but they fade, their edges grow fuzzy and it's difficult to conjure that same feeling you had at the time.
As for the rest of my stay, I ended up staying at this beautiful, unique floating fishing lodge just around Echo Bay, in the Broughton Archipelago. It is a family run operation during the spring and summer months, but now the season is closed. I had an amazing time helping out Hannah with the children and getting to experience a little of what life is like living so far from everything and having many of your decisions be determined by the natural course of mother nature....i.e. the weather!!! I spent a week with Hannah and the family and loved every minute of it. It was so refreshing to be around kids that actually acted like kids! In other words, most of their time was spent playing in tidal pools, catching crabs, building forts and using their imaginations. It was so inspiring and invigorating to watch such young children use their imagination and creativity so freely. I'd forgotten how crippling and suffocating it can be to create, all the while fearing judgement, which many of us do. This is what is so amazing about kids. They are able to play, imagine and do things with such freedom...there is no thought of failing or fear of judgement but rather just doing. They are always in action, doing, learning, learning doing and it never stops. How refreshing!!!
I said my goodbyes to the lodge, Hannah and the family and boated back to Port McNeill to pick up my bike and gear and set off....well, that was the plan but I ended up staying three more days, playing guitar and eating far too much dark chocolate for my own good. Oi. On Sunday I finally decided to hit the road after a very long and welcomed rest from the cycle-touring world. I hopped back on the beast and road off into the horizon, but alas, didn't get far because my gear cables were acting up. I had to stop and do some fiddling and adjusting and am now riding somewhat smoother but I will need to do a fine tune up at the community bike shop in Victoria. I hit some snow coming through the pass just after Sayward but from there it has been all downhill, which is awesome. I'm currently couchsurfing in Campbell River with two great guys and resting my knees, because one of them was really starting to take a beating. Pain is hard to ignore when you are constantly pushing yourself. The weather is cold, very wet and rainy and part of me is dreading getting back on the bike and riding against the brutal wind. I know I won't be going too far today but part of me knows it is weather like this that makes you appreciate the sunny days all the more.
Until later my friends, Adios!
p.s. I've added some photos for your perusal. Enjoy!
It is hard to believe that I spent just a little over two weeks in and around Port McNeill. I've met quite a few people that have asked me, "Port McNeill? Why?" and I've come to realize that location, even though I do love the sun, is not what makes or breaks a place, but rather the people and how they view where they live. You can take the uglisest most run down place, and still find the magic in it, if you take the time to look and get to know it.
I had the pleasure of staying with an amazing, charasmatic and passionate individual and we wasted no time in enjoying and indulging in all of life's greatest pleasures. We ate good food, played incredible music together and explored the surrounding area. I even had the opportunity to stay at a hidden cabin right on a cliff overlooking the booming ocean just outside of Grant Bay, Cape Scott area. The cabin was built by my friend's co-worker all on his own, simply using what logs managed to escape from large log booms and wash up on the shore nearby. That whole weekend passed in a daze. If I were to imagine paradise, that would be it. It was all so serene... falling asleep to the ocean pounding on the rocks outside and listening to the wind rage war against the cabin walls, while we snugly sat around the woodstove, the scent of cedar tingling our noses and playing music by candlelite. Looking back it seems so surreal. Those are the moments I cherish most and motivate me to continue seeking moments like these in my life. At times I wonder if it's possible to find a way to string moment's like those together, so one can replay them like a magnificent movie over and over again whenever life's challenges are seemingly too overwhelming to deal with. Memories are like that in the beginning, but they fade, their edges grow fuzzy and it's difficult to conjure that same feeling you had at the time.
As for the rest of my stay, I ended up staying at this beautiful, unique floating fishing lodge just around Echo Bay, in the Broughton Archipelago. It is a family run operation during the spring and summer months, but now the season is closed. I had an amazing time helping out Hannah with the children and getting to experience a little of what life is like living so far from everything and having many of your decisions be determined by the natural course of mother nature....i.e. the weather!!! I spent a week with Hannah and the family and loved every minute of it. It was so refreshing to be around kids that actually acted like kids! In other words, most of their time was spent playing in tidal pools, catching crabs, building forts and using their imaginations. It was so inspiring and invigorating to watch such young children use their imagination and creativity so freely. I'd forgotten how crippling and suffocating it can be to create, all the while fearing judgement, which many of us do. This is what is so amazing about kids. They are able to play, imagine and do things with such freedom...there is no thought of failing or fear of judgement but rather just doing. They are always in action, doing, learning, learning doing and it never stops. How refreshing!!!
I said my goodbyes to the lodge, Hannah and the family and boated back to Port McNeill to pick up my bike and gear and set off....well, that was the plan but I ended up staying three more days, playing guitar and eating far too much dark chocolate for my own good. Oi. On Sunday I finally decided to hit the road after a very long and welcomed rest from the cycle-touring world. I hopped back on the beast and road off into the horizon, but alas, didn't get far because my gear cables were acting up. I had to stop and do some fiddling and adjusting and am now riding somewhat smoother but I will need to do a fine tune up at the community bike shop in Victoria. I hit some snow coming through the pass just after Sayward but from there it has been all downhill, which is awesome. I'm currently couchsurfing in Campbell River with two great guys and resting my knees, because one of them was really starting to take a beating. Pain is hard to ignore when you are constantly pushing yourself. The weather is cold, very wet and rainy and part of me is dreading getting back on the bike and riding against the brutal wind. I know I won't be going too far today but part of me knows it is weather like this that makes you appreciate the sunny days all the more.
Until later my friends, Adios!
p.s. I've added some photos for your perusal. Enjoy!
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