Swan Lake--Third Time Lucky?

Friday, July 22, we drove downtown so Melissa and Geoff (and boys) could meet with a high school friend and her family. We walked along Wharf Street then left them to find a picnic lunch while did grocery shopping. They had a great time with Melissa's friend who also does letterboxing. The two women planned to meet that evening to do a couple of plants in Ross Bay Cemetery.

After lunch, we headed out to Swan Lake. It was the third time Glen and I have been there and this time we had no birders to slow us down. We quickly found the letterbox then headed out on the trail around the lake. Swan Lake was originally a farm owned by Mr. Swan and is tucked in a depression surrounded by the town of Saanich. You can't see it from any road unless you know where to look and the hike around the lake is such that you forget you are in the middle of the city. For those wishing to visit this natural gem, you access it off McKenzie Avenue.

The boys are great walkers and we had fun spotting ducks and river otters. The resident heron strutted through the marsh at the western end of the lake and even caught lunch while we watched. I discovered some ripe blackberries along the trail and Miles was an instant fan. Glen told a long and rambling story about the troll who lived near the lake and feasted on children who lagged behind. He and Elijah discussed this creature for most of the walk until the end when Elijah felt it would give him nightmares. Glen then found a grove of trees where he was sure there were fairies and so the hike ended on a less frightening note.

I must say that Elijah and Glen are evenly matched when it comes to filling the air with chatter. It is a wonder anyone else can get a word in edgewise.

Beach-Squared

I don't think Glen or I have ever done two beaches in one day but Thursday, July 21st was the day I did just that.

Glen had to spend the morning in the condo waiting for a Fedex delivery (see he does work when he's here) so Geoff drove the van to Willows Beach. We were heading to Cattle Point so Melissa could find a letterbox. The tide was down so we also did beach combing and tidal pool discovery. Turns out Miles loves beach combing. At one point, he had his fist full of sand to take back with him. He soon realized sand was everywhere so not something worth saving. Shells on the other hand were fair game.

Cattle Point is a rocky outcrop where barges would moor off the coast, push their cattle overboard, and have them swim to shore. The Uplands Farm's cowboys would then round them up. Today, it is a boat launch and has many interesting tidal pools. Miles and Elijah learned about barnacles, crabs, sea anemones, hermit crabs, seaweed 'popping' (something I did as a kid on the east coast), and shell collecting. Melissa found her letterbox and I did my first stamping. I had an old stamp of ballet shoes which I used to sign in as 'Ballet Mom'.

After lunch we drove along Dallas Drive to look for another letterbox but were unsuccessful. A recent weed abatement program had probably dislodged the box and it either fell down the cliff or was thrown into the garbage. We then drove to Gonzales beach. We had our beach chairs, towels, pails and shovels so spent a couple of hours playing in the sand and surf. Well, the kids played while Grampy and Nana watched. Several sand castles were made and decorated before we headed to the Chinese Cemetery for another letterbox.

I must say the allure of letterboxing other than recording a find, is to discover new places. Little did we know the Chinese Cemetery was within walking distance of Gonzales beach. It is a windswept hillside dotted with greying grave-markers. An eerie place but strangely peaceful. The cemetery opened in 1903 to replace the Chinese section of Ross Bay Cemetery (the sea often washed away these graves). Chinese from across Canada were temporarily buried here (tradition says seven years) before being shipped 'home' to be interred in China. This practice was halted in 1933 and by 1950, the graveyard was closed. Now, the burial ground, dominated by the twin towers of a ceremonial altar, is a tourist attraction.

It was here we found another letterbox which we believe was done by the same person who planted the one at Cattle Point. While Glen enjoyed the sea views, Melissa and I stamped our books. (I have since bought a West-Coast Bear stamp so hope to use that as my letterboxing alias).

Family Arrives!

We had a great visit with Geoff, Melissa, Elijah, and Miles. We did several things every day and so there was no time to sit and write a blog posting. Thank heavens I record events via my photos or I'd never have remembered what we did.

