Me Day

For 3 hours today I was in a far away land.

I needed no passport.

I tossed my fitbit in a basket and crept between the covers on a warm bed, tuned into the nature sounds being piped through the speakers and surrendered to the expert hands of a magician / masseuse. 

Ahhhhh yes  - the de-stress, seaweed wrap massage and aromatherapy treatment I got as a birthday present was joyfully redeemed today at the aptly named Nurture Day Spa. 

Followed by a pedicure with a view of the harbour during which I chatted with the owner of the spa who with her husband opted for the simpler life and dropped into Ucluelet 15 years ago.  It was very tempting to let my mind drift to similar possibilities for Allan and I.

All too soon Allan returned to extract me from my happy place and we did a little drive around Ucluelet and then "home" for lunch.  

A nap crossed our minds at the same time the sun decided to peep through the clouds so we opted to make the most of that (seeing snow in the forecast for Friday - WHAT??).

We drove the 30km to Tofino and payed our homage to the Roy Henry Vickers Gallery  and then wandered around town poking in and out of cool and wacky shops as we did.  Allan is on the search for some first nations carving knives for a first nations mask carving course he is taking.  We popped into a thrift store but found nothing.... well, not nothing, as it turns out.

No knives were to be had but the shopkeeper directed Allan to Chesterman Beach a little ways down the road and gave some vague directions to a Carving Shed on the beach where "George" would be carving and may have some info.

We hopped into the truck and away to Chesterman we went as the sun broke through the clouds although the little breeze that popped us was pretty chilly.  We started to walk along the beach looking for "George" and his shed.  We walked the whole beach and found nothing but beautiful homes with enviable waterfront views, plenty of dogs for Spanner to meet, and a few brave surfers. 

As we headed back to the car I suggested we take one last look in the opposite direction - in the small amount of beach on that side.... and lo and behold... we found the most amazing place. 

And "George". 

A carving shed, with wood and tools and art and so much history.  A sand and sawdust floor, colourful characters sitting around chatting.  We were warmly welcomed and we chatted for a while.  No knives, no great carving oracle with amazing wisdom....but a shed that could tell some incredible stories if it could.

It was so very cool. 

A brief stop at the cottage to change and then off to the famed Norwoods for dinner - a reservation obtained many weeks ago. 

It was sublime - a warm spinach salad I shall dream off ..... I can't even talk about the chocolate bombe with sour cream ice cream and the whiskey foam... 

How this day was just as magnificent as yesterday blows my mind.

Off to the hot tub under the stars with the sea lions barking half heartedly in the distance. 

I love Spring Break.

Bacon and eggs, wine and cheese, coffee and cream

There are some things that are just better if they are together...

Like....

me and Spring Break

forests and the sea

and how lucky am I these all came together today.  

We started our day at 5am which was only made memorable by the conversation and antics of the St.Patrick's Day revellers stumbling home.

A quiet ferry ride under grey clouds gave way to sun in Victoria where our beloved girl and Mr Joel were waiting for us at a funky brunch spot close to Oak Bay.  SO lovely to visit with them and catch up.  Oh how we miss that sweet, sassy, smart, beautiful girl.  

A walk on the beach with the kids and Spanner and then we headed north through showers and sun and 4 hours later, after the epic winding road, we arrived (tires still inflated - yay) at the edge of Canada.  

In sunshine and without a breath of wind - miraculous for this part of the west coast of Vancouver Island. 

And we knew we were lucky.

We hastily moved into our charming cottage on the edge of a cove - all cedar and light and trees and a hot tub.... perfect for a week of restoration.

But we put on the walking shoes and leashed up the hound and hit the trails. 

Oh.my.word.

The sound of the ocean was enough for this weary self but the late afternoon light through the wind beaten forest, the haunting whistle and clang of the bouys in the ocean, the sun on our faces 
AND
the spouting, huge, crazy spouting of ....WHALES just off the coast line!  

We walked the wild pacific trail for a few km and were amazed and humbled and grateful around every corner.  

I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.

This is beautiful country even in the mist and rain that usually lives here but on this glorious sunny warm spring day - it was heart-stopping, soul-filling.  

A walk back to the cottage,  appy's (of course) and steak dinner and a puppy snoring, exhausted, and soon into the hot tub as the tide turns below us and the stars populate the clear sky. 

And then to sleep deeply

I am not sure I would rather be any other place in the world right now. 

52 weeks

Today marks my 52 straight week at the gym.

One year of moving forward in my fitness.

Many months of finding a new community.

Surprises and challenges and frustrations and triumphs.

But I'll admit I am not as skinny as I thought 52 weeks at the gym would produce.  And I'd be lying if that wasn't a tad disappointing.  

There IS change though. 

The jeans may not be 4 sizes smaller but what is in the jeans is a whole lot different. 

I have traded much fat for muscle - some of it in surprising places.  There are less inches in some important places. 

But I am also coming to the realisation that 52 weeks in a gym cannot erase a life lived with some challenges - like 3 major abdominal surgeries that cut through the belly muscle wall, some artificial mesh in there that stops muscles moving as they should, and more scar tissue than muscle in my arm that was fractured in 5 places and was more metal than bone for a few years. 

And yet.

I am fitter, I hurt less often, my cardio is way better (arguably with two grandparents who had heart attacks this is most important) and I am so.much.stronger.  

Before Workout

I am learning to appreciate this body of mine for what it is overcoming and what it IS doing rather than what it is NOT able to do...yet.

I have the word "Ohana" tattooed on my wrist. Every night and every morning I see that word as I go to sleep and as I wake up.  It's a reminder of my tribe, my people and as I am settling in for the night I often run through all their names - family, friends, colleagues....my list is blessedly loooong. 

After workout stunned look

So as I reach this milestone today and celebrate, what is perhaps most precious is that my "Ohana" has grown this year to include a Dojo full of interesting and inspiring people in my community - each with their own story and journey who show up to work out under the expertise and care of an exceptional coaching team.

Isn't that really what it's all about in the end - the relationships we get to have with people as we walk through this messy and delightful thing called life. 

I am so very grateful for my personal cheerleaders this year - Allan,Lindsay, David, Mom, Emily, Kristen, Jenn, Helen, #TeamMPT .... they celebrated all my tiny achievements and kept me motivated.  

Here's to the next 52 weeks (unlikely to be consecutive) and some big goals I have for myself... the biggest of which are patience at my pace, courage to stretch into new fitness challenges and kindness to a body that has served me well.

#almostawarrior