My sister is here!!

Hi,
I know it has been a while, but so much happened :)
So 2 weeks ago my sister arrived in Vancouver!!
The first day we did her paperwork, so she also can work here while she stays.
In the evening we went to Aurora Winter Festival, I bought the tickets a few days before.
It was so nice with all the lights and there was a maze where we needed to help the elfs. So we put the app on our phone and we needed to find some pictures to scan in the maze. I couldn't work with it for some reason, but my sister could. At the end we would win a prize if we found everything and we did, we won some bracelets who light in the dark :)
Then we went to find some drinks and some food, there where a bunch of food trucks and it was really good food. We had a great night even when it started to rain so hard when we walked back, it was crazy!!
Her second day we went to Stanley park to walk around. In the afternoon we went to the bank to open up her bank account. We had an early night, because the day after we had to get up early to catch the ferry to Vancouver Island.
In the morning we went to the ferry stop early in the morning, but already in the bus we heard that the ferries till that point were cancelled. There was a big storm on the ocean.
So once we got there they said to wait 10min and they would let us know if the next ferry would go.
It wouldn't, the next news would be at 1pm so we went to get some shelter, because it was cold and windy. We went back at 1pm to see if the ferry from 3.45pm would go, good news it probably would. So we went to the waiting room to hear the next feedback. It said we would not go and the next news would be in about an hour. At the end the called in that the next and only ferry would go at 6.15pm and that we should get ready to board. The boat ride was wild and they said we should not walk around. We were supposed to rent a car that day, but we wouldn't make that anymore so I called them and we could get it the next day. Once in Nanaimo we got a cab to get to our hotel in Parksville, because there were no busses. After a long day we went to bed, we were so tired!!
It were some long first days for my sister, but we also had so much fun :)
Love,
Sarah

Moving on to the next adventure

Hi,
It's been a while since I wrote something, but I was mostly busy working in Subway.
Yesterday was my last day of work and some colleagues I won't forget :)
I've been working there for the last 3 months and happy to have found that job.
Duncan is known for it's many totem poles, you can even make a walking tour of all of them. This is such a nice little town. I enjoyed my time here.
Saturday I leave my workaway family here in Duncan, where I stayed the last 3 months.
They will be missed as well as the family dog Oliver :) They were like a second family to me.
I was so lucky to have found them, because I didn't know what my next move would be.
They welcomed me in there home and it felt like I was a part of the family.
Their daughter Essa who came home in the weekends was always happy to do some things with me (you can read our adventures in previous blogs). I really appreciate all that she has done for me. Also this weekend will be one of our last adventures together. I'll go over to spend the weekend with here in Victoria, before taking the ferry to Vancouver on Monday. I have a view rooms to visit in Victoria on saturday, cause thats me and my sisters plan B for the next working part of this journey. And monday I'll see a view in Vancouver as well, before deciding..
Sunday Essa will show me around Victoria a bit and I already know it will be a fun time :)
The son of the family Nolan also took me on a hike while here (see other blog) and gave my rides to work at times at well, I'm thankful for that as well :)
Tom and Lael are such nice people, I can never thank them enough for taking me in and showing me around the Island. They were always there to give me a ride after work as well. Because buses in Duncan have weird hours :)
They're always welcome to visit me when I'm back in Belgium.
I made so many memories out here and met so many nice people.
Like going to the hockey game, going on hikes, seeing Vancouver Island, see goats on a roof,...
Now it's time to continue my adventures with my sister, she arrives monday evening!!!
I will continue my blog, but also we will film some of our journey on our youtube channel :)
I hope you enjoyed my solo travel blog as far, cause I did enjoy traveling by myself. But can't wait to see my sister after 7 months apart!!!
Love,
Sarah


Wanted to end with some pictures of all the things I did while being in Duncan.
See you next time ;)

Another weekend, another adventure.

