Keira-anne.com

So I bet you’re all dying to know how the rest of me and Jenny’s trip to Tofino turned out. Sure, I showed you all the stellar snaps from our afternoon of surfing, but what about the eats, the camping and the people?

By the time I got dropped off on Wednesday afternoon in Horseshoe Bay, my hair was a windblown mess, I was an hour early and the sun was optimistically shining for the first time that day. I had a bit of time before Jenny was to arrive, so I grabbed a ferry ticket and waited in the sunshine.

When you take the ferry as often as I do, it’s important to find ways to keep yourself occupied on the voyage. Being that we were to surf the next day, we opted to watch “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” simply to catch the surfing scenes. Super lame of us, I know.

Mmm…Emmers.

It’s my ritual to stop at Woodgrove Centre’s food court for quick eats on weekends when I head home. Apparently the McDonald’s I had for lunch that afternoon wasn’t enough, so I opted for an A&W Teen Burger and onion rings. Then I’d had enough.

After a quick pack-up of my mom’s car (since there’s no way in hell my truck will make even one more trip to Tofino) and a too-short sleep, we pointed the wheels west along the Pacific Rim Highway. Once you leave Highway 1 near Qualicum Beach, it’s about 40 kilometres to Port Alberni and another 90 kilometres to Tofino.

We stopped in Port Alberni to grab some last minute supplies from their local Wal-Mart, and I have to pointedly say that, aside from the sweetheart of a store greeter, every single employee was oddly rude to us. Not impressed.

The rain started to fall as soon as we hit the Pacific Rim Highway, so we had a pretty good idea of the kind of day we were in for. Tofino is, after all, located in a rain forest.

At the end of a long and winding highway, we arrived at our campground only to find out that we had to wait until later in the afternoon to check in.

Maybe the campground’s local resident wasn’t finished with our site yet. Apparently he lives there all the time.

Jenny and I had time to kill before we were supposed to show up at Bruhwiler’s shop, so we headed into the heart of Tofino and walked around. This sign made me chuckle. Most signs like this in Vancouver would state a limit of about 1/16th the time.

We should’ve taken it from this guy and bought protective rain gear. Little did we know at the time…

Breakers Deli has wicked wraps, pizza, sandwiches, burritos and delicious baked goods. For lunch, I grabbed a chicken burrito with free range chicken, avocado, mango tamarin sauce, mozza cheese and organic greens while Jenny had the turkey and havarti cheese toasted sandwich.

Yours truly is becoming quite a little pro at that whole parallel parking thing. First try, every time.

Here’s where the fun begins…after our afternoon of surfing, Jenny and I were finally able to make our way back to the campsite and set up. The only problem was that the rain had started to come down even heavier, our clothes were soaking wet and cold and puddles were starting to form in our campsite. After a valiant effort, we managed to string up two tarps and pitch a tiny tent.

Not only was the set-up pathetic, after we’d finally showered and put on warm clothes, starting a fire was a lost cause. I did everything right and yet the wood still wouldn’t catch. Waving the white flag, we forgot about roasted wieners and drove back into town for fish and chips and hot tea. We ended up at Big Daddy’s Fish Fry and oh-my-god it was heaven sent.

By the time we arrived back at the campsite, it was almost 9pm and the rain had only kept on going so we decided to retire. Somewhere in the middle of the night, the precipitation decided to become a torrential downpour, and so by the time we woke up, the only thing left dry was our pajamas. It’s what we drove home in. Every other single item of clothing was soaked through and splashed with mud (except my Total Skull hoodie, which was smeared with blood since I somehow managed to rip my cuticle open while peeling off my wetsuit).

(I have to take a tangent here for a moment and say that I love how welcome dogs are in Tofino, and how much they’re a part of the community. Perhaps if some people in Vancouver were more diligent in cleaning up after their dogs, canines would be more welcome in the city too.)

After a quick stop in at Bruhwiler to thank Raph and grab some shop hoodies, Jenny and I hit Chesterman Beach one last time before our trek back to the east coast of Vancouver Island.

