We began our trip to the Island a day earlier than planned. Westjet or Airmiles made some kind of scheduling change, and we ended up flying out a day earlier. That meant unplanned accommodation, and you know how that would upset me. However, it was all good – we stayed at a Quality Inn in Saanichton, between the Airport and Victoria. The name of the hotel? The Waddling Dog. Kind of tudor-ish in décor but a decent pub and the room was dark, but quite okay. Actually very okay for $79.00 a night. The pub, happily for me, served Race Rocks Red – the beer that turned me into a craft-beer geek and that can only be had on Vancouver Island. And the Waddling Dog actually did have a dog – an old basset hound named John, and yes, he did waddle.
Off to visit our friends in Qualicum Beach the next day, but first had to stop in Victoria so that Bob could pick up a cheap “travellin’ guitar”. He’s always wanted to have a guitar when we travel, but he’d be more likely to throw me into the airplane cargo than his beloved Guild, so he finally made the investment into a guitar that can go on the road with us.
We arrived at our friends’ place outside Qualicum Beach mid-afternoon. David and Linda are dear friends from Edmonton. David used to work with Bob, and they also taught ballroom dancing – taught Bob and I (we don’t remember a thing). We envy very few people, but it’s hard not to envy David and Linda. They live in a place that’s pretty close to 
paradise. Their home is lovely and is in an amazing location. They are often treated to all sorts of wildlife – even bears.
The next day, David and Linda took us for a tour of the area, beginning with a visit to the incredible Little Qualicum Falls.
We visited the MooBerry Winery and cheese factory at Morningstar Farm in Parksville. They make fruit wines – very nice – and lots of great cheese. We did buy a dessert wine, a Blackberry. Has a bit of a port taste. Really nice.
… and Qualicum Beach!
One of the absolute treats, though, was the stop at the Old Country Market in Coombs. The market itself was amazing. They had an incredible selection of local goods – produce, artisan
cheese, and … BREAD. Beautiful, beautiful bread.
When we visited the Island last October, 
part of Bob’s “kidnapping” included connecting with his old buddy and guitar-playing partner, Mike. I arranged for Mike to “coincidentally” meet up with Bob and I at Spinnakers one afternoon. I was so 
impressed with Spinnakers that I said that when we came back to Victoria, we’d have to stay at their guesthouse. Good call! The guesthouse was delightful. We stayed in Room #1 which is probably one of the sexiest inn rooms we’ve ever 
stayed in: a wood-burning fireplace, a nice little table and chairs in a window n
ook to have breakfast in the morning, and an incredible bathroom! Seriously, this bathroom is the same size as our bedroom at home – huge, with a Jacuzzi tub and a rainforest shower. Breakfast was brought to us in a lovely basket in the mornings, so we ate in the privacy of our room.
Lots of pictures of Victoria – I’d never be able to post them all here so I've made a small album -- hope it works! Some of the highlights included walks along the Inner Harbour, taking pictures of the city across the Harbour, Fishermen’s Wharf with the funky houseboats and the seals, shamelessly begging for fish, the crazy stormy day with the huge waves along Dallas Road, and pictures of the very grand Craigdarroch Castle.
Two nights in Victoria and then we were off to Sooke for four nights at the Orca View Cottage. This is where I “kidnapped” Bob to last October and we fell in love with the place and decided to come back during stormy season. Well, we missed the storm by a day, and most of our stay there was cloudy/foggy with few opportunities even to see Washington across the Juan De Fuca Strait, but that was okay … what we did see was 
spectacular and that little cottage on the beach is magical. Erin and Sarah came to stay with us for a couple of nights. The wee cottage was cozy with four of us, but we were happy!
I did go on a site-seeing trip back to Victoria with “the ladies” so Bob had an opportunity to relax and play some "sea music" while looking out at the water. We love it here. No whales on this trip. I think by now they’re feeding and frolicking down near the Baja and we will hopefully catch up with them in Oregon in April as they make their way north for the summer.
Heading for Qualicum Beach! We suspected that the drive along Highway 1 to Highway 19 to Qualicum Beach was beautiful. However, on that day, it was cold, cloudy, foggy, and rainy. No photo ops
.
.