Hi,
Last weekend I did something I've never thought of doing, until Essa told me about it and I was like yes why not :)
Horne lake caves are natural caves situated on Vancouver Island.
We came prepared with long pants and long sleeves like the website said, we also had a total other outfit for after. The tour we did is called the wet and wild, the days before it rained a lot so we rented some boots and bought some cloves on the spot. Lucky we did cause the water was high in the caves.
We were a small good group and the guide gave us a lot of information. First we started with a hike uphill to get to the first cave.
The first cave we did was said to be the easy one :) I was thinking really? There were big rocks to go down on, we were told to always have 3 body parts touching the ground. So your arms, legs or bum should always touch the ground. The further down we went the more we heard the water that was flowing under us. We also went up like 2 steps to see a buda in the rocks in the middle of a little pool of water. At some point we all went to sit down and turned out our flashlights, a minute sitting in pitch black listening to the water, magical moment it was. Then we went back up and to the second cave.
To get into the second cave we had to go through a narrow passage, where I got stuck, because I was to short...But with some help it worked out :) We couldn't touch the whole right side of the caves cause that was crystallized rock and protected. So here I found out why the first cave was the easy one...It was so small in the second one and sometimes you got to almost crawl to move on. At some point we all stopped at a waterfall in the cave. That was when the guide said, we're going up, climbing the waterfall. He said we didn't have to, but we could all do it. So I was like ok lets to this :)
The waterfall was in 3 levels, at the second level there was a really small passage. Again I was to short to get over it, but the guide lent me his leg to stand up on, poor guy :( I won't lie, it was hard for me to get to the top, but I was so happy that I did it. And not once I was thinking of being afraid or that I was doing something crazy. Oooh yeah the only protection we had was a helmet with a flashlight on top, no ropes or whatever. After the waterfall we went further on and got down on a slide and went back out the cave.
The third cave we did was narrow as well. At some point we went down to the water and we could only do that on our bum because the rocks were to wet and slippery. Then once with our feet in the water the guide showed us a whole in the rocks and said you're going through that now...So we did :) We came out in a little cave and he said to turn of our lights, then he lighted up a piece of the rock and turned his light out. And the rock gave light, so cool to see :)
Then we had to go back out through the same little whole in the rocks and the guide said to go head first, which seemed weird, but else we would be in the water with our whole body :) So for some reason I went first, it went ok just got some water in one of my boots :)
Then we were standing like what it seemed closed in, so I asked where are we getting out? And he pointed to a horizontal crack in a rock, I was thinking no way I can fit there. He showed us how exactly to follow his lead, so thats what I did...and I passed, but ripped my pants while doing it hahaha :)
After that we went back down and it was the end of our adventure.
We did need to change, cause we were wet and dirty :) and I had ripped my pants hahaha.
I had a great time and never thought I was going to say one day that I climbed a waterfall in a cave :)
The only downside was the days after, when my legs were in so much pain of all the efforts I did. Till this day my 'bad' knee is still hurting. But it was well worth it :)
I had a great adventure with Essa, once again :)
And if you guys are ever on Vancouver Island, this is something worth doing!!!
Love,
Sarah

Hiking to Skutz falls...and falling

Hi,
Today I went on a fun hike with Essa again, near Duncan this time.
We were going to find Skutz falls, something she even never went to before :)
So on the way there we parked near a canyon to enjoy the view and then it would take us 2km to get to the falls, not bad. The trail is pretty flat and easy to walk on and the nature is just amazing.
This is known to have bears and cougars wander around, but I still haven't seen any big wild animals.
The falls weren't really waterfalls like we thought, it was more of rapid water flowing, still nice to see. On the way back we took a bit of another way, first did a bit next the river and then a bit on the road before having access to the trail again. Then we saw a path a bit more beneath and decided to go and check that out. We came out on a nice campground with a wilder trail to follow back. So we took that one, it was not flat anymore and a lot of tree roots on the path. We did take some really nice pictures. At one point we were going down, on one side the forest on the other side the cliff with the river at the bottom. Thats were I started slipping on some tiny rocks...I fell but luckily on the side of the forrest and I just hurt my leg, gonna be hurting more tomorrow I guess :) After letting a big group of hikers pass we also went back on our way.
I've been really careful the rest of the way back :) but we were almost at the end.
Another hike and still no bear sightings for me...
Maybe one day...
Oooh yeah, after the hike we went to try out my first rootbeer float....it wasn't as bad I thought it would be :)
Love,
Sarah

Port Renfrew and Avatar grove

Hi,
Last weekend I spent my sunday with the daughter of the couple where I'm staying doing a little road trip :)
We left in the morning to go to Avatar grove and Port Renfrew on Vancouver Island.

Gnarliest tree

The drive up there alone is worth doing this, beautiful nature all along the way, we were lucky with the nice weather to.
On the way up we did a little stop along the way to see a big old tree, you would miss it if you didn't know where to stop, but of course my great guide new where it was :)
After first passing Port Renfrew to go to see Avatar grove, we did a little toilet stop and I had to go into a outhouse... That was a first hahaha, Essa (the daughter) told me that those were pretty clean, there are worse... Well  don't think I'll do that again :)
Arrived at Avatar grove we did a little hike to get to the gnarliest tree in Canada. Just being there is like being in another world, I get why they call it Avatar grove. They've put in some wooden stairs and walkways to make it easier to access, because it's really ruff nature up here, love it!!
We also had Oliver (the dog) with us and he just loved it, he kept on running up and down :)
The hike up wasn't as bad as we thought it would be and the surrounding are stunning.
After that we went to Port Renfrew and Essa brought me to a beach where they go camping once a year. This place is just breath taking. It's also at the start of the west coast trail, a famous trail in Canada, but I won't do it cause you have to go up and I don't do good on heights :)
We had our picnic on the beach and enjoyed the view. From here going straight in the ocean the next stop is Japan. You can see the west side of the island is more wild, just so beautiful, this is one of the most beautiful places I've been so far.
After showing me the little town of Port Renfrew we started to head back home.
It was a beautiful day in nature, so thankful Essa brought me here to witness this beautiful nature.
I hope you enjoy the pictures :)
Love,
Sarah

Hockey game and goats on a roof.