It seems like everyone had the same idea. The rain that fell in Tofino on the two days we were there was the first rainfall the community had seen in over a month. As we snaked our way back along the Pacific Rim Highway, we found ourselves part of a mass exodus of tourists who also had the same idea.

Not so long ago, I was discussing camping in general with one of my best friends and I stated how awesome it is. His idea of “camping” was finding a nice hotel in the woods, though I hugely disagreed at the time. However, after the two drenched and cold days I spent in the woods, I surrender and admit that he may be right. Perhaps I’m just over this whole “roughing it” thing.

Besides, just because you don’t have a campfire and just because you aren’t camping doesn’t mean you can’t indulge in some s’mores. Ahhh…toaster ovens. Bliss for my tongue.

As the first few waves of frigid, salty Pacific Ocean water crashed over my braided head, the only thing I could think was that surfing was better than sex. Really. It’s been close to a decade since I last set foot on a surfboard, and even then I was no good. This time I wanted to do it right and signed up for an afternoon session with Tofino’s legendary Bruhwiler Surf School [website]. While there are a handful of schools on Vancouver Island’s West Coast, it seems to me that the Bruhwiler crew teach simply for the reason that they want to share their passion and way of life with others.

It’s all about the love of the wave.

We arrived at the shop a bit early in time to sign in, and were happy to hear that our wetsuits were already loaded onto the truck for us - one of the many advantages of sending in your body specs by e-mail prior to arriving.

Raph Bruhwiler and Dave the Moustache Man (who gets props for wiping the snot off my face) were our instructors for the day, and I can truly say that both did a stellar job. After a quick 15 (or so) minutes of chat on the sand - including important safety rules and basic theory - we grabbed our boards and headed out. In the words of Johnny Castle: “the best place to learn really is in the water.”

Snaking is definitely not allowed. Catching a “double up” is also not recommended.

Jenny and I hoped to ride another day without instructors, but due to less-than-favourable weather (more about that in the next post), we were forced out of our campsite earlier than we’d hoped.

To say that I can’t wait to head out again would be the understatement of 2008. The boys of Bruhwiler were phenomenal teachers and the encouraging vibe in our small group gave me the get-up-and-go that I needed. After about half an hour in the waves, I was actually standing up on nearly every other wave that I caught, and the feeling was simply euphoric. Like I said, better than sex.

I’d like to catch one of Bruhwiler Surf School’s two-day Roxy surf camps next summer with some girlfriends (and I think they know who they are). To find more information on the sport, the instructors, rates and camps, visit Bruhwiler Surf School’s site by clicking their logo in my sidebar.

To view all the photos from our ultimate surfing experience, click on over to my Flickr.

Not long ago, I thought July 30 would never arrive. It seems, however, that is has. After weeks of planning, packing and mostly just anticipating, I’m slinging on my oversized backpack, grabbing my laptop and boarding the Coastal Renaissance with Jenny in less than 24 hours.

First stop on Keira-Anne’s long weekend: the We(s)t Coast of Vancouver Island, Tofino. It’s been a little over two years since I was last there, and I am highly anticipating a good time, rain or shine. Perhaps I over-prepare more than I should, but I did bring my UGGs in the event that I’ll be colder than a mofo after a few hours of surfing in the Pacific.

To those of you who are wondering if I’ll be bringing my camera and sharing the weekend with you through photos, to that question I say “oooooobviously!” The next few days will quite undoubtedly be chalked full of amazing photo opportunities.

Before I bid you all adieu, however, there is one last (very important) thing that requires attention…

BIRTHDAY BABE

Tomorrow marks a special day in the life of someone who is very special to yours truly. My dear, darling and sweet friend Ashley is celebrating her 24th birthday. I have known this girl for close to a decade, and with each year, there is more to learn, love and appreciate about her. She has a spirit and disposition that is incomparable to anyone that I know. What I appreciate most about Ashley is her unrelenting heart; one that always loves me, never judges me.

