From Vancouver to Vancouver Island. It was once a separate state and it is like a self-contained world. The island is 12,079 square miles in area making it bigger than both Wales and Belgium. Its capital is Victoria. Around 750,000 people live on Vancouver Island - mostly in and around Victoria. There are far more trees than that but they have never been counted. Sometimes you feel as if the trees will never end but then you see a big logging truck pass by to remind you that the supply is not infinite.
This morning we visited the world renown Butchart Gardens before driving to Port Renfrew on the Pacific Marine Circle Route. So many trees and we saw a bear by the side of the road, nonchalantly munching on the berries he was foraging. We also watched him poop a big bear poop but sensitive to his personal dignity I refused to photograph this significant evacuation. I wouldn't appreciate a photographer recording my own bowel movements.Do bears shit in the woods? No - they shit by the side of Route 14 just outside Port Renfrew.
Later we were in a lovely pub-restaurant in James Town - a central district of Victoria. It's called "The Bent Mast" and has an attractive bohemian air about it as well as decent pub grub and a variety of beers and lagers. An accomplished young musician played West Coast songs and a sprinkling of Neil Young classics including "Harvest Moon". We applauded his delivery. Tomorrow to America - land of the free - if we can get in... "Oh say can you see...at the twilight's last gleaming?" "Hey! Where's your passport buddy?"
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| Land of bears |
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| At night - The Legislature Building in Victoria |
It must be cold. You look pretty good in your new jacket.
ReplyDeleteI can't bear your sense of humour Adrian!
DeleteI love that lemon!
ReplyDeleteHa! Ha! Yes MorningAJ - it tickled me when I spotted it down by the harbour. Maybe all food and drink should be served from kiosks that resemble the product they are selling. Perhaps you could get a franchise on a black pudding kiosk.
DeleteMrs. RWP and I were in Victoria almost exactly 30 years ago. We stayed at the Laurel Point Inn and I remember eating scones at the James Bay Tearoom and visiting the Provincial Museum. Butchart Gardens is, of course, spectacular, as were the eagles flying in Freedom Pass whilst we were aboard the ferry from Tsawassen.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to recommend high tea at the Empress Hotel while you and the lovely Shirley were in Victoria. I suppose now it is too late, although it might be a reason to return someday.
Rhymes With... We saw both the Laurel Point Inn and the James Bay Tearoom. They were close to our humble but very adequate Admiral Inn. With regard to The Empress - a stunning building but I am too common to be allowed into such places. We also visited Butchart. A very nice way to spend Tuesday morning before going out into the wild garden of the woods.
ReplyDeleteIt's strange. You wrote a perfectly informative and interesting post. What do I remember? A bear pooping and a photo of a legislature building lit up at night with three bulbs needing replacing in the most prominent part of the frontage. Hmmmm. Enjoy America.
ReplyDeleteYou are obviously a man whose brain is almost images...or maybe I am a boring writer.
DeleteInteresting to read something about Canada as it is today, while I am reading the last few chapters of a book by a man who was a German POW in Canada and spent several years there in a camp, working in the woods.
ReplyDeleteI hope the US-part of your holiday will be as good as this one. Mine was great - returned from Sheffield on Tuesday night.
Still sorry we didn't meet Miss Arian. I hope you had a lovely break from work, had a walk or two and guzzled some English beer!
DeleteAll good. Vancouver Island is a very pretty place isn't it? Neil Diamond's music seems just right for a pub on Vancouver Island. Did you sing along? Look forward to hearing about the land of the free.
ReplyDeleteIf America is the "land of the free" what is Australia I wonder? The land of the lost? Ask Tony - he will know.
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