Back in the trees, and by the Pacific waters at Base Camp 1...

“I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, and all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.” 

Since memorizing the three full stanzas as a young student, I’ve loved John Masefield’s poem, “Sea Fever”. The transition from Base Camp 2, on the Isle of Skye, back to Base Camp 1 on Vancouver Island is now complete. It was wonderful to have had another opportunity to live in the "Islands and Highlands" for a second "tour of duty". That was our fourth locum in just over four years. We've spent more time in the UK than in Canada since "retirement" in 2012, so now it's time to get to know our Canadian home again, and spend a winter here...after we've spent a summer, of course!

I've been remiss this past year with the blog, having succumbed to posting pics and reflections on the "another" social social networking site. I'm going to try to do better.



It's time to launch again into the Pacific waters. We've fondly left behind the view of the Scottish mountains, the Atlantic waters, and the ancient castle ruins. But we're back amidst the Douglas fir, the arbutus, the cedar, and the maple trees. It’s a fair trade. Here, the sea is just down the hill, and the mountains are all around. The piece of art in the Rain Room (my "writing room") that Joan bought many years ago, "Tomorrow's Challenge", reflects the call to new adventures...

In the meantime, the small fleet - the Cetus, the Spartan VI, and the Solstice - is in the “stable, and they're ready to go.



They’ve been very patient. We’ve all got…sea fever. 😊