August 29, 2018
Toronto, ON

I am just returned from the West Coast, still smelling of sea air, freshly shucked oysters and my friend’s 12 week old great dane puppy named Luna. I had the most magical and wonderful adventure and of course there are lots of photos to prove it. My journey began in Vancouver where I rented a car and drove up to meet friends in beautiful Squamish. Of all my years out West I had yet to make it there and landed softly at the aptly named Squamish Adventure Inn. There were some exciting hikes and birding days capped off with a glass of wine at the top of the Sea-to-Sky gondola, a glorious and terrifying ride!

BC Ferries then ferried me to Victoria, home of my youth, with a jumping pod of orcas on the way. I had much good visitation with old friends, long walks and writing time by the ocean with my recorder (instrument, not technological device.) The air was thick and smoke all too real, floating down from the hundreds of forests on fire across the province. The sun, a hazy ringed orb in the sky, set flaming red against the taupe of eventide. My clothes smelled like campfire when I got home.

Next on my list was Courtenay for the most splendid wedding of Lyndell Captain Dirt to her new wife Nikki. What a magnificent scene it was and the love and work they put in to the whole event blew me away. Congrats to the happy couple who are honeymooning as we speak in Iceland!

After all my work and socializing was done, I set off to Tofino for two days of solitary uninterrupted bliss at the Dolphin Motel. I actually spent most of my time on the foggy foggy beach, which -let’s face it- I much prefer to the sunsoaked strands of summer. I managed to identify 13 new species of birds that I had never seen before (or hadn’t noticed I had seen.) This includes the western sandpiper, the black oystercatcher and the super cute long-billed dowitcher. I played them all a little tune on my flute and I think they liked it.

And speaking of tunes, tomorrow I head back into the studio for the mixing of  Trilogies – Part 1. Stay tuned for lots more info about my new project in the coming days and weeks! Watch this space.

xoxo
The Sand Piper

P.S. For all my latest Adventures In Sweetland photos visit the gallery here. There are some new goodies posted in my ongoing series “Chamber Maiden.”

“Underworld.”
For more photos from my Instagram series click here.