candy chang

On Sunday, Brian and I drove home after a beautiful day spent by the ocean.  We had celebrated my birthday by going first to one of my favourite places,  French Beach.  On this visit, the shoreline was jagged and the beach-land small, with only the larger tumbled rocks visible under the breaking waves.  The plentiful logs we were accustomed to were under the swell. With the chopped-up beach, zig zagging as far as I could see, there was no place to sit and comb through smaller stones, noticing their shapes and patterns. Though beautiful still, the peace I had always experienced at French Beach was replaced by majesty, undercut with agitation. Brian wandered and I moved slowly, with my camera.

We then headed to Point No Point for lunch, sitting at a window table with binoculars set beside the cutlery. Local wild salmon with horseradish mousse was our choice and it was delicious.  With a glass of dry white wine- perfect!

Forgoing dessert, we drove the short distance to China Beach. The mist was thick and rain seemed almost certain.  Brian carried an umbrella, which I considered blasphemy! (in honesty, he had forgotten his rain jacket and his down vest left his arms un-weather-proofed)

We walked past the empty campsites, closed until the spring, and began a curving descent to the Pacific.  It is a 1k walk on a forest path with about 300 shallow broad steps (a very wild guess) built where the slope is steepest.  Being small, I had to stretch to keep the single-step rhythm, and, at times, I felt as if I was being propelled down the path  The moisture clung to the trees and numerous and varied fungi grew from huge tree stumps.

For a moment, I seemed to see the forest as it had been before the giant trees had been felled for lumber.  The stumps had become the nursery for hundreds of young trees that sprouted from the crevices in the rotting wood.

Young surfers passed us in wet suits, returning from the beach with surfboards under their arms.

The smell of smoke greeted us before the ocean appeared. Several small fires were burning, stoked with driftwood and larger logs; surfers near to the coals to warm themselves. The waves seemed to hold their shape, tantalizing and powerful. We watched the surfers' ritual- waiting, waiting and then being lifted and carried on this magical carpet of water. I held my breath, hoping for a perfect ride.

As a light rain began, we turned back, this time climbing uphill.  Brian opened his umbrella and I kept well ahead of him, like a child who pretends she is not with her mother!

The climb was exhilarating; the steps built so skillfully they seemed not to be an intrusion into the forest, the markers keeping track of the distance remaining.

Ready now for dessert and coffee, we stopped at Shirley Delicious, a wonderful cafe in Shirley.  I always judge a place by the quality of its date squares, and I awarded these bakers an A+.  Brian had a huge slice of vanilla peach pie and a cappuccino that seemed like coffee topped with a clown's huge ruffle!  When I ordered my latte, I was asked whether I was right or left-handed...you are asked so that the intricate design on the foam faces the correct way!  Talk about attention to detail. With all the baking  done on-site, for me, the drive to French Beach just got a whole lot shorter!

Now, back to the reason for this post's heading.  As we neared Victoria, I turned on the radio and we listened to a bit of Tapestry on CBC.  An urban designer and conceptual artist was being interviewed. Candy Chang was describing an interactive art installation that she had done. a few years ago.  On a wall, on a deserted building in her neighbourhood, she wrote in chalk paint: "What do you want to do before you die?" and made a grid with 80 lines.  She left coloured chalk for people to write their responses. The grid was quickly filled, with additional writing on the edges and tucked into corners.  This experimental wall idea has spread to over 60 countries in 30 different languages, the question changing somewhat as it travels, and Candy happy to have it fluid. http://candychang.com/before-i-die-in-nola/

Before I die, I want to walk on our magical beaches millions of times...well, lots and lots and lots of times.  With the mist and the fog and the smell of the Pacific.  With stones and shells to examine. With sunlight bouncing off the waves. With family and friends near me and with my camera tucked into my pocket.