storybook: a natural spring

Leaving the rocky Rhode Island seaside, we stepped inside a storybook, and found ourselves treading through a field, to a path.  We followed it, our surroundings getting greener, ferns and moss popping up all around.  I heard the slight trickling of a stream, and walking alongside, we came to a neat square patch of moss, complete with two handles.  Lifting up the moss door, we were met with bubbling earth, filtering out the clearest, coldest spring water.

We drank the water by cupping our hands and pouring it into our mouths.  After the day's heat, it was even more appreciated, and with the ocean salt still remaining on our skin, we washed our faces and even dipped our heads under.  It was a rush, having to lower yourself, letting the blood rush to your head, then submerging yourself upside down into the cool water, lifting your head back up and letting the water cascade from your hair, onto your face, and down the back of your neck.

 pure magic.

a few more...

It's raining here in Nelson, BC.  I've been sipping my coffee and watching the clouds envelop the mountain peaks, silver wisps floating just above the lake.  This greyscale of mist and cloud and fog are what I'll miss most about British Columbia, they give all the shades of green a depth that quiets and softens, I don't think I'll know a landscape that is quite so humbling.

And Nelson is just the wonder that I remember - a small mountain gem of a town, not too big and not too small - complete with two sweet food coops, the friendliest people and a setting that there aren't really words for.  I've only been here 14 hours and I've already had multiple in-depth conversations with the locals. While I was settling down last night the thought popped in my head, "I want to settle here one day."  But, who's to say what will happen.

Anyway, here are a few more photos from last weekend's trip to Washington.  I'll post crossing-Canada-road-trip footage as soon as I can!

road trip road trip.

A 4 day weekend and a spontaneous new friend led to a road trip to the interior of British Colombia!  Caroline and I had both heard all of these wonderful things about Nelson, B.C. which usually ended with the person saying, "honestly, you won't want to leave".  So, we arranged for places to stay and hit the road.  It was an 8 hour trip, but the journey ended up being just as beautiful as the final destination.   We meandered through small mountain towns, valleys, prairies - one moment we would be surrounded by dry and grassy plains with the sun beating down on us and the next there was only evergreen with rivers running through it and a covering of snow.  The only constant was the endless layering of mountain ranges, more beautiful than I'd ever seen.  Caroline is Brazilian, so it was fun to watch her get so excited about seeing snow, which had become sort of became commonplace for me, coming from Vermont.  Looking out the window, my eyes never got bored, and really with all of the sun, and no road troubles to be had, there was nothing to do but to look up and be thankful.

Earth.

On this island it is just me, the kitten, and my hands kneading away at dough.  With new friends traveling to and fro and all familiar faces an ocean away I find stability in the mossy green - snow covered mountains always on the horizon - the redwoods that make you feel so small and young - and the hints of springtime showing up in sprouting buds.

There have been many ferry rides back and forth for the last two weeks, but now I have returned and intend to thoroughly nest and discover in my last 3 months here.  After a bit of time away, when window gazing from the ferry back to Vancouver Island -it really hit me- I am living in British Columbia, and it is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen.

Washington

A weekend to Washington to see a sweet, familiar face.  And what a beautiful weekend it was, neither of us were sick or totally exhausted from crossing the country, and there was just a general feeling of excitement.  There was music to be played, sweets to be eaten, markets to traverse, and grocery store trips that desperately needed for us to giggle in our pj's on the way to and fro. I was able to share the mossy green Washington forests with lovely people and we stumbled upon a dinosaur skeleton :o (okay, yes, it was probably a deer).  

The Pacific Northwest holds a certain depth of color and mist that often surprises my eyes when I look around - a type of scenery that I've never seen before.  Even in Seattle, the area is so lush and rich that moss is able to grow on the cement - scattered along fences and coating trees - a type of beauty that seems to say you can flourish no matter where you are.