Victoria 2017

Not the best crossing to Port Angeles this morning.  It was quite bumpy and it was so foggy it felt like we were in a bubble; visibility was just a few feet all around. Passing the David Foster Harbour Walkway on the MS Coho Leaving Victoria on the MS Coho We have reached Olympia and tomorrow will board the train for home.   It's been a grand visit. We recorded a little video for our friend Sue who's last work day was today - now officially retired. Happy Retirement Sue!     (click here for video)

We decided we would spend our last day on two of our favorite walks; the David Frost Harbour Walkway and the Ogden Point Breakwater. Fisherman's Wharf on the David Foster Harbour Walkway An interesting tree on the harbour walkway Picnic lunch for 600 on the front lawn of the Empress Ogden Point Breakwater Explorer of the Seas from the Ogden Point Breakwater At the end of the afternoon we decided we should have a final drink at The Bent Mast before Terri came over for dinner. So bright and early tomorrow (8 am) we have to be out of the house and on our way to the terminal to get through Customs for the 10:30 sailing to Port Angeles.

Since the cleaning lady came this morning we decided to have breakfast at the Bard and Banker as Art & Linda had recommended it when they were here.  It was lovely and very quiet.  The smoke is still around but the temperature is much more comfortable and actually a very good temperature for walking. We then took a drive up the coast and through the University of Victoria making stops at pretty much every beach or marina we saw - ha ha. Cadboro Bay Royal Victoria Yacht Club Royal Victoria Yacht Club For some reason, we were then exhausted. We haven't had a chance to visit our favorite pub this trip so that was the venue for dinner. In Cook's Village The place was packed and really humming!  So surprising for a Wednesday night. One of the highlights of this trip has been the Splash event and so I copied this photo from the front page of the Times Colonist.  What an incredible child! Eight year old pianist Felipe Jiang after his...

Our first priority this morning was to find Norm a new hat since he mislaid his somewhere.  We ended up at the hat shop and found something acceptable.  Then we were off across the blue bridge and onto the Westsong Parkway. The Coho was on its way to Port Angeles as we were on the walkway Westsong Parkway Westsong Parkway Public toilet in West Bay We made a big loop by taking Esquimalt Road back to downtown and when we got to the downtown we stopped at the first pub available.  Since we had then walked 6.3 miles we decided we deserved a special treat and ordered poutine. French fries with cheese curds and gravy - um um We had time for a couple hours of rest before we went to the Oswego Hotel.  We were supposed to have dinner with Rob & Margaret's friends Jim, Joan and Terri but unfortunately it was a bad health day for Joan.  We had a lovely dinner with Terri though and a very pleasant evening.

Back to the Juan de Fuca Lawn Bowling Club where we met up with Rose, Jeff, Art and Linda for some lessons and practice sessions. Getting ready Analyzing the other end? After playing for a couple of hours, off we went to the Six Mile Pub (our 3rd time in a week - ha ha). Coming home Norm settled in for a nap and while I really should have done some bookkeeping and paid some bills, I decided instead to go walk-about.  Love walking through neighborhoods and admiring gardens and architecture.  I did have a mission of sorts in that I wanted to make sure I knew where we were going for dinner tomorrow with friends of Rob and Margaret. Albion Manor Bed & Breakfast A quick dinner at the local pub brought an end to the day. Banana Cream Pie at The Bent Mast

Quite a day today.  I thought the pickle boat ballet in the harbor was at 11 am so we meandered that way and got to the harbor at 10:59, just as it ended.   We had intended to have a short walk before lunch but actually ended up walking 11,000 steps!  At any rate, we got to see them setting up for the Splash so that was interesting. The barge being set up where the Victoria Symphony will play in the evening We discovered Gordon Street and had a wonderful coffee and date square at a bakery and then home for a nap as we knew it was going to be a late night for us (past 9 pm). Loved this mural across the street from the bakery on Gordon Street Around six we decided to go to a pub a couple of blocks away for dinner but when we got there the computer system had died so we decided to go to The Old Spaghetti Factory but that had a big lineup so we carried on up the street and saw Bartholomew's English Pub and decided to try that.   We got ...

We started off this morning heading to the inner harbor and got as far as the New Horizons Activity Center a couple of blocks down the road who were having a fundraiser.  We wandered in and came out $100 lighter.  We then had to go back home to take all the stuff. Finally we were off again thinking we would go back to Chinatown and went through the harbor where we ran into Art and Linda.  So together we went exploring around the harbor and then into Chinatown. The  Gate  of Harmonious Interest Fan Tan Alley  We couldn't seem to decide where to go for lunch so went back to the Bard and Banker (Art & Linda had breakfast there today - ha ha). After a nap we met Art, Linda, Jeff and Rose at 10 Acres Kitchen to celebrate Art & Linda's 45th wedding anniversary. The BC Legislature lit up as we walked home from dinner Steps today=19,000

We were up and out at 10 am this morning and went to St. Ann's Academy.  The last time we were here we didn't know that the chapel had been preserved so we wanted to make sure we saw it.  It is stunning! After wandering through the inner harbor we went to Chinatown.  We were going to stop at the spot we found last time for a drink (Varsha) because they did such a nice job but it was so hot we decided to carry on to a shady street and had a lovely coffee and pastry as we watched the tourists go by. Then it was time to start heading toward the harbor airport to meet Art & Linda who were flying in from Seattle.  We had about 45 minutes before the flight was scheduled to arrive and we were so over-heated and looking for someplace cool to land.  We went to the one place we knew would be cool, shady and with good service - The Empress.  We arrived across the street at the harbor airport 5 minutes before schedule and met up with Jeff and Rose.   W...

I slipped out early this morning to get a walk in before it got too hot. Smokey morning Float planes coming in as smoke lifts a bit Just can't resist photos of the BC Legislature, smoke or not We decided to take a drive west towards Sooke but managed to get to many dead-end type spots like East Sooke Regional Park before we actually got to Sooke, a fun drive of several hours.  We stopped for a great lunch at 17 Mile Pub again (stopped there for lunch 2 years ago as well). This is the special 2 years ago which Norm was hoping for again but alas, that was not the special today We noticed an increase in traffic as we got closer to Victoria and a dramatic increase in pedestrians downtown and then remembered this is a long weekend here - Monday is BC Day.  I think we will not touch the car now until at least Tuesday. Prestige Beachfront Resort, Sooke Prestige Beachfront Resort, Sooke This evening seems so much cooler than last night at this time...

When we woke up this morning we couldn't see the park at the end of Rob's street for smoke from the B.C. fires which have drifted south and into Washington State.  We are now officially in a heat wave for the next few days so the combination of smoke, heat and humidity made for an uncomfortable day. We went to our friends Jeff and Rose's place in View Royal.  They divide their time between Victoria, Santa Barbara and the Turks.  They took us to Juan De Fuca Lawn Bowling Club where they are enjoying lawn bowling and the socialization that goes with it.  They demonstrated the ins and outs of the game and then Norm played with them for a bit while I hid in the shade. Then we went to the Six Mile Pub & Eatery for a lunch again (we stopped there yesterday for lunch).  Too funny when we discovered that their place is just up the road and within walking distance. Front of the Six Mile Pub & Eatery We then came home to hide from the sun.  At 6...