This summer, we had a simple dream of going on a British Columbia road trip. We were planning on wine tastings in the Okanagan, but it turned out to be: a) very booked up or prohibitively expensive, b) on fire (sadly, wildfires are common in the area, especially in August when we were hoping to go), and c) an area that was affected by rising COVID-19 cases at the time. It wouldn’t have been safe or smart for us to go. With other popular BC destinations, like Tofino and ocean-side campgrounds, already quite booked by the time we started planning, we needed to think creatively. What materialize ..read more

Time of year: mid August, Thursday to Saturday Doing a multi-day hike with over 1000 m elevation gain during a heat wave, at the beginning of our periods: good idea? GREAT idea! I’ll admit the timing wasn’t the best, but the experience more than made up for it. The vibrant, refreshing lakes at the top, mountain views, waterfall climbs, and forest trails along the way, and the river-side campsite made this one of my most memorable hikes. According to AllTrails, the Elk River Trail is a 21.2 km round trip to Landslide Lake, plus a bit more to get to Berg/Mt. Colonel Foster Lake. AllTrails is a ..read more

The first time I visited Mayne Island, I didn’t have a vehicle – the campground is close enough to the ferry, and the town is close enough to the campground, that this isn’t a problem! Check out the post for more information: Camping Like a BAMF on Mayne Island. Mayne Island Camping is one of the most unique places I’ve ever camped! It’s a private campground with 12 walk-in sites, most of them waterfront. It also has a large group site with a fire pit (no fires allowed at individual sites), a beach, an outdoor forest shower, a large field with outdoor equipment to borrow, and 22 acres of fore ..read more

Note: there is currently no cell service past Sooke, and I tend to put my phone on flight mode as it thinks I’m in the States. However, cell service is coming! The highway between Sooke and Port Renfrew should have service by Oct. 31, 2021. If you’re looking for a campsite that’s not far from either Victoria or the beaches along the Juan de Fuca trail (e.g. Mystic, Sombrio, Botanical), French Beach is a great option. It’s about an hour’s drive from both Victoria and Port Renfrew. It’s also car camping, which is a relief if you prefer to camp with a little more comfort than having to hike in w ..read more

Fossil Bay was the perfect local getaway for us during this pandemic, but it would have been the perfect getaway regardless. Just an hour from Victoria, the cabins give you a sense of being completely alone with the ocean, undisturbed by humanity. That said… if the pandemic has you feeling like you’d happily be disturbed by literally ANY human, you aren’t far from take-out restaurants, cafes, and prime surfer-watching locations. Remember to be extremely cautious if you interact with these smaller communities. Now is not the time to travel. But if you’re looking for inspiration for a future tr ..read more

The weather’s starting to feel spring-ier, there’s still daylight at the end of the workday, and we have to stay close to home. There are fewer and fewer excuses not to pull your bike out of the shed, pump up those tires, and go for a ride! Luckily, Southern Vancouver Island is home to some truly spectacular cycling trails. No bike rack on your car (or no car)? No problem! All of these cycling routes start in downtown Victoria. Jump to: E & N Trail to Thetis Lake Scenic Marine Route Along Dallas Road and Beach Drive Lochside Trail Up the Saanich Peninsula Lake Vibes: E&N Trail from Do ..read more

Twas the month before Christmas and for pandemic reasons, The queers were all watching The Happiest Season*; Lockdown lovers were nestled in holiday sweaters, While LDR couples penned quarantine letters Parents were crying, “My home is too small!” And lesbians re-thinking their premature U-haul. . But Kyla in her antlers, and I in my Santa hat, Had just settled down for a long processing chat. When out from the internet there arose such a clatter, That we jumped on our phones to see what was the matter. . “The pandemic’s a hoax”, anti-maskers were crying, “You can make rules, but we’re n ..read more

Time in nature is extremely therapeutic, and it seems so much more essential to get outside when the norm (or the law :S) these days is to be cooped up at home! You don’t have to stray far from Victoria to go forest bathing, and you don’t have to have to be a super active person to enjoy a rejuvenating hike either. All but one of these hikes are less than an hour’s drive from downtown Victoria, and some can even be accessed by bike or public transit. Most are flat or otherwise easy, but I’ve made note of the moderate ones if you’re looking for a bit more of a workout. 8 Easy to Mode ..read more

Zoom gatherings with your family: can’t travel across the country (/city/province/ocean) to spend Christmas with your family? Try setting up some virtual activities over video call: bake the same treats together, do a virtual tour of your decorations, watch a holiday movie at the same time, read a holiday story to your nibling. You could even set up a virtual Christmas morning! For my family, Christmas mornings growing up always meant cinnamon buns, bacon, grapefruit, coffee and mimosas (once we got older :P), after we opened presents. So this year we’ll pick a day to open presents “togeth ..read more

Being suuuper subtle about my gay-ness in Cuba Estimated reading time: 5 minutes We’ve all heard the question about the tree falling in the forest with no one around to hear it… The answer to that question? Philosophy is complicated! My queery is a little more straightforward: if a gay tree falls in the forest and no one’s around to hear it, is it still gay? Duh! Similarly(ish?), when LGBTQ+ folks travel, who we are at our core doesn’t change. But unlike our heterosexual counterparts, we often have to make complicated decisions about how we’ll present on vacation. There are endless ways we can ..read more