Hornby Island - Spring Break

This year we made our Spring Break trek to Hornby Island. We haven't been for two years and it was so nice to be back enjoying the "island life". Our days slow right down on the island. They consist of beach walks and exploring, bike rides, reading , playing games, a trip to the CO-OP, soaking up the heat from the wood stove and for one of us this year, texting Sophie

We have spent many spring breaks on Hornby island as a family. We are well aware that as our family matures and grows up that what always has been will not always be. One of these trips will be our last as a "whole" family so we want to savor all these moments but also let them easily slip through our hands so that we can experience new things together too.

"I also know that change is the essence of life. For everything we leave behind, we gain something new; for everything we find along the way, we have to let go of something else. And so it is that we ourselves have changed, and grown, and come to a deeper appreciation of the transience of all things."

This is our home away from home while on Hornby. It is owned by the Wunderlich family and they having graciously allowed us to find relaxation in this place.

Always have been, always will be, a pyro!

This is the beach across the street from the cabin. The X marks our fire and the arrow the path to the cabin

Peter, Niklas and I went up Tuesday afternoon and Anders, Johan and Ben joined us Wednesday just in time for a fire and lunch on the beach.

After the smokies it was time for marshmallows

Ben was launching a boat so that they could throw rocks at it but it turned out to be more of a submarine than a boat.


When walking from the cabin in any direction we come across all sorts of treasures and see God's handy work displayed in all it's beauty.

Peter is in the "mouth of the dinosaur". A place we must visit every time.We took in all these things and even more.....Johan had more to say to Sophie

I think my favorite place on Hornby is Helliwell Park. The cliffs and views are breathtaking. The park foliage is so diverse and we always catch glimpses of the majestic.

This is also one of my favorite places to run. This year I never ran Helliwell but walked it twice.

One of the walks we did as a whole family. We ventured out in the rain but all along the way we chased blue sky.
After our walk it was back to the cabin to warm up in front of the fire or...text Sophie!

When Anders and I walked the park the rain gave way to fabulous sunshine.

On one side of the park are the majestic cliffs and on the other side the beach with easy access. If one looks closely enough amazingly they will find small cactus growing on the wind sweep banks.

Tribune Bay is a fabulous place to carve wooden boats and then float them down the many little rivers flowing into the ocean. While we did this Anders, Johan and Ben went for a mountain bike ride in one of the many trails on Hornby.

This little feathered friend was very interested in the camera and showed no fear.

Most years while we are on Hornby the herring fish are laying their eggs. It was the same this year, the beaches were covered in eggs and the seagulls were plentiful.

One afternoon Anders and I went to Little Tribune Bay and I saw something that was totally amazing! I have never in my life seen so many birds in one place! Everywhere you looked there were seagulls and all flying together in harmony and feeding on the fish and eggs...completely amazing!!

Try as they might, these pictures don't begin to capture the thousands of birds in that bay.

While we were waiting to catch the ferry home this water fowl said farewell. It flapped it's wings against the hard blowing wind as though it was practicing its flying.

Farewell Hornby... until we meet again!

If once you have slept on an island,
You'll never be quite the same;
You may look as you looked before
You may go by the same old name.
You may hustle about in street and shop,
You may sit at home and sew;
But you will see blue water and wheeling gulls
Wherever your feet may go.
You may chat with the neighbours about this and that
And close to the fire keep,
But you'll hear ships whistles, lighthouse bells
And tides beat through your sleep.
And you won't know why and you can't say how
Such a change upon you came,
But once you have slept on an island,
You'll never be quite the same.
Rachel Field