I remembered I had a blog the other day. Then I looked at the last time I posted and realized it has been 13 months. All I can say is a lot has happened so this will be one doozey of an update, be prepared to read all about Kelsie for the next few minutes.
End of Summer 2013
From what I remember the end of summer 2013 was quite amazing! I stayed out in Ucluelet until the end of October and a lot of fun was to be had. The shoulder seasons are important times in the realm of the tourism industry as we work hard all summer so that we can enjoy the place we live and the people we live with in the spring and fall. Some highlights from the end of the summer were:
- Jeremy and I attempted an epic paddle up to Hot Springs Cove but instead got flooded off the Megin River and made an epic paddle back to Tofino
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| Our post flood camp. |
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| Waiting for high tide so we could paddle off the river meant endless games of crib. |
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| One of Jer and my main motivations for heading to the Megin was the fact it was 20 years after the protests that protect the Megin area. |
- SKGABC Guides Exchange in Ucluelet with some of the worst weather ever (rough water paddling anyone?)
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| Launching was a gong show to say the least. |
- a road trip to Powell River to visit Lorenzo and explore a new part of the BC coast
- Kalie and Bethany (my oldest and dearests) came for Thanksgiving weekend
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| The best of the best! |
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| When finding real firewood fails, burn a firelog. I am pretty sure we did our lungs NO good burning this firelog. |
- assisting Dave and Dan on yet another SKGABC/ TRU Level 1 Sea Kayak course
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| Everything I know, I learned from him. |
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| Champions. |
- endless nights of dinner and Catan
Victoria
My plan once leaving the coast was to make my way back to Banff once again to work for a couple of weeks before heading back to school in January. The first stop on my road trip to the Rockies was Victoria. This would be my first visit to Victoria and I could not anticipate how hard I would fall for this city. It is absolutely amazing! Kelsey Lang, Bethany and Lorenzo were my main motivations for visiting this amazing city but what I found was amazing food, amazing beverages, an incredibly accessible city and a very welcoming hot yoga studio. Honestly, what more can a person ask for. Highlights of Victoria (yes some of this is shameless marketing for amazing businesses) include:
- the Interactivity Board Game Cafe
- the Hudson Market
- Hudson Hot Yoga
- being able to bike everywhere
- hiking around Sooke
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| Some how the puddles turned into rivers and lakes as the hike went on. |
- paddling with HUGE sea lions at the mouth of Goldstream with Julian
There was one downfall to my Victoria visit. While staying at Bethany's, I had my car broken into and half of all my worldly possessions taken away from me. However, they left me my Catan boards and all of my paddling gear, two sets of items that make me an incredibly happy person. I quickly found out that there is really no insurance that insures the things in your car unless you are a homeowner, and as fun as it might sound to get all new camping gear and shoes, it is actually stressful!
California
I think the distance you are willing to travel to spend time with someone is a testament to friendship and is a qualifying factor for best friend status. So, in November Janice and I took a trip to California. Honestly the two of us are unstoppable with our ideas of how to see each other. This includes running half-marathons and a visit to Houston in Fall 2015 (who goes to Houston, TX anyways?)
Our Cali trip was 8 days and 2000 km. I finally got around to uploading photos and telling the story of California on Facebook a couple of weeks ago, so check it out here at The Great California Roadtrip.
Banff
By the end of November it was time to head back to the Rockies to spend time with family. However, Banff turned out to be dramatically different than expected. Within two days of being back in Banff I had to take Nana to the hospital and that was the start of two weeks of being in and out of hospitals. I was happy I could be there for Nana and the rest of the family while they figured out a more permanent solution but I was definitely not prepared for that job and have an infinite respect and appreciation for people who care for ill people on a regular basis. It is not easy.
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| Yes, we are that family! |
By the time Christmas season rolled around I was back working at Monods this time working in hard goods and let me tell you, I am not exactly cut out for the gear nerd position. I think I view gear in the same way I view cars, if they get you from "A to B" within a tolerable level of risk, then its good to go. Endless discussions about this biner or that biner, or this transceiver or that transceiver, is not my forte. Bring on ladies clothing! However going back to see the Monods family is always a good time!
Back to the Books
It was that time again. Time to hit the books and start to finish my undergrad. Moving back to Kamloops is always bittersweet, I have such a love-hate relationship with this city. However, moving back to Kamloops meant I had access to one of my most favorite hot yoga studios in the whole wide world, Kamloops Hot Yoga! From January to April my existence pretty much consisted of classes, homework and hot yoga, with sides of cross-country skiing and Noble Pig nights.
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| Managed to get out for one river run right before leaving Kamloops. |
Summer 2014
The end of April signaled the finale of the Winter semester and it was time to move coastal again. As I write this I am pretty much at the end of my summer and heading back to school for the fall, and upon reflection, this season on the coast was one of my most challenging yet. But one of my mantras right now is, "challenges are simply the opportunities to grow". There is no one single thing that I can pin point and say "aha" you challenge me but it was an accumulation of things. On that note, I also had a ton of amazing moments this summer.
