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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.

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

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…

When arriving in the Comox Valley on Wednesday evening, I was positively giddy when, upon nearing my family’s home, I saw a brand spankin’ new sign directing folks to a vineyard. I managed to grab the name, and upon doing a quick Google search, I found Beaufort Vineyard & Estate Winery [website]. Being the lover I am of both wine and consumable products made and bought locally, this excited me greatly. Today I managed to stop in during the middle of a sun-soaked afternoon in the Comox Valley.

The grapevines at Beaufort have been growing for close to two years and on May 30, 2008, Beaufort was ready to open its doors to the public. Jeff and Susan Vandermolen turned their passion for wine into reality by bringing the Comox Valley its first-ever winery and vineyard.

I was instantly greeted with a friendly smile and warm handshake from the vineyard’s proprietors, and Jeff was quick to fill me in on the wines being produced and sold through the vineyard. After sampling a few different bottles, I chose the 2007 Ortega - winner of the Northwest Wine Summit 2008 Bronze Medal. I’m not normally one for white wines, and being that I knew how young the grapes were, I was slightly hesitant. However, to my ultimate surprise the wine was fantastic! Light, crisp, slightly fruity with a near-perfect aroma.

The property also features a lush and shaded picnic area with a view of Vancouver Island’s mountains that’s incomparable.

Beaufort is open for viewing and wine tasting on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but make sure you double check the website instead of taking my word for it.

I thanked Jeff and Susan for their hospitality and promised that I’d encourage you all to check out Beaufort next time you’re in the Comox Valley, so check out Beaufort next time you’re in the Comox Valley! It’s a few minutes north of Courtenay on highway 19A, just south of what was Tsolumn School. Click here for directions.

Beaufort wines are currently available at the Coast Hotel Beer and Wine store, as well as several select restaurants in the Comox Valley. One of those restaurants happens to be at the Kingfisher Spa, which was my next stop this afternoon. Being that I’d put the call out but got no response, I went to the one place that I know treats its guests to stellar pedicures.

Today Amanda scrubbed, buffed, soaked, trimmed, softened, moisturized, massaged and polished my tender feet and it felt like heaven. She’s also a super cool girl and comes highly recommended for excellent conversation! And as a bonus, the Kingfisher lets you keep the OPI polish you choose. I walked on the semi-wild side and came home with poppin’ purple on my toenails.

And now it’s time, oh my brothers, to get my booty into bed. Sunday starts soon and I’m getting up early to make a beeline for Victoria to spend a bright and shiny afternoon in the Province’s capital city with my friend Antonio before we hit up Lucky Bar (he’s working for a few hours and I promise you all not to make a repeat of my last trip there) before rooftop cocktails at midnight. More fun, more photos!

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.

After my last run of an exhausting (yet exhilarating and fantastic) day of snowboarding on Mt. Washington over the Easter weekend in March, I knew that I’d be zipping my snowboard up in its case and leaving it there until opening weekend in December, 2008. For most people who love the slopes in winter, that idea is a bit depressing. Some pick up on other hobbies to keep them occupied through the summer months, such as surfing or wakeboarding. And there are others still who know that there doesn’t have to be a dozen feet of fresh powder on the hill to have a blast at Mt. Washington.

As I quickly learned on a solo trip up the mountain last summer, I believe it’s quite possible that Mt. Washington offers more activity choices when the hot sun is shining down than when snowflakes are falling. The big draw is targeted at mountain bike enthusiasts, who take advantage of the open lifts and rugged terrain. One of Mt. Washington’s biggest events of the summer is happening August 23, 2008: the Bearclaw Invitational Slopestyle III. I checked it out last summer and was blown away by the scale of the event and also the excitement…not to mention the dozens and dozens of sweaty, dirty men. Here’s hoping my usual partner-in-crime tags along this year.

(For more information on mountain biking and related events at Mt. Washington, including seasons lift passes, visit their “Down and Dirty” site here.)

Fortunately for the rest of us who prefer not to get down and dirty, Mt. Washington offers a mitten full of other activities, ranging from riding the lifts to take in astonishing views, hiking, camping, bungee trampoline, mini golf and disc golf. In addition, all of the mountain’s shopping and dining facilities are open, so if the craving for Fat Teddy’s yam fries strikes you in the middle of July, so be it! Mt. Washington also appeals to the “plant geek” in all of us, with tons of information identifying the various flora and fauna that grows abundantly on its hills.

With activities set to kick off on June 20 (that’s only three weeks away, folks) and mountain biking gearing up for a June 30 opening, lets hope the last remnants of our wicked 07/08 snowfall melt soon!

If you’re planning on heading up this summer for a day of adventure high above the Comox Valley, my recommendation is that you snag yourself an Alpine Action Pack ($21 for adults; additional pricing found here), which gives you an entire day of unlimited access to the scenic chairlift rides, bungee trampoline, mini golf and disc golf. However, in this girl’s opinion, it’s worth it to just hang out on the hill for the day and take in the summer culture up there - with or without riding to the top.

Visit Mount Washington Alpine Resort online for all the information you need to make your summertime trip to the Comox Valley a memorable one.

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.

I normally love rain, but this is just depressing. We’re on day two of nothing but cold drizzle in downtown Vancouver. Naturally I’ll be Island-bound for the coming long weekend, but not before dropping the boys off with their Nanny and Papa for a couple days. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the sunshine and warm air promised for the weekend really do make an appearance because I’ve been dying for the chance to rock some flip flops and a new sundress. Mostly I plan on taking it easy and relaxing with Charley, but on Sunday my mom and I are heading out the door and down the street, literally, to Kitty Coleman Woodland Gardens for their annual Art and Bloom Festival.

Photo: Kathy Birkett on Flickr (Used With Permission)

Photo: Kathy Birkett on Flickr (Used With Permission)

This is the sixth annual Art & Bloom Festival. The show is focused on presenting a limited variety of art forms. Emphasis will be placed on original works by painters, potters, sculptors, glass blowers, original stained glass designers, garden art and other unique art forms.

Photo: Kathy Birkett on Flickr (Used With Permission)

Photo: Kathy Birkett on Flickr (Used With Permission)

I remember visiting this very same place as a child with my family to pick out Christmas trees. In recent years, it’s been transformed from a Christmas tree farm to an exquisite garden within nature.

Regular admittance to the garden is $6 for adults, $2 for those 5-12 years old and free for toddlers. Rates may vary dependent on the event (ie. Christmas Carols at the Barn), and unfortunately, rates for the Art and Bloom Festival aren’t specified on the website. Luckily enough, dogs are more than welcome on the grounds, provided that they’re leashed and picked up after.

For more information, visit the website. Check back after the weekend for my review and personal photos of the event.