Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park

Making the most of a warm, sunny September day, we packed a picnic lunch and our two Brompton bikes into our smartcar and headed south about 16 km to Elk/Beaver Regional Park. The park is home to the Victoria City Rowing Club and we see various craft out on the water.
Confused by the map and signage, we cycled about 10k around the lakes using some trails that were not designated for cycling. There were many dog walkers and hikers on the paths and no one seemed bothered by the fact that technically speaking, we shouldn't have been there on bikes. We were careful not to inconvenience other park users and I walked my bike in some sections where the path was narrow with rougher terrain.
It's a great location for walking but the bike portion of the trail is only 5km so we'll seek out other local spots for longer cycle rides.

Dutch Bakery and Diner

According to their menu, four generations of the Schaddelee family have been running the Dutch Bakery and Diner since 1956. Founder Kees Schaddelee Sr, retired at age 72 but frequented the shop until he passed away at age 97 in 2007.
It's a busy spot with folks ordering from the bakery counter to take home and people lunching in the diner.
I notice a sign for the afternoon special - a pastry and tea or coffee for $5. I ask my server which pastry they're most famous for and she replied, "Without a doubt the Vanilla Slice" so I order one with a pot of rooibos tea. The vanilla slice, seen here, is two layers of puff pastry filled with custard and topped with vanilla fondant and buttercream. A little sweet for my taste, but I'm sure I'll be back to sample another pastry from their long list. 

Royal BC Museum

My Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea membership netted me a 20% entry discount off the $26.95 adult admission charge so I paid $21.56. I ask if there are any tours available and sign up for a free 45 minute  "Behind the Scenes: Butterflies and more" tour. I've got half an hour to spare so I grab a coffee and a breakfast sandwich from Sequoia Coastal Coffee kiosk in the Clifford Carl Hall.
Two volunteer tour guides take our small group up to the entomology department in the Fannin Building. We learn about the history of the department and its focus on BC species of insects and arachnids. Many volunteers, with backgrounds in the field, work on cataloging and updating the collection.
After the tour, I visit the Natural History exhibits which focus on BC wildlife of the past and present, including the mammoth, seen here, and a tidal pool with living creatures.
Next I take in the Becoming BC Gallery that traces the history of the province from the arrival of the first Europeans. Seen here is a mock-up of an early salmon canning plant.
There is a lot more to see but I've reached my capacity to take any more in so I'll pay a return visit in the near future.

Netherlands Centennial Carillon

As its name would suggest, this bell tower was given by Queen Juliana in 1967 to express gratitude for Canada's role in liberating the Netherlands during the Second World War. The tower officially opened in May 1968 with 49 bells and a further 13 were added in 1971.

The bells were ringing as I walked out of the Royal BC Museum but I did not recognize the tune.

Thunderbird Park

Adjacent to the Royal British Columbia Museum is Thunderbird Park which celebrates local Indigenous culture and history.

The Mungo Martin House, built in 1953, is a scaled down replica of a Kwakiutl chief's house in Tsaxis (Fort Rupert). Here a Kwakwaka'wakw Heraldic Pole is topped by a Thunderbird.

Over the years, the original poles have been moved indoors to preserve them and replica poles have taken their place.  On the left is a  Gitxsan Memorial Pole and next to it is a Kwakwaka'wakw Honouring Pole. 
A statue of pioneering doctor John Sebastian Helmcken stands outside his former home which was built in 1852 on this site.

Sidney Seaside Run

At the start of the Sidney Seaside Run the weather looked a bit iffy but thankfully the rain held off. It was a very low keyed event with 217 participants, compared to 2600 entrants in the Spring Runoff 8k and 7500 in the Waterfront 10k I did in Toronto earlier this year.
I completed the 8k walk in a personal best time, with no ill effects or stiffness the next day. The course is fairly flat and well marshaled.

Bug Zoo

When I bought my $12 ticket I was told, "Daisy is giving currently giving a tour, feel free to join in. You'll learn a lot that way". It would have been easy to dismiss this pierced and tattooed young lady at first glance. But stopping to listen I quickly realized not only is she passionate and knowledgeable about the Victoria Bug Zoo's critters, she had a lot of hands on experience caring for scorpions etc as pets.
It was fascinating to hear about the differences between the massive millipedes (they walk by peristalsis) and centipedes (their venom causes victims days of excruciating pain).
Just like Miniature World, if you resist the temptation to rush through, there is a lot to see in a small space. Try to count the walking sticks in this photo.

Murchie's Fine Tea and Coffee

The history of European settlement on Vancouver Island is not a deep one. With Victoria as its capital, Vancouver Island became a British Crown Colony in 1849. By 1871, Victoria's population had grown to 3,630.
John Murchie started working for Melrose of Scotland tea merchants as a young lad. After immigrating to Canada, he started his own company in New Westminster, BC in 1894 making it one of Canada's oldest brands. Murchie's special tea blends and Arabica coffees established their reputation for excellence. All nine shops are in BC but their products are more widely available.
In 1985 they relocated their Victoria store to this flagship location at 110 Government Street. One side is a cafe and the other side a shop that sells tea, coffee and assorted paraphernalia. They have a spectacular array of pastries and cakes. At the counter I ask, "What are you best known for?" Both servers reply, "Our scones".  I order a black currant scone and pomegranate rooibos tea. The scone arrives warmed with cream and jam on the side, a steal at $5.95. Highly recommended.
Out front a chalk artist is creating optical illusion art and you can see this tourist having his photo taken while "standing on top of an eyeball".

