Come With Me to the Sea... the Beautiful Sea

Last year this time we had just arrived home from a wonderful month in Europe with big smiles, tons of photos but very empty pockets so we have decided this year to look about in our own back yard...

On Tuesday this week we left home crack of dawn and were at the Fish Market in Sidney on time to get the 10 am "Alpine II" over to Sidney Island and Sidney Spit.

What a marvellously wonderful day... the sun shone, we took our own lunch and hiked all over the north end of that little island. 

So come with me for a little walk and I will show you my sea-treasures...

"I must go down to the seas again, 

to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship 

and a star to steer her by;

And the wheel's kick and the wind's song 

and the white sail's shaking,

And a grey mist on the sea's face, 

and a grey dawn breaking...

I loved the reflections and colour...

I must go down to the seas again, 

for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call 

that may not be denied;

And all I ask is a windy day 

with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray and blown spume, 

and sea gulls crying...

I must go down to the seas again,

to the vagrant gypsy life,

To the gull's way and the whale's way, 

where the wind's like a whetted knife;

And all I ask is a merry yarn 

from a laughing fellow-rover,

And quiet sleep and a sweet dream

when the long trick's over."

-John Masefield

For those who love the mountains there was always Mt. Baker, lurking on the eastern horizon, wanting to be captured in a photo...

 My 'laughing fellow-rover.'..

We were told on the boat over, that since this was a National Park that we were entering, there would be NO removal of shells, wood, rocks or any other perceived treasure...

There is more than one way to remove 'treasures' from a National Park... 

For those familiar with Sidney Island and it's lovely Spit you will know that when the tide's out there is lots of sand to enjoy. We took the morning to walk around the end of the Spit and had our lunch at the far north end but in the afternoon we chose to walk in the woods, south of the jetty where we arrived.

I have often tried to get a decent 'snap' of Sherwin on one shady walk or another here on our own island, with no success, but I am happy to have this one...

This trail reminded us of Mayne Island where we live but though we loved the added bonus of lots of white sand beach here, we were grateful for the trees and the shade of the woods for our afternoon walk.

As we ended our afternoon Sherwin led me to a spot he had seen on the map that he thought I would like to capture as my last picture.

That is the Spit we walked on earlier... but now the tide is up and there is not so much sand for walking to reach the end. But this was a lovely place to say goodbye to a beautiful day with my 'fellow-rover'.

Click here (in a few days) to Sherwin's blog where he will give you much more detail.

In the meantime, be well.