Saltspring Island, Day 2 | 25 July 2009, Saturday

Saturday was Day Two of our maiden camping trip. It is also the day of the Saltspring Island Community Market, a great attraction for both visitors and locals. Colourful, noisy and plentiful, it gets really crowded by mid-morning.

While our camp was up bright and early, only half the group made it to the market. And that one half wasn’t Eli and myself. We had chosen to hang back and relax after breakfast while my sister and P cycled out to town.

Camping right by St Mary’s Lake, we had to take an afternoon out on the lake. The resort has a private beach as well as boats available for guests use. The boat enthusiast that Eli is, there was no excuse for us not to get rowing on this lovely weekend getaway.

Cedar Beach Resort has two rowboats and two kayaks available on a first-come-first serve basis for guests. After our morning nap (we had a hard work week!), we hit the waters.

Off we went sailing in an aluminum boat and two pedals. Floating on the very peaceful and private St Mary’s Lake of Saltspring Island, was quite an experience.

Movies such as The Notebook and Bridget Jones’s Diary had me convinced that boat rowing is a very romantic experience, great for poetry, looking into each other’s eyes and literally leaving the world at bay.

I suppose it would have been romantic if it weren’t so physically demanding!

Although there was no poetry recitation to boost the romance a little, being out there with nothing but the love of my life… Our aluminum love boat was filled with a different kind of romance.

Using a metaphoric expression, Eli always illustrates our relationship as a boat sailing in the middle of the ocean. We are open to the elements and vulnerable to anything and everything the unpredictable water (world) throws at us. We are at the mercy of God but place our trust in Him, and in each other to tide (pardon the pun) the challenges posed by being out in the world. With each passing day, we are naturally further away from where we set off and closer to our common destination. Common destination being our “happily ever after” and starting point being the day we first held hands and made a commitment to each other.

Out at sea, you have no one but each other to rely on. And that is how it is in a committed relationship. You and your partner against the world. No matter what.

Eli and I sailing in the middle of the ocean with our individual lives behind us and headed for our common destination was no longer just a metaphor. The two of us were literally floating far from shoreline with nothing to count on but each other.

I’ve always had some coordination and orientation problem,  making boat rowing more challenging than it already is. (I’ve always known I’m a power/sail boat kind of girl.) Eli showed his everlasting patience as he guided me over and over again, and correcting each mis-taken stroke. Needless to say, he did most of the rowing while I posed for photographs with the paddles!

I really liked being out there with my man. Knowing that he will take good care of me in good times and bad. Assured that he is willing to do hard labour to get us places and ensure that I am as safe and as comfortable as can be.

I, on the other hand attempted to keep him “cool” by dipping my hands into the water and splashing his head and back. Hey, it is no easy feat reaching the water!

This is how we row… And roll. We take care of each other and work in partnership.

We made it halfway between the resort and the other shoreline when hunger really took over.

We had awoken from our nap famished and Eli had wanted to fry up some eggs but I told him to hold out till my sister and P got back from town. I had him snack on some pita and chips instead.

Unfortunately when the our fellow campers did make it back from town, they felt the need to cool off in the lake before having lunch. I felt really awful about stopping Eli from lunching. One should never starve the other! This feeling was compounded when my sister and P cooked themselves up some French toast upon their return from the lake.

I am sure they wouldn’t have minded if Eli and I had made some eggs and helped ourselves to lunch. However, at that point in time because the stove, pans and everything else was brought by my sister and P, I felt like I was “guest” and shouldn’t touch/use those things before/without them.

At the same time, shouldn’t everything that was brought to the campsite be shared equally? After all, we split cost and everything 50-50. Yet I felt I couldn’t touch those things because they were not “mine”.

I just felt awful about starving Eli, especially when there was food! And others got to eat. Thankfully Eli was sporting and settled for the miserly sugary snacks and chocolates I had brought along.

Retiring the boat after an hour, Eli and I took a nice long dip in the lake. I am not a swimmer and am apprehensive about all water-related activities. However, my motivation was there. My man was in the water waiting for me and he would catch me, come what may. Just have to trust your partner.

Donning lifejackets, we leaped into the bottomless lake and had a wild time.

It was exhausting and sometimes terrifying especially when the floating platform threatened to suck me under. I had a great time “swimming” alongside Eli and strengthening my limps. You will have to try it yourself to really experience how amazing it is. Very romantic. And nothing like a day out by the beach/sea.