![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-R9FyWbNu-PxBnZtCMCeijarBMUGlY5JAKqXGPtgZD1CwCi42bqoIn7LrpQO2nwCW-zuQbtbTbJGUI2tgTMIIBb0SWWu82q6T8KXPzpQ9oy-7HYyLnxlja5Huz45VbJrIALSARKGeZRs/s400/webdock.jpg)
Good friends. The best weather you can imagine. A dog who loves the ocean. Spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread. Hot dogs and iced tea. Chocolate chip banana muffins. Crackers with cream cheese and tiny tomato halves.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihnGBHP0-xwnQbpbL4-L-Pk4VeDyp4r6FkvtBoVQSiGPDtQOnQl0T8V9OPAdtL_FDKRzA7FnuKycxgrFcCa4EgrDDactI8zzAeWOI1eBG6WPL7_uksglS8361cguMVhGosEt3G-2slzkY/s400/webstella.jpg)
Fishing buddies. Mussel bait. Time. My son declines. He says, "I'm not into patience." Cracks shells instead. A woman who grew up doing this can't imagine why you'd order mussels in a restaurant. "I just think of the smell," she says.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRiR0XDZSNClLOKUW20FdwiSgrtvfPDlQYa_mix8vsYpQbeLPArHNC9mvATeZYE-PrtDT-QdMHPiDBjAo09UBPdPoKlMSjJkn1vACieKyKPCjMK-pLRu_n9OApOtm1aAADdF5GFXT0lnI/s400/wturnrock.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqSqweVdUNI1QTMSn8jXLBXZEXDNHcxW214x4U_f_GyEu65sSzLvWoagTAMFfspL8h1rgFofqj46wEt9l2RUpjQoON7IbYKbpB5TArvmiuNJE8r4h3bcUV7gZ6IzSUzBVc_MH6J6XCSQ/s400/webfish.jpg)
The boys turn over barnacle-covered rocks to search for little burgundy crabs.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yT5xR6U-EQL_dPZz2pCABeqdnGLiVVftjaHUJYuIXAi9qpgu7_WaBgn1LXmnRlpBhTfeUSJdVX1g8z_ng1Oo30k5wa2PrTcD6IoATubSyVt8JzQgOqzNHMKJqPZbZW0OVtkPiRDGpMc/s400/wcrab.jpg)
On the way to West Beach we find a three inch long bug. Everyone keeps asking, "Is it real?"
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCOgiMemcRUdPwUCYHBvoDsIWwSvoj4-IJKgnH0xMvqvr0h2c-L0nKMrQ2hQaP38QTb_cD4BYqmIVGEIpd7eZWDhAoBsN1409I-7i5RKr_98sh-eSvVOya-eSHwrD8RBcoIECbDGbwk0/s400/wbigbug.jpg)
Tiny tug boats carry sawdust. Where does it come from? Where does it go? What is it for? Should I lay on my right side or left? More suntan lotion anyone? Should I cross my right foot over my left?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YsHYuUrkSXzG5QLfs0F0kH84ndWFiAl8E01S114XUR6LNFD5xw6UzGAXSCG9HVFiS8pM9Et6fJItul_F3ux33s5kwLHCm2xN_wYiw3jzX2mjNvLOhQuZJR1GNkAuPzc9RVPX1LEZflw/s400/wrocks.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonbMbLk-5I0y8E-trOmG8HPBSEM9HRU4Oeijgz_hAaFRYkycxCs9jW7NvLj5F8w6y9LPlYUErPeBlG4hmqG-igTPs1UtAmQgrG3AcchoxmWZn91x8sS-Y4qK7DCo9shkybwo9tMLt0ok/s400/webbow.jpg)
Crossbows and mean boastful boys. "Do you
own your cabin? We do. Whaddyou mean you don't have a DS? That's so
gay. I forbid my son to play with them, wishing I could protect him from this kind of boy all his life.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jhYlNcvJXske8m4EiP_EFKOBlsqZVWVtAKYkRWK9btNLQ-d1oAv044TmtZy_TkW1oCs71Ic-mP4WNV32DOIMyoEVM6eDCFtXcd2xu3z8klav19gn0U7W7RmyuTypoflOz8VtPnBJGX8/s400/wbreakkie.jpg)
Breakfast in the cabin with milk and plenty of sunlight.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9T-TKJyOgekID30JJqgEBEb2MiDLTChtb1xyed6SJIbXixTQpjpxBs7E1Gb9ip8YqwdSpWkTHieo0h-hBqTcZo7gVznyG73TA23C5KXtXyLEJnM7kKFNxgf_qpK7ltnBUxsUeFIFakw/s400/wbrekkie2.jpg)
The long trip home to hot-tempered Vancouver. Wish we were there, but the memories give us something to look forward to for next summer. Summer as it should be.