I wish so much that I could be with her in Calgary to partake in a martini, a cupcake and a few giggles, I know that she knows that she’s very much loved across the miles from sunny BC.

This past weekend I sighed and lamented over how much longer I’d have to wait until my planned trip to Tofino with Jenny, until I realized that the trip is, in fact, happening next week! Though we have only two nights in my little homeslice of heaven, both us girls plan to make the most of it. Being that it’s Tofino we’re camping at, surfing is item number one on our menu of merriment.

Photo: jesse edmonds on Flickr

It’s been probably no less than five years since I set foot on a surfboard, and even then, I wasn’t very good. Teaching yourself is rarely a good idea. It’s no secret that the West Coast of Vancouver Island boasts some wild waves, so learning in a safe environment is key. I signed Jenny and I up for an afternoon lesson with the Bruhwiler Surf School, and can’t even begin to tell you all how excited I am.

According to Bruhwiler’s official site, the legendary Bruhwiler family has grown up on the shores of Tofino, which provides years of stellar experience to share. I have zero doubt that Jen and I are both in for an exciting adventure because I’m going into it knowing that I’ll have fun whether I eventually stand up or not. And besides, if all else fails, I can just run up and down the beach in my blue bikini with a board tucked under my arm, à la Cameron Diaz.

Photo: Beth77 on Flickr

It’s been a busy weekend for your humble narrator, and though it’s only Monday evening, only now is my weekend ending. I had planned on popping in to a birthday on Friday night, but after sleeping so horribly all week, my body caught up to me and I ended up crashing after dinner.

I’d been super psyched all week for Saturday, as I’d planned to pack up my swimsuit, beach umbrella, two wonderpups and an armful of great friends to head to Spanish Banks West. I was joined on the sandy shore by no less than Duane, Becky, John, Phaedra, John, Jenny, Amy and Rod (and a couple of surprise visitors that I had the pleasure of meeting). Oddly enough, I didn’t whip out my camera once, but here are a few snaps some of the others grabbed.

Photo: jenniferstoddart on Flickr

Photo: jenniferstoddart on Flickr

Photo: miss604 on Flickr

Photo: Duane Storey on Flickr

Being in the sun all day tuckered us all out, and after a quick bath and dinner, both Casey and Benji slept nearly straight through until the following morning. We had time to quickly clean up and throw on some laundry before hitting YVR to retrieve their daddy. However, I couldn’t leave the airport fast enough for the simple reason that I had a ridiculously fabulous evening with two of my very best girlfriends to look forward to. It’s been some time since I last saw either Ashley or Emily, and an even longer time since the three of us hung out together.

Ashley and her husband, Mike, have recently started a new photography company based out of Calgary called Snap Photography. Being that she’s the aspiring photographer she is, Ashley’s camera came out for the evening and stayed out until both girls left today. After a quick dip in my pool, we dressed up to hit Joey’s on Burrard for dinner (food was great; service was much less than stellar). Our night included no less than giggles, girl talk and a hit of Cabo Wabo tequila each.

I love these two girls with my whole heart, and they have always only ever shown me love, acceptance and grace. It’s hard to believe I’ve known Emily since she was still in elementary school. I hope that weekends like this will still continue to come around, even though we’re all far apart, though only geographically speaking. They’re amazing women with even more amazing hearts.

(It was also decided by Ashley and Emily that I really and truly am Butters‘ mom. He’s pretty much the cutest thing ever to roll out of South Park.)

My precious little girl, Charley, is becoming quite the explorer. She’s developed a sense of adventure and lost much of her unwarranted fear. Other dogs don’t phase her, unfamiliar places are no longer frightening and the ocean is becoming her second home. She is, in fact, becoming quite well acquainted and comfortable with the Georgia Strait.

My mom and aunt brought her to Seal Bay Forest Nature Park yesterday, and my mom on her own headed for Miracle Beach Provincial Park with the little wiggle bum this afternoon. A few adventure shots of the cutest little girl ever…

Normally Charley will steer clear of the ocean, but being that July has brought hot temperatures, she felt quite comfortable plunking herself right down in the water!

