Adventure in Surfing

Alexis is back in typing action!

So back to my Tofino days, so very long ago (last week). I arrived on a Sunday night, relaxed and watched the sunset over the ocean from my hostel. 

View from the hostel

I woke up bright and early on Monday morning (around 10) and made my way into town to set up a surfing lesson at Surf Sister which I heard many glowing recommendations about before I had even reached Tofino. I was lucky enough to rock up around 11 and find out that there was one slot available for 1:30pm that day and took it as it was a beautiful, sunny day.

I had to arrive around 1:00 because I didn't have a car to take me to the beach and the girls at the shop were checking with other students if myself and another woman could catch a ride up. Luckily for us a bus of German tourist arrived and happily invited us aboard in exchange for beer.

The wind had picked up by the time we arrived, but the beach was gorgeous. Unfortunately it was recommended to leave your belongings in the vehicles so I don't have any photos of it, but there was a long stretch of smooth, cream colored sand, with the cool blue of the ocean waves crashing down upon it.

After about an hour of struggling to get into wetsuits and learning safety, and stance, we made our way into the water. Everyone warned me about the water being cold, but in our wetsuits we were nice and toasty. The instructors pushed us off for our first waves, and cheered everyone on as they attempted to, or did manage to stand up. I was excited, waiting for my moment to shine, but found it hard to coordinate my body parts so quickly. Instead of being an instant surf star as I was hoping, I spent a majority of the time under the water instead of on top of it. At one point I went under and with my knees tucked in starting rolling backwards, and looked like what of one of the instructors described as, "clothes in the tumble dryer." 

So to say I'm not a natural at surfing is an understatement, but despite needing assistance and getting peeled out of my wetsuit, and the massive amounts of salt water that I had swallowed and inhaled, I did really enjoy myself. I enjoyed it so much that I am currently saving up for a surf and yoga holiday, but until then maybe I'll just work on my balance a little (or a lot) more. 

What We Leave Behind

Just so you know I'm always thinking about you mama. Even when I'm at the beach. 

So far I've made traveling sound great, and it is, but you do have to prepare yourself for the loneliness that you encounter time-to-time being out on the road. For me traveling alone is a bit easier than it is for some people because I've never lived in one place more than five years, and I am an only child, with no cousins who was raised by a single mum. I've also talked about how your fellow travelers become an away from home family, but as much as my friends are like brothers and sisters to me out on the road, it doesn't mean I don't get lonely and miss home sometimes. You do have to prepare yourself to miss some moments and milestones that you wish you could be there for. You're going to miss birthdays, holidays, weddings, births, etc. This week I came out of a job interview crying because I felt awful that my mama had gone into surgery and I wasn't at home to be with her. It's moments like that, that make it hard to be away.

When you hit those times that make you question whether you made the right decision by leaving home, sometimes you have to remember all of the other beautiful moments and adventures that you would have never been part of if you hadn't left. In the past year since being on my own I've met people from all over the world, worked on a farm, gone on a sea plane, canoeing, dog sledding, whitewater rafting, surfing, and a majority of that I accomplished in a little over a month. It's the price we pay as travelers or backpackers, that sometimes who we love and what we love to do, aren't necessarily going to be in the same place.

Greetings from Tofino!

In case you've missed me, I'm currently in Tofino, a little surf town on Vancouver Island. Not only is the lifestyle slower here, but so is the internet, hence the lack of writing this week. Fear not though! I shall write again once I return to the mainland and have access to high speed internet. Until then, I guess I will have to suffer by spending my days at the beach. 

Goodbye Farm Life

Edit: As a side note that I forgot to mention in this post originally, if you look behind me in the photo and see the beautiful, fresh cut grass, I did that. I was allowed to mow the lawn one more time on the new mower and successfully managed to maneuver the machine up and down the rows of the vineyard. (Although a few vines and poles may have been slighty injured)

So we've reached the end of my three weeks as a farmhand. As excited as I am to be heading off to my next adventure, there's a bit of sadness in my heart realizing that I won't wake up and head out to work the land here anymore.

The work I've done here is more satisfying than any other job I've done before. I can stand at the edge of this property and feel a sense of pride from having done some work on every acre of this land. The work was hard, it tested my patience, but through it I discovered more about myself than I ever could sitting in an office all day. My body is stronger, my mind, ambitions and goals in life, clearer. 

So goodbye Damali. Thank you for all the lessons you taught me everything you've given me. I'll never forget you. 

Alexis vs. The Lawnmower

Two things I've never done before: mowed a lawn and driven a manual car. Unfortunately for me I was faced with both last week.

Now I know I said I loved driving a tractor before, but that was the newer one that was similar to an automatic car. Press the gas and go. Last week I was forced to drive the older tractor/lawnmower that involved shifting gears.

The practice round in the wide field was okay, drop the lawnmower contraption, and go forward in a straight line. Once I hit the hills and the small aisles of the vineyard, that's when the chicken poo hit the fan.

