The Ucluelet cabin get-a-way weekend

I have been really bad lately by not posting, I know. I usually do my blog posts at lunch and will have to try to get in that routine again. It has been too tempting lately to leave the office and wonder around outside now that the weather is getting a little better.

The Ucluelet cabin get-a-way weekend was a couple back and oh boy was it great. They upgraded us to an ocean front cabin, as we went up on the Friday that the earthquake shook Japan and the Tsunami warnings scared a good number of travelers I guess.  Fair enough. The snow on the pass was totally nuts, the weather was up and down – but mostly raining sheets, good weekend for cabining – not for camping. We did have some good breaks on Saturday to get out for a hike and a surf, but we tried to hang in the cabin for amazing homemade food that was brought up, beer and wine and Settlers of Catan. The cabin had a Jacuzzi so we all managed to get in a hot soak and pampered ourselves with pedicures and face masks.

So the story goes that me and 3 girlfriends from tree planting were really tight one summer and partied and pounded (the trees in the ground) better than any girls at the company we were working for. We were on a close planting crew with great loving people with similar mind sets and at a time of age of freedom and self discovery.

At the end of the summer (and the planting season) we decided to get a tattoo to remember our our strong bond of a friendship we had created with one another.  So, we had the artist in the group draw out a simple stamp like tree tattoo that was pleasant and cute and well, just perfectly fit with what we all envisioned. The foot was chosen as the spot for the ink and we went for it. The tattoo shop was in Smithers, BC and not once have I regretted that decision. I remember the afternoon after getting the tattoo, resting on the grass, in a park with the late summer breeze and feeling totally at peace with the world and with myself. Those were some of the best days of my life. That was almost 10 years ago.

The cool thing is that there have been times where at least two of us have been approached by a person who has recognized by our tattoo, they say “ I know someone with that same tattoo” and we would have to say something along the lines of “I bet I can tell you who it is”.

For the last few years we have reconnected at campgrounds, cabins and in one another’s homes. We keep track of one another’s partners, travels and new life experiences. More recently we are watching and sharing our experiences with marriage plans and babies and the joy and sorrow of these major life changes bring. These girls, even though not close in proximity, are very close to my heart.

Here are some pictures from our last get together (unfortunately one is absent from this trip – but was not far from our thoughts).