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Hiking along the western coast has been a dream since moving to the left coast and hence the Juan de Fuca trail making the Bucket List (#28, don’tcha know!)…and cross that one off the list. Sunday evening, we emerged from the woods from three awesome days on the trail. The pain in my neck from my hefty pack has disappeared, so in my attempt to keep this dream top of mind, I’m going to share my day-by-day accounts. I took far too many pictures and simply had far too good a time to keep this one  short.

Here’s the journey in photos – hope it inspires you to chuck a pack on your pack or simply lace up your trail runners (to those crazy ultra types!) for a beautiful 47km trek!

Day #1: China Beach to Chin Beach – 21km

The day started bright and early at 5AM as we bundled into the car to head for the ferry and then drive out to Jordan River. We finally hit the trail head at 11AM at kilometer zero.

Bear Beach: first beach crossing - more sand than rocks - heavy pack & blue skies!

Most delish lunch: pita/pb/gorp!

A wee river crossing - chasing the red markers hanging in the trees!

Stunning views as we pranced along the shore line...this implied it was "flat". (Unlike the climbs/descends of the final 11km!)

I dare not show you our faces when we finally made it to camp at 8pm on Day1. Let's just say dumping these packs was a welcomed treat!

What can be cooler than catching your water from a waterfall flowing thru a tree stump? Freshly pumped chilled water after a long day of hiking - perfect hydration!

The day ended just before dusk, on the windy beach where we set up our tent inhaled our dehydrated dinner and quickly proceeded to hit the hay. We had the “most difficult” (as per BC Parks) section out of the way, and two full days left to enjoy the remainder of the trail.

Little did we know just how “awesome” we’d feel in the  morning…

We started packing tonight: packs, dinners, clif bars, books, head lamps, tent, sleeping bags, crib board and a box of wine – we should be set.

Juan de Fuca – we are coming for a walk in the woods this weekend (whilist crossin’ another one off the Bucket List, don’t mind if I do!) WoooooHoooooo!!

I question if one could ever get sick of this sunshine? It is perfectly hot (not too humid), perfectly clear blue skies, frankly – it’s perfectly summer! And as I sit here on a warm Sunday evening, I’m thinkin’ that i lived this sunshinin’ weekend up to the max: from a kickin’ morning bike ride with SuzG & her partner in crime, to QT at the beach and a BBQ at home with my Man on Saturday; and the Grouse frickin’ Grind four times, ocean swimming and patio time on Sunday.

I’m so insanely grateful for Elevated heart beats, Amazing human beings, in the most Beautiful place on earth. The only thing missing is my family who is sweltering on the other side of the country.

I'm also grateful this crazy Ontario-ite decided to call North Van home! She is indeed, the parter-in-crime. (But don't tell her coach we had a photo shoot on our "ocean swim"!)

Come on Fam, don'tcha wanna float like beached whales at our favorite secret beach!

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent (read: heart beat, smile or untapped adventure!) left, and could say, “I used everything you gave me”.

- Erma Bombeck

Dear Mom & Dad -

It finally feels like summer on the west coast – it was a hot and sunshining day today, so I did just as you would do, and went out for an adventure after work! I headed down to our favorite secret beach in West Vancouver, where the beach is rocky, the ocean is chilly and the view is perfect.

one or the money…two for the show…three to get ready…and four, to, go! 5 strokes later, goosebumps et al (wetsuit was at home!), I was reminded of endless days jumping off of docks, getting thrown off of tubes,  early morning swim practices and weekends full of swim meets.

And as I chased the sun around the island, I was so thankful for the fact that while I’ve never been the fastest and never first – I knew how to stay afloat, I knew how to swim. Swimming has taught me about setting goals and chasing dreams; it has taught me about exiting the water early in a triathlon and suffering through later on the run and that’s perfectly great; it has taught me that crazy, wild adventures happen if you jump into the deep end and kick hard with a smile; and it has taught me that prancing around in a bathing suit with chubby legs is okay because they can swim longer than some people can run!

As I swam back to shore, I was so totally grateful for sunshine filled, ocean swimming adventures as a result of your copious hours, dollars and heart beats invested in my chlorinated childhood. Life is better where it’s wetter!

Love you both…XO.

