Heal Me ... Heal Me Now

I hate being injured, I mean, I absolutely hate it. Nothing is quite as frustrating as not being able to do what you want to do when you want to do it. Analyzing every move for potential pain, even in slowest locomotion, is just plain maddening. I've had lots of solid kindly advise on how to manage a sore back. Going to the doctor is important, especially if you're filing a claim, but there are also other excellent therapies.

My daughter is an RMT and I've been fortunate to receive expert massage from her strong hands. A couple of days ago, she said, "Why don't you go see Clara, mom?" Dr. Clara Cohen is a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Healing Cedar Wellness and has treated me using acupuncture in the past. A brilliant idea, daughter. 

So, yesterday, I went for an acupuncture treatment and felt an immediate shift. Acupuncture can do that. Those tiny needles inserted in just the right places are able to move energy and relieve pain. If you're shaking your head and mumbling, "mumbo jumbo" I feel bad for you because this stuff works. 

On top of that, Clara reminded me of a product I used years ago for back pain. It looks like this:

The sticky paper on the right is treated with Menthol and is a Chinese analgesic, a remedy for bruises and muscle pain. It comes in an airtight tin that keeps the strong menthol odour trapped inside. When you apply it directly on the skin, it permeates the area with wonderful pain relieving, good smelling herbs. And so, a week into my recuperation, I am feeling somewhat better.

One of the BIG things I am missing are the whales. I just love them. Tineke Veenhoven, who is a fabric artist, filmmaker, and light keeper, among other things, just sent me one of her recent short films. We actually sat together in this place by the sea, a couple of weeks ago, and watched the humpbacks swimming and feeding off Addenbroke Island. This is a beautiful film, partially because Tineke creates her own soundtracks--she is a flutist--and lends a little magic to the natural beauty of this place.

Up Close with Humpback Whales

I can't wait to get back to the whales, to the lights, to the coast. 

Heal me. Heal me now.

I Love the Coast Guard

Just a really quick post as it's been a very long day. Yesterday, I learned to drive the John Deere tractor -- very exciting -- and drove it down to dump my compost/kitty litter away from the station. At a station with so much wildlife and hikers regularly visiting we have to discourage them from foraging nearby. And after seeing that old bear, I wasn't much in the mood for another trek through the woods with my treasures in hand. What you see below is a Coast Guard strategy for transferring luggage to the helicopter--and guess who got to drive?

I love the Coast Guard, I really do. These are some of the nicest people you ever will meet. They make sure you are safe and well looked after without every making it seem like it's an effort. They're skilled and respectful and we should be proud of these folks who represent Canada. Wow. Where did that come from? It's true. I really am impressed.

Anyway, the fog burned off, thankfully, and it turned into a gorgeous day. I saw this fabulous white sand beach coming out of Cape Scott. Who knew BC had beaches like this? As well, we passed over a couple of fish farms out in the ocean and a large wind turbine project cut into the forest.

On the way to Port Hardy we stopped at two other light stations to drop off mail bags--I mean literally "drop" off mail. I love this shot -- here's Ivan catching the mail bag at Scarlett!  It may not sound like much but when you live in a remote place, getting a mail bag is a big deal. Almost as good as groceries; maybe even better depending on what's in it. 

Well, that's it for now.  Tomorrow I'm off to another station -- my fourth station since July 1st. Chatham Point is about 40km north of Campbell River. If you look at a map of Vancouver Island, the farthest eastern point, where the land juts out into the ocean and Johnson Strait meets Discovery Passage across from Quadra Island is Chatham Point. I hear there may not be cell phone service or Internet, so I may be right off the radar for awhile. I'm scheduled to stay there for about three months. Someone asked me if I would bored. So far there's been no time to be bored. Lightkeepers are busy people. 

My Very First Film

Wow! This is so exciting. At Addenbroke Light Station, apart from learning a whole lot of new light keeping skills, like how to do aviation weather reports and check engine rooms, I've also learned how to use iMovie. The Inside Passage is a haven for humpbacks. It seems that every time I sit down to do something, some whale has surfaced and is either talking or clearing his blowhole. This sends me running outside with my camera.

The woman I am working with here is a filmmaker, among other things, and showed me a few things about using iMovie, and so, what you are about to see is my very first film. I will confess I am probably hooked. Of course, the animals here are photogenic and, for the most part, cooperative--although I got my moccasins wet more than once dashing out onto the deck to stand in the rain.

Yesterday we had moderate rain showers and afterwards walking around in rubber boots was treacherous due to the overabundance of banana slugs. The first time you see one--they're about 3" long--you think you've landed in Jurassic Park.


I also ran into this beautiful Stellar Jay--I know some people hate them, but look at the brilliant blue of his tail feathers.



And, here's a view of the channel from my deck, taken after yesterday's rain as the sun finally peeked through the clouds.

And finally, here's my video. If you enjoy watching it 1/8 as much as I did creating it, well, I don't know, just watch.

You can check out Tineke Veenhoven's youtube page to see more fantastic films about this part of the world ... watch Return of the Eagle for sure. And now, the weather.