Trace in the Sand Software Architecture Journal

Lasqueti Island Rental

7/6/09 A Place to Recharge and Dream Big Dreams View from the cottage main deck to the sunset

I promised Jim I'd tell you about his human docking station at the end of a dirt road, on Lasqueti Island, one of the gulf islands in the Strait of Georgia that prides itself on its lack of development.

I suppose a moment's worth of context may help: Last week was the only week all four of us were free at the same time. We had decided not to go away, but as the week approached we thought longingly of mountains and seriously looked at spending the week in Jasper National Park (Canada). I checked weather for Jasper--rain was forecast and we decided not to go. Friday came around, and we again thought "it's now or next year!" I looked at weather and frequent flier mile tickets to Vancouver, and the weather was set to be great and miles tickets worked so we booked flights for Saturday. Friday night I emailed several owners of cottages on the gulf islands. I got Jim Hazlewood's reply early Saturday; we left Saturday evening.

Jim is a self-characterized "loose cannon," a guitar-playing big thinker who built the 5000 sq ft of cascading decks that hug the cliff around the house and on down the cliff to the sea. From every room in the house (including the master bathroom) there is a splendid, and private, view of the cliffs and sea. From the walls of south and west-facing windows in the greatroom (and two of the bedrooms) there's also a breathe-taking view across the Strait and little islands to Vancouver Island with its rugged mountains.

Crystal clear water, sea stars, and our fshermen catching dinner Words cannot do justice to how special this place is, but Jim's website (Lasqueti Island, Canadian WIlderness Retreats) has lots of pictures. It is incredible to be located in so private a spot that bedroom curtains need never be drawn and the sea is right there. You can watch the bald eagles catching fish from bed! Two of their nests are above the house, and there is a constant coming and going of eagles. Sara and I saw a young otter--the boys were off fishing, and we were enjoying the secluded beach with a myriad sea stars.

The first several days we were there it was quite breezy (pleasantly warm, bright, and a blessing from the point of view of mosquitoes, but not good for taking the kids kayaking), but the last day was calm and we rented a small motor boat to explore the little islands from Jim's neighbor (a few houses down before the end of the road). When we returned the boat, Bill suggested we come back to use the boat to watch the sunset. That's the kind of guy Bill is. He was up at 5am, and he was willing to be up until after sunset (to help get the boat back up the pebble beach) so we could boat out into the red-golden water and become part of the sunset! Earlier in the week, Bill had invited us to his Canada Day party, and we got to hear the stories of the people who live on the island. These are all people who chose to live in this beautiful but isolated spot, and it makes for a special gathering of people who can balance utter practicality with big dreams and grandness of spirit.

Lasqueti is a tad inconvenient to get to--with just a few passenger-only ferry rides across to the island each day (except Tuesday in Summer)--from Vancouver Island, which is itself a ferry-ride from Vancouver. The upside--this keeps the island quiet even in the Summer months.

The house has all the conveniences (many of the houses on the island don't have flush toilets and electricity, so this is not to be taken for granted), but the island has only a grocery that is smaller than a gas station convenience store--you need to bring in groceries on the ferry. Sunset on Lasqueti There's also a little veggie and cookie stand--it operates on the honor system! And there's a free store "in case you want a new identity"--that, according to Jim who has the most deliciously dry sense of humor and who makes an art-form of understatement. Jim has a van he lends his house-guests, so if you don't think to bring bicycles (or if its too much of a schlep) you can still get to the far side of the island. (It's not what you normally drive, but no other vehicle on this unserviced island is!)

Why tell you? Well, gosh, because I like you! And Jim has several weeks available in July and August. Yes, the recession's reach extends to the gulf islands. We hit the end of the off-season pricing, so you'll pay more than we did. But you'll also have it from me that it is a spectacular place! Cherry floors, lofty pine ceilings, sky-lights, stone fireplace (nice if you have the longing to make a fire, 'cos you can't do that outdoors--a timbered island in somewhat of a drought is not the place to make outdoor fires), dishwasher, and layers and layers of decks to get every angle on the view, places to get in the sun and out of the sun, in the breeze or out of the wind, places to think, and unthink. Most especially to unthink! To read, and be read to. To play music, and to listen to music.

To top it all off, at the close of each day we were treated to a spectacular, and each day different, solar finale!

If you're in the UK, and not considering a trip across not only the Atlantic but North America as well, then I can recommend the Isle of Scalpay off the Isle of Skye. That was where we recharged last Summer (between client engagements). All that, and all Sara wants to do is go back to Kauai--warm water, shops, and more girls to make friends with! That's if we can get her into a plane again...

How do I find these pieces of paradise? On vrbo.com. (I have no ties to vrbo, nor Jim Hazlewood. Though I confess, I just have to admire a guy who outdoes me on irony and scope of imagination and execution! And I'm excited by the long-tail thing.)

This has been a public service announcement. Regular programming will resume tomorrow.

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