On Sunday, July 17th, we realized our Denver family would arrive the next day. For some reason, we had it in our minds they were coming on Tuesday. We quickly cleaned house and set up beds in preparation. Monday morning before we headed out to golf, Geoff texted me to say their plane was broken and there was a chance they'd miss the ferry to Victoria. We were devastated and our golf score was a reflection of how we felt.

However, the plane was soon fixed and they were off on their adventure. The only change in plans was Geoff, et al, could not see Pike Place Market when they landed in Seattle, Washington. They did have lunch at Anthony's which began Geoff's quest to eat fish/seafood each day. At 2:30, they boarded the Victoria Clipper for the 3 hour trip to Victoria.

With all our chores done by five, we left for the ferry so we could see it dock. It was such a relief to see the family disembark. They went through customs then we were off to the White Spot for supper. Who knew that Monday nights were the busiest at the Fort Street location? The maitre'd let us pre-order as they readied a table for us. It had been a long day for the grandkids but they perked up a bit when they saw their meals arrive in a cardboard pirate ship.

Melissa enjoys letterboxing and had carved her own stamp to hide at Craigdarroch Castle so that was the first item on the agenda on Tuesday. It was a chilly morning and the boys didn't have jackets (it's hard to pack for 17 ºC when one is used to 30ºC) but a brisk walk to the castle kept them warm. I started out wearing shorts but had to return to get my long pants. When Glen and I reached the condo, there was a young stag munching the plants in our garden.

After a successful letterbox planting, we walked to Government House to see the ducks. Turtles also sunned in the pond but what fascinated Miles and Elijah were the rubber duckies in the rose garden fountain. Glen loves the rockery behind the house as it boasts fantastic views of the Straits. I like it because there are lots of flowers to photograph.

In the afternoon, we headed down to the fish market to procure seafood for our supper. We went first to Fisherman's Wharf but their selection was minimal and they seemed more interested in serving lunch than fish. So while Grampy and the boys played at a park, Geoff, Melissa and I headed to Finest at Sea where we bought 5 pounds of mussels and 2 dozen small BC oysters. There were some tasty sockeye fillets in the display that tempted us until we spotted some fishermen unloading whole, dressed salmon from a bin.

"I want one of those," I told the man at the counter, pointing out the window. He scurried out to return with a beautiful sockeye.

We feasted that evening (Melissa had steak). Elijah and Miles love seafood but NOT raw oysters. Miles' face when he ate one was something to behold. Glen thought I had bought too many mussels but all were eaten with gusto.

The next day, Geoff et al met Melissa's friend for 'second' breakfast while Glen and I hit the driving range (stopping at our butcher on the way home to buy a leg of lamb). That afternoon we bought some jackets for the kids and Salt Spring Island goat cheese.

All I can say this family knows how to eat and we enjoyed some tasty meals. Melissa made her famous onion dip and a wonderful Italian sausage spaghetti meal and yes, Geoff did have seafood every day.

First Week in Victoria

It seems rather silly to post about our home-away-from-home on a travel blog but it always feels like we are on holiday here. We definitely eat out more and play more golf so I guess it could be considered a travel destination.

The drive to the coast was uneventful and because we travelled on a Wednesday, we experienced less traffic. We made the 5:00 ferry, being one of the last cars to board. We usually eat dinner either on the ferry or in the food court at the Tswwassen terminal. However, because we were so early, we decided to indulge in 'ferry' ice cream and have a late supper at Christies.

Glen was so disappointed when he discovered the ice cream machine was broken. He and another woman chatted about how good 'ferry' ice cream was and how one could best fill an ice cream tub. I bought ice cream sandwiches while the cashier just shook her head saying that ice cream was ice cream, one type no different from another. That brought a chorus of denials from Glen and his new friend.