But why would you want to? In celebration of the beginning of July and the start of our summer (I think), here is this girl’s list of Top Ten Essential Summer Items that no girl should be without. So without further adieu, they are…

Photo: Goody

10. Goody has been making high quality hair accessories and tools for over 100 years now, but I firmly believe that they hit hair gold when the company first came out with their Ouchless products. Doing away with tangling metal closures has been a godsend for tresses, and I personally adore the thin, double-sided headbands from the Ouchless collection. They’re particularly great for keep bangs out of your face on hot and bothersome days (or nights).

Photo: OPI

9. It’s no secret that a perfect pedicure is key for sandal season, and while fantastic toe colour isn’t the most important part of a pedi, it is certainly the most noticeable. OPI has a range of colours larger than any rainbow with tags that are ridiculously adorable. I have been known, in fact, to pick a colour based solely on the name. Not only that, it goes on better than any nail polish I’ve ever used. Quality is never something to be overlooked, and OPI does a great job at avoiding turning to gunk. Brights are big for summertime; my two faves are this year’s “Purple With A Purpose” and my old faithful, “My Chiahuahua Bites!”

Photo: MAC Cosmetics

8. Being that it’s summertime, and most of us will naturally start sporting a healthy glow in no time at all, make-up can (and should) be kept to a bare minimum. Who wants to feel a caked-on face in 30 degree heat anyways? One item that should not be overlooked is lip care. And while I love that wind/sunburned feel of my lips after a day of snowboarding, the tissue on your kissers is highly sensitive and prone to burning. MAC’s Tinted Lip Conditioner not only tastes as sweet at my favourite Easter treat, it also sports an admirable SPF level of 15. Who knew?

Photo: 100% Pure

7. Sometimes a day at the beach is all a girl really needs to get a decent, all-over exfoliation. And sometimes, such as on days like today, the beach really isn’t an option. When that’s the case, it’s necessary to have a great body scrub on hand to ensure that your skin stays soft and smooth. I’ve been using 100% Pure’s chocolate mocha body scrub since last year and it’s true love. The scrub itself is comprised of actual coffee grounds, so it has the potential to make a bit of a mess in the shower. However, it’s organic and smells like heaven so you’ll hear no complaints from me. Find this little gem at Kiss and Makeup in West Vancouver.

Photo: Bumble and bumble.

6. Ahhh summer…sun, heat and humidity: your hair’s three worst enemies. Okay, well maybe not the sun because that freshly-kissed bleaching the sun shares gives you killer surfer girl tresses. The other two, however, are another story. Luckily my hair is naturally straight, so I’ve never much had to fight the humidity, but I know it’s something that many, many girls struggle with. And even so, straight hair has a tendency to sprout flyaways that are more that irritating to tame. To no surprise, it’s Bumble and bumble. to the rescue. Their Defrizz serum lives up to it’s name and does just that: defrizzes. Those unruly frizzes are a thing of the past, and the serum can be smoothed over the length of your hair to create an incomparable softness.

Photo: The Crystal

5. As I’ve gotten older, I’m amazed at all the changes under which my body has gone. Some products that have always worked for me are no longer of any use, mainstream deodorants being one of them. The overwhelming fragrance lines combined with white goo are two things my body just can’t deal with anymore. Who really wants their underarms to smell like honey, coconut or gardenia anyways? A friend recently introduced me to The Crystal, a deodorant made entirely of mineral salts and water. While this product may not be great for those who have actual sweating issues - as The Crystal only protects against odour - it’s fantastic for those who want everyday protection. I’m amazed at the fact that I simply don’t smell - not even a tiny bit. And a little spritz of water and minerals under the arm is much safer than the chemical goo that we tend to slap under there.

Photo: Bumble and bumble.

