But back a couple of steps!
Yesterday, Thursday was an extremely long but very worthwhile day. We made the trip out to Vancouver Island. Back home, everyone asked whether we were going to Victoria and the Buchart gardens or insisted that we went! The implications of the trip only dawned on us as we planned it and once again Steph proved an invaluable source of information. The trip involved a walk to the bus, bus, sky train, which confused us a bit as in this section it is underground, then another bus for about an hour and finally the ferry to the island! This was a pretty spectacular trip tho chilly out on deck. Yet another bus trip to get to Victoria!
View from the ferry of some of the islands
Amazing plantings all over Victoiria - hope to see lots of these on our cruise
We had arranged to meet a friend of Jenny's at the Rebar restaurant so had brief photo moments on the way through and while waiting for our table, were able to hit the market in the area. Lunch was superb, a shrimp - basil pesto- tacos dish. ( we have had some delicious meals on this trip). We wandered back at a more leisurely pace but didn't dawdle as there was still a longish bus trip to the gardens. They were amazing and a riot of colour with the most incredible mass plantings of ordinary plants eg geraniums mixed with more exotic ones. We all wished we had more time. I loved the sunken garden and the beds of dahlias, and experienced numerous 'wow' moments as one rounded another corner and another explosion of colour!
The sunken garden at Butchart gardens
A few of the dahlias
We were picked up by Linda's sister in law and taken back to their house. Trixie and Mikey have lived on Vancouver island for the last 18 years and have beautiful house near Sidney where Mikey works. We thoroughly enjoyed being in a home again and the 2 long-haired Jack Russels and Siamese cat were rather overwhelmed by the petting! We were made so welcome that I left my one crutch (luckily I only took the one!!) behind and only remembered as we were about to board the ferry home - too late to turn back - so a piece of me is permananently there. I hope I can return!!
The ferry back was quiet and we managed to reduce the return trip to just one bus a relief!
A view of the sunset and the other ferry
Friday was a very much quieter day, thank goodness. I scootered down Burrard Street down to Canada Place and enjoyed exploring the precinct, watching the people, boats and float planes and getting very excited when I saw another cruise ship berthed - it made our trip very real. We all met up to watch Fly Over Canada in the old IMAX cinema and then lunch on the waterfront. It was quite a disappointing area and certainly not a patch on our Waterfront, very underutilized! The others decided to hit the shops on Robson Street, but shopping from the scooter is more than a little difficult, so I scootered home.
Canada Place
One of the many pianos dotted round the city
Different forms of transport
Early evening Andrew (David's brother in law) fetched me and we walked a couple of blocks to their apartment and I spent the evening with them, Claire, Matilda and Sabrina! What a fun evening. Even in the 4 months, both kids have changed so much but remain delightful. Sabrina is walking well and talking a little, definitely knows which is a blue M&M! And Matilda served me a tacos with her restaurant toys. And then I was allowed to read 3 bedtime stories. Still smiling!
It is now Saturday and D-day. We are due to start the embarkation process at 12:00 and set sail at 16:30. I have sadly handed over the electric scooter - it was fab and so useful but as I am almost pain free and coping extremely well, as long as I have the boot on for support. Walking remains slow but I am covering longer distances. The manual wheelchair may be used - especially to jump queues!!!
Not too sure how much blogging will be possible in the next week as wifi from the boat is exorbitant so will probably only communicate once we are on land - but making memories will come first!!
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