Nanaimo, BC - Kayaking Newcastle island

 We head down to Brechin Boat Launch and splash the kayaks in Departure Bay. 

Ready to go -  Brechin boat launch

As soon as we are in the water a sea plane glides up to the dock next to the boat launch. Very cool.

We head south along Newcastle Island and find a couple boats who didn't fair well for some reason. 

Anchor let loose in a storm?

We eventually end up at the foot passenger ferry dock and the anchoring area we have used in the past. 

View of downtown Nanaimo

After a quick walk on Newcastle Island we kayak over to Protection Island. The dock on the Dingy Dock Pub looks to be in rough shape. 

Dingy Dock Pub

Later we head to a friends for supper. Marlise used to live in Cochrane and was literally our life line to whatever events were going on in the area. She moved to Nanaimo 8 years ago but we still keep in touch and visit whenever in town. Her patio - Hippie Hole - is absolutely stunning with all her treasures found at various second hand stores. A wonderful evening of catching up. 

Marlise and Chris

Up island to Nanaimo, BC

 We head north up the Malahat highway on our way to Nanaimo. 

Mt Baker, USA in behind the Saanich Peninsula

The Harbour City - Nanaimo

We are looking forward to staying with our good friends, Keith and Wendy, highschool mates of Sheila's from many years ago. A visit to Nanaimo always includes a good time with them. Tonight we head to a local pub and all have the fresh cod just caught in the bay while watching the Oilers playoff hockey :)

Keith, Wendy, Sheila and Chris

Biggest single piece of fish ever :0 only $15.95 cdn!!!

We finish watching the game back at Keith and Wendy's. Oilers win the first game in Vegas 6-4..cool

Sooke Basin bike ride

In the late afternoon we head out to bike another piece of the Galloping Goose Trail from Roche Cove to the Sooke Potholes along the Sooke Basin. The Goose was an old railway converted to a bike trail (aka a rails to trails project) Being 55 km in length from Victoria to Sooke, you can pick it up for a wonderful ride in many places. 

Roche Cove signage marker

Sooke Basin

We bike about 5 or 6 km and see on google maps it is 8.5 km to the Sooke Potholes and it's getting a bit late in the day. We also see on the map a brew pub :)  Sooke Oceanside Brewery (SOB) wins out. The Renfrew Red for Sheila is 10/10 and so is Chris's hazy IPA.

Now that's a view.

SOB patio

Beautiful light on the return ride

While enjoying our beers at SOB, we met a guy named, Jeff, who grew up in the area and still owns a place here but lives in Vancouver. He tells us about the 17 Mile House down the road. We have seen the 4 Mile House and the 6 Mile House closer to Victoria, and now Jeff explains they were horse carriage stops back in the day of slow travels. This one from 1894 is still being operated by the same family. It is very beautiful and well kept inside. 

17 Mile House

Jeff from SOB decides to join us at the pub and points out to us the owners of the 17 Mile House are Montreal (Habs) fans and they despise the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs Poutine write up on the menu is hilarious and pricey while the Habs poutine sounds yummy. Too funny. 

Note the price of the Maple Leaf Poutine....lol

Interestingly the pub has a sign out front that says "Hell Froze Over" as the Leafs have made it to the second round in the play offs for the first time since 2004! The Leafs are playing tonight against the Florida Panthers and they actually have it on the TV. Sheila accidentally cheers when Toronto scores. Cheering for Canada we say. Leafs win 6-4

Biking day in Victoria, BC

This is a full day on bikes exploring Victoria. We park on Beacon Hill and head out along the waterfront bike trail. First stop is Ogden Point Lighthouse. This place always has special meaning to us as we sailed out past this lighthouse in late August 2002 to start our sailing voyage on Tioga. 

Ogden Point Lighthouse

Tugs along the lighthouse seawall.

We continue around the harbor and come to Fisherman's Wharf. It's a happening place full of restaurants and live music. 

Fisherman's Wharf in the glorious sun

We stay on the bike paths around the entire harbor on our way to Chinatown. 

Victoria harbor with the Parliament Buildings in behind

We make it around to Fisgard Street, a main thoroughfare located in the heart of Chinatown. 

Fisgard Street

The street is known for it's historic buildings and narrow alleys. This area dates back to 1858 and is considered the oldest Chinatown in Canada. We can only image what would have gone on in these narrow alleys back in the day. 

Fan Tan Alley is known for being the narrowest commercial street in North America, measuring just 3 to 6 feet wide and 240 feet long. 

Fan Tan Alley

Gate of Harmonious Interest - built for the revitalization of Chinatown in 1981

It's already 3:30pm and our stomachs are growling. We decide on I KYU Noodles where they make all their own noodles and authentic dishes. Little hole in the wall with tasty foods. 