4. This cream is MY LIFE. While I would like to stick it at the top of my list (being that it’s the highest-ranked hair product on my list), it’s not the most crucial overall summer item. It is, however, a crucial overall summer item. As I mentioned above, the summer months can bring excessive damage to your mane, so a little bit of extra TLC should definitely be encouraged. Bumble and bumble. recently stocked this new item in salon shelves and the Creme De Coco Masque is being snapped up left and right. Combine the luscious scents of coconuts, chocolate, vanilla and sunshine and mix them with the most ultimate and softest conditioner you will ever experience, and you’ve got a winning product. Enough said.

Photo: Gehwol Online

3. More important than picking a fabulous colour with which to decorate your little piggies is a a fantastic foot cream that you can slather on twice a day. On my recent trip to the Kingfisher Spa, my heels were treated to the Gehwol experience - a German line of footcare derived from nature. I brought home with me their “Fusskraft Red Light” cream, which combines rosemary, pine and lavender extracts with a bit of cayenne pepper. Weird? Yes. Delightful? Yes. It isn’t, however, the only foot cream I use. Each summer at the Comox Valley’s Filberg Festival, I make sure to stop by the Cascadia Soaps booth to pick up their Shea Butter Salve, made locally in White Rock. While it’s excellent for your tender tootsies, I’ve also found it’s phenomenal to use in the bikini area to soothe and smooth.

Photo: Gehwol Online

2. So after toe colour and foot cream, surely you must be asking yourself what I deem to be the most important foot product? Okay, maybe not, but I’ll tell you anyways. At the spa, I also picked up Gehwol’s Swiss-made wooden foot file. Why I never had this foot file before it beyond me. I promptly threw out my Cover Girl foot file and will now use only this tool. I had lunch with Becky the other day and showed her my feet. Her reaction: “Wow…um, you have, like, no calluses.” It’s true, ladies. And gents, your feet should never be neglected. My secret? After your evening shower or soak, slather obscene amounts of Vaseline on your feet, wrap them tightly with cling wrap and pull some socks on. Wait about 30 minutes and prepare to be amazed.

Photo: Hawaiian Tropic

1. Come on - are you really that surprised at my number one essential? While I enjoy rockin’ a healthy glow as much as the next girl, I am somewhat opposed to the idea of having skin comparable to Calamity Jane’s leather chaps when I’m 40. No one can resist the scent of summery coconut, and Hawaiian Tropic’s full line of skin care and sunblock provides that luscious beach-infused scent we’ve all come to love. A protection level of SPF 15 should be your minimum for days playing in the sun. And remember: wearing sunblock doesn’t mean that you won’t burn - it just means you can play a little longer. For example, if you’ll burn after 15 minutes, you can expect to turn pink after 150 minutes if you slather on SPF 10. See? Science is simple. Hmmm…or maybe I mean math.

I just got back from Victoria a few hours ago. I bought myself a souvenir - new Keds. My love affair continues. I got off the bus in Nanaimo where my mom met me, took me to the Bay and bought me these ones too.

I took the first shuttle to Victoria yesterday morning, and was picked up in downtown Victoria by Toni to be whisked away for a killer day/night in the capital city. First we avoided the Harbour crowds, all there to catch a glimpse of the tall ships, and instead headed for the rocky beach on Dallas Road to walk, talk and catch up.

After a quick catnap, we took in Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia at IMAX. True, it was air conditioned, but being that the temperatures soared to 33 degrees on the inner Harbour, our next stop was the cold beer store. After beers on his roof, we stopped in briefly at a BBQ (where I met some truly stellar and ridiculously funny people) before heading back downtown so Toni could work it at the door. He’s a doorman at Lucky Bar. For fun.

I played the role of Lucky doorgirl, which involves nothing more than standing around and batting my eyelashes while the guys check ID.

This morning I opted to spend a bit of solo time downtown, so I made an early morning trek along Oak Bay Avenue to where the action is and found myself amongst the tall ships, the last of which were getting ready to set sail for Port Alberni.

