The End - for now

Early September I set off to drive across Canada. I stayed in Prince George with a lovely friend who had also just made the daunting commitment to school and a new environment. The drive down the ice fields highway was spectacular. Mount Robson, the biggest mountain in the park nearly drove me off the road. The grander of the mountain was shocking. I stayed in Canmore and visited old pals Harry and Eric. We created gluten filled masterpieces until 2 in the morning and laughed about our past adventures. I was able to spend the following day with an old friend, Amy Larson, hiking around Canmore and stayed the night in Calgary. Eric bribed me to return to Canmore where he promised to take me climbing. It was deja-vue when Eric’s car broke down and the first day was spent idle, waiting for CAA to save the vehicle.  It was worth the wait though!! Because the following day we climbed Ha Ling, an 11 pitch climb. It was the absolute bomb-diggity. Leaving Canmore was difficult, saying goodbye to a great pal and realizing that this was the final mountain adventure that I would have for some time.

For the next three days I drove. I slept in my car to save money and convince myself that I wasn’t as old as my age and upcoming responsibility implied. Word to the wise – don’t arrive at the border without a pre-set story, un-showered and wearing cut-offs with a tie-dye shirt. You will have to wait for some time while your car gets thoroughly searched. Don’t be doing Yoga in the waiting room when they return either. Trust me, words to the wise.

I returned home two days before school started. The first week wasn’t easy. It was a blistering 32 degrees C every day and I bike half an hour to school. I gave a sweaty first impression, there’s proof of it in my student card photo. Main campus was a nightmare… full of new students who were at least 8 times more excited than I was to be there.  I’m currently a student in the Masters of Social Work Program at Laurier University. I miss the mountains and the open spaces, but I know they’re only waiting and I’ll be back there again soon. I’m grateful to be in school and surrounded in people with diverse opinions and experience. There is much to be learned.

 Mount Robson

 

 Touch of death deja-vue

 

 Not nearly as flexible as the lady on the cover of the canmore climbing guide book

 

 Almost as flexible

 

 

 Top!

 

 You'd be surprised how less creepy he is in real life... sometimes

 

Ha Ling from the bottom

Wolves and Killer Whales

... now I didn't get to see either of the two. There aren't any wolves in Haida Gwaii and the killer whales teasingly appeared whenever I wasn't around. Alas, I'll have to return to Haida Gwaii and chase them down another time in hopes of a graceful and gentle encounter... after many of the stories from this past summer, I realize whales aren't as friendly and cuddly as once perceived.

So, I will share my adventures from the last month in Haida Gwaii. August was packed. I returned home for a dear friend's wedding for two weeks and once back in HG the festivities began. Edge of the World Music Fest ran into a five day paddling trip to the Gwaii Haanas. I was honored with the opportunity to witness the first totem pole raising in about 130 years in Gwaii Haanas. A group of 11 of us paddled for five days down to windy bay in order to catch the event. The spirit among the crowd was contagious and uniting. We ate delicious foods, listened to speeches of history and pride, then we pulled on the tow lines together to help raise the pole after a ceremonial blessing. Once the crowds dispersed, a feeling of humility settled while the pole watched over us as we slept.

The couple of weeks after the pole raising flew by. In between stressing about another big move across the country, I tried to appreciate everyone and everything about where I was living. The weekend before I left a group of us went to an island off the west coast. We paddled for an hour and set up camp for 3 days. Snorkeling, fishing, and ingesting protein were our main daily activities and the seals spied on us as we gathered treasures during our beach combing sessions. It was a highlight of the summer.

 

Met this little man, newest nephew Elias

 

 

She's going to be a feisty artist this gal.

 

 

Gwaii Haanas

 

 

 

Lodge in Windy Bay

 

 

Less and Tina, part of the kayaking gang

 

 

 

 

The gang

 

 

Setting up camp in Windy Bay

 

 

En route with Kevin and Katie!

 

 

Lion's head jelly

 

 

 

The paddlers being welcomed in

 

 

Diane blessing the pole

 

 

Oscar playing his Haida music

 

 

And she's up!

 

 

The gang

 

 

 

 

Intertidal zones at Tanu

 

 

 

 

Gospel Island set up - three days in paradise

 

 

Making the feast

 

 

Former vegan written all over Charlotte's face

 

 

Apparently there's a story about Haida men being created first but there was imbalance so the creator stuck a chow on one of the humans to introduce women. Introducing : chow.

 

 

Best interdidal zones. This little pool was slightly larger than a dinner plate.

 

Bringing home the bacon

 

 

Treasures

 

 

Big ol' piece of meat and the leg of a deer.

 

 

Kye and Nicole

 

Down by the bay

 On June 13^th I said goodbye to my Yukon family, all belongings packed up in the Taur-star and I ventured south. My final destination was Charlotte, BC – Haida Gwaii. Nick and I planned to live in his cabin on Robertson Island, a small island housing 7 other families off the community of Charlotte. 

I arrived in Charlotte two days of driving and an 8 hour ferry ride later. I drove out to Spruce Point, grabbed a kayak and made my way to the cabin. This would be my first experience living on the ocean. I wasn’t really sure what to expect or what I was going to do with myself for the first week before Nick arrived, but luckily as I kayaked over to the cabin for the first time, our lovely neighbour Sheila yelled out her window “Is that Jayme our new neighbour? Come over for dinner!!” A heck of a great way to start this adventure. Over the first week I fumbled my way around the island trying to keep busy, but not really know yet what to do. Marvin (Sheila’s husband) helped me get set up and told me about some edible berries on the island. I picked berries for 7 days. Marv and Sheila had me over for dinner three times during that first week before Nick arrived. 

Once Nick arrived we were in a race against time to build a greenhouse because his mom had sent him up from Vancouver with a load of preplanted veggie plants that needed to be replanted. We plowed through building and setting up the cabin over the next few weeks. I was the queen of berry gathering by then, Nick started catching crab and he shot a deer. We had our hands full. 

Currently we’ve just about finished the greenhouse. Once the plants were in and the walls were up we took a break, so we’ll be putting the final touches to the roof this week. It was pretty cool to be a part of building something that will feed us for the next two months. My parents also helped out with the green house during their weeklong visit. We ventured around the islands together, but mostly ate a lot of crab. 

I’ve been getting used to island life, loving it really. Nick’s cabin is right on the water. I’ve managed to snag myself a few friends, get out dancing at community dances, surf in Masset, and hiked up sleeping beauty and land a few hogs off the west coast. I'm managing to keep quite busy and social now that I'm settled. This place is heaven.

I haven’t much clever to say for now. Just wanted to give everyone a peak at what I’m doing out here!

Processing berries and sun tanning. View from our front porch

Eagle party in front of the cabin

 Big ol sitka spruce

The beginnings of our greenhouse

North beach outside of Masset for surf and sun

A friend let us stay in their beach shack

Genevieve lives in HG too! She milks goats along with a dozen other activities. Always a riot this lass.

 Toe hill road. I love how the road has to make way for the trees.

Slowly coming together

Catchin hogs and takin names

20 lbs spring, my biggest hog yet.

Many delicious dinners

 

Keeps on coming

Skidegate days! I was able to race in the Lootas canoe

 

Diane crushing in the fish filleting competition.

Hiking up sleeping beauty right up to her nose. 

I'm pointing at Robertson in this dorky photo. It's the bigger of the islands off Charlotte.