Victoria

John and I flew into Vancouver from London, and Sue flew in from Sydney via Auckland. The flight over wasn’t as bad as Lufthansa (low bar there), but it still wasn’t great. The Air Canada cabin had good storage and comfortable beds—if yours worked! You guessed it—mine had a puncture. The seats are air-filled, which is a brilliant idea; you can choose your comfort level, firm or soft, with about ten settings. When I sat down, it was like perching on a concrete bench. I asked John, “Is your seat hard?” He said, “Now that you mention it, yes.” Except my "hard" was a bit more extreme! Turns out my bed had a slow leak, and every time the air steward reset it, it deflated. I had to keep turning sides every 15 minutes, or I’d have been bruised by the end of the 9-hour flight. Despite that, I still managed to sleep. John, though—who had the perfectly working seat—barely slept a wink!

We met up with Sue at the airport, who had kindly brought us a suitcase of warm winter clothes.  We drop off the golf clubs and a summer suitcase at a storage place near the airport and into Vancouver we go for the night.  We are all tired, some more than others and we go out for dinner, a few cocktails and to bed.  Then we set off to catch the ferry to Vancouver Island where we will spend the next 6 nights.

Here are a few interesting facts about Vancouver Island:

• Population: Vancouver Island has a population of around 870,000 people. The largest city is Victoria, also the capital of British Columbia, with a population of about 400,000 in the metro area.

• Size: The island is approximately 460 km (290 miles) long and 80 km (50 miles) wide at its widest point. It covers an area of about 31,285 square kilometres (12,079 square miles), making it the largest island on the west coast of North America.

• Natural Beauty: Vancouver Island is known for its stunning scenery, including dense temperate rainforests, rugged coastlines, and beautiful beaches. It’s a haven for outdoor enthusiasts with activities like hiking, whale watching, and kayaking.

• Biodiversity: The island is home to a variety of wildlife, including black bears, bald eagles, and orcas. It also has some of the largest Douglas fir trees in the world.

• Climate: The climate is mild, especially compared to the rest of Canada. Winters are wet but not particularly cold, and summers are warm and dry, making it a great year-round destination.

The ferry ride from Vancouver to Schwartz Bay is a scenic 90-minute journey through the Gulf Islands, offering breathtaking views of Canada's rugged coastline and forested islands, with occasional glimpses of wildlife like seals or orcas - sadly not seen by us. You really feel like you're in Canada now, passing just a few of the country's thousands of islands, each one more picturesque than the last. The ferry itself is spacious and comfortable, with plenty of seating areas, a café, and viewing decks to take in the stunning sights. As you glide through the calm waters, the landscape feels almost untouched, with dense evergreen forests and rocky shores adding to the wild, natural beauty. The journey is peaceful and uneventful, ending with a smooth docking at Schwartz Bay—unbeknownst to John, not quite Victoria, where our hire car is waiting.  It was an overcast day, but still gorgeous and a taste of what we are to expect on the cruise.  Some photos below.

After a 45-minute cab ride to Victoria, we pick up our hire car—a large Jeep! John is driving and navigates the short journey to our apartment very well. The two-bedroom apartment is centrally located and makes a great base for the next three nights.

We head out to explore and grab some lunch, which we thought would happen at 1:30 p.m., but it’s now 3:30. We find a fab lunch spot and dive into our meals like we haven’t eaten in a week. Sue keeps saying, “Gee, mine tastes so good,” while in my other ear, John’s saying, “Man, this is delicious.” Clearly, we’ve hit the jackpot, and our bellies are satisfied. By 4:30 p.m., I’m hitting the wall and desperate for sleep—jet lag is no joke! I have a two-hour nap, as does John, while Suzie braves it and stays awake. Later, we head out for cocktails, but to prevent me from falling asleep at dinner, we call it a night and head home.

Victoria reminds be of an English town, with potted colour everywhere - the council go to a lot of trouble to make the streets as beautiful as they can.  You will get the gist over the next few pages.

After a good night's sleep, we wake up to the persistent sound of foghorns—one after another. I said to John, "It better be foggy," and sure enough, it was a whiteout. We couldn’t see a thing from our apartment!

After a slow foggy brain and foggy eather start, we head out to explore Victoria.  We walk down to the harbour front and walk around to Fishermans Wharf which is a series of floating cottages, which is where we had lunch.  It is just so pretty, see from the photos below how absolutely gorgeous the place is. These are the pictures on our way to China Town - the oldest China Town in Canada.

We find chinatown which also boasts the narrowest street in Canada.

The day is starting to brighten up, we reach the harbour and start our walk around the bay.  I wont bore you with words and let the photos speak for themselves.

Then we reach the end which is Fishermans Wharf, this is so quaint and beautiful and buzzing with tourists.

Then a water taxi ride home.  The water taxi is small and holds about 10 passengers, it weaves it's way through large ferries from Washington and Seattle, through sea planes and whale watching charters.  It is a gentle ride and a great way to get back home.  We stop for a bit, but it is back out again before we doze off.  Now we head to the world famous butchart Gardens.  Butchart Gardens are a stunning horticultural masterpiece that captivates you with its lush, meticulously curated landscapes. Originally a limestone quarry, the site has been transformed into a breathtaking 55-acre garden oasis, featuring an array of vibrant blooms, serene water features, and exquisitely designed themed gardens. From the colorful sunken garden to the tranquil Japanese garden and the vibrant rose garden which was a little tired at this time of the year, each area offers its own unique charm and seasonal beauty. Wandering through the winding paths and around the sparkling ponds, you’re immersed in a world of floral splendor and tranquility. Gardens are not normally my thing but this was well worth the journey.  See for yourself.

out for dinner at a nice place, we all had great meals then back home for an early night.  It is getting ridiculous, 9 pm and I cannot keep my eyes open.  Next day we toottle around in some villages in the greater Victoria area, which were very pretty but shops only open at 11 am and we were way too early.  We then drove out to Bear Mountain Golf and Country Club, had lunch there, and went back into town for more strolling around Victoria on a busy Sunday afternoon.