Day 429
The Happy Couple
A couple of weeks back as we prepared to depart the Vancouver ferry onto Vancouver Island a young woman called Danielle started chatting to us. “Were we heading to Courtenay? If so, come and stay’.” I quickly took her email and we were off to Nanaimo. Well, our destination after exploring Vancouver Island was Madeira Park, to meet up with Tom’s brother Jim and cousin Mark and assorted family members. To get there we needed a ferry and the ferry departed from Courtenay. Perfect. I emailed Danielle and accepted her kind offer.
As we approached Danielle’s we spotted a parked car and a couple waving madly at us. To be honest this happens more than you’d believe, so I was slightly cautious when we pulled up. Dark hair, check, Irish accent, check, yep, must be Danielle and her husband Michael, phew! Within minutes we were at their lovely home and immediately felt relaxed. A jug of chilled water and plate of cheese, meat and biscuits appeared, we sat, chatted, refuelled and rehydrated.
Danielle and Michael had emigrated from Ireland 10 years ago, and having just received Canadian residency had celebrated by getting married, 20 years after they met at school in Kerry, in the Republic of Ireland. Kerry, mmm, our beloved Mayo’s GAA nemesis, well no one’s perfect! Michael explained before dinner they planned a swim and did we fancy joining them? Is the Pope, well, you know what I mean! So off we went, having opted for a swim in a canyon over the local river. Tom had found his swim, or should I say jump buddy. A canyon means a river, means steep rocky cliffs, means swim holes formed over the millennia. The ‘Minimal Danger’ team have a new member in Michael! The canyon, Medicine Bowls, was stunning. It took a bit of a hike to get there but so worth it. Tom and Michael were soon jumping from a great height into the water, then Tom discovered you could get to the adjacent bowl by diving under a fallen tree and swimming upstream. Danielle and I had a go, but it was just too nerve-wracking. Danielle kept hitting her head and I couldn’t see as I was swimming without my glasses.
Time for food and drink. Did we fancy a barbecue? We have been tormented for months in campsites smelling barbecues and apart from our wonderful camping neighbours back in Florida who fed us all weekend, we had been tormented by the smells. The meal was accompanied by Danielle’s home-brewed cider, it was totally awesome, and makes the Top 10! Before bed we had the opportunity to meet their temporary lodgers, one mummy cat and her six, six-week-old kittens. Cute just doesn’t cover it!
Our one-night stay became two, then three. They were such welcoming hosts, we learned so much about their life in Canada. Michael is a craftsman joiner, we were honoured to see the kayak he had built by hand, such fantastic workmanship. They have a great life here and we could feel the pull of this wonderful country so strongly. The surrounding area is so stunning. More swimming, fantastic bike trails, even donuts, what’s not to like? Finally we tore ourselves away. That’s the hardest part of this trip, after meeting wonderful people, getting to feel almost at home, we leave. Yes, excited for what comes next but sometimes it feels too damn hard.
