Long day ahead. Up at 7am. Walked to Waterfront Station and caught the Sky Train to the airport. At least we had seats this time. Love that the check in was by a real person and not online. Plenty of time for a nice cup of coffee and a cronut. Never had one before and wouldn’t bother again.

Flight to Toronto was great. Porter Airlines again. I’d highly recommend them. Two and a half hour wait for next flight.  Had a beer and a sandwich to pass the time. Flight was delayed something to do with weather conditions. Can’t imagine what they were! Got on plane and realised that we hadn’t got the seats we’d booked and paid for. Not happy. Instead of a row of 2 at the back we had a row of 3 right in the middle. A right pain especially on a night flight when the woman in the other seat goes to sleep so you can’t go to the loo!
Landed on time. Cab to Laura’s to pick up the car. I was worried that I’d have forgotten how to drive in England but it came back seamlessly.  Dreadful drive home though. Really hot and sticky and then discovered that there had been an accident on the Dartford Bridge earlier and it was closed all day for resurfacing so all traffic was going through the tunnels. Long queues needless to say. I could have done with that automatic car!! There’s me worrying about the problems with the Orwell Bridge! As it happens there were problems there too! A breakdown leading to the bridge meant long queue there too. A journey that should have taken two hours actually took six. Just what I needed after a night with no sleep!

Needless to say I began to wake up just at bedtime. Did manage to sleep though.

Managed to unpack all but one case this morning. One lot of washing done and out on the line. Opened the last case to  find a note in there from Vancouver customs. Apparently the X-ray had picked up a restricted item. Hadn’t realised that you couldn’t put power packs in your luggage. Neve occurred to me they could be dangerous. At least it stopped me having problems undoing the combination lock. We’d had problems with it on the trip and I wasn’t going to use it again anyway and was wondering how we were going to undo it when we got home! Sorted,

That rash has appeared on my legs again worse than ever so went into are all to ask the pharmacist for some advice. Came out with some hydrocortisone cream. Hope it helps. Then a coffee before heading back to the hotel make a start on the packing. Filled one case and took it to a left luggage place by the station so we wouldn’t have to drag all the cases tomorrow.

Lots of stalls and a couple of stages with musicians playing around Canada Place but far too hot to stand and listen to them so went into  a restaurant and had a bottle of sparkling rose and some hummus and pitta bread while we watched everyone walking passed.

Lots of police about, some with guns. A sad state of affairs when that is necessary.

Back to hotel to cool off and then down to the harbour for tea.  Still really hot. Felt the need for an iced latte before returning to the hotel to do some more packing.

Spent the day walking around the harbour – after the obligatory coffee.

Really hot today so we kept trying to find shade. Saw lots of herons and some seals.

Continue reading Vancouver Harbour 30th June →

Had a late morning. So nice to just relax and do nothing. Managed to speak to all three kids before heading out for a coffee. Booked another trip on Flyover Canada. A 3d adventure in seats that move around. Really enjoyed it last time so we’ll hopefully enjoy it again. Walked along to Gas Town and had an ice cream while watching the clock

and then Paul needed a beer before the ride. So so hot so sat in the shade. Loved this sign on the loo door.

Love the trees growing everywhere

and the crazy golf along the street in Gas Town.

Did the ride. It was much scarier than before and I was hanging on for dear life even though I knew I couldn’t fall. Paul meanwhile was just feeling very travel sick! And a good time was had by all! 😂 The grandkids would love it.

Time for tea so went back to the Irish pub so we could watch the cruise liners depart. Had an aperitif and then an expresso martini which was lovely.

Back to the hotel for a relaxing evening.

A long travel day ahead. Didn’t sleep too well as was too uptight. Up early and drove to Victoria with no problems. Dropped the car off, picked up a taxi and got to the ferry terminal with plenty of time to spare for the next boat. Dropped the two big cases off which was a relief – didn’t fancy taking them up into the lounge.

It’s a beautiful sail through loads of islands.

