Tuesday to Monday, April 16 to 22, 2019 (Oceanside RV Resort, Saanichton, BC)

Tuesday started off as usual...and after a leisurely morning, we headed into Sidney just after 11:30 for Steve's eye appointment. I went with him and picked up a small supply of contact lenses for my right eye. She had given me 2 strengths to try and I decided the -6.00 worked best. I left Steve waiting for his appointment and tried to do a little wandering around the beautiful town of Sidney...but found sitting with a cup of coffee more favourable.

Once Steve's contact lens check was finished, he moved the car to a spot near our next appointment...blood work at LifeLabs...and then went for a walk along the Sidney waterfront. I met up with him after my appointment at the lab and waited for him in the car while he went into the lab.

When we were both finished, I dropped Steve off at home and went to pick up a few groceries....and that was pretty much our day.

Wednesday (Apr 17)...and another medical appointment! This time it was a routine cancer screening mammogram for me. I headed into Victoria, made a quick stop at Walmart and was in plenty of time for my appointment.

With that out of the way, I was on my way to meet friends and ex-coworkers for lunch. I try to meet some or all of them at least once a year when in town. I worked with Lynn, Delcie and Gwen for years and years...and we all retired in the same year. Talk about a mass exodus of the BC Assessment Human Resources department that year...a lot of years of knowledge and experience gone! Hard to believe that was 9 years ago! Delcie, Lynn and me...too bad Gwen couldn't join us today...

We had a great visit catching up...and about 2 hours later, it was time to say goodbye. Wonderful seeing you...let's do it again in August!

While I was gone, Steve worked on picture editing (surprise, surprise!) and also got out for a walk. We have tickets to see 'Bohemian Rhapsody' at the IMAX theatre in Victoria tonight, so we left at about 4:00 for our "date night".

We scored a great parking spot on the street next to the theatre and walked along the Inner Harbour towards Milestones Restaurant where we are going for drinks and dinner.

The BC Parliament Buildings...

 Spring flowers with the Fairmont Empress Hotel in the background...

 Inner Harbour...

Tourists taking a carriage ride...the BC Royal Museum and IMAX theatre are housed in the building on the far left...

 The Fairmont Empress Hotel...

Milestone's is at one end of the Inner Harbour...to the right of the yellow awnings in the picture below...

We arrived at the restaurant early so were able to get a lovely window table. The view...too bad it's not sunny out...

View from our table...

After a wonderful dinner, we wandered along the causeway and across to the Parliament Building grounds...

We arrived at the IMAX Theatre in plenty of time for the 7:15 start...and didn't move again until it was over at 9:30. What a fabulous movie! We thoroughly enjoyed it...well done! Steve had commented that looking around at the audience it was a sea of grey and balding heads...geez we don't feel that old...LOL! By the way the  IMAX  technology is a Canadian invention.

Thursday (Apr 18) was another rainy day. I baked some muffins while Steve watched some of "his" shows. Around 11:30 we headed into Victoria to Home Depot to check out new faucets for the kitchen and bathroom sinks. We found some that would work but didn't purchase them yet...we got some idea of how much they are going to cost. Steve also wants a little more information around installation...are the connections the same?

After that we stopped for a visit with Nadine and Mike (Steve's sister and her husband). We had a nice visit over coffee and cake....and about an hour and a half later, we were heading home.

I dropped Steve off at home and continued into Sidney for a haircut appointment.

Friday (Apr 19) morning we were surprised by a phone call from our good friend, Rob...are you guys available to meet for coffee? We have been having a tough time getting together with them because of Nancy's busy schedule...between babysitting her grandkids and work (hey, Nanc...you are retired, you know LOL). You bet we're available...we'll see you in a half hour!

We met them at a little coffee house not far away and had a wonderful couple of hours chatting and catching up...

Great seeing you both!

We were back home by 1:30...time to make a salad to take over to Rob and Angie's. While I did that, Steve went to help a fellow with his trailer brakes. Brian was a neighbour that Steve met just after we arrived here. He is leaving today and as he was pulling out didn't have any trailer brakes...turned out it was a faulty brake module. Before leaving Brian gave Steve some smoked salmon from fish he caught in Port Hardy...sweet!

