Dateline May 6, 2011, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
After a few days resting in Washington with family and friends, we pointed the FedEx truck north and headed for Vancouver Island. The drive over Deception Pass alone was worth the trip. The views from the bridge looking down into the water were unbelievable, even more dramatic than we had been told. From there we made our way to Anacortes to catch the ferry to British Columbia.
Even with the rain, the views from the ferry were terrific. We could only imagine how wonderful they would be in sunshine. We stopped in Friday Harbor, one of John's favorite spots in the San Juan Islands, before continuing on toward Sidney, just north of Victoria.
Going through customs into Canada was uneventful, with one small twist. We declared our twenty-six bottles of wine (does not everyone travel with a small cellar?) and our bottle of Mount Gay Rum. When the agent met us, instead of charging duty he gave us ideas on where to go on the island and waved the wine through. We have always believed that honesty is the best policy.
We spent a full week on Vancouver Island, and it was absolutely beautiful. Seeing the ocean and snow-capped mountains in the same view is something we will not forget. Our first day we walked the streets of Victoria, then drove the loop around the city along the water, as everyone had recommended. The setting against the harbor and the open water is hard to beat.
From Victoria we headed west toward Sooke, and what a wonderful choice it turned out to be. The campground was in a quaint, small-town park right on the river. In the morning we walked along the water and watched a swan attacking the geese while the goslings floated nearby. Wildlife drama, before breakfast.
The next morning we drove out to Butchart Gardens, which was well worth the ride. The spring flowers were incredible, beds and beds of color stretching in every direction.
After the gardens we left to head up the east coast of the island. We pulled over to check our maps, and a friendly older gentleman walked over and asked if he could help. He recommended Parksville as one of the most beautiful places we could visit, so we set the FedEx truck north and went.
The road took us through small towns with one incredible view after another. Then we came upon the Mount Benson Golf Course. We stopped in to ask, and the assistant pro told us we could play the next day after three for twenty-five dollars apiece. He also pointed us to a nice RV park just up the road. We thanked him and went on to Rondalyn Resort near Nanaimo Airport, which turned out to be a great stop. Clean showers, clean restrooms, right on a creek.
The next morning we drove on to Parksville, and it did not disappoint. The beach at low tide is something to see. The water drops a full kilometer, and we walked all the way out to the point with the mountains across the Strait of Georgia as our backdrop.
We kept moving north up the coast to Qualicum Beach. The town golf course there is one of the oldest in British Columbia, and we played our first round since the middle of March. Every hole was a challenge after that much rust.
Afterwards we found some wine, some food, and an overnight spot at a lovely park just north of town. The next day we made our way back south to catch the ferry over to Vancouver and the mainland.
We will be spending the weekend in the wine country, and we will let you know how it goes. Only eight more days until we meet the rest of the group at Dawson Creek.
