Victoria B.C. West Coast Wrap-Up October 2019

What a world of difference I arrived at after flying a mere 81 minutes west of Calgary.   For this escape to Victoria, British Columbia I was very fortunate to have received gorgeous weather.  I spent hours on end walking, sightseeing and breathing in the fresh ocean air.  

Everywhere I looked, there was something to love!

Every day started with a sunrise saunter and each one was as beautiful.....

......as the next one!

Autumn on the west coast was like the autumns I remember as a child growing up on the east coast. 

From calm coves to wild waves, I was drawn to walk the waters edge.  

There were so many sights that I took the time to appreciate.

Every evening ended with a sunset stroll and each one was as beautiful.....

.....as the next one!

What a world of difference I felt after spending five days enthralled in the west coast lifestyle.  After all the walking & sightseeing & breathing in the fresh ocean air, it was time to leave my home away from home and head home to carry on with my mountain lifestyle.  How lucky I feel to have such different playgrounds to embrace almost right out my back door.

Everywhere I looked, there was something to love!

Victoria, B.C. October 25, 2019

My home away from home here on Dallas Road is an ideal location for beautiful scenery walks just out my door.  This time when I slid the door closed behind me, I left the car parked, walked right on by it and made a right hand turn aiming for downtown Victoria.  It's a bustling touristy city and I wanted to get caught up in it.

It was a happening place early.  Victoria had high winds today so Fisherman's Wharf was a rockin & a rollin!  Growing up on the east coast I developed very strong sea legs but being away from that for so long, I felt a little tipsy on The Wharf.  The thought crossed my mind that I would love to stay in the floating bed & breakfast but I would need a guarantee of calm weather.  The little permanent homes here were adorable.

I followed a part of the David Foster Walkway towards the Inner Harbour.  Boats, big & little, were coming and going to Washington, to Vancouver, to just across the harbour.

Government Street and side streets off it have such a personality.  The area is enjoyable to stroll along, to window shop, to people watch.  After doing lots of that and eating my lunch by the Harbour, I paid for my ticket, then hopped on the Hop On Hop Off bus with intentions of sitting back and enjoying the entire 90 minute trip.  Around the 20 minute time frame I realized I was dozing off as we were approaching Beacon Hill Park, so I hopped off there now with no intention to hop on again.  

All of Beacon Hill Park was a picture perfect autumn delight.  I strolled and strolled, got lost got found.  I covered a good portion it and felt fulfilled by the beauty I saw.  I found an exit where Cook Street Village was close by.  I shuffled through the leaves towards a coffee shop with an outside patio and sipped a pumpkin spice latte.  Then homeward bound I headed to drop gear and get back out there for two more hours walking towards Ogden Point and back to see another spectacular sunset sight.  Sweet it was!  This whole day was sweet!

Victoria, B.C. October 24, 2019

Numerous ideas were on my list for this vacation in Victoria.  One specific item was to drive the 289 km Pacific Marine Circle Route.  With so many places to see along a mere portion of that route, I opted out of being stuck in the car for so long and only drove as far as China Beach and back.  

The drive along the Juan de Fuca Highway was narrow and winding, lots of fun plus very scenic.  I owned the highway in my direction both going and coming back.  

Instead of checking for avalanche conditions, I checked for tide times. I knew low tide times were not in my favour for this week.  I like every beaches so went to China Beach anyway just to play.  The trail down to it was beautiful. The trees grow big here as do the leaves.  There would be no sauntering in neither direction as the tide was on the way in.  I enjoyed being lost in the moments of watching the waves.  They were loud and crashing at times but oh so soothing.

On the return drive I stopped at Jordan River.  The little campground and day use spot was perfect and had loads of prettiness.  While I was only strolling the beach here and having lunch, I wish I was setting up a site for the night.  I believe I saw seals splashing about, they were entertaining. There were a couple of cabins closed up for the season.  I wondered would they be business related to the Campground.  A pink heart?  Yes, that is a pink heart I found on the beach.  It's new home will be in my rockery.

In the little village of Shirley there is a Lighthouse, the Sheringham Point Lighthouse.  What a beautiful structure that is maintained by the Lighthouse Preservation Society.  I should become a member of this society!  Tucked down in a corner is a waymarker which is a reference point for the Canada / USA border.  So either technically or actually I stood on the border.

Next on my hit list was Whiffin Spit and it was nothing to spit at!  It's a long peninsula where you can walk to the end.  The scenery from the entire stretch of it is pretty with some unique sights.  It's a busy place and deservedly so.  

It was time to get back to my home away from home and gear down then gear up again to head out for sunset.  Once again I crossed the street, meandered along the shoreline with everyone else and just waited.  It was quite a show this evening!