𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘁 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘀

𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙣 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙞𝙩 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙪𝙨 𝙪𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙮. 𝙄𝙩 𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙙, 𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙖 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙜𝙡𝙤𝙬, 𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙗𝙚𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙪𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙮. 

We offer that glow to the world, the people around us, and everyone with whom we share our lives. 

But we may stumble and fall at the darkest moment when the light moves away. We kneel, we crawl, and we can hardly stand tall. 

In Richmond, British Columbia, 

we've found the brightest place to remind us 

to unleash our inner glow and become someone's dose of sunshine no matter what we can show. Before the summer ends, we travel to Richmond Country Farms, where the sunflower grows and truly glows. 

At the Richmond Sunflower Festival, you'll discover a diverse array of Sunflowers on a sprawling 20-acre property of this family-owned country farm. This unique summer attraction boasts a maze that guarantees a fun challenge and a U-pick area where you can select and take home freshly handpicked Sunflowers. 

Despite the challenges, the Richmond Sunflower Festival has continued to bloom, now in its fourth year since its inception just before the pandemic in 2019. This annual event has been a beacon of joy, bringing smiles to the faces of visitors during dark times. 

Summer is a time for fun and outdoor enjoyment under the sun. Like the sunflowers on the farm, we too can rise and shine again, grow and glow up again, and find joy and love in life once more. The sunflowers serve as a powerful symbol of resilience and growth, inspiring us to keep moving forward. 

©️  2022 Del Cusay

𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲-𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗚𝗲𝘁𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁

 

𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝘾𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙙𝙖 𝙞𝙨𝙣'𝙩 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙮𝙚𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙖, 𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙙, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙪𝙣 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙖 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙠𝙚𝙣𝙙. 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝘽𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙞𝙖'𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩-𝙠𝙚𝙥𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩— 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙩. 

This regional district, a unique part of mainland British Columbia, is accessible only by ferry and seaplane. It exudes an enchanting island vibe, with several small towns offering many activities to enjoy and hidden gems to explore. 

After a 40-minute BC ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay in Vancouver, the road trip starts from the southern coast of Gibsons until we reach the heart of the Sunshine Coast— the district municipality of Sechelt. 

It's lovely weather to start the three-day birthday holiday. A warm sunny day that brightens up everyone's day. And our first stop is the sandy shore of Davis Bay in Sechelt. Its coastline offers a respite from a warm and dry summer. The sea breeze, the horizon, and the island views are perfect for a day of unwinding. We're beachin' and watching people surfin'.

As I reach another milestone, the beach is an ideal place to rejuvenate and plan for another year of discovery and adventure. The previous year may have been full of challenges, but I was able to surpass the trials along the way. And for this birthday celebration, all I want is a fresh start, to breathe in and out in front of the sea and release the obstacles behind. 

If the sea is a powerful extractor of what's pulling us from getting what we want, I must release all the unwanted and feel a more revitalized and renewed being. It's a profound feeling of healing and connection. And if that heals, then I must make it a birthday tradition to go to the sea, walk on the sand, and bathe in the sun. 

The Sunshine Coast may have a laid-back culture, but it's a vibrant community and a paradise to many, especially among outdoor enthusiasts. The array of activities, from water sports like paddle boarding, kayaking, boating, fishing, scuba diving, and kite surfing to inland activities like hiking, camping, golfing, and mountain climbing, promises an endless adventure.  

Three days on the Sunshine Coast for a birthday holiday are not enough to experience all the exciting activities this place has to offer. But I'm already looking forward to coming back to explore and discover more of this paradise worth revisiting.

A road trip on a coastal highway, hiking on a forested trail, camping on a creekside, and a scenic walk in a waterfront park made my day. It was the best birthday on holiday. Sunshine Coast adventure all the way. 

©️ 2022 Del Cusay