Day 15 - The Grand Tour With Friends
Trip Start
Jun 29, 2007
1
15
27
Trip End
Jul 30, 2007
Where I stayed
Ganges, British Columbia, Canada
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Wendi found a hair salon in the market area and was able to get a trim without an appointment so she jumped on that opportunity. In the meantime I gathered up some tools and picked up Bill's son Andrew in order to fix Andrew's van. It had broken down the day before and just needed to have the alternator belt replaced. I made the roadside repair and then went back to pick up Wendi from the hair salon. Her hair looked great and she was pretty happy with it - apparently the bangs weren't quite right.
We were both excited to meet up with our friends Lucinda Chodan and Dave Clarke in Victoria. We took the ferry back to Vancouver Island and found their place with no trouble albeit a little late (hey, whatelse is new).
When Wendi talked to them on the phone Lucinda and Dave felt really bad about having us over because they had the whole front porch and sidewalk ripped up and under construction and they weren't sure it we could even get into the house. As it turned out we were able to get in just fine and were told that we were only the second people to use their new sidewalk and stairs - an honour indeed. They have a beautiful turn of the century home located not to far from the downtown area of Victoria. The street is quiet, clean and has plants all over. Roses abound in everybody's yard and Dave told us later that the roses were out during Christmas last year. It's inside is beautiful with high ceilings and large windows that let in plenty of light. All of the floors had been stripped and had a lovely reddish brown hue - I think that the floors are of pine or cedar.
After a snack of coffee, cookies and Okanagan cherries we headed out for a walk along a shore side walkway and a portion of stony beach. People were out all over the place enjoying the fresh ocean air and comfortable temperatures. Lucinda and Dave drove us around some of the older, established areas of the town and told us lots of interesting stuff about what we were seeing.
We wrapped up the tour with dinner at The Swan's Hotel located at Pandora Ave. and Store St. It is a brewpub so Dave and and I enjoyed some of their beers. Wendi and I were treated to a lovely dinner and a great day out - Thanks so much Lucinda and Dave. We returned to their house, said our goodbyes and headed back to the ferry.
We lucked out when we got to the ferry going back to Salt Spring as we were put right at the front of the boat and could enjoy the evening trip in the warmth and comfort of the van. It was a little bit creepy though when the song The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald came on the radio the instant we go underway. However, scenery was beautiful and the twinkle of lights from homes high up on the approaching hills gave the place a old time look. Upon our return to Ganges we stopped into a little coffee house that featured live music every night of the week from May 24 to at least Labour Day. We each had a cup of tea and a slice of cheese cake and caught the last set of a trio performing some old Irish music. It was a perfect ending to a great day.
