Category: Water Fun

DISCOVERING A WATERFALL WHEN SEEKING POTHOLES

A hike in the Sooke Hills to look at the popular Sooke Potholes resulted in the surprise discovery of the Mary Vine Creek Waterfall!

My favourite type of adventure is the kind that ends up being completely different from what you were planning. Maybe it’s the creative in me. Or maybe it’s just my desire to break free from the predictability that modern life seems to have. But when I’m expecting one thing, and I find something different, it makes my romantic soul sing!

This is exactly what happened when I headed to Sooke Potholes Provincial Park with my family for a hike. I had gone in search of pictures of the Potholes, and what I discovered was a waterfall!

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FALLING IN LOVE AT HOT SPRINGS COVE

Hot Springs Cove is located on the wild west coast of Vancouver Island. Accessible only by boat or seaplane, it is a romantic location that isn’t to be missed.

Having not ventured out into the great outdoors in search of inspiration for my romance novels (or at least not beyond my fenced yard), I don’t have any new adventures to share with you; however, I have gone back through the four thousand or so photos that are taking up space on my phone to find you an adventure from last Summer. And I found one that ties in perfectly with my West Coast Romance Series.

In June 2019, I had the opportunity to sail part way around Vancouver Island. I met the sail boat in Port McNeill, sailed around the northern tip of Vancouver Island (where Cape Scott is) and departed the boat at Tofino. It was during this trip that I discovered the romance that is Hot Springs Cove. Which features heavily in my recently released romance novel Ginny’s Crush (Book 2 in the West Coast Romance Series).

Be warned that there are a few tidbits about the book in this post…

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THE UNEXPECTED ROMANCE OF A SIDNEY ISLAND DAY TRIP!

Referred to by the locals as Sidney Spit, this jewel is located just off the coast of Vancouver Island, and I can’t believe that I haven’t been visiting it regularly.

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to overlook the treasures that are nearest to your home? I live in a tourist destination. People come from all over the world to experience Victoria, BC, Canada, but being a resident, I sometimes forget about the beautiful places right in my backyard.

And Sidney Island was one of the those places. I have lived in Victoria for almost twenty-seven years, and I can’t believe that I had never been to Sidney Island before. I have seen it many times from the shores of the “big island” (Vancouver Island), and I have tried to sail around it a few times—a story of struggle for another time—but I had never actually set foot on the island.

Until now.

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KAYAKING IN COWICHAN BAY

Today the ocean beckoned, and I answered the call. Cowichan Bay is located just north of Victoria, and it is a stunning location to take to the water.

Today’s adventure was amazing. It had been a long time since I’d been out on the ocean in a kayak, and while Cowichan Bay is protected from the big waves and wind, it is still the ocean.

It’s hard to describe the feeling of saltwater on your lips to someone who has never experienced it. It’s what bliss tastes like.

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KAYAKING INTO ROMANCE ON ELK/BEAVER LAKE

When the backyard pool doesn’t have enough room for relaxing without getting splashed, and I can’t leave the city, I can still find a little slice of paradise kayaking at Elk/Beaver Lake.

I’ve been itching to get out on the water, because that is my Zen place, and when I go too long without a water-based adventure, I can start to get a little twitchy. So today, I packed up my twins and our kayaks in our faithful red van and headed to Elk/Beaver Lake to do some kayaking.

The lake has a little bit of interesting history. It actually used to be two lakes (thus the unusual name), but in 1872 Elk Lake started to be used to supply the drinking water for Victoria and the lake was dammed, causing the water to rise enough that the two lakes became one.

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SPECTACLE LAKE

A quick hike around a stunning lake in the Cowichan Valley, and then a quick dip in the serene waters of Spectacle Lake.

Looking for a new romantic location to send my lovers to, and needing to get some exercise for an upcoming multi-day backpacking trip to Cape Scott (stay tuned in August!), I headed to Spectacle Lake for a hike and a swim.

Even though Spectacle Lake is only about a thirty minute drive from my house, I had never been before; however, a very trustworthy source told me that it was serene and lovely—perfect for romantic assignations.

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TUBING ON THE COWICHAN RIVER

Today’s adventure was tubing the Cowichan River. The perfect mix of peace and exhilaration in the same adventure.

One of the amazing things about living on Vancouver Island for a water-loving girl like me, is the plethora of options. We’ve got ocean, we’ve got lakes, we’ve got rivers, creeks, and streams. AND we have the Cowichan River, which is PERFECT for a day spent lazing around on a tube.

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