By the time we got to Surf Sisters, it was positively pouring rain. After some brief instructions, we trucked off to Chesterman Beach to get ready. Now getting into a wetsuit isn't the easiest (or most graceful/dignified) thing to do ever, but soaking wet in a parking lot takes it to a whole new level. Our friend Tom was telling us about the new Speedo swimsuits they're using in the Olympics that take a half-hour to put on. This cannot be a fun way to spend a half-hour. All things considered, I got into the wetsuit fairly easily, but struggled with the little boots for quite some time. The human foot simply does not bend that way. At the beach we had a rainy lesson on tides, boards, and positions before heading into the water. Now let me be clear on two points. One, I had a really fun time. Two, I totally got my ass kicked. Hard. It is rare that you have so clear a view on how you can simultaneously be oblivious and painfully aware that you have reached your mid-30s. Made more difficult by the fact that I feel better now than when I was the age of most of my surf-mates. In a nutshell, there was a wet suit, there was a surfboard, there were soggy pigtails, there was tremendous water up the nose, and there were some really fun waves. I will do this again and it will improve. Oh yes, it will improve :)
Laura had been a trooper watching from a rainy beach, so we headed to Long Beach to fulfill her sand requirements. The rain had stopped and we had a lovely time for beach walking. After some debate, she finally came to terms with the fact that she really needed to be in the water. The ever cold-loving Laura put on her swimsuit and marched herself straight into the waves, while the rest of us were in sweaters on the beach. The surfers kept a good eye on her and she giggled and crashed into the waves for a good half-hour. Long Beach is pretty much nirvana for Laura.
(Meanwhile I took the opportunity to devour a ridiculously good sandwich we had picked-up from the breakfast place. Seriously, you pay too much here but don't mind so much when it tastes this fantastic...)
We then hit the road for Cathedral Grove. It is a beautiful forest of Douglas Firs and Redwoods, located in MacMillan Provincial Park. It has a lazy path that takes you through a section of forest on either side of the highway and is a truly spectacular place to walk among huge, old, beautiful trees.
From there we headed back to Nanaimo to pick-up dinner and catch our late ferry back to the mainland. It was a great day, full of things that Laura and I have always wanted to do. The life lists just took a big jump forward :)
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