Monday, August 12, 2013

We're going on a bear hunt...





A highlight of my trip to Canada, was spending time with my friend Heather at her dad's cabin. The cabin is not reachable by car, so after a three hour ferry ride from Port Alberni, we kayaked for an hour and a half through open water to a small pass where half a dozen cabins were hidden. Seals and sea lions popped up to say hello and once we were in the pass we opened a can of beer to toast the god of good weather.



Heather's dad and family built their cabin. There is no mobile phone reception, sounds of passing cars or noisy neighbours; a few days there felt like a month long holiday- a true retreat. The water gently rocked the cabin like a cradle and we slept long and soundly, only waking early one morning to fish for salmon.



Every morning and evening we watched a bear nearby searching for food. We even were lucky (!) enough to see a mummy bear swim across the water to protect her two young cubs. (The fact that Heather and I were sitting in a row boat separating the bears was a bit nail biting-thankfully I had a glass of wine in my hand to calm my nerves!!) The light was not great, so my photos are memories of a wonderful experience rather than art for the wall.



I feel so lucky to have been shown this part of the great outdoors by Heather, it really was a 'Canadian' experience.







13 comments:

  1. OhmyGosh that really is amazing!!
    What an experience!
    and remote?? yep.
    How did it go with the no phone reception?
    it's nice to get back to the basics every once in a while.
    in a cabin.
    on the water!

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    Replies
    1. I loved the no mobile reception- and we knew a cabin nearby had a radio in case of emergencies!

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  2. WOW! i love that you can only get there by water. what a TRUE getaway! so beautiful!

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  3. What a fabulous adventure!! Such a beautiful place!

    Melanie♥
    www.athistage.blogspot.com

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  4. This is so so cool! I think one is hard pressed to find a place so out of the way now... and only reachable by kayak at that! I would love to have a little cabin like this someday, and spend a month there out of the year recuperating from the stressors of daily life.

    xxx
    Jenna

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    Replies
    1. I agree- I think I am a bit of a hermit by nature.

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  5. Such a cool adventure with a lovely view !

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  6. wow, your blog is so lovely, and what beautiful photos!
    xx

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  7. Super stunning adventure!

    By the way - do you have any more book tips? I've gone retro. Have you tried Barbara Pym? If you enjoy the Mitford sisters you might like her. Similar era, kind but very clever observations of genteel life. Think a 20thC Jane Austen. Good summer reading.

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    Replies
    1. Ohhhhhh- I've just done a search on Barbara Pym- think I will love her!
      To be honest, I don't have a lot to recommend- but I just read 'where'd you go Bernadette' by Maria Semple and really enjoyed it. A strong female character.

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  8. beautiful!!! looks like my weekend in KY

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  9. That is an amazing opportunity you were presented. To experience something so rare in today's society.

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  10. Thank you, it really was special.

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