Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, May 2, 3 and 4, 2016 (North Saanich, BC)

Monday morning we picked up a rental car from National that turned out to be quite the ordeal. Handed over our licenses and credit card and waited for the paperwork. Either the computer or employee had a brain fart because we had to start all over again. Sure it was the employee. We had noticed very few cars in the lot and all were dirty so we were also going to have to wait for a car to be cleaned. Geez! Then a customer returned a grey car,  that to the employee looked cleaner than the dark blue one he was going to have cleaned for us. Thinking he could pull the wool over our eyes he was going to give it to us. Looking at the windshield it was actually dirtier so Steve told him he wants it cleaned. The guy seemed pissed about this request as he almost did a burnout on his way to clean the car. A few minutes later he returned with the car still dripping, suds included, and a dirty rear window. Steve showed him the rear window and the guy says  "I don't know how that happened". Really?! Steve basically let him know what he thought about his qualifications to even wash a car and we left :-) Not very professional!

Our destination was the Sidney waterfront to wait for the ferry from Anacortes, Washington to arrive with Jim and Barb on board. The ferry with Mt. Baker in Washington State in the background...

Ferry docking at the terminal...

One of the last vehicles off the ferry, Jim and Barb made it through Customs...and here they are. (They actually let them into Canada!)

After a quick welcome, Steve jumped in the truck with Jim and Barb came with me in the car. We headed to the house, where they parked in the 'lower level'. We introduced them to Rob, Conner and Bryce...we sat chatting for a bit and then headed into Sidney for lunch. We went to the Rumrunner Pub which ended up being a bit of a disappointment. The table outside overlooking the water was nice, however the service was slow. Too bad...we've always had great service and meals there...(the company was excellent, though!)

After lunch, we went for a walk along the main street (Beacon Avenue) and then back along the waterfront...

We checked out the pier...

...where this young lady was catching lots of good-sized rock crab...

We had a relaxing start to the day Tuesday. I was working on the laptop when Jim, Barb and Daisy came up from the camper. Bryce sharing his snack with Daisy...too cute...

Then we jumped into the car and headed into Victoria...let the tour begin! It had been quite a while since we have driven some of the areas...so we made a wrong turn, but all turned out well, we got to where we were wanting to go...eventually! We admired the view from the top of Mt. Tolmie and then made our way down to the waterfront and 'Mile 0' of the TransCanada Highway...

After a drive through Beacon Hill Park, we parked the car down near Ogden Point and walked the breakwater, it's a 1/4 mile long...

It's a little windy out at the end!

A Navy Frigate heading into CFB Esquimalt...

The lighthouse at the end of the breakwater...

Next was a stop at Fisherman's Wharf...

...and Barb's Fish and Chips...

We have heard lots about how good Barb's was but had never been there....Delicious!

After lunch, we walked along the docks checking out the houseboats...

H2O Taxi boats...

We drove around the Inner Harbour and parked the car just off Wharf Street and headed out for a walk along the Government Street area. Wow...nice "boat"! Even has a rear garage!

BC Legislature Buildings in the background...

Of course, we had to stop for a bevie at Bard and Banker Public House...

Wednesday morning after dropping the kids off at daycare (this is Rob's last week off work, so Bryce is transitioning into daycare this week), Rob took the opportunity to prepare the ribs we are having for dinner tonight...

Barb, Jim, Steve and I decided to get out for a hike in the park behind the house...and do a little geocaching. Jim found the first one...

...and another... Chuckie!!!!!

Barb got this one...

After a great hike, we relaxed for a bit and then decided to head off in the car. Today, we took a scenic drive, mainly on back roads. We did, though, catch highway 1 going up island over the Malahat...stopping at a couple of scenic viewpoints. It was a cloudy day today...but no rain, thank goodness! Overlooking Brentwood Bay...

On our way back, we took another route through the "Highlands"...a very windy, twisty, narrow road. It had been years since Steve and I have taken that route...definitely not one to take if you are in a hurry. Once again we made a  wrong turn ending up returning in a different area than Steve had planned...but we made it!
We stopped for a brew at the Brentwood Pub on our way home...

When we got home, no one was there...but a few minutes later, Rob and Bryce returned...they had been out for a hike. Bryce loves riding in the backpack...I understand he had a good snooze too!

We enjoyed drinks and then sat down to a delicious dinner...Ribs, baked potatoes and Caesar Salad...excellent!

This was our last evening here...tomorrow we take the ferry back over to the mainland and Fort Langley. Then we'll have a few days to show Jim and Barb around "the big city".