It’s time for gelato cones and sweaty night runs, picnics at the beach and repeats on the grouse grind…hello vitamin D, it is soo nice to see you!

“Write it down. Written goals have a way of transforming wishes into wants; cant’s into cans; dreams into plans; and plans into reality. Don’t just think it – ink it!” – Unknown

But dreams? Could it be true? BUT OF COURSE! Dreams are simply goals without timeframes and my bucket list is just that. 100 dreams – some much bigger than others – of things I wanted to do/see/experience/have before I die. And this bucket is gettin’ crossed off…

#29 – Weekend getaway to Portland Oregon – WOOT WOOT!

In my dreams, I imagined going to Portland to see heaps of bikes and experience the coolest farmer’s market i had heard of. It got even better when Jo was up for an adventure! Two chics, two dogs, camping stuff (just in case we felt inspired to sleep in a tent, ya know) and a simple agenda: cross something off of our bucket list.

The Best of the Farmer’s Market – definitely vying for “Best Farmer’s Market, ever!” :

1. Berries GALORE. Everywhere, every variety, big and juicy.

2. Two Tarts is actually 6 chics who make delicious basil macaroons & other sweet treats.

3. Dudes buying fresh flowers? Hollla! (And check out those peonies!)

4. Beans, Beans, Beans!

5. Fresh Walnuts - straight from the tree. (Also got a lesson in how these lil nuts grow!)

6. A lil quotation inspiration at the fresh pasta stand? Naturally!

7. The MOST delicious fresh bread we have ever tasted! Baker: "well, that is what happens when you bake it in the morning"

8. Portland Recycles!

9. Homemade IceCream Sandwiches should obviously be at every market!

10. The Bucket is Fillin' Up: #29 - CHECK!

Other very honorable mentions of awesomeness in Oregon:

* Ace Hotel – the most charming boutique hotel i’ve ever stay at.

And they allow dogs!

* Stumptown Coffee – really darn delicious!

* Astoria – cutest lil quaint town, with a great bike shop, an awesome coffee shop and a farmer’s market the day after Portland’s! Jo purchased a new road bike here – cross that one off the bucket list!

* Seaside Beach – Beautiful! AND, dogs can run free! (Watch out for Clammers on your morning barefoot run, don’t mind if you do!)

The Perfect Picnic!

Best Adventure Buddies!

* Did i mention no tax? Holla!

It was the most perfect weekend – Girl’s Weekends just might have made the annual requirements list! And JoJo is definitely my favorite adventure buddy! Running bare foot on the beach, drinking Starbucks for dinner and driving 6 hours “just because”….thanks girlfriend!

I must admit it – some of my favorite days are the days I get to share a blog post with whoever may want to read it. Because that usually implies awesomeness has ensued – so awesome i fact that I want to share the goodness with you. But lately, I’ve been hangin’ on to moments of sleep on the ride of the most WONDER, FULL life…

Let me tell you where I’ve been since we last met on line here:

* Experienced the deliciousness of Cafe Nuba – highly recommended and added to the list of Favs, fo’sho.

* My Man decided that running around the sea wall after work would be fun in the sun: awwesome!

* Made my first ever gluten-free, sugar-free, totally delicious quinoa choco birthday cake with greek yog + raspberries on top.

* Road trip to Oregon with this cool cat: cross that one off the bucket list – Heck Yes! (The Best Of will be published this weekend)

* Rocked the Grouse Grind with the Appleton Grind-Virgins…they broke a sweat while sending text messages *gasp*.

* Danced on the grass with cool chics at Lilith Fair while Sarah & Sheryl rocked out, but more importantly, Sugarland bounced her crazay self around stage and Erika busted a move. *Estrogen-Fest 2010 – swoon*

* Caught wind that NoMoSolo was being voted by Georgia Straight’s “Best of Vancouver: non-internet dating service”...without even being live. *Sparked the Fire – heard ya Vancouver!* Made my heart smile real big.

…and now it is July! We are half way through 2010. Can you believe it? Life really is WONDER, FULL, eh

After an ah-mazing Sunday, Monday was really special…I had the wonderful opportunity to hold a brand new baby and chat with a buddy who was living a brand new life!