The Spirit of Vancouver Island is one of the larger BC Ferries so we had to clamber up several decks to reach the upper observation one. The day was warm and sunny so we enjoyed the views of Mayne and Galiano Islands as we sailed past. Sometimes we see orcas or seals on our ferry rides but not on this crossing.

Since then the weather has been cloudy and rainy with the odd patch of sunshine. We took advantage of one sunny day to walk down to Willows Beach. We watched a young man try to impress his girlfriend by catching a crab but it pinched him. Two pre-teens scooped the creature up knowing exactly how to avoid its claws. It would have made a tasty treat for one of them but I think they returned it to the ocean.

We have played three rounds (9 holes) of golf this week. Once at the Ridge and twice at Mt. Doug. Each time the weather was threatening rain but we avoided getting wet. Bonus, the weather kept the crowds away so we were only paired up once. They were an elderly couple in their early 80s and matched us pretty evenly with their game. Glen did his personal best at Mt. Doug that day (Tuesday) while I did mine on Thursday. Since adopting a new stance, my drives have been straighter and longer which means I can keep up with Glen.

Tuesday evening we went out to dinner with our friends, Tony and Diane. Their favourite pub is Smuggler's Cove about half way between our two houses. I had chipotle mussels which were good but I must say I prefer my mussels without much more than wine or garlic. I ordered a veggie pizza but the server misheard me and I ended up with chicken bbq pizza. Diane had a piece and I brought a couple of pieces home. It was definitely not my favourite. Glen had fish and chips and a dark chocolate lava cake which he devoured with ease.

Thursday, we saw Diane and Tony again when we went to their house to pick up a queen sized headboard for our bed. It is a nice oak one and looks wonderful in our bedroom. Glen just shakes his head because we keep collecting stuff when we really should be downsizing.

Friday, I wanted to buy some SAS Shoes to replace the loafers I bought about 15 years ago. We made plans to go to a store in Oak Bay then have lunch at the PennyFarthing. However, after doing a search on-line I discovered a huge store on Douglas Street that only sold SAS shoes. We drove there, got my shoes (not much more expensive than my original pair), then walked to the pub for lunch. They had just undergone major renovations and it was the first time the patio had been open this summer. It was threatening rain so we sat under the glassed roof. They were in the process of changing their menu so I couldn't decide what I wanted. The waitress recommended tuna tacos (real tuna, not canned) and they were delicious. Glen had a veggie pizza which he raved about.

Since the condo is also our home, there are always things that need upgrading or fixing. This time we replaced our fridge. Glen measured the space where the old fridge sat so when we bought a new one, there would be no surprises. But, life never runs smoothly. Fortunately, the two guys delivering our new one had been in the building before and brought their tools with them. The space for the fridge was fine but the entrance to the kitchen proved to be too small. By removing its doors and the hinges, it slipped into the kitchen. They hauled the old one away, which was a blessing. Although the new one looks bigger, the fridge section is about the same as our old one but the freezer is bigger and colder so we can store food longer. My sister, Lynda, will be happy to know that I threw out all the bread, including one loaf marked as Best Before Nov 11/07!

We have also hung a few pictures and added a clock to my office. In the spring, we replaced all the light switches with modern, rocker-type ones and today we hunted the city for new thermostats. Since the apartment is heated with electric baseboards, we ended up going to 3 hardware stores before finding what we needed. We found them in our favourite Home Hardware store on Fairfield Road across from the Ross Bay Cemetery.

One thing we have noticed this year, other than the fact it has been unusually wet, is the number of deer. We had one wandering across our street and have seen a mother with twin fawns munching on the plants in someone's garden. There was a doe and fawn on the golf course along with a couple of rabbits so I guess you could say Victoria has a rural feel in an urban environment.

Glen cannot leave his work in Calgary so it follows him out here. He has begun writing a book chapter and did a half hour radio interview as well as a couple of conference calls. If this lets him relax, I can't complain about it.