Victoria, day 3

Didn’t blog yesterday, instead we went up to Duncan and had dinner with friends, and got back late enough that I just bagged it — too mellow to blog….

Day 1 was the heavy walking day, out around the city and seeing how the legs hold up. Whatever I’m doing to get in better shape (and right now, it ain’t much), it’s working, because I felt really pretty good for day 2, so we started the day doing more walking — this time, out into the antiques district, where Laurie scored a few hockey books and I picked up a book I’d had reserved — the 1950 edition of Effects of Atomic Weapons, the first monograph to try to define atomic bombs as more than just really big booms. Wandered back through the city a bit, then hit the car to head out for some birding. We drove out to Ogden point, where the breakwater that protects Victoria’s Harbor is (and a place where, if you’re lucky and at the right time of year, you can see puffins), and then drove out Dallas past Mile zero (where the trans-canada highway ends on the western side) to clover point, a great birding place.

It juts out a bit into the sound, plus it has some nice rock structures and has nearby kelp beds, so you can see lots of interesting things (although there are days when all you’ll see are gulls and pigeons). When we got there, we saw: fins? sticking out of the water?

Sea lions, laying in the shallows sunning. Also oystercatchers, mandarin ducks, some grebes, cormorants and a loon.

Continued out dallas on the scenic drive, out to Oak Bay and the marina, then to cattle point, then to Arbutus cove. A gorgeous drive, some great vistas, anda chance to look at some of the most expensive and beautiful real estate on the island…

After which we hit up Bolan’s books, and wandered out to Duncan for time with our friends and a pretty good dinner at a local restaurant (Jakes, downtown).

This morning, Laurie wanted to do a bit of shopping, so we wandered down to Mayfair mall. Wandering the mall made me realize the legs were a bit sore, so we drove for a while exploring the Gorge area, just neighborhood surfing, and then hit Earls for lunch, and back to the hotel room to relax, catch up on mail and stuff, and work on the photos.

Day 2 and day 3 photos are here.

At five, off to dinner at Bravo on Wharf, which I think is close to, if not, the best restaurant in Victoria. Innovative but subdued, Laurie had the Sirloin of Lamb, I had a nice steak, and we both agreed the desserts were exceptional. So now we’re sitting here watching hockey and digesting….

Tomorrow’s the last full day in Victoria, and we’ll likely spend the time around the museum and thunderbird park, and doing the last of the shopping, such as wine (tonight was a 1999 Cedar Creek Estate Pinot Noir, with a hint of apple and a wonderful garnet color…) and chocolates…

One thing we find fascinating is how the city changes from visit to visit, without ever really being different. But that’s another essay….

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