It Shirley is!!

If you take the road West past Sooke you will pass places like

Gordons Beach, Muir Creek and French Beach.

But wait...just before French Beach you'll pass through the 

dot on your map known as Shirley.

Sure, you might think its famous for the Sherringham Point Lighthouse

which I've written about  here ..

...or maybe it's the quaint little community hall that flashes by

as you drive through...

...But let me fill you in on a locals secret.

Next time you're heading out, or back from points west like China Beach, Sombrio or Port Renfrew,

take a break at this little gem of a cafe...

 As soon as you walk up through the sweet gardens and through that inviting red door...

 ...you get that warm, welcoming feeling..and it's not just the choice of paint colour...

 ...or the little rainbows from the crystals in the window...

 Of course it helps, but how about those super friendly faces!!

 But wait! 

That's not all!

The sights and smells will 'Shirley' make you swoon...

 ...and it's all made from scratch, right here...scrumptious muffins...

 ...melt in your mouth savoury scones...

 YUM!!

 Most excellent coffee too!

 Today I was here for the muffins and coffee but the menu has so

many other DELICIOUS options.

( I can attest to this since I've been here several times for lunch!)

Soups from scratch, massive paninis, sandwiches to die for!

Come the warmer weather the patio awaits...

 ...bright coloured chairs ready for the lounging...

So next time you head West...slow down at this jewel of a spot, come on in

and say hi to Phil and Sheena and the rest of the awesome staff...

 You'll SHIRLEY not regret it!!

Away we went...part 1...

There are some things which are chiseled deep into memory

and for me, a lot of those cherished moments come from my childhood.

When my sisters girls came this summer, I wanted to do something different.

So we packed up the van and took the winding road out to the wild west coast

of Port Renfrew. It's a tiny community that is frequently cut

off in winter storms and has the most beautiful stretch of beach around.

After an hour and a half drive we arrived at our campground.

It's run by the local Native Band and sits at the mouth

of the Gordon River...

Now, as many of you know, going camping is actually a lot of work and it took us a while to

get set up but we found a nice little spot and  made up our  home for the night...

Then it was off for a walk up the road...

 We brought along my friends daughter whom the girls have got to know and love over the last few summers. Remember those kind of friends?

You would only see them a few times a year but it was like you never missed a beat.

The chatter was constant, the giggling endless!

We took a stroll down to the shore for firewood.

This is one of the best driftwood beaches around...

 Stephanie and I walked ahead as the older girls huddled behind a windbreak.

From this point, if you took a boat straight out, you would eventually get to Japan.

There have been a few items washed up on shore from the tsunami which hit a year ago

but we weren't finding much except local rusty boat parts...

Oh, and  a great swing!

The big girls finally joined us and we made our way along the sand and logs...

 ...finding the bouncy ones is the best! log horseback riding!

And you know the best part about camping?

The campfire!

There's something primeval about it...everyone wants to tend it...to gaze into it for hours...and

the all important telling of ghost stories!!

Stephanie embarks on her own thrilling tale...

After I told mine, the girls started to get a little jumpy, looking behind their backs

and whispers of  "did you hear that?" and "what's that over there?"

so I figured we should change the pace and lighten it up a little...literally!

Sparklers!!

The big girls slept in the tent while Stephie and I and Griffin made our cozy

little home inside the van...

Tomorrow, we head out for adventure...sweet dreams.



Of midgets and giants...

The rains subsided just in time for a day back in time.
We took the road out to the farthest post west of Sooke known as Port Renfrew.
A drive across the lovely Gordon river (not to be confused with Jordan river close by)

This wooden bridge, feeling a little suspect...we try not to think of the heavier logging trucks which still use it as well and take a deep breath for the crossing...

Our destination has been nick named Avatar Grove.
The trail, marked only by some coloured flag tape on the side of the road, took us into the mossy woods.
Miners claims mark some of the trails, for there's still gold to be found in them thar hills...

Have you ever wondered what lies deep in the forests of Vancouver Island?
Bears, cougars, elk...the 4 legged giants of the woods.
Voles, mice, winter wrens...the tiny ones in the moss.
And then there they stand!

The giants of the plant kingdom.

And there we stand...midgets beneath their girth...

These trees are from an ancient time...
Survived for almost a thousand years...

Unlike the minuscule life at my feet which only lives for a few days.

Through the Spanish moss we traipse in awe of the quiet beauty these woods possess.

...and secrets of hundreds of years of life on earth.

Other strange growth creeps along the ground...

Then, as if saving itself for us...the last tree at the end of the trail...

A cedar who's belt would be 34 feet in diameter.

Giving us glimpses of where the elves and fairies live...

How can you not feel good sitting under this monster?

On a sad note, these trees are targeted to be cut down.
The logging company has already been in to mark them as well as to mark where the roads will go to bring in the trucks to haul them away.
I can't even describe my disbelief that this can happen in this day and age.
If one were to find, say, an ancient Egyptian tablet, or perhaps some dinosaur bones, this would be news.
It would be something to be saved and treasured.
So why are these trees any different?
In fact they are the lungs of the earth.
They are keeping this sick planet going.
If you want to know more and to help by signing a petition, go here...
After our walk with the Big ones, we went down to the beach at Port Renfrew...

This wild, west coast beach is always strewn with leftovers from the logging industry...

you can walk up and down for hours on the sandy beach...

Find a little shelter from the wind to have some lunch...

There are a dozen or so of these made by campers and hikers of the West Coast Trail.

It was our shack for the remainder of the day...

Reflecting on what we had been witness to...

Hoping that the voice of reason will save these giants...