We weren't in any hurry to leave this morning...Steve had a quick appointment at 9:30 this morning, so while he was away, I basically got my suitcase packed and things organized. When he got home, he packed and took care of what needed to be done in the trailer since we will be gone for 11 days. It was about 11:00 by the time we had the car packed and were on our way.
We stopped for a late lunch, sharing a delicious pizza at Red Arrow Brewing in Duncan.
We thought that we would try for the 2:45 ferry sailing from Mill Bay to Brentwood Bay. It is a small BC ferry that goes from Mill Bay, just south of Duncan, across to Brentwood Bay on the Saanich Peninsula. It's basically a shortcut that eliminates having to drive the Malahat Mountain Pass to Victoria and then up the Saanich Peninsula. There are no reservations and with the line-up way up the road, we determined that it was unlikely we would make the ferry, so we decided to drive around.
We arrived at Rob's house just after 3:30, unloaded the car and got settled. Angie and the boys have been in Winnipeg visiting family for 5 weeks and arrive home Saturday morning. So it was just Rob and us for a couple of nights...
Chris and Angela...
Bryce took a selfie of us all...Bryce, Rob, Chris, Angela, Angie, Conner, Steve, me and Isaac...
After dinner, relaxing on the deck...
Putting food out on the table in the dining room...Angela put together an absolutely beautiful charcuterie board!
Picture time! Angie and me...
We clean up pretty good...😊
Folks started arriving just after 3:00. Altogether we had 20 people, including the kids...mainly family, along with 3 of Steve's long time buddies from school; Rob (and wife Nancy), Jim (and wife Nan), and Dan (and wife Barb).
Friday morning (Aug. 22) we had an appointment at 10:00 to drop the car off at Sidney Tire for new tires. They said it would take about an hour, so we decided to walk down to the Sidney waterfront. It was an absolutely beautiful day!
A 1:03 minute video...
Instead of just walking past the marina, we decided to walk down and take a look at the yachts. It has been years since we have done that. There are some beauties...
We stopped for coffee on our way back up Beacon Avenue (the main street in Sidney) and by the time we got back to Sidney Tire, our car was ready. A brand new set of tires...Happy (early) Birthday, honey! LOL
Saturday morning (Aug. 23) Rob left just before 8:00 to pick up his family from the airport. There were plenty of big hugs when they got home...so good to see them! Unfortunately, that means the end of summer vacation for Angie as she returns to work on Monday...the boys have one more week off before their school year begins. We will be spending the week here with them.
Chris, Angela and Isaac were on the 10:00 ferry from the mainland this morning, so we met them at Mary's Bleue Moon Cafe for lunch at 1:00. It was supposed to be a quick bite but the restaurant was super busy! We had a nice visit as we waited, though, and afterwards, Angela came with me into Sidney to do a little more grocery shopping for the birthday party tomorrow...and Steve went with Chris and Isaac back to Rob's house.
Steve grilled pork tenderloin for dinner...it turned out great!
Sunday (Aug. 24)...Happy 70th Birthday Steve! 🎉🎊🎂💖
We were all busy getting ready for the party this afternoon. Angie, Angela and I busy in the kitchen preparing food...
We moved the food from the dining room into the kitchen so it would be closer to everyone on the deck. It later got moved back as it got too hot to sit out on the deck.
Angela, Mike (Steve's brother-in-law), Angie and Chris...
My brother, Dwight (and his wife, Helen) arrived...
Angela, Isaac and Chris...
Helen and Nancy...
Dwight, Chris, Isaac, Rob and Bryce found some shade at the front of the house...
Thanks for hosting my Birthday Party Rob and Angie! (Steve/Dad)
Sons Rob and Chris...
The Ogden Point Breakwater with a cruise ship in port...
Walking the breakwater...
Pilot boats...
Lots of baby fish in amongst the kelp...
Snorkelers...
Harbour Air flight taking off from Victoria Inner Harbour heading over to Vancouver Harbour...
The lighthouse at the end of the breakwater...
Steve, Barb, Nan, Nancy, Nadine (Steve's sister), Rob, Dan and Jim...
Mike and I...
A 14 second video (that I didn't know he was taking)....
Once it got too hot to sit on the deck, it was time to move inside to the A/C. Barb playing Crokinole with Bryce, while Isaac watched...
Helen, Isaac and Chris...
Conner strumming Happy Birthday while Steve waits for the "70" sparklers to burn out...
Us with our boys and their families...
