Day 13 - Victoria, BC

Day 13 – Victoria, BC, Canada

We woke up to another “Victoria” day… misting… but a little warmer temperature. Ritchie and Liz thought we had better get to Butchart Gardens early to avoid the crowds associated with the Olympic torch carry and the scheduled stop at the Gardens. Mom and I had both been to Butchart Gardens a couple of times and at the height of the tourist season when the Gardens are in full bloom. But in this case and coming in November, the parking lot was virtually empty and we almost had the gardens to ourselves. Although the 1,000’s of rose bushes and many other plants were not in bloom, anytime of year is gorgeous. Ritchie commented that the Japanese gardens were the prettiest and most vibrant that he had ever seen.

For those of you who are not familiar with Butchart Gardens… it was the family estate of Mr. and Mrs. Butchart who owned and ran a very successful limestone quarry at the turn of the century. The Butcharts employed the workers to convert the quarry to gardens… their vision and other landscape architects was to make it what it is today… almost 100 years later.

We strolled the gardens for about two hours and worked up an appetite for more fish and chips. Liz had suggested Haltains, which she and Ritchie believe have “the best fish and chips” in British Columbia. We all agreed… it’s because it is made with halibut and probably the best in the world… perfect with a Piper’s Pale Ale that is brewed and bottled in Victoria.

OK… on to dinner plans. We stopped by a local grocery store to pick up 8 fresh dungeness crab that Ritchie had pre-ordered for dinner. Liz made a tasty ceasar salad, complete with semillion white wine that Ritchie and Liz bottled themselves. The dinner was finished off with home made cheese cake with sqamish: berry sauce. We were joined for dinner by Liz’s older sister, Audrey. She had recently moved from Winnepeg (brrrrrrr) to about six blocks away from Liz and Ritchie. We enjoyed her exuberance and zest for living… and we all definitely enjoyed the evening and the company!!!

Photos: Group shot at the entrance of Butchart Gardens; waterfall and fountain in old quarry; garden landscape; Liz on the Merry-Go-Round pony (a beautiful antique Merry-Go-Round had been installed in a new building but it was not open); Drew and Cora by a totem pole; group shot (sans Drew) walking the gardens; Maye and Ritchie by fountain; Japanese gardens; harbor at Butchart Gardens where you can actually enter the gardens by boat; Brigit and Riley enjoying the mums.