3 days in Victoria

Since deciding to come to Canada, it has always been our intention to visit Vancouver Island. The island is completely separate from mainland Canada and lies below Canadian territory in terms of latitude. Victoria is the Capital of British Columbia - a strategic move by the Canadian government to ensure that the whole Island remains Canadian territory.

Our time spent with Derek and Gayle Tedder (Bruce and Jan's old friends) at their B&B was wonderful. Victoria is a beautiful seaside city, and certainly lives up to its name of "the retirement capital of Canada" with it's laid back lifestyle.

Getting to the Island is a fair bit of travel with 4 bus rides and the ferry crossing getting us door to door. There are easier ways to get to and from the island and the business travelers much sooner opt for the float planes or heli-jet than than taking the Ferry.

Southern BC is notorious for its winter rain, which was present for most of our stay unfortunately. The locals did however assure us that a return trip in the summer would include beautiful flowers and long sunny days! Although surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the water is incredibly calm, and on the east side of the island, the strait barely produces a wave at the pebbled shoreline. Tofino, a beach resort that we were looking at maybe going to work for the summer, is about a 5 hour trip North West, and apparently has a decent wave.

Authentic experiences, such as fish and chips on the harbours edge, a beautiful drive up the west coast to a small fishermans town Sooke, and an ice hockey game made our time on the island a memorable one.

Below is a map of Vancouver Island.
Apparently Nanaimo and Tofino are awesome little Beach towns, which we would like to visit in summer.

The Vancouver-Victoria ferry crossing

Watching the Victoria Royals vs Calgary Hitmen

The parliament buildings in downtown Victoria

The float planes in the harbour ..(this ones for u Bruce)

A visit to the South African shop!

Justine Tedder and her husband, Christo, took us for a drive to the west coast.

Although it was drizzling, the drive was scattered with these beautiful coves, and English-like landscape and architecture.

The little town of Sooke provided some time to stretch our legs and enjoy a quality cup of coffee at Stick in the Mud Coffee Shop.

The pebbled Sooke beaches

And beautiful camping grounds amongst old trees

Meg enjoying her roadtrip snack she bought from the SA shop!

Derek and Gayles beautiful house

Gayle and Meg before heading back to Whistler