The Year since Camping in September

Apologies everyone. Things just got a little busy with learning at Camosun, writing, local traveling, and reading. Here is a synopsis of what has happened in the last four months.

My wife and friends went to the Chobap Sushi Bar. It is high end Japanese cuisine served with flair and flavour. Everyone enjoyed the experience. Below was one of the many servings of the evening.

When my wife took a trip with her best friend I bachelor'd it a bit. I ate the meals I wanted and watched a new film almost every night. The director's cut of Brazil was my favourite of the films seen.

I had not gone to the Ultimate Toy Fair in a few years and decided to see what was hip in the hobby. Some wonderful trips down memory lane. Next one is May 23-24 in 2026.

Outside the Toy Fair I encountered a very tall Batman and absolutely had to ask for a picture. Very cool.

Over Thanksgiving we drove to my wife's parents place for a relaxing long weekend. While there we walked to a local winery and restaurant, Peak Cellars. Their wood fired oven pizzas were very tasty.

A local deer was scared by something and crashed through the fence shared by our neighbour. We propped up the lattice to make it look functional.

Saison, just North of Duncan, was a favourite stop on weekends but they shuttered their pastry business and focused on grape growing about five years ago. It had fabulous pastries and the best chicken pot pies. I discovered that they would be open on select dates over the month of December and over special holidays in the future. We checked it out while also visiting the Duncan Farmer's market. A delicious excursion. 

Biking to downtown Victoria, for some writing and shopping while my bike was having its yearly servicing, I discovered that City hall had bedecked its square with nice lights. As it was around 730am, and nobody was about, I snapped some pictures and enjoyed the lights.

I took a twice around walk with a friend along Langford lake and while he took a phone call I saw this unusual stump. You never know what you'll find as you walk and talk in curated woods.

Now it is the Christmas holidays and I am relaxing while enjoying good conversation, reading, writing, and eating. Have a happy 2026!

Camping on Hornby over Labour Day Weekend

Yet another great camping session over the long weekend! After a Thursday night sleep in Parksville, and a great supper at Cedar's Restaurant, we had a flawless journey by two small ferries to Hornby. It might have been because we took them in the morning, but over this trip we did notice less folks visiting this island than normal. With a visit to the Co-Op mercantile area, and a tasty Greek pizza lunch at Hornby Island Bakery and Pizza, we made one more stop at a roadside stand that makes great pastries (peach almond scone was chosen) before checking into our outdoor accommodations.

    Once set up at our camp site, and putting up our new tent, we relaxed and walked around. This place is always comfortable zen for us.

    A change to our tradition of first night camping meal was steak and vegetables! Eating it on the shore, with accompanying slowly setting sun, was a perfect first day.

    A nicely lazy start to our Saturday was followed by a visit to the free store, where I got some books and a Great Courses set on writing, then the Farmer's Market, and a noodle and salad bowl lunch at Forage Farm and Kitchen. Also visited the new-to-me Beltane Books caravan. They had a storefront until 2019, then sold at the Co-Op corners on tables, and now have this charming structure.

    Wanting to stretch our legs we drove to Halliwell park and walked the circuit. The wind helped cool our skin and, as always, the scenery cooled our minds into a relaxing state. 

After leaving, and encountering a Campbells soup can left by a giant, we stopped at the Sea Breeze for a drink and appy, picked up a lemon square from the roadside stand and enjoyed our normally traditional supper of Annies cheesy pasta and sparkling wine. After the dessert, we observed the spectacle of a heron hunting for its meal by the seaside. 

    Sunday morning mimicked our Saturday until we took a two hour hike through Mount Geoffrey park. It had been several years since we visited and the trail systems have been improved and expanded. We encountered more bicyclists than hikers and combined there were fewer than expected. It made the walk through nature a zen-like experience. 

    Since our Friday pizza was so good, we had reserved a larger pizza yesterday for today's supper! For dessert we had a chocolate zucchini cake and a sunset by the shore. 

Shortly before bed, lightning flashes and distant thunder were heard and just when my wife got into the tent for the night a rain of heavy raindrops started. It wasn't a deluge and ended after a bit, but I awoke at 3am from another burst. My wakefulness did not last long and I descended into slumber again.

    Monday we had our regular oatmeal, read for a bit, and back up our stuff. Since our tarp and tent were still a little wet we roughly packed them so we could dry them out once home. With a quick visit to Coombs - for the book, comic, and Dutch stores - we set off for Victoria, with one stop for a late lunch burger, at McDonalds.

    Another enjoyable weekend with beneficial rest and a healthy filling of our nature batteries. 

Walk From My Wife's Work

Since I've retired I have taken up walking with my wife to her work, most days. It makes for extra exercise and a good break in the morning. On this particularly nice day I thought I would take some pictures of the Victoria harbour and Gorge inlet.

Passing by the Railyards development.

More of the Railyards.

A view of the Selkirk Trestle.

Still more Railyards.

Another little pier.

Heading into Banfield Park.

Gorge Inlet

A view across the Gorge to the Sannich side.

Heading down to the Banfield Park dock.

The dock.

Selkirk Ave.