Our Story
About Riverdaughter Acres
Meet the Family
We're Francis, Ana, and our daughter Elsie - along with our dogs Otis and Lily.
We moved to Vancouver Island from London, England, where we'd lived for nearly eight years. After five years in Nanaimo - falling in love with the island's forests, lakes, and slower pace of life - we found this property in Honeymoon Bay in early 2025. It felt right immediately: two acres of trees, a creek running along the border, and the kind of quiet that makes you want to stay outside until the stars come out.
The name "Riverdaughter" comes from Tolkien - Goldberry, Tom Bombadil's partner, the daughter of the River. It felt fitting for a place where the Ashburnham Creek whispers through the property and Cowichan Lake is just minutes away. Like Bombadil's house, we wanted to create somewhere "outside of time" - a place where you can genuinely disconnect.
We're a family that runs on curiosity. Francis is deep into technology and music production. Ana brings an eye for beauty and a green thumb that's turning the property into a permaculture garden. Elsie (two years old) is in charge of supervising everything and befriending every creature on the property. Otis and Lily keep the perimeter secure and will almost certainly greet you on arrival.
What Drives Us
Permaculture & Growing
We're building a permaculture-based garden on the property - growing food, learning from the land, and working toward a more self-sufficient way of life.
Water & Wild Swimming
We swim year-round in Cowichan Lake, the river, and wherever the water calls. There's something about a cold swim that resets everything.
Tech Meets Backcountry
We're fascinated by the polarity between emerging technology and the deep offline silence of the backcountry. Riverdaughter Acres sits at that intersection.
The Land
Two Acres of Forest & Creek
The property sits on two acres in Honeymoon Bay, bordered by the Ashburnham Creek. There's a fire pit, a pergola, creekside benches, walking trails right from the gate, and direct access to the Gordon River Road gravel network for ATV and cycling adventures.
We're steadily building out a permaculture garden - fruit trees, raised beds, native plantings - learning as we go. The goal is a property that feeds us, supports wildlife, and gives guests a glimpse of what's possible when you work with the land instead of against it.
The Suite
Your Space
The guest suite is a private ground-level space with its own entrance, a full kitchen, living area with cedar-panelled walls and big windows looking out onto the garden, a games room with a pool table, and a comfortable bedroom with a king bed. It sleeps up to four.
We stock it with good coffee, local treats, and all the essentials - linens, toiletries, laundry. We want you to arrive and exhale.
Our Promise
A place where people feel welcome, inspired, and genuinely rested.
We moved across the world to find this place. We'd love to share it with you.