Hi,
The last few weeks I've been staying with a lovely workaway family :)
I could even take a job on to make some money, so now I also work in a Subway :)
The family tries to do stuff with me in the weekends, 2 weekends ago I went to the farmers market with the mom and daughter and that was really nice. I also saw a field hockey game from the daughters team, which was nice to see. The sunday the son took me out for a hike and that was really nice and we also took their dog Oliver :)

But last weekend I saw my first Ice hockey game :) Since a kid I loved the movie The mighty ducks, so I've always wanted to see a game. The mom got some tickets for me and Michael, also someone doing a Working holiday. The teen players made it that the game stopped every few minutes because of fighting, that was so funny to see, but one fight got pretty serious so that wasn't that nice. The game itself was cool to see, the skating gives it something elegant while the hitting each other against the wall gave it something raw and aggressive. This is a game for me :) I would like to go see a big game in Vancouver, so maybe next time :)

Sunday we went up island to Cooms, I had no idea what to expect but what was it a surprise :)
The ride up there is really nice to begin with :) Like Canada is known for a lot of beautiful nature.
Once we arrived I saw what it was al about, there were goats living on the roof of a shop/restaurant.
Like they live there year round, they have grass and housing on the roof :)
The shop has all kinds of food from all over the world and there is a great Italian restaurant.
You also have all kinds of little shops around there.
We also passed by a beach that is really busy and known in the summer time.
After that we went to Costco, a big supermarket, to do some shopping.
Really had a nice weekend with the family I'm staying with.

I know I've been posting less last weeks, but with working now I don't have much time to have adventures. But that will change in a while :)
Love,
Sarah

Whistler

Hi,
So I just spent a week in a town called Whistler in BC.
It is known for hosting the winter olympics in 2010 and a big ski location in winter.
I was going there for a job opportunity but that didn't go as well as expected.

So the Saturday I flew from Montreal to Vancouver, I stayed in a hostel for 1 night because I didn't find a bus going to Whistler that day. I had a great evening in Vancouver seeing the sunset at sunset beach :) The next morning I had a walk in Stanley park and saw the totem poles. And after that it was time for me to take the bus for my next destination.

Sunday evening when I arrived I just chilled a bit and had some diner in my room :)
There was just 1 shop across the street and they did't had so much, especially for a vegetarian.
I had some chips and ice tea for diner and I bought myself a chocolate bar and smoothie for breakfast the next day.
Monday I went to the village and looked around a bit, it's such a nice village, small but nice.
I also did some grocery shopping to have some food at the hostel. I didn't want to do to much, cause the next day I would be tested for an hour in a bakery for a possible job.
Tuesday I got ready to go to my interview in the early afternoon. I got there way on time and so we started with a bit of conversation and then I got to work for a bit, showing how I was with customers.
I got payed in bread and cakes, so not so bad :) But I didn't get the job I've heard after a few days.
I got out of the hostel to enjoy a beautiful sunset surrounded by mountains.
Wednesday I've got ready for a hike, so I went into the village and asked at the info centre what I could do. A lot of the walks involved going up with a gondola and we all know I'm afraid of heights..so that was a big no :) Then she said there were a few options without the gondola, so I did one who started not so far from the village. I went to walk on the Lost lake trail, a 5km that would be easy and without to much ups and downs. Honestly I was a bit anxious about seeing a bear, but I didn't saw one, but I did hear one growl from a distance. Once I walked almost around the whole lake , I came across a platform in the water. There was a warning sign saying clothing was optional on the platform, and yes it didn't take long. After sitting there 5 min a couple decided to go skinny dipping and after an hour the first nudist were there, 2 different (older) guys decided to do some naked sunbathing. That was my queue to go :) I thought about coming back the next day to do some swimming, but that was before I saw a snake swimming in the lake.
A bit later in the afternoon i decided to do the little hike behind the hostel, called the Trainwreck trail.
The path was really small on that one and there were almost no people, it being after 5pm, so I got a bit nervous about bears and such but kept on going. What I did't know was that there was a suspension bridge I needed to cross, luckily it wasn't that heigh but it did move a lot. Once across I was at the train wrecks, that was nice and weird to see. And then I saw the sign to say you were in bear territory, so going back I went so fast :) Not hiking alone again in bear country.
Thursday I went back to the lost lake but took another way going there, it would be the last nice sunny day so I wanted to enjoy it.
Friday it was raining all day so I stayed in and also booked 2 more nights in the hostel, because I needed to figure out my next step.
Saturday the weather looked a bit grey, but dry, so I went into the village for some souvenirs and some diner. Arriving back in the hostel the rain started again.
Sunday was a rainy day and I got my things into order to leave the next day. Breakfast was nice because the 2 german girls in my room made pancakes and invited me to have some with them.
Monday it was time to say goodbye to Whistler and started my trip to Duncan on Vancouver Island, where I'll stay with a workaway family till I figure out my next step  :)

It was a busy week but I enjoyed my time in Whistler and who knows I'll come back in winter ;)
Love,
Sarah