A group of women gathered at South Green Lake the week before Thanksgiving to enjoy each other’s company and to do some fun outings.
It’s something they have done for 33 consecutive years.
Joanne Robbie, one of the group’s original four members, described how this group began.
In 1990, four nurses who worked at Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake, decided to spend a weekend together at Green Lake. Although these women worked together professionally, they only knew each other casually in a personal way.
On their first weekend together, Robbie said their goal was to hike to Jim Lake.
She added it was an ambitious plan and one created without knowledge or an adequate map of the area.
“We set off keen and bold, made a wrong turn and got very lost.”
One of the nurses had a knife her father had given her years earlier, Robbie said, adding he advised his daughter the knife would help her find the way home.
When these fledgling hikers discovered they were lost and daylight was dwindling, Robbie said the nurse pulled the knife out and rubbed it as she was directed.
Th science behind this advice remains unknown, however, they soon found their way back to the cabin.
“We were tired, had blistered feet. However, we felt much relief. There was a lot of laughter in the cabin that night.”
As they soaked their aching feet, Robbie said a feeling of friendship began.
She added their adventure soon became news throughout the hospital.
Everybody knew, she said, adding this was the beginning of the Same Time Next Year group.
“We became linked and close relationships were formed.
“Friends and family members of the original members started to ask if they could join the group and attend the annual gathering at Green Lake.”
For some of them, it was a holiday and a way to spend time away from work and the busy lives of these working nurses, she noted.
“Friendships grew over time and we shared our tough times, too. We talked about parenting challenges, places we travelled, books we’ve enjoyed, and conversations about our lost loved ones.
“We laughed and also shared a few tears”
Robbie said she believes the group members are healthy because of the friendship and support that is shared between them.
Over the years, other members of the group purchased places at Green Lake, she explained.
“We shared our meals, activities and sleeping between three places. This was helpful as our group grew larger.”
The group continues to enjoy going on hikes, and one of them was hiking to the top of Begbie Summit.
Robbie said a rather infamous one saw them hiking up to the top of the waterfall at Crater Lake.
They drove along North Bonaparte Road, turned off the road and made their way along a trail to a plateau where they could look down at Crater Lake and see where the waterfall drained into the lake.
To get down to the lake, they had to pick their way across a creek on logs and rocks to get to the other side. Then they had to pick their way through the rocks and slid through the trails to get to the lake, she added.
They trekked around the lake and climbed to the top of the hill with the use of mountaineering rope to get back to the start of the waterfall.
“It was an incredible endeavour,”Robbie said.
“There were always a lot of blisters, but many stories punctuated with laughter and delicious food at the end of hiking days.”
She noted they always go on hikes.
One year they took a canoe trip from a member’s home on Green Lake to a nearby island, and had a Teddy Bear’s Picnic. Robbie added all the women had varying paddling skills, however with a desire to learn and perseverance, they made it to the island and back and no one went “for an inadvertent swim.”
Theme weekends are also planned, including “Oktoberfest”, “The Love Of Birds”, “The Green Lake Olympics,” “When I Grow Old,” and “Light My Fire” when they celebrated the work done by firefighters on their behalf in 2017.
One year they created a quilt to give to their sick friends to help them heal and get better. She said the quilt has been a great source of comfort for their ill friends.
Robbie said they often bring small, unique gifts for each other that often fit into the theme of the weekend. “For example, one year an artist in the group created beautiful art cards of local birds for each member of the group.”
She noted the new members aren’t always nurses. They are also teachers and others have varied and interesting career paths.
Over time, members have created their own friendships beyond the linkages of the Same Time Next Year group.
“It is a mix of characters. We share a lot of pictures and life experiences, and enjoy storytelling.”
One year they invited the granddaughter of a member who had passed away. This girl heard stories of a grandmother she never had met, Robbie explained.
“She very much enjoyed her weekend with her grandma’s friends and we certainly enjoyed her as well.”
Robbie noted the beauty of Green Lake, especially in Autumn year after year, is proving to be a source of great pleasure for the group.
“Green Lake is beautiful and I hope we can continue these gatherings for years to come. It is truly very special.”
