Hey all,
I haven’t written anything in a while, but I think it’s because life has been a little crazy lately. Just over three weeks ago, I set out from Toronto with the car packed to the roof and Maverick flat in his litter box as if we were driving at G forces, and pointed the wheel West. It only took four or five days of driving, but I passed through Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, dallied in Drumheller, Calgary, and Canmore, then drove straight through BC and hopped on the ferry to get back home. The morning after arriving in Victoria marked the beginning of a crazy week where I completed my SVOP, MED A3, and ROC(M) certificates so I can now drive “non-pleasure'” (commercial) vessels, and after that I launched into a long interview process to find a good job for the summer on the water. So now I have a job, a place to live, a cat that is currently passed out on a windowsill, so he seems to not be totally traumatized from our drive, and it’s looking like a great summer on the island.
Movers came & went, and all that was left was the last supper
Mav actually liked travelling apparently; loved the hotels at least.
I’m actually not sure which province this is.. Either SK or AB
First view of the badlands
Ferocious as always
Massive ammonite, fossilized into ammolite
Dinosaur Provincial Park, where real dinosaur fossils were found by yours truly
Pretty rock with raw garnets exposed
Then I got to see the happiest little boy (and his wonderful parents) in Canmore
Notice the awesome sand tiger he loves. Only aquadork presents for Linden!
Mav got really excited about BC and took over driving for a bit
Going through Active Pass
Home, sweet home
Now, don’t get me wrong, I am so incredibly happy to be on the island again, but leaving Toronto wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. I met and fell in love with some really amazing people back there, and it was so hard to leave the Fish Mafia. I can’t wait until they come visit, or I go back to visit, but either way, I could not be more excited to see their beautiful faces again. And I will show them why I love Victoria as much as I do.
Ten Mile Point
You know you’re back among your people when you buy a scooter with a milk crate zip tied to the back
He seems to have recovered well
Sea lions in the Salish Sea
Pretty little clown nudi at my new job
A huge ctenophore bloom is just off the Oak Bay marina right now
Chubby little harbour seals in the marina, waiting for food
Putting Crazy Run through her paces; caught two salmon that day
‘Little’ Finnegan and I
Out at Pat Bay mudflats, collecting for work
Not sure how, but this little guy was gilling and very determined to look like mud
And to top it all off, after what should be a great summer with a little side of Stampede thrown in, I’ll be heading off in the fall to begin my masters with Sean Rogers at the University of Calgary! Not sure whether I’ll be at Bamfield full time to start (which would be amazing) or at U of C, but this summer is just a warm up for a very interesting couple of years to come.
I’ll keep you posted on my misadventures. Til next time,
Sara x
