A necessary adjunct to my last posting:
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Tags: Celebration, Christmas, Photo
Where do Christmas Trees come from?
Well – in our case from the Saanichton Christmas Tree Farm!
As you can see they don’t just do Christmas Trees – but that is a big part of their annual turnover.
We chose our Christmas Tree some three or four weeks ago. Here it is growing happily in a rather boggy paddock – with our tag on it.
The farm lends the eager customer a saw and the latter sets forth for the far reaches of the estate to try to locate the chosen tree. There he or she appropriates a lumberjack stereotype for a brief period, being careful to cut the tree at least a foot (two branches) above ground level so that it can regrow for future plaid-clad wannabees. Unlike our days back in Buckinghamshire, when I used to collect our Christmas Tree in Pearl (our classic Mercedes convertible – with the top down!) here in BC it is unceremoniously lashed on top of the Lexus. Not terribly dignified, but ’tis but a short run home!
…and here is it in our drawing room waiting to be ‘dressed’.
Tags: Celebration, Christmas, Photo, Victoria
More autumnal images. Although it has rained a fair bit in recent weeks the weather here on the island has been surprisingly mild and balmy. Today the sun shone and it was 14 degrees C! A nice day for a walk…
“October is a symphony of permanence and change.”
Bonaro W. Overstreet
Images from the Fall… (double click for the full effect!)
“Walking is man’s best medicine.”
Hippocrates
We live in such a blessed corner of this bosky peninsula that we are surrounded within a few miles on all sides by an abundance of places in which to walk – many of which we have not yet had time to explore. Both of these walks – enjoyed just the other day – are within a mile or so of our front door:
This is the small but beautiful park at Coles Bay – on the west side of the peninsula.
Feeling in need of more vigorous exercise than was afforded by Coles Bay Regional Park we went on to visit John Dean Provincial Park, which lies just above us here on our slope of the peninsula’s backbone. This park is extensive and we will have to take more time to explore it properly in the not too distant future. For now it offered us a much needed workout.
Being a local high point (in the sense of altitude if no other) the park houses a variety of mysterious installations:
“A sailor’s joys are as simple as a child’s”.
Bernard Moitessier
A few more images of simple joys…
Here we are, approaching Portside Marina. Lots of expensive hardware ahead. The trick is not to hit any of it!
Nearly there…
And here is Dignity – safe in her slip. Note that she now proudly carries her name on her transom.
I feel sure that I should be able to tell you what the yellow thing on the pontoon is – but I really don’t know. It looks impressive so it must be important.
Someone will most likely volunteer the answer!
One of the many reasons for not swimming off the boat in the marina!
The cure for anything is saltwater – sweat, tears, or the sea.
Isak Dinesen
Some images from the last few weeks in the Saanich Inlet. Dignity and I have had a lot of fun poking around in all of the various and invariably beautiful nooks and crannies.
We would have accomplished more had her sonar transducer not started playing up. The Saanich Inlet itself is several hundred feet deep in most places, but I really don’t fancy trying to get in really close to the shore without being able to tell when we are about to encounter the shelf. Anyway – I think I am going to take the opportunity to upgrade Dignity’s navigation systems and to move them all on to the iThing. Never let it be said that I am immune to progress…
The inlet itself is a remarkable sixteen mile long fjord and one of the best studied marine basins in the world. The further in one goes the more impressive it gets.
Up at the head of the fjord is Goldstream Provincial Park – along with Goldstream marina.
Nearer to our home base in Brentwood Bay there is a smaller and even more gorgeous arm called Tod Inlet, which curls around the back of the Butchart Gardens and is – on summer Saturday evenings – packed with boats waiting to see the firework display. Indeed we did just that – with our dear friends – all those years ago on my very first night in Victoria.
Here we are on our way in…
…and here returning again to Brentwood Bay.
Should some of these photos appear a little – er – one-eyed… do please bear in mind that I have been out pretty much on my own thus far this year. Much as when driving a car it is not a really good idea for the helmsman to be concentrating on snapping pictures whilst supposedly focusing on the many other things happening around him (or her)!
Nice boat though..
“When I forget how talented God is, I look to the sea.”
Whoopi Goldberg
Time for some pictures!
A few weeks back – on my way to the Pride festival in James Bay – I parked on the seafront near Ogden Point overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It was impossible not to be overwhelmed in by the breathless beauty of the sea on that particular morning. As an ever evolving sky created a constantly changing vista I snapped these studies on my cell phone. Unable to choose between them I offer the gentle reader a pallet from which to make your own choice. As ever, double-clicking will reveal the full effect:
…(to the other side)!
The Doors
Having for the last two years lodged the fair ship ‘Dignity‘ for a month in the summer at a marina near Sidney – on the eastern side of the Saanich Peninsula – we thought we would make a change this year and berth her on the west side – in Brentwood Bay. Regular readers will know that I am very fond of Brentwood Bay – positioned as it is on the Saanich Inlet which separates the peninsula from the main body of Vancouver Island. There are lots of interesting places to explore on this side and I look forward to visiting them.
I also very much like Portside Marina, which lies adjacent to the Mill Bay ferry terminal in Brentwood Bay. It has a slightly old-fashioned homely feel about it which works well for me.
Here is ‘Dignity’ in her berth for the summer:
Portside Marina shares a location with my favourite boat-builder (in the sense that I love their name – and their wooden boats) – Abernethy & Gaudin.
A few final thoughts on our rapidly receding trip to Montreal and Vancouver…
Ask anyone with what they most associate the city of Montreal and you will get a variety of answers – the French – the culture (jazz, comedy) – the Olympics – the Canadiens! One thing on which all would doubtless agree – however – is the food. One simply cannot go to Montreal and not take advantage of the city’s French heritage in matters of cuisine.
Montreal – of course – famously gave Canada (and thus the world) both Poutine and the Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich… the which latter should (when in town) be purchased from the legendary ‘Schwartz’s Deli‘.
Well – we sampled neither – and nor did we make it to Schwartz’s. There is just too much good food to be had and – pining for the delights of a springtime visit to ‘Gay Paree’ – we determined to get our fill of fine French fare instead.
For one particularly special evening out we chose a visit to ‘Le Club Chasse et Pêche‘ (for the non French-linguists out there that means “Huntin’ and Fishin‘”). The dinner entrées commence with the wonderfully titled ‘Oysters with Charisma‘ but one should eschew such delights and head straight for the epic ‘Braised Piglet Risotto with Fois Gras Shavings‘. I will describe no further the goodies on offer on this lavish menu to protect the gentle readers sensibilities and for fear of provoking extreme fits of jealousy.
I will – however – just mention how wonderful it was too find a truly extensive (not to mention expensive) French wine list this side of the pond – and to encounter a young Sommelier who knows his stuff. The Chambolle-Musigny was his recommendation and he was not wrong!
After dinner we strolled through the old town to the Champs de Mars. Much of Vieux Montreal is illuminated at night with projections illustrating the city’s history. This extended Son et Lumière is titled ‘Cité Mémoire’ and was established in 2016 as part of the city’s 375 anniversary celebrations. It will remain in place for a further couple of years and is worth seeing for the fascinating eventide atmosphere that it engenders.
I just liked this chap. Seemed to capture Montreal quite well for me!
All too soon it was time to head back to Vancouver Island. When one sees Mount Baker aglow on the port side when flying into Vancouver one knows one is nearly home. What a place we lucky souls inhabit…
Tags: Celebration, Holiday, Montreal, Photo, Travel
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