Butchart Gardens and Pender Island - June 26 - July 4th

Friday morning we were slow to get moving, after such a long day yesterday travelling back to the island. By Saturday afternoon we'd totally unpacked and laundry all done ready to start packing again for our adventure next week. lol

I fertilized my planters before I left, and after 10 days ... wow, have they ever grown. Thanks to Pat for watering the few that are not hooked up to micro irrigation.

The first few days back, cool and showery. Certainly not the summer weather we expect. By Saturday afternoon it had cleared up and the temperatures came up to about 22C.

Sunday we were finally in the "warm", temps up to 28C. I even had my first swim of the season. Lots of boat traffic with being the long weekend. After chores on Sunday and Monday with packing for leaving Tuesday morning early, we spent the afternoon on the dock. It was nice to be down there again. Last year we didn't, because of Ray's 2 knee surgeries it was too hard to walk down the ramp.

For our 48th anniversary this year, July 2nd, I booked us into a VRBO on Pender Island for 3 nights. First up though, on Tuesday, July 1st, we left at 7am for Butchart Gardens first and then the 2:15 pm ferry over to Pender for check-in at 3 pm.

The Rose Garden in particular is spectacular. We made it around the whole garden in 1.5 hours. :) It got pretty warm by that time (10:30 am), so we left. It's great having a season's pass, so we don't feel obligated to stay a long time.

We left Butchart at 10:30 am and headed towards the ferry. We stopped for lunch at the Stonehouse Pub and Grill, a short distance from the ferry. There's only the 2:15 non-stop ferry this afternoon. We wanted to be on it, so were in the lineup by noon. We could've waited to lineup later .... we were first in line. :) As usual BC Ferries is late taking off .... missing a crew member. They didn't have the required numbers and had to steal a crew member off another ship so we could leave 28 minutes late. Fortunately there's a breeze, so we didn't fry in the car while waiting nearly 3 hours.

This is one of their new ships, the Salish Raven that we took to Pender.

A couple of pictures on our way out of Swartz Bay.

The drive to the VRBO is definitely off the beaten track, up a cliff at the very end of a dirt road.

After a short 15 minute drive to our VRBO, we unloaded and drank in the spectacular view. I think this place has the best view of anywhere we stayed ever! 

This guy was laying down in the shade under the stairs when we arrived ... no fear!

Our spectacular suite.

Here's a video Ray took.

Once unpacked it's time to head out for dinner at the Copper Otter Pub in Penders' little town centre. 

The mall contains a gas station, hardware store, grocery store, pharmacy and the world's smallest BC Liquor Store. lol There are a few smaller stores, gift shop etc.

That's all of it.

And of course, Ray's favourite kinda place,Vanilla Leaf Bakery, where they have the most delicious cinnamon buns.

Not sure Ray would eat these

After a delicious dinner it's back to the VRBO to relax and appreciate our view. Unfortunately outside on the deck is in direct sunshine and too hot. With wall to wall windows and AC it didn't matter, incredible views from inside too.

Happy 48th Anniversary to us!

Wednesday morning after a somewhat lazy morning, including a hot tub for me, we headed to the Slow Coast Coffee store before continuing our explorations. (Ray didn't go into the hot tub as it's not hot enough for his liking.) 

Today we did most of North Pender Island, where most of the spots of interest are.

Random Old Barn

Next up Mortimer Spit, beside the bridge that connects North and South Pender Islands. Years ago we came through this small passage on my Dad's boat.

Big house on the water with a boat lift on the dock.

Next up Roesland (ex Roes farm) National Park Reserve. The Museum isn't open today, but we're able to walk around and take some pictures.

A little trail around the spit accessed at low tide.

Back in the car, heading for lunch at Port Browning Harbour Pub and Marina. We camped here years ago, probably 1994. It still is mainly tenting with only 5 small RV sites.

Back in the car towords Port Washington, just a government dock.

Huge house and property on the harbour.

Grimmer Bay 

Now onto Hope Harbour, where there is a Chocolate shop.

Ray bought a dozen assorted.

There are these signs everywhere on the island. They don't have an official bus service so this, I guess, is the next best thing.

We also drove past their golf and country club to an old barn Ray wanted a picture of.

This old still working barn.

Back to our suite for a few hours before heading out for our anniversary dinner. We celebrated at Poets Cove Resort and Marina on Bedwell Harbour, South Pender Isand. This is one location where boats coming from the USA need to clear customs coming into Canada.

Here's Rays Poke Nachos!

After dinner, back to the suite to enjoy our view. Here are some "distant views" that we can see.

Mount Newton with the observatory on the top.

Arbutus Ridge

Olympic Mountain Range.

Thursday morning we headed out to explore South Pender Island, specifically Brooks Point Regional Park. First we tried to get breakfast at Woods Coffee + Kitchen .... Lovely looking place. but they had very little to eat so we passed on it. It's located next to a Parks Canada campsite, so busy with tourists.

We'll wait until lunch. Onwards to Brooks Point.Very little parking to walk this park, but we managed. The views are great and the cloud formations perfect for pictures.

Where's Debbie?

Fortunately we didn't see any snakes .... we hate snakes lol

We decided to eat at the Copper Otter again, for breakfast this time. Delicious.

Back in the car to see a winery in North Pender, but it wasn't open and didn't look like much, so we crossed it off our list. Next up Stanley Point. There's supposed to be a lookout, but Ray said all the trees have grown up so no view. These are taken from the road.

Found a cute little park called Thieves Cove. A park with a small marina for residents in the area.

Great clouds for photography

Back in the car to head back to our suite. We stopped at Magic Lake and took some pictures of both ends. Someone released gold fish in this lake years ago. Now there are tons of fry swarming around. Ray took a video.

The end of the lake by the main road.

The swimming hole

The other end of the lake, close to our road up the mountain. Look at them all!

Friday morning we were up and out of the suite by 7:15 am, so we could stop for cinnamon buns from the Vanilla Leaf Bakery. Our ferry is at 9:25 to Swartz Bay. It's the only one direct until 12:30 ish so we didn't want to miss it. Of course we were the first ones in the lineup. Oh well, we have breakfast with us and it's a beautiful morning.

Disembarked the ferry at 10 am and drove into downtown Victoria to visit Capital Iron's new store and Robinson's Sporting Goods. We decided after looking around to have lunch at Local's on the waterfront. Delicious. Ray ordered halibut tacos and I ate a great smashburger. 

After lunch we pointed the car towards home. The traffic getting out of Victoria is terrible, all the way until coming down the Malahat. Then there's the usual "Duncan Dawdle". Our friends Steve and Dianne, are camping with their family at County Maples near Chemainus. So we carried on up the highway to have a visit before coming home to the lake. Picture to follow .... Steve took it so I will steal it from them once they post. lol

We finally arrived home at 5 pm. Another great mini-vacation. Good to be home though.