We had the car all packed Thursday (Apr. 17) morning and hit the road just after 10:00...heading south to Victoria and our son's place in North Saanich. We decided to take the "scenic" Island Highway, rather than the faster Inland Highway.
For something different, we decided to try Black Creek Pub, just north of Parksville, for lunch. We have passed the turnoff to it many times and wondered what it was like. Well, wonder no more...it wasn't great. Not terrible...Steve enjoyed his burger but the draft beer we ordered was flat and my chowder was lukewarm but tasty and Caesar salad was so drenched in dressing that I couldn't eat it. Glad we tried it but I wouldn't bother again. Another thing we found strange is that it's on the water, with a marina in front but the pub is on ground-level of a 2-story building and has no view because of the parking lot.
We arrived at Rob and Angie's around 3:30, unloaded the car and chilled as we waited for everyone to get home from work/school.
The boys are really interested in their music...actually as a way to keep them off their computers during spring break, Angie took them to Long and McQuade Musical Instruments in Victoria and rented a keyboard for Bryce...
Bryce has also been drumming for quite awhile (the set is his, not rented)...
...and Conner an electric guitar (he also plays the trumpet in the school band)...
We had a great evening catching up!
The Sidney Pier...
Lots of folks out walk on this beautiful Good Friday morning...
On our way back...
This yacht was just entering the marina. In the distance is Mount Baker in Washington State...
Rob is roasting chickens on the rotisserie for dinner...
Yum...they look delicious!
Steve, me, Angie, Bryce and Rob...Conner was having a sleepover at a friends place...
Rob and Bryce are having a pinecone fight...looks like Rob is "reloading"...
The trails are beautiful with fresh springtime leaves having sprouted...
A gnarly tree...
Just after 1:00 we all headed into Victoria for Bryce's Flag Football game. They had about a half hour of practice before a couple of short games. Bryce throwing the football...
Although mainly sunny, there was quite a breeze making it darned chilly...
Game 1...Bryce catching the football and getting his first touchdown!
Game 2...Steve got a great shot of Bryce intercepting a pass before getting another touchdown! It doesn't look like he was going to get it, but he did!
It was a fun afternoon watching them play. I understand the first game was a tie but Bryce's team won the second. Bryce got 3 touchdowns and threw 2 passes that resulted in touchdowns, not a bad start for his first two games!
Friday (Apr. 18)...and an absolutely gorgeous morning! Steve and I went into Sidney to our favourite waterfront walk...
Saturday (Apr.19) morning I headed to Saanich Peninsula Hospital for x-rays, blood tests and ECG in preparation for my knee replacement surgery next month. I was in and out within an hour...sweet! Probably because it was the Easter Long Weekend...good timing on my part!
Once home, Rob, Bryce, Steve and I went out for a walk on the trails behind their house...
Back home, Rob got a campfire going in the yard. Bryce cutting some firewood...
Roasting hot dogs over the campfire...
The house we had built in 1990 and they purchased from us is on 1.21 acres...
Lots of chocolate eggs...that should keep them going for awhile! LOL
Rob slow-cooked a Prime Rib Roast on his charcoal barbeque for dinner tonight...
Great job!
A delicious Easter Sunday dinner! They always treat us to wonderful meals when we visit!
After about an hour and half though, we had to say goodbye and head into Victoria for an appointment with our financial advisor. With the drop in markets, we weren't looking forward to the news. Yes, our portfolio is down but we'll survive. And who do we get to thank for that?!
Easter Sunday (Apr. 20)...and time for an Easter Egg Hunt! Rob spent a good hour outside hiding foil-wrapped chocolate eggs...he has over an acre of property, after all. At one point, Bryce said "I wonder if Dad is okay, he's been out there a long time!" Steve responded with..."I saw him sitting on a stump eating chocolate eggs." 😂
The hunt begins!
Monday (Apr. 21) morning we met our good friends, Rob and Nancy for breakfast at Mary's Bleue Moon Cafe. Always wonderful seeing and catching up with them!
That afternoon we all went out to Colwood (suburb of Victoria) to Steve's sister's for Easter Monday dinner. Mike and Nadine cooked a delicious turkey dinner with all the trimmings!
From left to right, around the table...Conner, Matt (Mike and Nadine's son), Nadine, Mike, Amanda (Mike and Nadine's daughter), me, Bryce, Rob, Angie...and Steve's empty chair...
Yummy dessert...
Deb had a turkey cooking on the Traegar smoker and once it was finished, we moved to the sundeck...
As usual, Deb served up an amazing dinner! We started with a salad that was SO good! Followed by smoked turkey, homemade cranberry sauce (aka turkey jam, LOL), gravy and cauliflower...and homemade cherry pie and ice cream for dessert...
After dinner we sat out on the deck...my favourite spot!
Another tough day in paradise!
After everything was cleaned up, Ray and Steve headed out in the boat for a little fishing...
It didn't work, we got skunked!
But it was still nice getting out on the water again...
Tuesday (Apr. 22) morning we said goodbye to Rob when he left for work just before 6:30...and then Angie and the boys about an hour later when they left for school. Thanks so very much for your hospitality, we thoroughly enjoyed our visit! See ya in a month when we come back down for my surgery.
With the car packed up, we headed into Victoria for my 10:15 appointment at ReBalanceMD with my orthopaedic surgeon. My left knee replacement done October 8, 2019 is looking fine...he also described some changes in the way he will doing the surgery on my right knee next month. With that appointment over, we started our drive back up island...but we're not going home quite yet. We stopped in Cowichan Bay for a quick visit with friends Jim and Nan...and then continued on to Lake Cowichan and Ray and Deb's place (aka Kyle's Kottage).
After unloading the car, we changed into shorts and joined them out front in the sunshine. It was very warm as long as the pesky clouds didn't cover the sun!
Time to carve the turkey!
Wednesday (Apr. 23) morning after a leisurely start, Deb made Eggs Benny for us. We do get spoiled when we visit! Delicious!
Steve here: I started off singing Ray a tune I learned from my fishing/hunting buddy Jim years ago. Fishy, fishy, bite. Your momma said you might. Your daddy said I don't care so fishy, fishy bite!
At 1:00 we went to Jake's at the Lake and treated Ray and Deb to lunch for hosting us. We enjoyed their burger and beer special.
Thursday (Apr. 24) Steve snapped these pictures as we were about to start packing up. Ray and Deb have such a beautiful home...
With big hugs, we said goodbye...such a wonderful couple of days and the weather was beautiful for April. Thank you Deb and Ray for all your hospitality...we always have a wonderful time and it was so good seeing you both. Bye for now...see ya next month!