Docked at Tsawwassen, picked up the cases and got onto a bus. Great service but we did have to stand and stop our cases rolling around. Then changed to the Skytrain which took us to the waterfront station where we took another taxi to the Pinnacle Hotel. Hadn’t realised when we booked but we have stayed here before when we first came to Vancouver. I remember the restaurant at the top which revolved. We ate there once and there were only a couple more people eating so they made a real fuss of us and kept giving us different wines to try. A wonderful night but not so good when we had to drive to the ferry and on to Parkesville next day!

Had a nice lunch and some white sangria. It had to be done, I really needed to relax.

Unpacked and then went out for a walk. Ended up sitting down in a bar and, guess what, another sangria. You could really taste the brandy in this one!! I was certainly relaxed after those two sangrias!

Then walked around the harbour. It is such a busy place with cruise ships, float planes, and ferries.

And some wildlife

this guy was living his best life!!

Tired after all this excitement so stopped off at an Irish pub where I enjoyed a coffee and some leek and potato soup.

Then back to the hotel for a relaxing bath and to chill out.

Quiet day today before a travelling day tomorrow.

Had a gentle stroll on Whiffen Spit.

This white crowned sparrow was singing his heart out.

4 deer on the waterline in the distance. Apparently they can drink sea water and not get I’ll!

Then breakfast at Moms before a short stroll on the boardwalk. Keeps trying to rain but hasn’t quite managed it properly yet.

Love this pole in a neighbour’s yard.

Whiffen Spit in the distance.

Canada Geese and youngsters.

These deer really aren’t shy.

the red stuff is poo! Whale poo is red – who knew!! We’ll, some people obviously, just not me!

Plenty more where these came from but I won’t bore you with the rest!

These deer didn’t mind the dustman doing his job right beside them this morning.

Decided to drive to Port Renfrew this morning. Cloudy but dry but did revert to wearing my thermal vest and donning a jumper as well as my fleece. Had driven this road before but had forgotten how long it seemed and how windy it was. So glad to reach Port Renfrew and have a coffee before moving on to Botanical Beach. Lovely walk from the car park to the coast and back.

Nice to see some Harlequin ducks and a seal.

Wonderful old trees.

and this Stellar Jay

Rain started as we headed back to the parking lot. Quite heavy by the time we reached a cafe to have lunch and kept on all afternoon.

Glad there was a petrol station in Port Renfrew as we only had a quarter of a tank of petrol left and it seemed a long way.

Nice to get back, have a shower and sit by the fire.

Booked on a whale watching tour today. Google says 5 minutes drive to the boat from here. Left in good time. Eventually took us over an hour. No signs up. Presumed there would be a small office but there was nothing. Went up and down the main road and off to various little marinas. No-one knew what we were talking about. Eventually asked someone who knew and he phoned them. Luckily they’d waited.
Then the joy of trying to out on the survival suit plus helping Paul with his. Eventually left about 45minutes late.

Cloudy but didn’t get too cold. Took a while to get to the humpbacks but did see quite a few. Not particularly good pics. Lots of flukes as they dived.Hopefully the guy who took us out will have better ones.

Paul enjoying the trip

Got choppy on the way back and we were really thrown about. I have a feeling we’ll be really sore tomorrow.

these seals were more cooperative than the whales!

Back on dry land took of the survival suits to find out why my bum was so cold I was soaked right around my middle so back to the flat to get changed before we walked up to the main road and Route 14 for lunch.

Tired but pleased we did it.

Sat outside the apartment relaxing and the doe appears to do her job of keeping the garden across the road tidy.

Off to Victoria on the bus today as the weather is supposed to be nice – at least until later. Really nice helpful driver. Arrived in Victoria  at about 11.15am and headed straight for a coffee shop for refreshments before walking around the harbour and to the park where we saw this deer not at all bothered by the man sitting and then lying on the seat.

Walked to Ogden Point and saw one otter trying to dry himself out

and then another one just having his lunch

Not sure what it was but he was really enjoying it.

On the way back to the harbour the Coast Guards were on patrol

Bit of a wander along Fisherman’s Wharf

Then saw the late shift having a rest before reporting for duty

Lunch at Milestones before catching the bus back to Sooke. just managed to catch a pic of this Flicker before he flew off.