Steve's school buddies, Rob, Jim, and Dan...
And wives...Nan/Jim, Barb/Dan, and Nancy/Rob...
Steve's sister Nadine with husband Mike and son Mathew...
It was a fabulous time and wonderful seeing everyone!
Monday afternoon (Aug. 25), we said goodbye to Chris, Angela and Isaac as they headed for the 1:00 ferry back to the mainland (and Coquitlam). At the same time, Steve and I headed into Victoria for a dental appointment. Since we won't be going south this winter, we won't be going to Los Algodones, Mexico to our dentist there. So Steve is going to have to pay the Canadian price for an implant...$5200 ugh! I just had a cleaning but after a check by the dentist, I have 4 small replacement fillings...$550 ugh again! Unfortunately, our dental insurance does not cover much and definitely not implants. My fillings should be covered...so I'll have to check into that!
Tuesday morning (Aug. 26) I picked up Nancy and we headed into Mayfair Mall in Victoria. She is treating me to a pedicure! It was wonderful and much needed! Thanks Nancy! Afterwards, we wandered the mall, checking out a few stores and then sat with coffee chatting until we decided it was time to head home.
While I was gone, Steve and the boys went out for a hike in the trails around the house...and generally hung out for the day.
Wednesday morning (Aug. 27) Steve saw this Owl sitting on the driveway in front of the house. Very cool! It sat there for the longest time so we thought it might be injured, but it eventually flew away...
Today we are doing what has become a bit of a tradition when we look after the boys. We are going into Victoria to Ogden Point on the waterfront, walking the breakwater and then going for lunch at Fisherman's Wharf.
As we parked on the waterfront, a horse-drawn trolly came by...
A closer look...it's Cunard's Queen Victoria...
Time to head back...
Thursday (Aug. 28) wasn't a particular nice day, weather-wise, with scattered showers. So I headed into the Broadmead shopping area (outskirts of Victoria) to check out runners at the Running Room. I'm glad they had a store there, otherwise I would have had to go all of the way into downtown Victoria. It was a successful morning for me as I left with a pair of Saucony Triumph 22 runners. I really liked the Hoka Bondi 8's that I had just worn out but decided to give the Saucony's, at a slightly lower price point, a try.
That afternoon, with just cloudy skies, we took the boys to Panorama Recreation Centre. Conner wanted to practice basketball and they have a beautiful Multi Sport Court...
25 metre salt purification swimming pool with six lanes, a multi -use leisure pool (includes features such as a zero-depth entry, a lazy river, a tots' area, two additional lanes, spray toys and benches with hot tub jets), sauna, steam room, swirl pool, additional multi-purpose rooms and an accessible waterslide tower with an elevator allowing people with mobility issues to share in the enjoyment of riding southern Vancouver Island's tallest and longest waterslide.
So Steve watched Conner while I watched Bryce from the viewing area. Even though the pool was packed (doesn't look bad from the above picture, but believe me, it was!), Bryce enjoyed just over an hour of swimming/playing in the water...including a couple of trips down the huge waterslide.
Conner basically practiced basketball for the full time we were at the pool...well, maybe a 5 minute break was all he had.
Friday morning (Aug. 29) we did another "tradition"...went for a hike at John Dean Provincial Park. We did our usual hike, taking a variety of trails, starting with the one to Pickles Bluff. Look at the size of this tree that has recently come down!
A 42 second video at Pickles Bluff...
This was the spot I was concerned about climbing with my new knee but I made it...
A great hike with a lot of elevation change and just enough of a challenge...especially with that one spot that was a rock scramble. I forgot to put on my FitBit this morning so I didn't track it but I guesstimate our hike was 6 to 7 kms or around 4 miles. We were all hot and tired by the time we got back to the car...and of course, the trail ended with a long climb to the parking lot, just like it started.
Saturday morning (Aug. 30) we said goodbye to Rob, Angie and Bryce (sleepyhead Conner was still in bed) at 9:15 and were off to the Spitfire Grill to meet Rob and Nancy for breakfast. Thanks so much for your hospitality, Rob and Angie, especially ending up with a houseful the weekend you arrive home after 5 weeks away, Angie!
We had a great breakfast and final visit with Rob and Nancy before we headed home. No pictures, but I think we got plenty last Sunday at the party! See you again next month when we are back down for yet again, more appointments!
It was about 2:30 when we got home and as usual, unpacked and got everything put away. Always nice to get home!
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Such beautiful scenery you have! Great birthday. Those grandsons are getting so big!
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