Canuckian · Travels

Our week in Victoria has been fantastic, and I'm sad to be leaving. In fact, I feel my eyes welling up already. Is this how it's going to be? Being very upset with every place we leave because it's a week closer to coming back to Scotland? I am very fortunate that I have two homes, but I don't think I realised really, how much I miss Canada until we actually came back. It's hard.....the computer desk at the Abbeymoore sits beside a window, and I can see the sun rising up over the trees. It's going to be another gorgeous day. Our bus leaves at noon for the 1pm ferry to Vancouver.

I've got two days of updates to catch up on so away we go! On the 23rd, when I last posted, we walked downtown and spent the morning at the museum. The RBC is one of the best museums in Canada and with good reason! The First Nations exhibit is absolutely stunning. Unfortunately, it always leaves me a bit upset because it really does show how the affect of the white man coming had on all the tribes. After the museum, we headed down to the Causeway to get on our whale watching boat!

The whale watching was fantastic, though it wasn't without problems. We were scarcely out into the San Juan Strait when the boat shut down. Engine failure! So we had to go back in and switch to another boat lol. After an hour delay, we headed back out. We came upon a group of transient Orcas feeding. The marine biologists on the boat thought they were feeing on either a porpoise or a seal. It was awesome! They were about 200 yards off the boat, but with our 8 MP camera we got some good shots! What a feeling it was to see the huge dorsal fin slip out of the water and back down again. Awesome. We could actually see the pod split up to surround the prey and see the two groups rushing towards each other in an attempt to get it! Awesome.

After the tour, we got back to Vic around 4pm. Went to Milestones, had cheeseburgers, and then Jenny picked us up! We went up to her place in Brentwood Bay and watched Strange Brew! For all those canadians who haven't seen it, you really must! It's the quissential Canadian film! Instead of swearing now, I've been saying 'take off you hoser!' lol Brilliant.

Jenny dropped us off around 10pm and we went straight to bed.

Yesterday, Leah picked us up. 15 minutes late I might add lol ;) (Sorry Leah, had to rub that in one last time lol) and we headed up island. First was a pit stop at Timmys where double doubles were the order of the day. Oh Timmy's, how I love you! Then we drove up, pulled into Chemainus for a bathroom stop. Then it was upwards to Coombs! When I was younger, and we came out to the coast to stay at my grandparent's house in Qualicum, I remember going to Coombs. Seeing the goats on the roof, the big black horse that you could take rides on (he wasn't there), and the shops along the boardwalk. I remember my grandma doing her shopping at the market there actually. We spent most of the afternoon at Coombs, it was about 3pm before we headed off to the beach at Parksville to check out the sand sculpture competition. We walked around on the beach for awhile, awesome day for it. Warm and sunny. The water was really warm, and we saw thousands of little sand crabs scuttering about. Leah picked up some sand dollars, much to my protestations. I was feeling a bit guilty cause I had picked up a clam shell and was wanting to see what was inside it, so Isaac smashed it on a rock for me and ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww the clam came oozing out. Yuck lol.

After the beach we went to Nanaimo and did some shopping. A lot of shopping. The mall had all my old favourite stores. and the food court! I was torn between Taco Time, New York Fries and A & W. I settled for A & W. Taco Time changed their menu! That bites.

We left Nanaimo around 9pm and headed back down the road. Got back to the B & B around 11 and promptly went straight to bed.

There's so much here we haven't done, but that just means a return trip. *sigh*

Not only are we saying goodbye to the Island, but the people as well! Jenny, it was fantastic to see your place and to hang out with you! Thanks again for picking us up at the airport :) We'll see you in Edmonton next week! Mary and Cheryl, it was so great to meet you guys! I only wish we had had more time to hang out. :) Leah, I'm going to miss you dearly, we had a great time hanging out with you and Isaac. I still find it hilarious how close Steve and Isaac are. :)

Right, I'm crying now, so I think I'm just going to wrap this up. I'll write again from Fort McMurray in a couple of days!

Where am I?:	Computer desk at the Abbeymoore
Feeling:	numb