Tag: Vancouver Island

SEEKING THE FALLS – DELLA FALLS & LOVE LAKE

Della Falls is arguably the tallest waterfall in Canada, and I trekked there with my family this summer. Our adventure included a water taxi, 15 km hike, and Love Lake.

For the past few summers, since my twins became old enough to carry their own stuff in their backpacks, we’ve gone on some amazing family backpacking trips, and this year was no different.

Della Falls (with a day hike to Love Lake) was our destination, and I couldn’t have been more excited. My excitement was three-fold. First of of all, the thundering power of Della Falls is incredible to witness (although we had a little bit of a surprise on this front. More about that later). Secondly, an upcoming romance novel is set at Della Falls (also more about that later). And finally, fourteen years ago, I had my honeymoon at Della Falls.

This is the story of our adventure.

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Return to Bear Beach. A Romantic Setting That Doesn’t Disappoint

Bear Beach is a beach on the Juan de Fuca Trail on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It features stunning west coast views worthy of inclusion in a romance novel.

Wow! I can’t believe how long it has been since I added a new post to my blog. I must apologize for my absence. I have nothing to offer in the way of an excuse other than that life (and writing) has impeded me from searching out romantic settings for my romance novels.

Even my hiking boots conspired to keep me from adventuring. They fell apart at the most inopportune moment.

But the good news is that I have new boots with sturdier soles, and I am back exploring this beautiful island I live on (Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada, if you’re new).

I just returned from a two-night family backpacking trip to Bear Beach on the Juan de Fuca Trail. My calves haven’t even stopped screaming their displeasure at me, but I wanted to record the adventure for you, because Bear Beach is beyond stunning!

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ROMANTIC HIKE ALONG THE SOOKE FLOWLINE

The Sooke Flowline is a concrete pipe that runs from the Sooke Hill to Victoria, BC, Canada. It used to carry the water supply for the city, but now it is the perfect spot for a romantic hike.

Like most of us, I have been cooped up at home and not getting out to explore as much as I would like—which is great for my word count, but not so great for my blog—however, not too long ago, I managed to get out for a romantic hike with my husband along the Sooke Flowline.

I have known about it for years. I had the vague idea I would like to check it out, but like often happens, the places that are closest to me are the last to be explored. For some reason, local things just don’t seem to hold the same fascination as the far away places. It’s like we get inured to them, and they lose their magic.

I live in a tourist destination, but I don’t always understand what all the fuss is about, until I have a truly wonderous experience, and then I remember. Luckily, through research for my romance novels, I have been focussing on exploring the island I live on—Vancouver Island.

Which is how I ended up on a romantic hike on the Sooke Flowline.

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THE SECRETS BEHIND THE ROMANCE NOVEL SAVING SHELBY

Saving Shelby, West Coast Romance Book 1 was my first published romance novel. Learn about all the West Coast locations featured in the book—real and imagined. Find out what I love about my first novel, and what I would do differently!

Publishing my first romance novel—Saving Shelby—wasn’t the beginning of my writing journey, but it was the moment that turned a dream into a reality. It was scary and exhilarating at the same time.

When I hit publish, I felt like Saving Shelby was the best story that would ever come from my fingertips. I couldn’t even imagine coming up with a better storyline.

However, it didn’t take long for me to realize how naïve I was. I was only part way through writing Ginny’s Crush—the second book in the series—when I figoured out that I had made a few critical errors that were going to come back to haunt me later in the series.

In this post I will let you in on a few secrets about Saving Shelby. I will disclose which locations are real and which ones are completely made up.

And I will tell you which decision I would make differently, if I was writing it today! *Note that there may be a few minor spoilers in this post*

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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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YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE MIGHTY TO BE ROMANTIC—SKUTZ FALLS

Skutz Falls might not be mighty, but even mini-waterfalls have the power to enchant!

I had never been to Skutz Falls before, but there are a few scenes in West Coast Romance Book 3 that take place there, so I figured I better get my boots on the ground and check these falls out.

I enlisted the help of my friend, who lives in the Cowichan Valley, loaded my kids in the car, and headed up island on a waterfall hunting adventure. If you don’t already, waterfalls (and hot springs) are one of my favourite things.

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THE ROMANCE OF CAPE SCOTT PROVINCIAL PARK

Cape Scott is at the northern tip of Vancouver Island and is a little slice of paradise for those who can conquer the trail.

I’ve been training for it, and it finally came. This past week, my family and I conquered the Cape Scott Trail and spent two glorious days on some of the most beautiful and wild beaches on Vancouver Island (that’s right Tofino, you’ve got competition).

I fell in love with the stunning beaches at the end of the Cape Scott Trail, the first time I hiked it approximately 15 years ago (and then again about 12 years ago), and I’ve been trying to get back there ever since.

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ROMANCE AND A WATERFALL ON BEAR BEACH

There is nothing like a surprise waterfall after an intense hike to make a day perfect.

Bear Beach is the second beach on the Juan de Fuca trail—a multi-day coastal, wilderness trail that runs along the south coast of Vancouver Island, B.C., Canada, from China Beach near Jordan River to Botanical Beach near Port Renfrew.

But there is some unexpected romance that goes beyond the hike through an old growth forest and the stunning ocean views. The Beach has a waterfall that cascades down the side of the cliff face, making the hike all the more worth it.

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