Victoria, BC 2

The following morning we awoke to five deer prancing just the other side of their backyard on Christmas Hill. Together with the greenery, and all the springs blooms, it looked so idyllic.

It was decided that today was to be a road trip, and boy that's what it was! We packed a picnic lunch, and eight excited bodies into a mini van and off we went to the Wild West coast! With a few stops on route. Hatley Castle , now part of Royal Roads University, was up first. This beautiful " summer home" was made with such attention to detail, from the woodwork on the walls and floors , to the stained glass windows. The opulence and grandeur of the time still so tangible. It is the mansion seen in The X-Men movie, in a batman movie and a recent sitcom. We were fortunate enough to get a sneak peek into the mansion, talk about being at the right place at the right time!

And we're off again, to the wild, windy, wooly, west side of the island ! ( how's that for alliteration  ?! ) French Beach was up first, followed by Botanical Beach , part of beach comprising of rock pools, teeming with minuscule marine life. We completed the 1.5km hike through this rain forest of  sorts...we were in a forest and it was raining!! Just spectacular, the greenery, the meandering streams and mini waterfalls...the wind peeling off the coast...and just around the bend in Botany Bay, we are sheltered from the wind, and all is calm...until Callie, the family pet became the object of an afternoon snack for some bald eagles!!! Mad panic to make sure , she stayed safe, lol. The eagles were something else! So regal!!!

And with that, we headed across to the east coast, to complete a triangular course of the whole southern tip. We had every type of weather possible, a bit of snowy rain, to sunshine, and everything in between! Duncan was enroute, home the the largest, wooden hockey stick in the world I believe! So of course another photo op!

"Pig" was the restaurant of choice for the evening! Pulled pork and ribs, yummy!