I KYU Noodles menu

Dan Dan noodles with spicy pork and Brisket on rice

After Chinatown, we head over the Selkirk Trestle bridge and onto The Galloping Goose Regional Trail. We kayaked under this bridge yesterday :)

The Selkirk Trestle bridge

The bike trails and paths are endless in this city. So awesome. 

The Galloping Goose Regional Trail

It is now well after 5 and we still have a long ride back to our truck. Our truck is a welcome sight and once the bikes are loaded, we drive down to Clover Point to watch the paragliders soaring the cliffs off Dallas Road. 

Clover Point is popular with the paragliders

We continue around Dallas Road marveling at the views all the way to the Oak Bay Marina. 

It is now almost 7 pm and we are once again hungry. Time to head back to the trailer :)

Trafalgar Viewpoint 

Once back at the trailer, Winnipeg Jets are into overtime against St Louis in game 7 of the series. Winnipeg came back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game with 1.6 seconds left and force OT. Winnipeg wins the game with 4 minutes left in the double OT game. WOW....at least another Canadian team made it through to the next round of playoffs. 

Also, Happy 92nd Birthday to Sheila's MOM

Victoria, BC

The plan for today was to launch the kayaks at the Goldstream Boathouse and head up the Finlayson Arm to catch a salmon for supper. We knew it was a blustery day, but thought the arm would be protected. It's rougher than we like and a guy at the launch tells us about a dad drowning in a tragic accident just last week. We decide to head to Banfield, Park in Victoria and launch the kayaks in what is called the 'Gorge Waterway' section of the Victoria harbor. 

Unloaded and ready to go. 

Good thing we have wheels for our kayaks as it is quite a steep run down to the dock since it is low tide. 

Public dock at Banfield, Park

First we paddle to the right (north) and pass under The Bay Street bridge but very soon we can see we are heading into the Upper Harbor and it looks very busy and choppy from the wind.. We opt to turn around and head into the peaceful gorge portion of the water and it is mainly protected from the wind. 

Very nice homes with private docks along the way. 

We paddle up as far as the 'Reversing Falls" and decide we are passing on those :) Back to our truck and call it a success for our first time out on kayaks in salt water. 

We head to Beacon Hill park and find this Mile Zero monument. It is of significant interest to us for two very big reasons. First, The Mile Zero marker signifies the starting point of the TransCanada highway, the longest national highway in the world! It is about 7,820 km (4,860 miles) to St. John's, Newfoundland. Though we will be travelling other highways as well to get to the east coast, we will hopefully get to St. John's.

Terry Fox Memorial in behind the Mile 0 Monument

The second significance is the Terry Fox Memorial just behind the Mile 0 monument. In our planning for our cross Canada trip, we had read of the Terry Fox Memorial just outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario where sadly Terry had to give up his run across Canada as the cancer had spread to his lungs. That memorial is on our radar to visit, but we had no idea that this was to be his finishing destination. Such an amazing young man. 

 

Terry Fox Memorial 

A True Canadian Hero

Moving South - Goldstream Campground

We head south down the island to the Goldstream Campground, which is the greater Victoria area so there will be lots to see and do over our stay here. 

Our campground for next 4 nights

Site 40 - one of the few with some sunlight for our solar panels-huge trees here

We head out on a hike to check out some local sights. It's a nice hour long loop in a drizzling rain. Very fresh and green out. 

Goldstream Falls 

Arbutus Ridge hike

Arbutus tree loosing its bark - shimmers in the light rain

When we were at Westport Marina, there were huge pots of fresh herbs growing. They come in handy tonight as we enjoy a great supper made with freshly picked rosemary, oregano and chives. 

Lamb chops infused with rosemary on the BBQ

Butchart Gardens

Today we head to the Butchart Gardens. It is interesting to learn that Robert and Jennie Butchart (circa 1904) transformed an old cement plant into quite literally a gold mine! Jennie envisioned turning the old quarry into a beautiful garden overflowing with lush greens and flowers. Mission accomplished and she created generational wealth beyond her wildest dreams as the family still owns and operates it today. 

Gardens entrance

Sunken Garden

The Ross Fountain

Cherry blossoms are in full glory.

Tulips of every color imaginable

Gorgeous flower display

We do a driving tour about the area for a bit. Do a short walk at Coal Bay and then head back to our home for the Oilers game tonight. We really have a great site here.

 

Site 36

Oilers win 4 games straight to defeat the Los Angeles Kings for the 4th straight year in a row! 

   We play the Vegas Golden Knights next.            GO OILERS GO.