Ruth and I were in need of a little time away last weekend. We took the opportunity that the 4th of July always brings to us Canadians; to go home on a weekend that is not a Canadian holiday. Truthfully we only get the 4th off here, which was on Wednesday, so we just took Thursday and Friday off too.
We went up to Saltspring island, one of the larger of the gulf islands. It was a good time away from the office at work, and the office at home. I personally experienced a couple of firsts on this trip. I went sailing for the first time. I also dropped my camera for the first time (more on that later).
This was the harbour we came into. We took a ferry to Vancouver Island and then a ferry to Saltspring. Ruth has been really getting into the photography stuff (bitten by the shutter bug I suppose), so keep in mind that she took some of these photos.
There was lots of wildlife.
Mostly deer. Mostly deer walking onto or off the road we were driving on. Thank God we didn't hit any..but we shot some...
...and hot chicks on the beach. Yowza!
We spent some of our are American dollars on the Canadian tourist industry by going on a sailing tour of one of the harbours. Ruth has sailed before but it was a first for me. It was a blast, and it was also relaxing.
And it was perfect weather.
Here's a picture for Dad...
As seen is previous posts, this is me wearing my "I'm on vacation, but I'm not a real cowboy" straw hat. It also hides my fair face from the sun so I don't burn like a tourist.
And that's Ruth standing on the highest point on the island. She's wearing her "I'm so glad my husband doesn't have email access" smile.
We visited several local artisan studios such as a pottery studio...
... several vineyards...
...and a couple cheese farms. We tasted some very delightful cheeses. We were just sorry that the vineyards and the cheese farms weren't next door to each other.
After the days activities, there's only one thing left to do at the end of the day on a gulf island (and many other places I'm aware), and that is: go searching for the best place on the island to see the sunset. It's like the closing visual orchestra of the day. Well we heard about this place from one of the locals, so we headed down to this beach with our chocolate espresso mousse to go, and our tripod and camera.
We situated ourselves on an outcropping of rocks where Ruth promptly dug into the mousse, and I promptly started snapping my photos.
And this is when for the first time in two years, I dropped my camera...
..into the ocean.
And this is literally the last photo that camera took.
Rest In Peace my dear sweet digital rebel SLR 300D with my 18-55 lens and a 2g flash card...you shall be missed.
That was the very lowest point of my week.
Ruth gave me that camera as a gift on my birthday a few years ago. That was the single best gift I've had in years. This blog exists because of that charming little shutter. It ached in my heart to pull it, dribbling out of the water like that.
But hey, the pictures weren't lost!
And if the worst thing of the whole weekend was losing a material thing that can be replaced one day - so be it. I'm thankful for our health and safety, and the ability to take trips like this with someone I care about so much.
And someone that cares enough for me that she didn't get angry or frustrated, she just spooned Chocolate espresso mousse in my mouth while we watched the sunset.
Thank you Heavenly Father, for sparing my 60mm prime macro lens.