THIMBLEBERRY
DRAGONFLY
HERE THEY'RE PROVINCIAL PARKS, NOT STATE PARKS
AHOY, MATE!
WE PUT ON SUNSCREEN...SPF 45!!
BABIN' SUITS
TIDE POOLS
CHINA BEACH
With three days off, we couldn't just sit in Saanich picking our...fruit. There is so much to explore on this large island so we hit up three different bodies of water, a new one each day. Friday, we visited nearby Beaver Lake where we lazed amongst many young, screeching camp kids enjoying the beautiful day. The lady at the nature center introduced us to thimbleberries, which are our number one new most favorite wild edible berry. These delicious berries are easily spotted, but many we've come across haven't been ripe yet...the story of our lives! The ripest ones we did eat were just as sweet as the sweetest raspberries we've ever had. The surrounding trees also included wild cherry trees, which were sweet, but not that sweet. This lake was murkier and cooler than the one we visited with Carolyn, but swimming was refreshing nonetheless.
Yesterday, we headed north to Bamberton. It's kind of funny...all the parks here are provincial parks, not state parks because Canada doesn't have states, it has provinces. We found more thimbleberries at this park, but it was slim pickins. Bamberton lies on the Saanich Inlet, which touches the Pacific. We attempted to dive into the cold salt water but only Aaron was brave enough to submerge his entire body. The water was in the 50's and that was simply too cold for Jen!
Today, we headed southwest to China beach on the true coast. Just past the Jordan River, in the Juan de Fuca strait, we hiked down a long forest trail onto the beach. We arrived purposely at low tide, as this and several other beaches in this strait are touted for the fascinating tidal pool activity. We saw hermit crabs aplenty and tons of washed up seaweed and lichen. Walking into the cold blustery wind, over the treacherously slippery rocks was no "day at the beach." What we consider beach is not necessarily what we've found on this island; it seems that Canadians refer to any area adjacent to water, no matter how small or rocky, as beach. We braved sharp, jagged rocks and shells barefoot, but in the end, we found a small patch of hot soft sand, wind protected by driftwood that was paradise.
Jen, you and I have something in common... we have both been to the Jordan River with Aaron! Aaron, this picture of you with your shirt off makes me curious... what result has this trip had on you two physically? Have you lost weight through all our sweat and toil in the fields, or gained weight from all the big meals you've been eating? Are you feeling more toned and muscular than back in December, or fat + flabby like organic-farmer-hippos?
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