Well, we made it through 2020! To celebrate the new year (and rinse off the old one) I took my first dunk in Kootenay Lake since moving to Nelson!
The water was absolutely freezing; I looked it up and found a historical average of 4ºC. Like all good plunges, I felt the adrenaline rush and satisfaction of doing something really scary.
Though my plans to travel were dashed early on in 2020, I was privileged enough to have a year full of swimming, family time, adventures, creative projects and more.
I’ve compiled a few of my favourite memories from the year below. I tried to keep it short and sweet, but I must admit I had trouble editing it down.
January 22, 2020
Skating with Mona and Brigitte at Hillcrest.
February 5, 2020
A trip to Mayne Island with Julia and Laura.
March 7, 2020
Selling Pip Magazine at Book Drop (an art book fair organized by Marcus and his pal Anna).
March 11, 2020
A visit to the Sunshine Coast with Mum and Dad (days before the lockdown).
April 4, 2020
Flying from YVR to YYZ.
June 11, 2020
Beach bonfire with Mum.
July 14, 2020
The perfect swim at Gibraltar Point with Hailey.
August 2, 2020
At Grandpa Phil’s on Lake Simcoe.
August 6, 2020
Climbing an ancient White Pine in North Bay.
August 30, 2020
Canoe trip with Mum and Dad in Massasauga.
September 10, 2020
My last tennis match on the island before heading back to BC.
October 6, 2020
Hiking to Elfin Lakes with Julia.
October 17, 2020
A quickie trip to Victoria with Ellen.
October 24, 2020
A final Vancouver beach bonfire with Ella and Kate.
October 24, 2020
Our last night in Vancouver, eating takeout on the floor with Mona.
November 18, 2020
The big move to Nelson in our new (very full) car.
December 2, 2020
Hotsprings near Nelson!
December 10, 2020
Snowshoeing to White Queen and getting my first taste of winter.
December 22, 2020
Hitting the slopes at Whitewater.
December 27, 2020
A visit from a very sweet Christmas elf.
December 31, 2020
The last bonfire of 2020 with Marcus, Shepherd and Shannon.
A fab review of a strange year. Missing those island swims right about now J-Pep!
love you !!! miss you !! happy new years to my sweet bbs ! ❣️
And a very Happy New Year to you and Marcus, too! Seeing the three pictures of your New Year’s Day dip into Kootenay Lake coincidentally reminded me that in today’s Toronto Star there was an article written by our neighbour Kathleen McDonald titled “Toronto island resident swims in Lake Ontario all winter and loves every freezing minute of it”. It’s a great read. Here’s the link: https://www.thestar.com/life/2021/01/01/toronto-island-resident-swims-in-lake-ontario-all-winter-and-loves-every-freezing-minute-of-it.html
Wonderful pictorial tour of the year. And I’d been there, I would have taken the plunge with you. Thanks for this, and Happy New Year!
That Elfin Lakes shot .
Happy new year JP
I keep forgetting that this doesn’t process emojis! My emoji use is what makes the comment!! lol