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Welcomed by the sweet
scent of Cedar and instantly "at home". Salmon? Seals? Oh my --
they're dolphins -- jumping, changing directions, playing! What a
thrill & delight! Kayaked to the waterfalls in Teakearne Arm. Smoked
salmon from Gary Block at the Wild Harvest Co, hiked about Hague
Lake, dinner at Hollyhock with its abundant gardens. Thursday was
stormy, but so hypnotically beautiful. Nothing like a warm fire on a
rainy night. A deer watches us through the sliding glass cottage
door. Friday was a still, sunny morning with loons calling.
Mountains peeking through thinning clouds. Dinner at the Floathouse.
Happiness is Wildfern Cottage. So much to feed the soul & heart.
~ Stan, Genevieve & Maggie from Corvallis Oregon USA
Sandra & Philip,
I just wanted to let you know that we have had a wonderful week here
at Wildfern Cottage. Your place is quite beautiful - the setting is
magnificent. Being a morning person - taking in the sunrise from the
deck with a cup of coffee and good book has been the perfect
antidote to forgetting a stressful job. I fantasize about a way to
do it everyday.
We have enjoyed exploring the island. We canoed around Squirrel Cove
one morning and another morning to Mary Point. We hiked to Green
Mountain and over to Nutshell Lake and then spent a day hiking
around Van Donop Inlet. Swimming in Hague Lake has been a perfect
way to end each day.
Wildfern Cottage is very comfortable and I love the colors. We have
taken a number of pictures and hope they turn out have as well as
Philip's - so we can remember our week here throughout the winter.
Hope we have a chance to return to Cortes Island. It has been a
great week.
~ Joanne & Peter, Boston USA
Hi Sandra and Philip,
Just wanted to say we had a great week at Wildfern Cottage. It is a
lovely setting and we enjoyed the privacy, the views, the ocean. We
did lots of hiking, biking, beachcombing, ate out at the Tak Diner
several times, went sailing on the Misty Isles ship with Mike (what
a great day). Anyway, thanks so much for sharing your wonderful
retreat with us. It was hard to leave and come back to civilization!
~ Ellen, Karen & Anne, Abbotsford, BC
What a beautiful place, so peaceful and restful. "Tourism" on Cortes
does not seem to have opened for the summer yet in April, but we
have enjoyed exploring some of its nature. Great to get out in the
canoe, the water is so clear. We have had several good beach walks
(from here, Manson's Landing, Smelt Bay). Lots of ducks (good to see
harlequins) and other marine life. Plenty of signs of river otters
along the coast, but didn't see one. The black-tailed deer are
beautiful and very tame.
~ Penny & Andrew, Sheffield England
So far we've been here a grand total of 2 days, but we are already
amazed with the majestic beauty of the island. The view from the
deck is AMAZING! I've already renamed some of the islands you can
see, so much fun. We went for a drive and went to explore Manson's
Lagoon and Cortes Bay, more beautiful places on the island! It was
an overcast day, and it soon started to rain. It was great to have
the TV and videos to watch while we waited out the rain. We still
have to try out some of the cute restaurants & cafes out here they
sound good. This place is s gorgeous, I hope we come back someday.
~ Kalyn (14), Teavor (11), Kelly & Philip (Mum & Dad) from Victoria
BC
Our week has passed so quickly. My curiousity about the island
overrode my intention to anchor ourselves at the cabin & simply be
here. We will have to come back to do that. What I especially liked
about Wildfern was the aesthetic of the architecture, furnishings,
and bits of surprises, like the feathers above the door to the
living room. I felt connected when I saw the ceramic teapot &
hand-made mugs. I also liked Philip's photographs & other wall art.
The closeness of the beach to the house was a constant delight. I
love rocks, driftwood, oyster shells, and the sound of the sea.
Going outside as soon as I got up & enjoying a cup of tea with the
company of the ocean was one of my greatest pleasures here. We did
cook some meals here, and found the kitchen set-up to be well
furnished -- very important to John, who loves to cook...There was a
lot of organic produce for sale on the island & we enjoyed eating
"locally".
Next time, we'd like to rent kayaks for our stay & explore the
lagoons. We did like having use of the canoe, and might have used it
more if we hadn't needed to do all those other things. Your garden &
the plantings on the embankments are such a contribution to the
beauty of the setting -- along with the trails from the parking
area. Thank you for making such a beautiful house & trusting others
to appreciate it as you do.
~ Jonelle & John, Massachusetts USA
Well, it's Saturday August 7th -- our last day here. We've enjoyed
this wonderful place so much! We travelled almost every road on this
island, ate at most of the restaurants, and took advantage of the
wonderful services at Hollyhock -- fantastic massages, great facials
-- wow! Had an awesome Italian feast there last night. But mostly we
enjoyed the peaceful tranquility of this cottage, sitting on the
deck watching the tides come and go, hearing the sea lions playing
in the distance, and combing the beach with all its treasures. Thank
you for sharing this wonderful place. We hope to return next year!
~ Brenda & Sandy from Maple Ridge BC
Thank you for sharing Wildfern Cottage. We have enjoyed two weeks of
perfect weather plus one summer rainstorm. Our girls have seen
eagles, loons, seals, starfish, and jellyfish. We have explored
Cortes by canoe (thank you), bike, car and motor boat. It is a
beautiful island, tranquil and unspoiled. The Friday Market was fun
and we experienced the restaurants, shops, and Wolf Bluff Castle. We
especially enjoyed the peace of the cottage, beach combing, and
building driftwood sculptures.
~ Patrick, Mary, Cait (7) & Kirsty (4)
What to write about, another three days in paradise...the weather
was perfect, the accommodation superb, the people of Cortes warm and
welcoming...beootiful! Thank you so much for letting us share in
your spectacular chunk of paradise! We will definitely return soon.
If you ever need accurate measurements of the dimensions of
Wildfern, just ask Clint -- he loved it so much that he bought a
measuring tape & drew the floorplan!
~ Thanks Again from Inge & Clint, Vernon BC
I don't want to leave. Three weeks of September in this magical
place has been wonderful. Every morning a new picture. I've
particularly enjoyed our salads & veggies from your garden, and
having fresh flowers in the house. This island has captured my soul.
~ Joanne & Tony, Boulder Colorado
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