More Victoria

Monday, September 26, 2011

Blog is posting okay...I'll try less on each posting and see if that helps. This post is our trip to Sooke and the Pacific Rim Park, which was cut short by mechanical problems.

Here we are leaving Butchart Gardens and heading toward the Pacific Rim Park. After several miles down very bumpy roads, we heard a disturbing sound coming from the front of the Unit. Tom decided to turn back and locate an auto repair garage. The mechanic was booked solid for the next week, but referred us to a mechanic that worked out of his home garage.


Steve's home garage


Tom and Steve took a ride in the Unit to diagnose the problem.
While they were gone, the dogs an I took a walk around the neighborhood. Hmmmmm....I began to wonder what I would do if Tom never came back? Below is one of the local deer that was very curious about Barney and Millie.


After the ride, Steve began to take off the front left wheel. After a few turns of the lug nuts, he found the problem. Six of the eight lug nuts were loose and the wheel was riding on two lug nuts. This was causing the vibrations and noises! Ahhhh...scary. He tightened all the nuts and would not accept payment for his time. He stated that he wanted us to continue our trip and enjoy the beauty of British Columbia. What a truly kind and generous man!



Off we go...What a relief! We had already logged over 3,200 miles.



Due to time and weather, we cut our trip short, and drove up the road to Whiffin Spit Park for a short walk.

Location:Sooke, BC, Canada

A Bit of England - Butchart Gardens

September 25, 26, 27



Our home for the next few nights was the pet friendly, Admiral's Inn. The hotel was within walking distance to the city and the water. Beautiful!



The flowers in the distance spell, "Welcome to Victoria."



The rain did not stop us from heading out to Butchart Gardens, my dream destination.


This is BC' s most famous botanical attraction. The century old gardens were created in an old worked out limestone quarry by Jennie Butchart over 100 years ago. The quarry had supplied her husband's nearby Portland cement plant. The 55 acres include a sunken garden, a rose garden, a Japanese garden, the Star Pond, Italian Garden, Piazza, and the Mediterranean garden. The pictures cannot capture the beauty that Jennie Butchart created. The gardens are still family owned and opened 365 days a year.


Beautiful in the rain!


Lion topiary












The garden employs over 50 full time gardeners. This gardener is rappelling the side of this slope to trim the bushes.


Leaves beginning to change


Not sure what the story of the boar is?


Magical pathway through the flower gardens




















Rain nymph


Japanese Gardens


















The Star Pond was created for Mr. Butchart's collection of ornamental ducks.





The largest begonias ever!










Serene Tom


How true is this? It was a good thing Barney and Millie did not see this sign. They snoozed comfortably back in their new home, the Unit.




Wow...I could visit these gardens every day!


On to Sooke and the Pacific Rim Park...

Location:Victoria, BC, Canada

Vancouver Day 3 - Canada Place, Gastown, Chinatown, Stanley Park

Let's try this again! I've had difficulty posting lately! Ahhhh...

Saturday, September 24, 2011


Canada Place, on the waterfront facing Burrard Inlet, is the city's huge convention center and cruise ship terminal.








Float planes were taking off and landing. Wow...they are loud!





There were several cruise ships preparing for departure.




Beautiful day!




With its five tall Teflon sails, and bowsprit jutting out into the Burrard Inlet, Canada Place is meant to resemble a giant sailing ship. It's a convention center on one level, a cruise ship terminal below, and the Pan Pacific Hotel on the top level.




Charming Gastown, the oldest section of the city.















Here are the dogs on the other side of the fence at a sidewalk restaurant. The salmon was fresh and delicious.





Moving on...a park near Chinatown... This is better than the wrong side of the fence!




Chinatown Gates









Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden



This is a small reproduction of a classical Chinese garden.















Moving on....to Stanley Park...Millie and Barney wishing they could swim in Beaver Lake. We took a nice walk through this park area.









Dogs in the unit...and off we go on our bicycles! Look at these gardens!



Born to be wild.




Beautiful flower gardens throughout the park






























Totem poles at Brockton Point, Stanley Park







Also born to be wild...





We rode the bike path along the sea wall water front...beware...wild cyclists, joggers, and walkers everywhere. Stanley Park is very popular.












Here is the same cruise ship we saw at Canada Place earlier in the day. It was just leaving port as we biked along the path.



Beaches along the path



The Girl in a Wet Suit statue



The girl and the cruise ship





Next morning...leaving Vancouver and the Grouse Inn...on to Victoria, Vancouver Island




The unit in the ferry to Nanaimo, Vancouver Island





View from the deck of the ferry...it was rainy and cold. Dogs are not allowed on deck, so we stayed below for the 90 minute trip.





Arriving at Nanaimo





Let's explore Victoria! It was a relief to see daylight again.

Location:Vancouver, BC, Canada