We arrived at our friends’ place outside Qualicum Beach mid-afternoon. David and Linda are dear friends from Edmonton. David used to work with Bob, and they also taught ballroom dancing – taught Bob and I (we don’t remember a thing). We envy very few people, but it’s hard not to envy David and Linda. They live in a place that’s pretty close to 
paradise. Their home is lovely and is in an amazing location. They are often treated to all sorts of wildlife – even bears.
The next day, David and Linda took us for a tour of the area, beginning with a visit to the incredible Little Qualicum Falls.
We next visited a salmon hatchery. Wow – salmon are big! It was startling and sad to see so many dead salmon on the river bottoms, but such is the life 
of a salmon, I 
guess – you swim upstream, you spawn, you die. Sucks being a salmon.
of a salmon, I 
guess – you swim upstream, you spawn, you die. Sucks being a salmon.
We visited the MooBerry Winery and cheese factory at Morningstar Farm in Parksville. They make fruit wines – very nice – and lots of great cheese. We did buy a dessert wine, a Blackberry. Has a bit of a port taste. Really nice. 
… and Qualicum Beach!
One of the absolute treats, though, was the stop at the Old Country Market in Coombs. The market itself was amazing. They had an incredible selection of local goods – produce, artisan
But the main attraction at the OCM is the roof. The roof is covered in grass. Now, how would 
you take care of a grass roof? With goats of course. That’s right. A family of goats lives on the roof in nicer weather. The restaurant in the Market is called “Goats on the Roof”. We were able to get some pictures of the goats in their “winter quarters” out back. Their winter quarters includes a very cute 
little goat house in the trees. Apparently in the summer, it is crazy-busy – hard to even get near the place. November was a good time to 
go, I guess … even if there were no
goats on the roof.
you take care of a grass roof? With goats of course. That’s right. A family of goats lives on the roof in nicer weather. The restaurant in the Market is called “Goats on the Roof”. We were able to get some pictures of the goats in their “winter quarters” out back. Their winter quarters includes a very cute 
little goat house in the trees. Apparently in the summer, it is crazy-busy – hard to even get near the place. November was a good time to 
go, I guess … even if there were no
goats on the roof.
After another wonderful evening with our incredible hosts (great food, great wine, and great conversation), we were off early the next morning for Victoria, heading for Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub Guesthouse and two enjoyable days and evenings exploring Victoria. The drive south along Hwy. 19 and Hwy. 1, with the water and the islands on our left, was beautiful.
When we visited the Island last October, 
part of Bob’s “kidnapping” included connecting with his old buddy and guitar-playing partner, Mike. I arranged for Mike to “coincidentally” meet up with Bob and I at Spinnakers one afternoon. I was so 
impressed with Spinnakers that I said that when we came back to Victoria, we’d have to stay at their guesthouse. Good call! The guesthouse was delightful. We stayed in Room #1 which is probably one of the sexiest inn rooms we’ve ever 
stayed in: a wood-burning fireplace, a nice little table and chairs in a window n
ook to have breakfast in the morning, and an incredible bathroom! Seriously, this bathroom is the same size as our bedroom at home – huge, with a Jacuzzi tub and a rainforest shower. Breakfast was brought to us in a lovely basket in the mornings, so we ate in the privacy of our room.
Lots of pictures of Victoria – I’d never be able to post them all here so I've made a small album -- hope it works! Some of the highlights included walks along the Inner Harbour, taking pictures of the city across the Harbour, Fishermen’s Wharf with the funky houseboats and the seals, shamelessly begging for fish, the crazy stormy day with the huge waves along Dallas Road, and pictures of the very grand Craigdarroch Castle.
Two nights in Victoria and then we were off to Sooke for four nights at the Orca View Cottage. This is where I “kidnapped” Bob to last October and we fell in love with the place and decided to come back during stormy season. Well, we missed the storm by a day, and most of our stay there was cloudy/foggy with few opportunities even to see Washington across the Juan De Fuca Strait, but that was okay … what we did see was 
spectacular and that little cottage on the beach is magical. Erin and Sarah came to stay with us for a couple of nights. The wee cottage was cozy with four of us, but we were happy!
I did go on a site-seeing trip back to Victoria with “the ladies” so Bob had an opportunity to relax and play some "sea music" while looking out at the water. We love it here. No whales on this trip. I think by now they’re feeding and frolicking down near the Baja and we will hopefully catch up with them in Oregon in April as they make their way north for the summer.
Leaving the next morning … sad. We hate leaving Sooke, but we’ll be back.
