On the water in August.

Another quick post - places to go, people to see.  The first two weekends of August included a trip to Newcastle Island and Sasamat Lake, both of which I've posted entries here last year.  Some things change, but mostly stay the same, a sort of tradition.

Bright moon on a purple sky.

The sail over was fairly smooth for the most part, we had a warm night and a bright moon in Silva Bay after our hike/geocaching afternoon.  Our sailing trip to Newcastle Island was marked by a visit with guests from England on their tour of BC who joined us at the Dinghy Dock Pub for dinner, and by finally reaching a geocache up a tree that's been taunting me for my past two trips to the island - in plain sight and easily reached by brave+limber people.  This time we came prepared with a spare sailing halyard and too-skinny rope ladder.  I'm glad I had help for that one, I couldn't have done it alone.  And now I never have to do it again!

Sculpted rocks and sea asparagus.

We got two more geocaches around Protection Island, and I found some sea asparagus that is a salty burst eaten raw and a great addition to our foil-wrapped veggie packets we grill on the sea-BBQ.  We saw otters, raccoons, kingfishers and the ever-present purple martins, and spooked a deer on Protection Island.  We were next to the main party boat, and had a casual stream of people lounging around for beers and snacks.
The trip to Sasamat Lake had been moved twice this summer because of grey and/or rain, despite our hot blue sky weather coming unusually early this year.  Got the watermelon, and pineapple this year, sandwiches from Big Star Sandwich Co ("which will ruin you for sandwiches from anywhere else"), assorted snacks and chocolate-covered cookies that melted, beer+cider.  Music on ipod w/speaker stuffed in his sandal, timer on to reapply sunscreen.  Returned home for barbeque chicken dinner as good as any restaurant - my friend's a fantastic cook.