Canada 08: Leaving Vancouver island, driving to Whistler

Sunday, 14th July
Today we take the ferry again this time from Schwartz Bay near Victoria to sail toTsawwassen on the mainland. Lovely trip and great weather. It's getting warm here, as it is in Holland I read.
After our ferry trip we drove through Vancouver to the North in the direction of Whistler park. With a stop for lunch at the area South Main of Vancouver.

Before we drove into Whistler we stopped to see the Brandywine Falls.  
At Whistler we live for one day in the AavaWhistler hotel, where we have a spacious room with a super bed and large bathroom.  

What we saw from Whistler village walking to and from the restaurant was very touristic with mainly people in their twenties.

nice views of mountains covered with snow (scenic road 99)

Brandywine Falls 

Canada 07 - Victoria

our lovely B&B 'Three Cats', which we booked at Airbnb

Saturday, 13 July 
We explored Victoria, which is the capital of Vancouver island and where things are more British than in the UK.

We did the tour in the parliament, had a scrumptious tea at 'The Empress' (price however was a bit more than we expected it to be)
Saw several performances on the docks, shopped and had a dozen oysters accompanied by wit Belgian beer at the Oyster bar. 
Victoria is nice and we enjoyed muchly.

At home in our B&B we booked hotels for the next 2 days. Tomorrow we will leave for Whistler (we changed our programme).


dikke kus
Carina

the ocean walk with at the other side US (mount Olympic)

a house in Victoria

the weapon of BC (British Columbia)

tea at The Empress (the most fluffy hotel in Victoria)

the Oyster bar

the harbour of Victoria

Canada 06: A dirt road to Victoria

Friday 12 July
This morning we started with another nice breakfast at Coast & Toast and then drove into the direction of Tofino to the Pacific Rim park, where we walked along the seaside and did a short trail in the coastal 'rainforest'. 
Beautiful long deserted beaches, no littering whatsoever only old wood that once was left by the loggers and drifted into the ocean.

first surf lesson

We took the gravel road to Victoria, with many big trucks passing us generating loads of dust. When we reached Victoria there was was a sort of traffic jam; the weekend started and many people come to Vancouver island then. 

loggers were here

dirtroad between Port Alberni and Lake Cowichan

lake Cowichan

Our B&B in Victoria (3 cats B&B) is totally different; more a real B&B i.e. staying with people at their home. Our room and private bathroom are small BUT our hosts Barbara and Lesley are kind and interesting people. They invited us for a glass of good red wine and we chatted all evening. It was great fun, we enjoyed muchly.
Today we are gonna explore Victoria.

dikke kus
Carina

Canada 05: Whale watching

me whale watching ^^

our room 

our breakfast this morning at B&B Coast&Toast

Coast&Toast is a new B&B, which started last year. So all is new/fresh; the bed, the linnen, the bathroom and terrace. The B&B is located AT the Pacific Rim trail. All rooms have their own separate entrance. We like it here. Our host Faye knows the area well, gives good advise and is helpfull and kind. 

We did the 5 hrs whale watching tour today of Archipelago Wildlife Cruises. Wow, we loved it. Allan and Toddy, really treat you as their guests on board their boat/home and moreover serve a wonderful lunch.

We started well this morning: when we left the harbour we ran into a few Orca's. And we saw the big grey whale .. yeah!

 Yeah a grey whale, a big guy

eagles

sea lions

our lunch at the deck

we also spotted a young bear on the beach looking for food

 

our hosts and the owners of Archipelago cruises; Allen and Toddy (here posing with a guest in the middle)

We will return here tomorrow morning to do a hike; long beach in the Pacific Rim nature park. Kilometers of wide beach. 

Hope it won't be too cold tomorrow morning. This afternoon is was only 15 degrees Celcius and there was a cold wind blowing.

dikke kus

Carina