Rob and Angie wanted to go out for a few drinks later this afternoon to celebrate Rob's new job, so asked if we would watch the boys. Absolutely no problem! Steve even drove them to a nearby pub . We had a great time playing with Conner and Bryce!

Steve picked up Rob and Angie around 6:00 and they cooked a delicious halibut dinner for us as soon as they got home...bonus!

Bryce "digging" into his chocolate Easter bunny we got the boys...

We called it a night around 9:00...such a wonderful evening visiting with Rob and Angie! And a great afternoon with the boys!

Saturday (Apr 20) was a beautiful sunny day! Steve took advantage of the sunshine to wash the truck...a job that took him 5 hours. No wonder he says when it comes to washing it, he wishes it was a pickup!

I did some cleaning inside...vacuumed and washed floors...and then got ready to head to the pool. Bryce has swimming lessons at 11:00 and the pool also has designated lanes for water walking...something my knee doctor recommended. So I put on my bathing suit and headed to Panorama Recreation Centre...a short distance away.

I joined Angie in the hot tub close to the leisure pool where Bryce was having his lesson. After his lesson, we played in the pool....I alternated between water walking in the designated lanes, to joining Angie and Bryce.  What a fun time...I really enjoyed it! 

Back home, I had lunch and then made spaghetti sauce for dinner. In the meantime, Steve was finishing up the truck...

Bound and determined to get our blog up-to-date, I sat at the dining table Sunday (Apr 21) morning typing away on the laptop.

While I was doing that, Steve went out for a walk along the beach and saw a couple heading off into the bush. It wasn't an obvious trail entrance but he soon discovered there was a trail that followed the beach all the way to Island View Beach Regional Park...

James Island...

About half of the trail is on the reserve...

There was an old building foundation, and a couple of old trailers as you exited the reserve...

Reserve sign as you enter from the trail that continues to Island View...

The tide is out...

The ocean is probably a good 50 yards away from the trail that is strewn with driftwood. Must have been some huge storms in the past to throw logs that far inland!

Steve checked out the small campground at Island View Beach. Too bad they don't improve this gem. There are only 18 small sites with no facilities. It only took 25 minutes at a brisk walk to get here...nice!

Once I had finished the blog, I headed to the shower, leaving Steve on his return to read and edit it...and we got it posted.

Although we are taking our laundry with us over to Rob and Angie's this afternoon to use their machines, I decided to do the bedding and towels here. So I walked up to the laundry room and put a load on.

We were finally ready to head over to the house just after 3:00...time for more "grandkids" time! Grampa and Bryce playing hockey...

Conner would love to learn how to play the guitar...(by the way, the boys went to an Easter Egg Hunt this morning and also had their faces painted)...

A great time with the boys...followed by a delicious Easter Sunday Dinner!

Thanks for a wonderful afternoon and evening, Rob and Angie...and the use of your washer and dryer!

We were back to rain Monday (Apr 22). I left Steve hunkered down inside editing pictures and watching TV and headed into Sidney for some "special" shopping. I'm looking for that perfect gift for a good friend. It took some time, but I found it! I rewarded myself with a cup of coffee at my favourite coffee house...Serious Coffee. This coffee chain franchise is owned by friends Steve and Sue. After a couple of other errands, I headed home.

After an early dinner, we went into Sidney to Iroquois Park to watch Conner at his soccer practice. Thank goodness it had stopped raining! We met Rob, Angie and Bryce there...and played with a soccer ball with Bryce, while watching Conner learn soccer.

 Conner is in the light blue shirt...

 This is only their second training session...

It was a chilly evening, so we were happy to get back into the car....ahh...heated seats! So fun being here and able to join in! 

And that brings us TOTALLY up-to-date on our blog! Woohoo! After being so far behind for so long, and thinking we'd be able to get caught up while in Quartzsite, it is such a good feeling to finally be there!

Wednesday we are looking forward to visiting friends on our way up island to spend a few days with Deb and Ray at their new home on Lake Cowichan...going to be tons of fun