Baby Cole entered this world fast and furious to the most loving, blissed out parents and big brother Ben. It was a quick (read: FAST!) morning delivery and by night, I got to hold the precious lil bundle of joy. He was curled up in a ball, snuggled and swaddled and adored by every retina that witnessed his preciousness. He was brand new to life and oh, so, wonderful! Indeed, the apple fell directly from the tree! Congrats Team Watts!

Perfect & Precious

And then there was Buddy MH who has a joie de vivre like perhaps no one else I know. Admittedly, I never got to know her that well, but well enough that I could give her a hug hello and spot her beaming, glowing smile from a mile away. When she walked into the office today, that same beaming smile greeted me at the door. But instead of running any sort of corporate rat race for the past few years, she has chosen the path extremely less traveled: teaching/living in Africa, supporting not-for-profits, volunteering with her friends of the downtown east side and fighting an ugly battle of breast cancer. Mere weeks after her surgery, she told me that when you don’t know if you have 10 years, it is hard to plan a vision for 10 years from now. *BAM* I can’t even imagine. I suppose all that matters now is that she shines, she glows and she won the battle!

You are Beautiful!

The circle of life, all in one day. It helps keep things in perspective. Life is precious, short, wild and wonderful. XO!

I woke up this morning and was reminded how precious life is. We lost a great aunt and my Mom had sent me text that the Watkins side of the family was reducing. She was sad; I was moved. I didn’t know Great Aunt that well, but she had made a dent in the lives of those i love and that was enough. Enough for me to make it the very best day I could…and so I did!

It started with the most delicious breakfast chez TeamFab: My Man made us lattes, like only he knows how and I whipped up pancakes. (The simplest recipe: 4 egg whites/ 1c oatmeal/ 1c cottage cheese/ 1tbsp brwn sugar/ vanilla/ dash of salt – blend in mixer, pour 1/4c on hot skillet, enjoy!) Love at the Breakfast table is the perfect beginning to a new day!

Then followed what was meant to be a “summer” trail run in Squamish with a new fabulous friend!  She breeds bliss, runs like a deer and didn’t complain once about running thru 2meters of snow with shorts on!

So it wasn't so "summer", but it was the most epic 22km trail run I've done this year!

An hour north of the city and the first day of SUMMAH is tomorrow!

#39 - Run to Elfin Lakes!

We ran to Elfin Lakes which just so happened to be covered in snow, but that wee bit of blue water reminded me of Kona. So I gave it a quick shaka before we had to keep motoring along! Elfin Lakes typically looks like this, but regardless, #39 is crossed off the Bucket List. *BOOM*

And the day ended, literally, with a sweaty hour with the one and only Will. He likes to call himself a life coach and I’m sure to others he serves as their shrink for an hour, but to me he generates 60minutes of smiles, increased heart rate and puddles of sweat. I could never ask for more!

Happy attracts Happy. Awesome invites Awesome. More Bliss is Mo’Bettah! Life is really good. Namaste.

Ohhhh how I love the liquid happiness that shines down on us! June is typically quite rainy in Vancouver and September tends to stay quite sunny, so I figure I surely have a solid 3 months (or 90+days) for 20 awesome days of summer lovin’:

1. Weekend road trip to Portland – Farmer’s Market is a must-do!
2. Stand up paddle board in Deep Cove, wet suit included
3. Coffee in Fort Langley – perhaps on a bike ride or perhaps a rainy day
4. Road trip to Ironman CDA
5. Farm Tour: berries galore – come home with more berries than a girl knows what to do with
6. Canning Party!
7.  G-UNITS’s love-fest-wedding in Merritt *love love*
8. Penticton for IMC, obviously
9. Will Blunderfield’s Album Release Part-ay!
10. Lilith Fair with Sarah & Sheryl
11. Camp Moomba Yogathon + Blissfest
12. Bike ride to San Juan Islands
13.  Hike/Run/ Skip to Elfin Lakes
14. Eat a cookie in Jordan River (perhaps before the hike below…)
15. Juan de Fuca hike
16.  Acro Yoga Class – *manifesting a class in Vancouver, please Universe*
17.  Hang out with brand new baby Cole!
18. *open to possibility – something fabulous*
19. *open to possibility – something sweaty*
20. *open to possibility – something fun*

Bring on the SUNshine! What are you up to for Summah Lovin’?