Vancouver Island, BC

Vancouver Island was the prettiest place that we have visited in our travels to date. Jill and I agreed that we could happily live here. The pace, the size and the environment all made it a truly attractive proposition.

A pretty little wood nymph.

We landed at Nanaimo in the middle of the island and stayed a night at the Ramada - another fantastic hotel. As we arrived early-ish, there was time for a drive around the city to look things over. During our drive along the coast, we happened across deer feeding in the gardens of houses. As we swung around a street to see a couple of them up close we discovered a herd of 13 or more spread across two gardens. You have to wonder how much damage such a large group would do to garden.

Part of a horde of deer feeding in people's gardens at Nanaimo.

After Nanaimo we drove to Victoria. Along the way we dropped into Goldstream Provincial Park for a visit.

Gold stream? in Goldstream Provincial Park.

That was a BIG tree.

Waterfall at Goldstream P.P.

For our first day in Victoria we visited Craigdarroch Castle in the suburbs of the city. An amazing place with an interesting history. Afterwards, we tootled along and happened across Government House, which we went for a walk through the gardens of.

Craigdarroch castle, Victoria.

The breakfast room of the castle.

Walk in front of Government House.

Victoria was the nicest city that we have stayed in anywhere in North America. Again the pace, the prettiness and the size of it appealed. At night it became even more attractive.

House of legislature, Victoria.

Victoria inner harbour by night.

The Empress - very old, very famous, bl--dy huge!

Effect of changing zoom on the lens during a long exposure.

On the second day, we simply walked along the inner harbour to the Maritime Museum.

Our ferry - it was a bit of a squeeze with the car and five of us.

Commerce canoe - Bastion Place, Victoria

Tilikum boat in maritime museum.

Old diving outfit.

Full steam ahead.

BC Maritime museum.

View from Bastion Place, Victoria.

After the museum, we went to the Bug Zoo just along the road. Ash loved this, although the girls struggled to remain interested as long.

Megan at Bug Zoo.

Ash loved the bugs.

Once we had finished our visit to the Bug Zoo, we walked across to the BC Museum for an Imax film about horses. It turned out to be an Australian made film.

Totem poles near BC Museum.

One of the sculptures on in the inner harbour of Victoria.

On our last day in Victoria, Jill arranged to meet a friend (Alex) who she hadn't seen in years and the kids and I went tootling through shops to pass the time of day. We made the ferry just in time and headed for the USA - saying farewell to Canada for the last time.