Without our Guemes retreat readily available, we decided to explore a different beach getaway: Vancouver Island.
We found a cabin for rent that would suit our family, then realized maybe we should have booked the ferry first! I now know lots more about how the BC ferries work, and I appreciate those who rely on it for commuting.
Our weekend away was near Parksville, BC, and Rathtrevor provincial park, shown here at low tide. We came over on the big Tsawwassen ferry to Nanaimo, and returned by the slightly smaller boat to Horseshoe Bay.
Rathtrevor beach was a wonderful place to stroll at low tide, Parksville had good options for supplies, and we enjoyed heading a bit further north on a cloudier day. There was even a salt-water dip on the warmest day! That little retreat hit the spot, and was a lovely wrap-up to my quiet birthday week.