24-25 May - Sidney and Victoria

 In 1987 our young family of Mary Lou and I, and three daughters, moved to Guelph so I could study at the University of Guelph. We found a townhouse in a delightful area of the city which came complete with neighbours....38 years ago. 

Through social media we've reconnected with Karen learning that when we left Guelph for Nigeria, she and Tunc (pron. Toonch) and their two children (same ages as Aleda and Hannah) returned to where Karen grew up, Vancouver Island, and were living in Sidney. Karen was thrilled we were coming to the island and performed as an online tour guide recommending places to go and things to see on the island as we traveled.

We arrived at their place in time for brunch. What a delight to be welcomed and reconnected! We've all aged though I think we've also managed to see traces of our old selves in the other. Tunc has had some particularly difficult times over the last years having lost both his feet due to diabetes, though he's been valiant and does amazing on his prosthetics and power chair.

Karen drove us around town before stopping at a beach to take in the air, mountains, sunshine....and birds (go figure!).

Mount Baker in the USA rises in the background...

The boardwalk of Sidney was a very relaxing place to be, walking, chatting and even picking glass from the beach -- apparently there had been a glass factory at that site so picking the little pieces of colored was a thing many people did for fun.

Chatting with the crab fisherman...

We had booked a campsite (recommended by Karen) with Parks Canada SMONEĆTEN for the three nights, $24/night. We've not spent much time at this beautifully treed and well spaced out park but are grateful for a safe place to be....and close to latrines!

Sunday Mary Lou went with Karen to visit the world famous Butchart Gardens while Dave wandered over to Roberts Cove. 

The gardens are beautiful. It was fascinating and inspiring to see such a large curated space.
There is no point to try to capture the beauty there, but we did try to take a selfie overlooking the fountain. 

We decided to live out our inner child and went on the carousel. I (Mary Lou) chose the giraffe... In memory of our Kenyan grandchildren and the stuffy Twiga cared for by our other grandchildren. It was peaceful to wander through the gardens, to chat, and reminisce.

Roberts Cove is a protected area particularly for migratory birds, but apparently migration season had passed as there were the usual seagulls, blue herons and a few crows. However it was very interesting to sit with the life on these mud flats to listen and observe the life that literally bubbled and squirted out of the mud. I tried to photograph the squirts, some of which rose to 50cm from the surface!, but it happened too randomly, and too fast for me.

I did come across a couple of very busy Black Oystercatchers. Apparently they forage marine organisms during the falling or rising tides and remain paired year-round, and often flying in duets over water and shore giving their pleasant whistling calls.

We learned of an Evensong that was to take place in the stunning Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria, in the afternoon. Apparently this massive structure took almost 100 years to build attracting visitors from all over the world to witness it's Notre Dame-like spires, the beautiful stained glass windows and majestic arches, absorbing the serene space for contemplation. 

Our experience listening to the organ (and organist) as amplified with the acoustics of the building was deeply moving. An added attraction for us was the presence of the Seattle Children's Chorus who sang several songs together with the Cathedral choir. 

They read excerpts from Matthew 28 which were in a translation we hadn't heard before and really caught the attention of both of us. We haven't been able to figure out what translation they used so are hoping to hear back to our email question to them.

The homily reflected on hope .... The robust kind that sits with fear, and is an action word.

We noted that this cathedral is under the "Anglican Diocese of Islands and Inlets".

We concluded this eventful but relaxing day by watching the highly recommended and recently released film, "Ocean with David Attenborough". The film which took four years to make and included stunning cinemetography from all oceans in the world has some big names as producers and sponsors of the film including National Geographic. In the words of Cineplex:

"OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH takes viewers on a breathtaking journey showing there is nowhere more vital for our survival, more full of life, wonder, or surprise, than the ocean. The celebrated broadcaster and filmmaker reveals how his lifetime has coincided with the great age of ocean discovery. Through spectacular sequences featuring coral reefs, kelp forests and the open ocean, Attenborough shares why a healthy ocean keeps the entire planet stable and flourishing. Stunning, immersive cinematography showcases the wonder of life under the seas and exposes the realities and challenges facing our ocean as never-before-seen, from destructive fishing techniques to mass coral reef bleaching. Yet the story is one of optimism, with Attenborough pointing to inspirational stories from around the world to deliver his greatest message: the ocean can recover to a glory beyond anything anyone alive has ever seen. Including is “A Deeper Dive with David Attenborough”, an exclusive look at the making of the film with extra footage, behind-the-scenes clips, and testimonials from Attenborough and Doug Anderson, the Director of Underwater Photography for the film."