Today was simply Wow. We started on a sea shelf covered in barnacles. The same bastard barnacles that had me agonizing in bed last night. I had to put polysporin on my feet last night to stop the burning and to be able to fall asleep. It felt like I walked over shattered glass.
Regardless, today was amazing. Only a few ladders in the morning. We walked the beach for awhile then the forest again. Then the beach again. We saw fresh wolf tracks in the sand (from a big ass wolf with huge paws) and otter tracks.
Then back into the forest for a very pleasant walk excitedly arriving at the Crab Shack. There was great anticipation for this little gem on First Nations land. The only little spot to get food and snacks and alcohol. It's a pretty big deal when you've been living in the woods for days.
We spent a good 2 hours here drinking and waiting to be served. It was very, very busy and the wait was long but nobody was in a rush. There was no place we would rather have been but there. Boots were off, the sun was shining and we were all smiles. Everyone had either fish or crab with a loaded baked potato. Some of the gang secretly bought beers to go. A couple of us bought wine to go... and chips and chocolate. We chatted with hippie Doug who gave us each a flower to eat upon arrival and let us watch him filet a fresh salmon. We also chatted with Carl, a First Nations resident and the owner of the very busy and successful crab shack who posed for pictures with us and even twerked for us. No idea where that came from but it made for lots of laughter.
After a nice glow and bellies were beyond full, Carl gave us a boat ride with his chocolate lab (I miss my Jakeyboy) to the other side of the bay to continue the trail.
It's tough to hike with a full belly. Chris was a little nervous leading us after we indulged a little and used his sing song voice to keep us in line. Luckily he didn't have to break out the Dad tone. We mostly behaved. The climb up was sobering.
We climbed and climbed through the forest trail where we saw our first pile of bear poop. Papa Bear had no shortage of berries. So do bears shit in the woods? Yes. Yes they do. Right on the trail.
More beach hiking then more forest hiking, then more beach hiking then camp... a total of 18 long kms. The last km I truly thought I was going to collapse from pure muscle exhaustion. Andrea and I, both bringing up the rear, agreed to call it a day if the camp we saw ahead wasn't ours. Luckily it was. A long but gorgeous day.
On the beach we were welcomed by a glorious waterfall (Tsusiat Falls) which I did not hesitate to swim in. Pretty much immediately upon arrival. I stood under the blasting cold water for as long as I could stand it... it took my breath away. I was still wearing my hiking clothes. A shower and laundry all in one. While drying up in the sun, I opened my desperately needed box of cab sauv while the rest of the gang drank their beers by the falls. Good thing I stayed back at camp because the wind kicked up and one of our bigger tents, that wasn't pegged down, decided to take a tumble towards unsuspecting campers. I ran after it yelling "heads up!!" then caught it and secured it back in its place. Kind of made me giggle and wonder how the hell did I just manage to run?? Must be the wine. A magical elixir. After setting up the rest of our tents and hanging our wet clothes, we were served a delicious veggie chili and I finished my wine by the fire with some tunes. We watched another beautiful sunset before heading off to bed.
More beach hiking then more forest hiking, then more beach hiking then camp... a total of 18 long kms. The last km I truly thought I was going to collapse from pure muscle exhaustion. Andrea and I, both bringing up the rear, agreed to call it a day if the camp we saw ahead wasn't ours. Luckily it was. A long but gorgeous day.
On the beach we were welcomed by a glorious waterfall (Tsusiat Falls) which I did not hesitate to swim in. Pretty much immediately upon arrival. I stood under the blasting cold water for as long as I could stand it... it took my breath away. I was still wearing my hiking clothes. A shower and laundry all in one. While drying up in the sun, I opened my desperately needed box of cab sauv while the rest of the gang drank their beers by the falls. Good thing I stayed back at camp because the wind kicked up and one of our bigger tents, that wasn't pegged down, decided to take a tumble towards unsuspecting campers. I ran after it yelling "heads up!!" then caught it and secured it back in its place. Kind of made me giggle and wonder how the hell did I just manage to run?? Must be the wine. A magical elixir. After setting up the rest of our tents and hanging our wet clothes, we were served a delicious veggie chili and I finished my wine by the fire with some tunes. We watched another beautiful sunset before heading off to bed.
As I layed there after an incredible day all I could think was I am so done. So very, very done. How can something be so devastatingly beautiful and so painful at the same time?? Thank God for the sounds of waterfalls and ocean waves to calm my spirit. Despite my aches and pains (and there are so many) I do feel truly blessed and fortunate to be here seeing this magical, hidden world beyond the reaches of our imaginations. A very special place indeed... and one I am so happy to share with you. But why does everything have to hurt? Lol.
The wine helped make things right in my world again.
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