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the mountains, and the boats on the slip were perfectly reflected in water as still as glass. Unbelievably, it took just 30 minutes to get here, including flying time, and we didn't even need a car. Top: Guests are free For a different perspective of the Sunshine Coast, we headed down Sakinaw to tour Lake Sakinaw Lake Road to explore the magnificent freshwater lake. One of the area's bestin one of the lodge's kept secrets, the lake spreads before Mount Hallowell, offering invitingly warm canoes or kayaks. Middle: The Cedar waters for a refreshing splash in the spring and summer. Garrett Gabriel, owner of Suite boasts a woodSakinaw Lake Lodge, was waiting to escort us across the lake in his pontoon burning fireplace, fully equipped kitchen and boat, since the off-the-grid lodge is inaccessible by road. private deck overlookHe fell in love with the lake as a child and returned three years ago, when he ing the lake. Bottom: A day at Lake bought a tired B&B with his wife Liza and mother Donna. The trio has since reviSakinaw unwinds with talized the property, turning it into a divinely comfortable three-suite lodge. breathtaking simplicity amidst stunning views. Time stands still at Sakinaw Lake. This is the kind of place where you take off your watch and let the hours glide effortlessly by as you read, swim or dream. Unpacking our bags in the cedar suite, we loved its distinctly woodsy ambience, stately four-poster bed, wood-burning fireplace and massive windows overlooking the lake. Even the rain couldn't dampen our enthusiasm. We dived into the lake with abandon, shuffling gleefully between its clear water and the bubbling hot tub. "Waterskiing, anyone?" Garrett gestured to a smaller motorboat tied to the dock. Momentarily tongue-tied, we considered the options: kayaking on this exquisitely IF YOU GO: calm water was one possibility, and fishing for cut■ Villas at the Painted Boat Resort throat trout from the rowboat was another. Instead, range in price from $240 per night in low season to $339 in high season. we clambered back onto the pontoon boat for a ride on Open year-round, the resort offers the lake, admiring the beautiful holiday homes that dot romance specials that include chamits shores. pagne, petals and breakfast basket. The motor puttered to silence as we neared a sheer With an indoor reception room and rock face, its crevices crawling with the limbs of majesan adjoining outdoor patio, the resort tic arbutus trees. Then we saw it: a glimpse into a hiscan host weddings of up to 110 guests. Visit paintedboat.com or tory that dates back thousands of years. Carved into the call 1-866-902-3955. rock face were pictographs of the two-headed serpent ■ Sequestered across Lake Sakinaw, that called these waters home — or so members of the the Lake Sakinaw Lodge is accesSechelt First Nation believed — many generations sible only by boat, and owner Garrett ago. The pictographs tell of a rite of passage that once Gabriel is the friendly ferryman. Suites range from $229 to $329 per occurred here, when young men proved their fearlessnight, breakfast included, and guests ness and defied the serpent by swimming underwater have access to rowboat and kayaks, in the lake. free of charge, as well as ferry rides to We glided quietly past the pictographs, awed by their and from their vehicles. The lodge ancient message. When the engine started up again, we sleeps up to 10 at a rate of $749, and were headed for Agamemnon Channel, where the lake can host small weddings of up to 20 guests. Visit sakinawlakelodge.com or meets the ocean. Tethering the boat, we hiked along call 1-888-341-1720. the ocean shoreline, up through the forest to a rock face ■ West Coast Air offers direct flights high above the channel. From those windswept rocks, from the floatplane dock at YVR's the Pacific Ocean spread before us. It was one of those South Terminal to Sechelt, with a flyprecious 'aha' moments with a distinctly B.C. flavour, ing time of 20 minutes. Frequent seat sales means tickets can cost as little reminding you of all that's beautiful in the world. as $100 per person return. Visit west For honeymooners, there's no better feeling. rw coastair.com or call 1-800-665-0212. 106 R EAL WE DD I NG S PHOTOS BY JOHANN WALL & PETER COUEY It took just 30 minutes to get here, including flying time