Robert Bateman Centre

Wildlife painter Robert Bateman is one of Canada's best known living artists. He and his wife Birgit make their home on Salt Spring Island which is due north of Sidney.

The Robert Bateman Centre is located upstairs in the historic Canadian Pacific Railroad Steamship Terminal building in Victoria's Inner Harbour (seen in photo above to the right of the flags).

I show my Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea membership card and get the $10 admission reduced to $8. Bateman narrates an eye-opening film about his career and philosophy of life at the start of the gallery. Significant works from various phases of his eight decades as a naturalist and artist make up the permanent exhibits. The "Birdsong Gallery" is particularly delightful. With a wave of your hand over the sensor on the wall you can activate recordings of bird calls that match the paintings.

The temporary exhibit entitled "Eyes of Society: Art, Traditional Knowledge and the Watchmen of Haida Gwaii" is equally captivating. Ten Haida and non-indigenous artists explore the meaning of place with respect to Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) in prints, paintings and sculpture. Seen here are works by Guyana born, Toronto-based artist Andrew Cheddie Sookrah.

Rebar Modern Foods

Centrally located in Bastion Square, a pedestrian mall, this funky bistro is a real delight. Friendly, efficient service and veggie versions of deli favourites keep local regulars coming back for more. For lunch I choose the Tempeh Rueben - marinated tempeh, grated beets, sauerkraut, swiss cheese, mustard and dill pickle grilled on dark rye bread and a cup of beautifully spiced yam soup on the side. With a bottomless cup of coffee, total is $22.05 before tip.

At the table next to me, two women are planning a dinner at one of their homes with the goal to raise twenty grand for a charity. They're trying to decide on who to invite and whether to ask $500 or $1000 per plate. You just can't buy this kind of entertainment.

Rebar Modern Foods is highly recommended.

Miniature World

Miniature World is one of Victoria's oldest (46 years) and best known attractions. I buy my ticket ($16.80 including tax) and tell myself not to expect anything that rivals Hamburg's Miniatur Wunderland.

I am pleasantly surprised by the number (85) and variety of the displays. Different sections are to different scales but that does not detract from the overall effect. Scenes retell the building of the railway in Canada, important historical battles, Arthurian legends, Charles Dickens' novels and classic fairy tales. Some aim for accuracy, others are pure kitsch. I take my time strolling through, activating trains and features by pressing buttons and marveling at minute detail.

Before I know it, nearly two hours have gone by and I'm ready for some lunch.

You Couldn't Make This Up #2

Last night when I got home from the September meeting of the Peninsula Garden Club, I noticed something strange under a tree near the sidewalk but since it was dark I thought I'd get a better look at it in the morning. The evening's guest speaker, Sharon Hope of the Friends of North Saanich Parks, gave an interesting presentation about invasive species. Some of the worst offenders in this neck of the woods are English Ivy, English Holly, Himalayan Blackberry, Scotch Broom and Morning Glory. Inspired by the talk, I spend about an hour this morning weeding my back garden and pulled out a lot of the latter. Then I remembered the "invasive species" I'd noticed out front the night before. Turns out it's a bird-feeder, pictured here. I have no idea where it came from so I've just left it there for the time being. Odd.

The Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea

A lot of rain is forecast this week so I thought it would be a good opportunity to visit some of the attractions in Sidney and Victoria.

Stop number one was The Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea, suitably located near the seafront in town. I took my time peering into the 28 aquarium habitats which house over 160 species of fish and invertebrates all of which are native to these waters.

I couldn't do the displays justice with my camera but here's a sampling of the diverse marine life you can closely observe through the glass. You can also roll up your sleeves, wash your hands and make contact in the "touch pool" if you wish.

Mercifully, there are no large mammals kept here but there are informative exhibits including whale baleen, skeletons, photos and other artifacts. There's a kids discovery area, a nook with related books to read and a rotation of interesting films of sea creatures in their natural habitats.

I know I'll be a frequent visitor, so I purchased an annual membership for $42.00 including tax with entitles me to free entry, discounts in the gift shop and reduced admission to a number of other BC attractions. (A one day adult admission ticket is $17.50; $14 for seniors)

Mary's Bleue Moon Cafe

From the outside, it would be easy to underestimate Mary's Bleue Moon Cafe. Inside, it's more spacious than you might think and the decor celebrates the restaurant's history as a local landmark serving airport personnel and locals since 1939. 

The service is friendly and efficient ranking it near the top of our list for local eateries. The Salmon Burger is well cooked and comes with a load of fries,  $15.59. I order a bowl of Seafood Chowder and two pieces of garlic toast a tasty and filling combination. They've got live music and special deals throughout the week. We'll be back. 




Mary's Bleue Moon Cafe 
9535 Canora Rd, Sidney, BC V8L 1P3
Saturday to Wednesday 9 am to 9 pm Thursday & Friday 9 am to 10 pm

Dry Stone Bridge at Dominion Brook Park

We stopped by Dominion Brook Park to see how the dry stone footbridge construction was progressing. The wooden frame was being assembled in the parking lot and masonry work being done on the creek bed. Water is being diverted during building. When completed, the bridge will be 15 metres (16 feet) long, 1.2 metres (4 feet) wide and have a 2.4 metre (8 foot) span. The design is a traditional Scottish style and locally quarried granite and fieldstone will be used.