Spring Beach - Heaven Next Door

Can you believe this was in my "backyard" all along and I didn't know about it?!

This is what you see just as you enter the forest from the side of the road... not the typical "beach access" I was expecting at all.  So much more like a mini-Cathedral Grove!  Above, if you look closely, is a new young tree growing out of an old.

Everything is covered in this gorgeous green moss too.  This was my second trip to Spring Beach.  I was still overcome with awe when I entered the forest, even though I managed to step in fresh bear scat... turns out they "enjoy the park too."  The pups were in their glory!  Here is a glimpse of the water as you walk along the forest path.

We headed down to the water for some stick throwing and a swim (I was wearing a coat as there is a certain crispness in the air now)... Maynard did most of the swimming for the three of us!

And when it is time to head back to the truck... this is the view :)

Aroma Gourmet Pasta & Pizza

  Aroma is our favorite place to be on, well, any evening!  The owners are fantastic and the entire menu is made from scratch (I should know, I do all the prep work now).  Laurie greets everyone who walks through the front door with a warm, "Hi Honey" and Tim greets those of us who enter through the kitchen to take our seat on the freezer with a cold beer for Kevin and a warm smile (and usually a good new joke).

  If it weren't for this little local gem in our tiny Lake Cowichan town, I don't think Kevin & I would have survived.  We certainly would have racked up many more kilometers driving to Victoria or Nanaimo for good food and even better atmosphere.  But luckily we have all we could ever want and more, right in our own backyard.

  The Prime Rib is to die for - especially when accompanied with Laurie's garlic mashed potatoes (oh, there's yams and sweet potatoes in there for good measure)!  The yorkies (yorkshire pudding) has never been so large!  I am in love with the Prawn Curry Linguine, but am occasionally smitten with the Capicola Mushroom Penne (which I add a dollop of pesto to for added flavour.

  If you haven't been, you must!