Kayaking, Friends and Dogs

Louise has a kayak and I rented one on the Courtenay river just by the airport. It can get quite exciting when a plane comes in and touches down just feet above the boats in this wee harbour. And even more exciting when a float plane threatens to land on top of us. (That didn't happen, but it could have). We were paddling against the tide and then when we came back down we were running against the wind. Two hours. What fun!!! I love this sport.

Surprisingly Louise and I didn't humiliate ourselves getting into the water. We were dry for the trip and when we landed we got out with grace and aplomb, and kept our dignity intact.

Several geese were hanging around a restaurant up a side arm of the Courtenay River, Apparently that is a nice restaurant, we will have to try it some time. The water was really low and we had some concern that we would run out of the stuff and have to walk our kayaks back to the main river, so we just took a peek and kept on paddling.

I think there is a seal here. They were all around us but they dove when I took out the camera.

The water wasn't deep but the salmon were running and the seals were making the most of it. No, you won't see a salmon in this picture. They just wouldn't wait for me to get the camera ready.

On the spit and in the Jackson's back yard.

Teddy

On the spit with Ginger

Victoria...Prior House Inn and the Butchart Gardens

We stayed in a lovely B&B in old Victoria, next door but one to the Government House. A super location and a charming house. All the right touches with ironed sheets and attention to details. We have stayed in a number of wonderful B&B's in North America and this one albeit a 5 diamond etc didn't hold up with the breakfast menu. For the price it could have been more interesting. We appreciated their open house policy to polite dogs and welcomed our Ginger. But, it certainly was nice to be so close to downtown where we went to a terrific Italian restaurant for dinner. Zambris I think it was called. Very ordinary stripmall location but excellent food. We highly recomment this.

Then we went to Butchart Gardens

Our camera took some beaut pictures of this famous garden. I was impressed with the colour of the season. I thought there would be a predominience of yellow but the rainbow of colours was stunning.
Below, Bryan was enjoying Ross Fountain

A Sequoia I didn't know they could grow here...only 100 years old. Give it a another 1000

I guess this says it all about Victoria.

Sidney Friends and the Salish Sea Museum

We met old friends Joyce and Alan and we could have talked all day. We enjoyed a lovely lunch at their 'local' by the sea and reminised. Old friends are precious and especially old family friends.They took us to the new museum the Salish Sea Museum and we entered the portal and enjoyed the wonderful displays