mother of pearl

It’s been over a month since the last time I sat down to write about my life on the road with Fifi the Honda Fit. November came and went like the ocean tides, leaving marks in the sand for me to follow into December, and now, into the new year. I’m sitting in our bright and sunny bedroom drinking my morning tea as I reflect on these past two months of adventuring up until now.

Mother of pearl is a saying that is used when a person is excited or in amazement of something. The number of times that I exclaimed “Mother of pearl” this month was probably too many, but I couldn’t help myself. There are only so many words in the English language that can describe how a person is feeling in moments of pure amazement and joy. Sometimes, there are no words. This month, I surfed for the first time in my life and took a full dunk in the Pacific Ocean, drove through swirls of cloud cover as we hit the Coastal Mountains of B.C., escaped on winding mountain roads out to the magical Tofino and Ucluelet, slept under big cedar trees, and reconnected with friends and family. There’s so much to say on the blank pages that lay before me. I’m going to start where I left off.

After a wonderful week in Banff cozied up in the warmth of our hotel room, we packed back up into Fifi and hit the road. That evening as November approached, we entered B.C. and slept by the Kicking Horse river where we were met with the sounds of dogs howling and the full moon glowing bright over the rushing water. The next evening, we parked our car up by a hidden camping spot and watched the river flow down over Wapta Falls, a famous waterfall inside of Yoho National Park. That evening and next morning are truly moments that I will never forget. Standing above the falls from a distance and looking down on the rushing water with the big and tall jagged peaks of the Rocky Mountains looming over us was one of those moments where I had to pinch myself and ask if what I was seeing was truly real. The next morning, I woke up early and got out of the car in my snow pants, winter coat, and boots to see a cool mist rising off of the waterfall in the early morning sun. I thought about all of the small moments that had to come together for me to be in that place at that time, witnessing that beauty.

After a quick visit in Kelowna with some friends, we drove out of the valley and up into the Coastal Mountains of B.C. As we made our way up and over the winding mountain passes, the clouds surrounded us with a deep and thick fog that was like driving into nothingness. I remember our car filling up with the smell of dampness and rain, like the word petrichor, a word that describes the scent of rain. Just like that, we had arrived in the temperate rainforest.

I had been told that Vancouver was a beautiful city, but within my nature, I am more of a small-town or small-city kind of girl. I can’t remember where we were driving through the city when I realized that Vancouver had so many trees. All of the roads were lined with beautiful and large trees that hung with moss, making me forget that I was in a city altogether. The next week was spent exploring and spending time with friends and family. We spent most of our days walking around discovering cute cafes, beautiful neighbourhoods, and bearing witness to the beauty of the ocean, beaches, and forests throughout Vancouver.

On one of our first days in Vancouver, we spent the entire day walking around the city, from Fairview to Kitsilano to Granville Island to Downtown Vancouver to Stanley Park and back home. It was one of the most touristy days I’ve had in a long time and I can wholeheartedly say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thoughts of the authentic ramen that I knew we were having for dinner that evening kept me going. Some of the best vegan ice cream I have ever had was also experienced that evening, at a cute little place near where we were staying called Rain or Shine.

On another one of our day’s in Vancouver, we explored the University of British Columbia’s campus; truly the most beautiful university campus that I have ever seen, and witnessed another beautiful sunset, this time, down by the beach off of the campus’ main path. Maybe one day I’ll return there to continue my studies, but that’s for another blog post.

Before we left the mainland, there was one last stop that we had to make. Squamish, the climbing capital of Canada, was on my list. So, on one of our last day’s in Vancouver, we drove out of the city, along the Sea to Sky highway, and into the small valley town of Squamish, B.C. There I can truly say that I had the best hot chocolate of my life from a place called Xoco Chocolate.

With just enough daylight left to make it happen, our time in Squamish was also spent driving up to the start of the Stawamus Chief hiking trail, racing up the hundreds of stairs, climbing some rocks and steel ladders, and finally making it to the top of the first viewpoint on the mountain. My fear of heights was put to the test again, but this time, as the wind picked up, I looked out on a setting sun over the Coastal Mountains and Pacific Ocean, knowing that nothing was about to throw me off of that mountain.

Dear mountains, I am here to stay.

As the sun started to disappear, we turned our headlights on and climbed back down rocks, ladders, ropes, and stairs to meet the ground once more and drive back into Vancouver. It was a major tour of Vancouver and Squamish, days on this trip that I will never forget.

~

Boats. Big Boats. Do I always enjoy them? No. Are they necessary to get from place to place? Yes. And such was the case when it comes to adventuring over to Vancouver Island. The sunset that evening was another one to remember. Below our boat orcas danced in their pod and when I looked down to watch them go by, the waves were dizzying. This was it, I thought to myself. So many moments have come together for me to be here, arriving on Vancouver Island.

And then, I was in Victoria. We enjoyed walks through downtown, exploring small alleyways with eclectic shops and cafes, stopping to pick up Fernie the puppy when she got tired of walking. We toured the harbour and waterfront, walking over to visit the colourful floating home village in the city on a rainy afternoon. We tasted delicious almond croissants, sat down for dinners and engaging conversations, and laughed a lot, especially in the mornings when Fernie would sometimes pee on the floor from excitement at seeing us emerge from our friends’ guest bedroom, wondering what in the world these strangers were doing in her new home.

After a couple nights in the city, it was time to get back on the road and continue exploring the island. Off to drive backroads with no service and only surfers to keep us company, but that’s for the next blogpost. I have homemade bread that is calling my name and a book that is waiting for me to read.

 All for now,

 All my love,

 Onward.

 -m