Not as nimble as a deer

The trails around Gabriola make me very happy. One of my favourite things is to go exploring in the forest and attempt to get myself lost. I just got back from a bit of an adventure doing just this, managing to get myself on a narrow deer trail on the side of a cliff with the ocean far below. It was a beautiful gulf islands scene in the evening sun; arbutus and Garry oak, dry grass, and low scrubby plants gone to seed with burrs all over them. My heart rate was up on a couple of occasions as I lost my footing, slipped, and had nothing to grab onto except thistle. I decided to scale the cliff and get to more solid ground above, which proved to be much more difficult than it looked from my eroding footing below. I have a new appreciation for the benefits of four legs and the hill climbing skills of deer.

Other recent joys include planting a wee fall container garden consisting of kale, chard, two kind of lettuce, and basil (which is indoors for now in a very sunny window where I think it will do alright). As the fall weather sets in and I am less likely to spend my time kayaking, swimming or otherwise just being outside for the sake of the weather, I am beginning to dream about other projects. Knitting, sewing, cooking... But I am trying so hard to focus on this small matter of graduation that is looming over me. I worked on it all afternoon (before the cliff-side adventure, which was my reward). It's getting there.

The view from here

It's been a long time since I posted. Way longer than I thought. With Facebook now part of life I can't remember what pictures I posted there and when I last updated here.

Much has happened since I last posted in June. I spent much of July kayaking, both guiding and personal trips. You can see photos of these adventures here.

I have had lots of visitors over the summer, and feel so blessed to have wonderful friends who will make the trek to visit me on Gabriola! You can also check out photos of exploring Gabriola, and a day at MudgeFest (Mudge Island is a stones throw across False Narrows from Gabriola but there is no ferry that goes there).

The picture above is the view from my new place. I lived with Penny and Tina for three months, renting a cute little pentagon-shaped cabin from them. I found my own place earlier than I needed to and reluctantly left Moss Hill and The Pentagon. The new place is lovely though, but a bit lonely. My efforts to find a roommate haven't been successful yet, but I continue the search. Any takers?

Work is fantastic. What can I say? It's great to feel like I'm doing useful things that directly affect people's lives and to have put academia aside, for now or maybe ever. Who knows. Well there is still the small matter of graduating which I haven't actually done yet. I have a project to finish, and hope to have it wrapped up before 2008 is over.

Hope you are all well and I promise to post again soon.