I managed to wrangle myself a one bedroom apartment in Ucluelet for the summer. I figured by the age of 26 it was time to experience life without roommates. Let me assure you, this was one of the best experiences of my life and for the first ever I felt I was able to walk around naked, and I assure you I did. It also allowed me to have the summer of guests. The first two months I had a constant stream of visitors making it feel a little bit like I had roommates but only the best roommates I assure you. Thank you to Kelsey Lang, Erika, Bradford, Luke, Lorenzo, Mom, Nana, Auntie Cathie, Lisa and Janice for the amazing visits!
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| I felt all growed up! |
May
My May was a combination of ensuring Paddle West was running smoothly and trying to start the preparations for taking the SKGABC Level 3 exam in June. Preparations included numerous trips out to Vargas Island with both visiting friends and by myself.
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| Chels and Erika living the dream in Clayoquot Sound. |
I was also fortunate enough in May to go to a Wilderness Interpretive Guides course at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Center for a few days with some super rad people. Basically we nerded out on marine life endlessly. It was amazing.
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| Birding is so cool. |
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| Bamfield Marine Science Centre has a strict policy for PFDs on the beach. |
In the end the month of May felt full on and I needed some serious Kelsie time to recharge my introverted batteries.
June
While in Victoria in the Fall Lorenzo and I decided that we should do our Level 3 exam together, so he came out for three-ish weeks to prepare and take the exam. It was great to get out and paddle with this guy, but it was intense, full-immersion sea kayaking both physically and mentally for two weeks. I think both of us were stoked to have completed the exam and have a break from sea kayaking for a bit.
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| There is something inherently perfect about west coast camping. |
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| Lorenzo playing with a boomer in front of Catface Mountain. Do not try this at home and without the proper training. |
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| Who knew the west coast could be this perfect. |
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| All this boy wants to do is surf. |
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| It wasn't all fun and games, we spent many hours at this table. |
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| The best sight in the world, four boats! :) |
In the end I got a conditional pass on the Level 3 exam! :) In order to get my full pass I have to complete 20 overnight days in class 3 waters with a level 3 guide and complete another unassisted rescue. Both totally achievable and in the plans for spring 2015!
The other exciting event in June, was running a marathon relay with three of the sickest girls on the west West Coast. A marathon relay means that collectively, between the four of us, we ran a marathon, each of us running approximately 10km! It was a great time, but I was pretty undertrained for the event.
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| Gumboot Chitons at 7am. |
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| Gumboot Chitons 12pm. |
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| Killed it! |
In all honesty I already forget what happened in July. July was a no guest month where I was then able to fully enjoy having a one bedroom apartment. I also made a great escape to Victoria to be in a hot room as much as possible, visit with Miss Lang and remind myself of how awesome Victoria is as a city.
August
August too flew by unknowingly except for the end when it was vacation time with the bestie. As hinted at before, Janice and I have these crazy ideas on how to spend time together. Back in April, we signed up for the Lululemon Seawheeze Half Marathon. I like the idea of running, but have come to the realization that actual running sucks. Also, trying to train for a half-marathon during the summer in my line of work is the stupidest idea ever. Needless to say I completed a half-marathon with no training in 3 hours and 8 minutes. It sucked and I felt very little satisfaction in completing it. No one, I repeat, no one, should complete a half-marathon without doing training before. Did I mention that I just signed up for another 10k run in October? Someone smack me.
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| Seconds after crossing the finish line. I look WAY happier than I was. My joints were very, very, very unhappy here. |
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| Only the bestie could make me do this shit. |
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| Private island, yes please. |
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| Forcing this girl to get into the cold Pacific. |
The last exciting thing that happened in August was I started surfing. A night of sealing with a few of my favorite ladies, I was hooked on being in a wetsuit, on a board in the ocean! "Sealing?", people ask. "Is that where you hit seals over the head with a club?". I respond "No" and proceed to demonstrate seal pose from the Yin Yoga series, which is also known as cobra in a more yang practice. I assure you that I am no longer sealing and can stand on the board now! I think this was the best news I have ever given Bethany since she now has a surfing partner.
"Whats Next?"
Finally, the "whats next?" question. The one that plagues us continuously. I think this question is one of the hardest things for me to simply let go of but for now I am okay with that.
Immediately, I am making the trek back to Kamloops for what will hopefully be my final semester of classroom classes. I have a full course load, loaded with courses I am beyond stoked for. And I am able to get back into the hot room. I think the hot room excites me more than anything else.
The not so near future is a little up in the air, but at this moment the plan is to come back to Ucluelet mid-December and spend half of a winter out here. After packing up my life and fitting it into my car yet again, I am definitely starting to think of finding a "home". I think I am ready to stop packing up my life every six-ish months. I am ready to settle down and settle in for a little while. Find myself a home base.
In addition to finding home, I need to complete a thesis to put the final nail in my undergrad. Part of me figures why not write a thesis out on the west coast as the rain pours and the wind blows. The goal is to have my undergrad completed by summer 2015, that might be ambitious but I am hopeful.
In the spring, I will be auctioning myself off to complete my overnight requirements for my level 3 certification and eventually over time work towards becoming a guide trainer.
In addition to thesis writing and overnight guiding, I am hoping to complete my hot yoga teacher training in the spring. I would love to be able to head down to Cali for this experience but I anticipate joining the Victoria community which is a little more accessible.
I think that is all for now folks, I wish you the best Fall possible, and if you feel so inclined please meet me in the hot room in Kamloops in the next few months.
Cheerio,
K