Time spent in Victoria is never time wasted; it’s a truly classy city with wondrous sights to see that never cease to amaze me. Viewing the unique homes is alone worth the trip over. As I sit here in my mom and aunt’s lush, green backyard - Vancouver Islander Lager in hand - I am reminded of how grateful I am to be able to call a place like this home. The only sound I hear is the gentle patter of Charley’s paws on our deck and a few tiny birds distantly chirping back and forth in the trees. Now if only I could do something about these mosquitoes…

It’s never much been known for being a sandy beach, but Goose Spit Park always has the best sun and most gorgeous views. Being that it’s situated on a sandbar, the shores are completely exposed, and the blue sky meets the even bluer ocean on both sides. It felt great to finally spend a day in the sunshine, armed with lime chips, water and yummy coconut oil. Mostly, it was nice to lay alone and listen to the ocean.

Charley and I are about to take a walk around the block as she so loves doing, before I snag a bit more sunshine and head to the Kingfisher Spa for an indulgent pedicure. Tonight our family’s firing up the BBQ with our oldest family friends for some together time. I am sure there are many more photos to come in my kickoff to Summer 2008.

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On an unrelated note, my mom and I once again went to Crown Isle Resort’s Timber Room for dinner last night. Being that it’s a first class golf resort, one would have certain expectations with regard to service. However, if you can believe it or not, the service was even worse than the last time we went in May. The food’s not bad and the environment beautiful, but it certainly doesn’t make up for being completely neglected and forgotten about. We won’t be going back.

When I was a child, my family camped. We camped every single summer on Hornby Island at Tribune Bay Campground. Our first summer, we were completely unprepared, and on our first night the rain clouds opened up and poured on everyone. Needless to say, the local CO-OP store’s tarp section was raided at first light.

I believe this picture was snapped somewhere in the vicinity of 1988.

(Please note the following: bright orange mountain bike, turquoise blue shoes with neon green laces, baby pink socks, orange and black shorts, NKOTB t-shirt, denim jacket and backwards cap. Did I really need to tell you this was in the 80s? I suppose so, being that if I hadn’t, you would’ve guessed me as the fourth member of Hanson).

Okay, so that was a bit of tangent, being that the point of this post is camping. While I haven’t camped on Hornby Island since the summer of 1999, and haven’t camped at all since the summer of 2001, I am more than ecstatic that I’ll be camping in Tofino in less weeks than I have fingers.

The last time I was in Tofino was nearly two years ago. I went there for only a day with someone who meant - and still means - a great deal to me. Every single time I visit that place, I experience a euphoria that I find nowhere else. Ever since the first time my toes dug into the sand at Long Beach, I’ve felt a disconnect with the rest of the world when I’m on the true west coast. It’s as if Tofino is the only place on Earth that actually exists.

I hesitate to even talk about Tofino and it’s undeniable beauty because, in truth, it bothers me when a posse of city yuppies roll into the Pacific Rim in their SUVs and party like it’s 1999. Like Hornby Island, Tofino is a special and sacred place - not a party or tourist destination. I suppose that it’s something I feel because I’m a true Islander and, thus, protective of my Island.

Again, I deviate…

A few months back, Jen had mentioned going to Tofino to attend a surf camp (I am in major need of a brush up on my so-called surfing skills). Fast forward to what I’ve been feeling lately, and a trip to Tofino has become inevitable. She booked us into the last available campground, located snugly between the airport and the landfill, which is only a short walk from my beloved Schooner Cove. The idea of waking so close to the waves I love, stretching into my yoga practice at sunrise on the sand and spending a sun-filled afternoon in the waves is more than I can fathom. In fact, the truth is, I can’t even yet believe that I will be going.

So last night I made my list and checked it twice. Sooner than I can imagine, we’ll be loading up my mom’s car (she is generous enough to lend it to us for two days - she just doesn’t know it yet. Thanks, Mom!) and heading west. I think I’ll leave my turquoise-with-lime-green-laces kicks at home this time.