Discovery Lodge Day 2

Call to breakfast was 8:30 although coffee was available earlier....and we were there! Breakfast was a bowl of steel cut oats with fixings and home made cinnamon rolls that were hot and fresh from the oven. Mmmmmm! 

Weather was looking a bit iffy but rain was holding off. We thought maybe we would be ok as it had poured through the night. The wind was up as we pushed off from the dock 

We were heading for surge narrows and had to time it right in order to navigate the rocks. We did not have a guide today but one had headed out with a couple of other kayakers and we followed behind them. The Marine park we entered was spectacular, lots of spiny Red Sea urchins, leatherback starfish, bat stars and Orange, purple and pink starfish, sea stars, and seals. More sealife  than we have seen in quite a few trips.  The water in the marine park was calm as a milk pond, but our time was limited due to the changing tide.

We started back toward the lodge, our calm waters receding behind us as we faced two foot chop and strong winds. It was a tough paddle back and the last section it also started to rain. Needless to say we were soaked, but still happy paddlers. 

Once back we stripped off the wet clothes, rinsed seawater off our life jackets and spray skirts , we met in the kitchen to eat a late lunch. And then the rain came!!!! Oh boy! Did it rain! We were so glad to be out of the water.  Next up was a trip back to town and a visit to a couple of local artist studios. One a potter and the other a painter! She was of great interest, Maureen Maryka. She works in acrylics and mixed media....with a chroma product that we will have to investigate further. Her studio was built on the bluff overlooking the ocean.......a dream studio location.

A quick visit to the grocer and we made the long drive down the narrow gravel road back to Discovery lodge. 

As I write this we are sitting around the communal kitchen table eating snacks and sipping  prosecco. 

While I write, Jan is attempting to read and the other three are coloring! 

Dinner prepared by Jan was chicken chili southwest with chocolate cookies to follow. Sandy presented us all with purdeys salted carmels. 

After dinner we played another game called Anomia......a fun but loud card game that caused a lot of laughter.

By 10 we were retiring for the night. 

Day one at the lodge

Arrived at the lodge by 9:30 and were out on the water by 10:30......proud of ourselves at our efficiency! The water was challenging to say the least, but we had opted to have guides. Jen and Gwen, two young (ish) girls led the way. Some of the currents we likely would not have entered without their guidance as we had not experienced anything that resembled what we had previously paddled. As it turned out we were quite competent! 

We stopped for lunch, provided by the guides. Also in our group were a family of three from Spain, mum, dad and a very shy smiley 8 year old boy.  One of our guides, Jen, speaks fluent Spanish as she works a non profit in Nicaragua for part of the year. Her non profit is called The Latitude Project.

We started back to the lodge, making a big crossing back to Quadra. We had been past Reid and Maurelle Islands. The crossing was long and challenging but nothing we could not handle. Regardless we were all quite wet on our return and Joanie and myself headed for the showers....one solar which was cold as there had not been enough sun and the other was heated by other means...nice and warm...I was the lucky one in the warm one! 

The lodge is quite lovely, we have private rooms and shared bathrooms. There is a living room and kitchen on the top (third) floor of the lodge.

Joanie made dinner which we all enjoyed, spaghetti with two sauces, a spicy red and a white seafood. Gourmet snacks were provided before dinner by Sandy. We finished it all of with Joanie's Lacey cookies....which we also share with our Spanish friends. 

The rest of the kayakers staying here soon drifted off and we played  a game of Quiddler, before hitting our beds for the night.

Last morning Discovery Lodge Aug 31st

Today we woke to the rain again. Our kayak guide Jen had made a lovely bowl of fruit with yogurt and freshly made chocolate banana bread.  

We were packing up our wet gear, paying our bill and then getting on the road. 

We had planned to get the noon ferry from Quathiaski Cove to Campbell River but we missed it by thirteen cars. After a stop at Pamela's to unload her gear we all piled back into both Sandys vehicle and Pamela's .

We eventually arrived at Sue's beautiful home on the ocean in Fanny Bay. Sue and Jim are multi talented. The garden path leading to the house descends towards the ocean through lush plants and a burbling stream. We were greeted by Sue with open arms and we  admired all.....the view, the art and serenity that the space evokes ! Sue offered us freshly baked scones, coffee and canapés. We went outside to see her studio and work. Lastly we went further down to the Oceanside where they have an outdoor bedroom, complete with a beautiful old brass bed. The walls were draped in mosquito screening. What an amazing place to sleep with the sound of the wind and the waves. 

We caught up on all family news and soon had to leave for our 7:30 ferry reservation, Nanaimo to Vancouver.