Winter in June

I'm really going to try to get a few blog posts done this year. I signed on tonight and discovered that I started a blog from our ski trip to Sun Peaks in March. But unfortunately, the only thing I managed to get finished was the title. However, I think our camping trip in June is recent enough that I can post a few words and photos.

Since we had such a fantastic time camping at Galiano last year (despite the puppy chaos), we decided to do it again. We headed off on a weekend with questionable weather and a very full van. So full in fact that there was no room for me. Luckily at least half the trip was by ferry so grabbing my bike and spinning up to the ferry and then grinding over a few of Galiano's super steep hills wasn't too tall of an order. Luckily we weren't heading to Tofino.

Once we arrived the kids set about their passion du jour, catching crabs. Before long we had a bucket of tiny crabs for sale at our campsite. That is, until the park warden informed us of the illegality of procuring and selling crabs in a provincial park, even by small children. The quick thinker that she is, T quickly came up with an alternative. 

Since we were pretty busy setting up camp and preparing for the rain that we knew was coming and managing Smokey, we let the kids go off exploring on their own. They weren't gone too long when they returned literally covered in mud from their knees down. Sticky, black tidal mud. They were mildly traumatized by thinking they were going to be stuck in "quick sand" the entire night, despite taking care of each other and being resourceful rescuers. We weren't allowed to take any photos since T claimed she had no need to remember this event! So much for packing light. I've discovered we aren't at that stage yet since many unexpected things can still happen to clothes when traveling with kids, even when they are 8 and 11 years old. 

We got the site all tarped up and were pretty ready for the rain when it came. What we weren't really ready for was the wind and cold that settled in later in the weekend. Toques and puffy coats were appreciated and some time was spent just keeping warm in sleeping bags. 

We did take advantage of the reasonably warm and sunny windows with a little paddling and kayaking time.

Smokey showed that she has matured since last year. She didn't eat every seashell that she found, although large crabs are still on the menu. She also slept successfully with us in the tent - crate-free. She stayed in her own bed for the most part, but got up fairly regularly throughout the first night to lick us. Well, mostly she licked Greg whose head seemed most accessible. She also enjoyed jumping on and off the paddle board and only dumped me twice, and not when I had my wetsuit on. 

Lessons learned from this camping trip: 

1. Don't camp the second weekend in June since it tends to be horrid weather if this year and last year are any indication (they don't call it Juneuary for nothing);

2. Don't expect kids' clothes to last more than one day;

3. Don't sell crabs in a provincial park;

4. Always wear a wetsuit;

5. There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing (so said a wise friend of mine).