The Wild West, with Children

We weren’t sure we would even make it for this trip. Patrick, who lives in Victoria, had been after us for some years to come out and visit him in beautiful BC.  And this was to be the year that it happened. Dan and Katy can still travel easily (if bulkily) with Alexander, who is just under two. And, well, Bob and Darlene are supposed to be able to get there without too much trouble.

We had not taken into account a few things. Time has not been good for either Darlene or I. Between her arthritis and my spinal stenosis, we are both pretty miserable specimens when it come to getting around. Up until the last few weeks, we were no0t sure we could make it. But we agreed to spend the money for lie-down beds on the airplane, so that made it possible. And we got a cab to the airport, and had wheelchair assist in the airport itself (to avoid the long walks, particularly at Pearson). And rented a car at the airport. Money does help in some ways! So we decided to come, and to hell with the expense. A chance to get us all together may not come this way agai for a while, and to be in BC was pretty nice: I hadn’t been to see Pat at his home for over five years. We were looking forward to it.

The plan was to meet up in Victoria, and spend three days there, meeting up for meals and some time together. Then we rented a VRBO in Tofino for four days, complete with sea access, hot tub, fancy kitchen, and lots of bedrooms. After that, Dan, Katy and Alexander were going off on their own to Salt Spring Island, before visiting Vancouver on their way home to London. Darlene and I were back to Victoria for a few days before flying home.

That was the plan, and it worked out well at first. We got a room in our usual hotel near Pat’s apartment, and the kids found a B&B about two blocks away that was pretty special as well. We had a good time, meeting for breakfast at John’s Place and the Blue Fox. And doing some walking about town while the toddler was up. Also visited our friends, the Finnies, for a delightful lunch at their place. Cooked some meals at the kids’ B&B for supper, and did our best to drink the town dry(or at least Dan, Katy and Pat did). And we looked forward to being in Tofino for the four days all together. And Pat had by this time received the title of “Umple Pat” (the best that Alexander could manage).

Then Mother Nature had her say. There was a forest fire along the only road connecting Nanaimo with Tofino, along with a landslide. The road was closed to traffic for the foreseeable future. There was an alternative, but it was a single-lane, unpaved logging road. Doing that at all, much less for the six+ hours it would take to get there, was too much, and we bailed. But where to go? Darlene and I had no hotel room, and Dan and Katy were done with their B&B. Our collective brains found another B&B closer by, in the lovely little town of Shirley, an hour west of Victoria.

And it was beautiful. We were by the ocean, in a modern 4-bedroom house with hot tub, and we were happy. The picture below is from the deck of the house.

  

From this base, we went down the road to the Jordan River park to get to a beach (about 6 km away). There was a walk between where we parked the car, and the beach. It was marked at 800 metres, and most of it was either up some stairs, or down some stairs. it was a challenge to manoeuver  for each of us in different ways. But we managed, and found a technique for managing the stairs that seemed pretty clever. We determined to try the following day to go to the beach.

our final full day at this place, we went further than the previous day, to China Beach. The kids and g’kid were with us this time, and we all went the distance from parking to beach quite slowly. But we got there, had a bit of a lunch al fresco, and enjoyed the sun and sand. And, although I talk as if the beach was all that mattered, walking through what is essentially a rain forest is quite a pleasure as well.

A fine day, followed by a fine meal at the house, followed by bed, then back to Victoria. Again, at the same hotel, but after having lunch wth the kids (Dan and Katy) , they took off for their next stint, on Salt Spring Island. They will be there for a few days, then on to Vancouver before flying home. Fortunately, we got one last picture.

On our own in Victoria, we had a lazy day which included a nap for both of us, and didn’t see Pat until the next evening, when we met after his work, down at the Flying Otter for an outdoor supper. And today (Thursday) was also n pretty laid back, with a visit to Russell Books, a pot shop, and finally a gas station to fill up the car. A final supper this evening with Pat, the back home tomorrow. We are ready for being home. Which is not to detract from this time: it has been a wonderful holiday, with a few challenges, but overall just about perfect.