A little road-trip out of Victoria

The snow-capped  Olympic Mountains (in the U.S.) across the Strait of Juan de Fuca

We took a little drive outside of Victoria, to Sooke along the South coast. Although we enjoyed it, we both agreed that the city of Victoria pretty much has it all. Maybe if we didn't come from a place that has so much natural beauty, we'd appreciate getting out of town. But since we do, we spent some time at the beach and then returned, post-haste, to Victoria and its awesome natural and man-made beauty . . .

I am soooo starting to save money today to retire here

 Vancouver Island

We've decided to stay on Vancouver Island for another few to several days. Jenny's friend, in whose flat we've been staying, is going to be out for another week and it's actually a help for us to stick around and water the plants and keep an eye on things. The weather -- which was a bit drizzly and on the cooler side up until recently (they were calling last month "Juneuary") -- has taken a decided turn for the better, so we figured . . . why leave? With all the terrible weather going on around most of the states, we have it pretty good right here. We dropped Jenny off at the passenger ferry this morning (she's heading back to Ashland for a while) and we've just been knocking around the harbour.

House-boat pier -- anyone else harboring fantasies of life on the water?

Down to the beach and the Puget Sound

Yesterday we went for a drive up along the southern coast of Vancouver Island. Stunning! It reminded us a lot of the best of Wilmette, Evanston and Ashland architecture (modest stucco and clapboard Craftsman and Victorians), with a bit of the best of modern thrown in, all with fantastic gardens and breathtaking views of Puget Sound, with the snow-capped Olympic Mountains in the distance. 

A video of Erin poking around a tidal pool:

And Oak Bay Beach a ways up the coast:

Steinbeck on the beach

Happy Canada Day!!!     

Yesterday -- July 1st -- was Canada Day, which is the day in which Canadians celebrate the fact that they are a mostly independent country (yet still somehow part of the British Commonwealth). Sort of like an Independence Day, without the independence. Kidding . . . this was just a jab to any Canadians who might possibly read this (although I realize it's unlikely anyone is reading this). Truly, Canada is a awesome country, like the U.S. with a fraction of the crime and mixed with a heavy dose of English aesthetics and heaps of stunning nature thrown in. Maybe I just had to lash out after being kept up half the night by a raging Canada Day party going on in the flat next door to where we're staying. This is Erin's first time in Canada and I think it's safe to say that she's in love with this country, particular Vancouver Island, as am I (except the all-night raging Canada Day party).

"Can you pleeeease turn down your freakin' music! Canada Day? Really?"

A jaunty Erin at the Breakwater lighthouse

What's not to love in downtown Victoria

Two very different celebrations of Canada Day:

Things starting to crank up at the Inner Harbour

A more muted celebration at Beacon Hill Park

Also, we had a fun night the other night playing Cribbage and roasting marshmallows to make Smores with Kyle, a friend of the folks in whose flat we are staying. Have I already explained our lodging situation here in Victoria? We are house sitting along with Jenny, our Aussie friend. This flat is owned by Viv, Jenny's friend from Australia, and her Canadian boyfriend, Andy, who both happen to be out of town while we're here. And Kyle is a friend of Viv's (apparently she was his tutor at Griffith University in Australia) who just happens to be passing through Victoria at the same time we are. Is any of this making any sense? If it is, please explain it to me.

Kyle toasting a marshmallow in preparation for his first ever Smores

Kyle, Jenny, Erin and the dynamic duo

Unfortunately we will be gone for the famous Victoria Dodgeball Championships

Victoria, B.C.

Two of Victoria's iconic buildings - The Empress Hotel and the Parliament Building

For those of you who have never been to this gem of a city on Vancouver Island, you've been missing one of North America's prettiest and most liveable cities. It feels more British than (North) American, both in its gardens and stately aesthetic and its mellower pace. Jenny, our Aussie friend and erstwhile renter, says that it makes her feel like she's back home. We're staying with Jenny as she house-sits for a friend of hers from Australia. When we got in on Thursday night, Jenny had just got in the day before (late) from Beijing -- yes China. She was participating in a conference that touched several Asian countries, assessing the state of the different country's animal forensics labs. Fascinating.

One of the hundreds of outdoor cafes throughout Victoria

"Splendour  Without Diminishment" -- British Columbia's fitting provincial motto

Erin befriends a local sailor down on the waterfront

A favorite mural downtown