Family Reunion - Tofino, Vancouver Island

Bob and I spent a night at the McKenzie Beach RV Camp the night before we were to meet the rest of our gang at the house on Chesterman Beach.  We walked the beach at sunset and enjoyed being back in this lovely place.

Rachel and Peter were married on Chesterman Beach 10 years ago.  They don't believe in being congratulated for achieving another year together, however asked if the family members who joined them 10 years ago, could make the trip west for a reunion this year.  Almost everyone was happy to do so.  Over a year ago, Rachel and Peter found a house that could accommodate 15 people and the commitment was made.

Peter's Mom Nancy and step-father Phil, from Nova Scotia, travelled across the country in their new RV and Peter's sister Lisa (who was at the wedding), her husband Jeff and their children, Maddy and Ethan, who were not there for the vows, were all there this time.

Steve, Tina and their three children, Shanelle, Sidney (who participated in the wedding) and Sean, who was present but not in evidence yet, flew in from Bolton, Ontario.

We all missed our good friends, Ray and Janet (Uncle Ray and Auntie Jan) and their daughter Claire (Rachel's Maid of Honour and good friend), who were there for the wedding, but unable to be with us this time.  Other people who were at the wedding, and who live on the island or happened to be vacationing there, dropped in from time to time and so the energy was even bigger than it was years ago.  Rachel's friend, Laura and her daughter Madi arrived mid-week, mixed in with the gang and made it all even more fun.

Yoga on the deck with Rachel, Peter and Laura, happened 3 days of the 6 we were there.  It barely put a dent in my accumulation of food and wine but it made me feel real good!

Enjoy the photo's!  Many more were taken by various great photographers however I don't have them yet.  Will add when they arrive.

Note:  All sepia style photo's were taken by Rachel.

Phil, Sean and Ethan

Sun-babies - Rachel, Tula, Sidney and Shanelle

Left to Right - Maddy, Shanelle, Sidney, Nancy, Lisa

Left to Right - Lisa, Phil, Steve, Tina, Maddy, Shanelle

Bob and Jeff brought wheelbarrow loads of cast off
wood from a construction site for evening bonfires

Phil, Shanelle and Sean

Peter with their dogs, Cortes and Tula

A new game...pass the stone with your feet

Sidney

Maddy taking the baguette home

Interesting art at the local shops

Splendid architecture at a local coffee shop

The boys went fishing at 4:30 a.m. and here they come
with their catch.  Jeff first..

..then Sean and Peter (who caught the most)

...and Steve...

Bob's catch

There were even more than this!!!

Manicures provided by Madi (Laura's daughter)

"Take a picture, I'm pretty!"

Peter on the beach with Shanelle and Sidney 

Sean relaxing with Cortes

Nancy and Phil

Maddy - getting ready for her surf lesson 

Shanelle doing the same

Teacher Rachel (left) taking the girls into the surf

Shanelle - Sitting a moment and picking her wave

Rachel demonstrating technique

Good on you Maddy!

Rachel is very happy with Shanelle's efforts

Great form!

Mom and Dad (Lisa and Jeff), assisting in the removal of
Maddy's booties

Tula and Cortes, loving the beach

Happy Anniversary Peter and Rachel!

Laura's dogs, Norris (left) and Chester, take on
a much larger dog.  They truly believe that they are as big
as any dog on the beach

Peter and Rachel with Laura

That would be me throwing the stick (endlessly) for
Tula

Peter - my, my, you throw so much better!

Chester and Norris having a "time-out" in Laura's
van

They grow plants really big in Tofino...and this isn't
even weed!

Maddy takes Laura's adorable dog Chester, for a ride...and he loves it!

Roadside flowers

At the local rental outfit, this little one tries out a scooter

Rachel and Laura's friend Claudia from Calgary.  She, her
husband and daughter were renting a house down the beach

Nancy, taking Cortes for a walk

That's Peter!

Rachel stole Tula's necklace

But Tula got it back

We love this photo of Shanelle and Norris

Maddy and Chester

Phil, Steve, Tina, Peter and Nancy

My favourite shot of Bob and Shanelle tussling on the beach

Sidney Long Legs

Cameras ready for the sunset

Jeff and Lisa

I think Nancy's singing...oh no, wait....she may be yawning

Some of our group waiting for the sun to drop

And hugging as it drops

A perfect sunset illuminating Wickanninish

A final huge wave heads toward the beach

Group shot of almost all our group.  Steve, Tina and Sean
stayed at the house (Bob, behave!)

Almost the same shot...this time with Laura

Back at the house, Nancy and Phil provide sparklers

and magical powders to create colourful flames

Peter finally feels confident enough to reveal his third eye

Steve and Tina leave a day before the rest of us so we
get a group shot

Photographer Laura invites us to be silly....er, sillier!!

Farewell Steve, Sidney, Tina, Sean and Shanelle

Laura and Madi

Not certain but this might be called "Double-Downward Dog"

Laura's great rig!

Phil and Nancy's great rig too!

Bob and I take a walk down memory lane and visit
the house we rented 10 years ago for the wedding

Still as beautiful as it was then.

Is there any beach like this?  Magnificent!

Our last evening, 12 of us go sea kayaking.  It was a perfect evening.

Madi and Peter

Jeff and Ethan

Lisa and Laura

Rachel

Don, our guide and owner of Remote Passages

Closer shot of Madi and Peter

My partner Maddy

We had the most wonderful time; a perfect way to end our
visit to Vancouver Island

Madi and her little Mexican pal, Chester

and her other dog Norris (with Rachel's feet)

Saying "goodbye" to Ethan, Lisa and Maddy

We added Grandma Nancy and Jeff

While Bob and his pal Phil mess around in the background

Waving goodbye to Nancy and Phil

Additional photo's below:  Thanks Lisa!  They are terrific!

A few hours later, Bob and I are on the beach at Comox Lake, up-island
and heading for Port Hardy and our overnight ferry back to Prince Rupert where
we disembarked and turned the corner out of the parking lot and lined up for
the Alaska Ferry

Thank you so much Rachel and Peter, for inviting everyone, for organizing everything and for such a fun time.  It was wonderful to see everyone and we now have even more beautiful memories for our Memory Box.

Love to each and every one of you!!