The older mower's steering wheel was wobbly and I struggled at keeping my machine straight, and a few times I swerved dangerously close to the grape vines.  And then it happened. I drove the front of the tractor into the wires and into a vine, both which started to bend dangerously close to the snapping point, and all I could do was yell, "AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!." I managed to maneuver my way out of the wires and the vine bounced back, although with a large scrape which was clear evidence of my accidental attempt to take it out.

I wish that was my only mowing faux-pas, but as I headed up what would be my final aisle, thinking I had finally somewhat gained control of the machine, I found myself stuck in the middle on a hill. I kept trying to push forward and could feel the wheels move under me, but all the mower did was roll backwards. I pushed the gear faster and forward, and yet I continued to slide back until I was once again stuck in the wires. I finally parked the beast, and with my newly gained farm girl muscles, managed to lift the mower and get it out of the spot where it had gotten stuck. And then the gosh darn thing wouldn't start.

Defeated and tired, I left it there and went for help. Needless to say, I was not asked to mow on after that.

Evening Commute

Green Acres

Damali Lavender Farm and Winery, 2014

After two ferries, and four buses, I made it to Vancouver Island one week ago to work on a lavender farm and winery. Alexis Kay Arana from college graduate with a degree in Integrated Marketing Communications to farm girl. Surprisingly it wasn't me who was doubtful of my farming skills, but my volunteer coordinators. Could an office girl be fine in the dirt and under the sun all day?

I would be lying if I didn't say that every day I woke up after my first five days of farm work with every fiber of my being aching, but it aches in a good way. Your body hurts and lets you know that yes, today you have accomplished something and made a difference. It's only been one week but I have already found out a few things about myself. I found out that I have never slept better after a day of hard work. That I love being outside, and I love driving tractors. I already feel healthier and stronger.

The work isn't paid. I found out about it through workaway.info, where you can find volunteer work opportunities around the world. In exchange for 30 hours of work a week, I get room and board and all of my food and meals. I know work without pay doesn't sound too exciting, but it's a good opportunity to explore, and learn something new whether it be skills or about myself. Also I probably eat better than I do living on my own. Omelette's made from eggs collected from the chickens the day before, fresh mint for my tea, greens collected straight from the garden for your salad.

My clothes may be worn out, I'll be covered in dirt, and my body will be aching, but at the end of three weeks here, I have a feeling I'll be changed for the better.

Xoxo for now,

Alexis the Farm Girl

Vancouver or Bust!

English Bay, Vancouver, May 2014

Last year I went to Vancouver and ever since that I was itching to get back. I loved that you could both have culture and nature in one city. In one day you can go to the art museum in the morning and lay out on the beach in the afternoon. 

Upon my plane's arrival in Vancouver on Friday I headed to the the hostel, dropped of my bags, and headed straight to yoga at YYoga in Yaletown for their YHot with Music. Total cost for class, towel, and mat rental: $0. At YYoga you get free rentals and a class for your birthday. The studio itself was clean and bright, the locker room was a bit small with just hooks for your belongings, purses and bags can be left up front. The class itself was decent, but it wasn't amazing. You could smell the sweat before you entered and the class was a tie bit overly hot. I understand it was hot yoga, but in my previous class in Montreal the heat seemed to help assist flexibility in positions, while the heat at YYoga seemed just there to produce mass amounts of sweat to give the appearance of working out. 

What the Yaletown location lacked, the YYoga Downtown Flow location made up for. The space is much larger, the locker room actually has lockers, and upon walking into the hot yoga room I smelled...nothing. I took a class Monday before I left Vancouver, a class which was once again free because of my birthday, and had I not had a ferry to catch I would have spent more time to use their facilities. At both locations the locker rooms have shampoo, conditioner, lotion, hair dryers, deodorant, and hair spray for your convinence. The downtown location also has a sauna for your use. The class was better than the one at the other location I had attended and the lounge was a nice peaceful place to grab a cup of tea and relax after the class. 

Tea Lounge at YYoga Downtown Flow

In my 3 days in Vancouver I made sandwiches and binged on the hostel breakfast, which at the Samesun consists of warm and delicious bagels and muffins and a variety of beverages. One thing I've learned about traveling alone though is that if you want to eat well, you can't fear sitting at a table for one. My lunch date I took myself on was to The Flying Pig in Gastown. I read mixed reviews about it online, mostly about the service, and although I was seated at the bar right away, it did take a moment for someone to come and take my order. The food though was amazing. I indulged in the Braised Beef Short Rib Jumbo Macaroni which was absolutely delicious. The beef was tender and succulent and the creamy mushroom sauce was the lovely.

The Flying Pig

The Samesun does have a very active social atmosphere which I chose not to partake in this time around as I opted work on my physical and spiritual health this time around. In addition to my two days of yoga I also spent a day taking a Reiki course. My journeys will bring me to Vancouver again so my next time around I plan on visiting either Granville Island or Stanley Park to see more of what is beyond the downtown area.