Road Trips in the Pacific Northwest

We road-tripped up the coast of California, Oregon and Washington in June after school ended for the kids. We've been in Vancouver, Victoria, Penticton and about to head to Saltspring Island.  I do love to write glowing reviews of our family travels but this one is peppered with some trials. It's been a LOT of driving and frankly the kids dislike (actually hate) it and we're not big fans of sitting down in the car either. We have all agreed we are all happier flying and then maximizing our time on arrival with lots of very active stuff. Now we know, we'll definitely not plan further long road trips.

We have been outside a lot and doing the best with inclement coastal weather. I always warn Californains heading up here in Summer to pack some warm socks as well as full rain gear. But did I remember to do that? Hah! It is really cold compared to pretty much anywhere. We're talking an average temp of 65 where we currently are in Sooke BC and while this is the "dry" season we've had rain seven days in 2 1/2 weeks so far! We grew up here so we remember the drizzle but we've gone wimpy after all the sunshine we've had for the last 12 years. It's not an unwelcome break if one needs to escape steamy temps for a few weeks. I will admit to now being ready to defrost a bit somewhere a lot warmer. Ah well.

Nine days in Victoria

July 2nd was our first travel day of our big Summer Canadian extravaganza. We took a taxi van to the airport and then flew into Victoria via Vancouver with about a two hour stopover. It was a full day for the kids but they were so chilled out. Austen just adored the planes and the airports requiring little else to amuse him. He did watch part of his movie and was pretty thrilled with the presents (a bouncy ball, stickers and wind-up toy) I had wrapped and tucked into my bag for a dull moment. Caelen literally just slept the whole way there. We were able to use the double stroller to get them up to the gate despite some confusing warnings from the airline website saying they don't gate-check double strollers. I think it's at the discretion of the person checking you in.

Despite the efforts I made to streamline our packing we were a hot mess of luggage at the airport because at the last minute Joel needed his bike...

Do not travel like this

Austen did carry his own carry-on bag #winning

Austen also used my phone to take pictures along the way

Our week and a half in Victoria has gone by faster than we could have anticipated. We gave each set of grandparents three days each to plan for us and have divided our time between them that way with a couple of rest days in there for good measure. The kids have enjoyed the beaches, Butchart Gardens, walks around Oak Bay and time with their grandparents. We haven't even taken them into Victoria's downtown at all this trip. 

The weather has been cold, damp and at times windy. I'm ready to turn up the heat with the weeks ahead in Montreal and Ontario.

Victoria and Galiano

Our week in Victoria and Galiano was quite possibly the most difficult in recent memory. Joel and I were both working and with a toddler thrown in it was impossible to finish anything. I worked at lot at night trying to get my files to upload over slow island ADSL. My usual 5 minute uploads took upwards of 7 hours. Who knew? 

It was also a busy time for our family and the week went by faster than we could have anticipated. Apologies to everyone we couldn't connect with. Next time!

We ended the week at a wedding on Galiano Island. Congratulations to Emma & Matt! It was a beautiful celebration and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We stayed in a rustic log house, attended the local market and soaked in the laid back gulf island life for a few days. Joel's family actually used to have a 250 acre farm on Galiano in the 1950s and 60s. His mother grew up there and used to ride to school on a pony. 

Driving in a blizzard at night

Driving in a blizzard at night from Stacey Clarke on Vimeo.

In case anyone thought Joel was the only one experiencing Winter. It's also snowing in Victoria. Do I miss snow? Um, no. Next question.

Sunset on Dallas Road

Sunset along Dallas Road, Victoria. Taken with Camera+ on my iphone 4

Happy New Year

Sidney waterfront walkway

My old friend Victoria

I've been working seven days a week looking after Grannie since I arrived here. When Joel arrived last week we decided to run away for a night together. We booked a night at the Empress Hotel. I've always wanted to stay in this icon of our city but never really had the right excuse. It always seemed like a silly touristy thing to do but there we were with steaming cups of darjeeling tea looking out over the inner harbour.

Another week, another continent

We had been in Singapore for 7 weeks and, while life was generally going well, something unsettling was always on my mind. On the night before we left for Singapore my Grannie became seriously ill. Despite my not wanting to get on the flight that next morning my family assured me that there was nothing I could really do. It was one of the hardest decisions I've ever made. As you know, I did get on that plane somehow but I never felt at ease with it.

Last weekend, looking around at my unpacked apartment, I was finally able say, my work here is done for now, it's OK to go home. I went online, scored a seat sale and 48 hours later I was on a plane.

Landing in Victoria was totally surreal. There was snow on the ground and it was a punishing cold wind that whipped in the door of the plane when they opened it. I slid down the ramp and walked into a grey world, as quiet as a sound stage and empty. It's so very odd to go from summer to winter in a day.

So here I am on the other side of the world again. I plan to stay for 6 weeks with Joel joining me over the holidays.  I'm so glad I came. As much as I love my expat life my family is always first and when times are tough I will always be just a plane away.

Victoria, week one

Joel is just coming to the end of his week in Victoria and will depart for Toronto tomorrow morning. It's been a frenetic week to say the least. Our days were just action packed with all the moving details: the truck arriving at customs, moving things into storage, long meetings with the bank to open accounts in Singapore and all the things we are trying to sell on craigslist at the same time. Anyone need a projector?

Our evenings have mostly been spent in our parents homes with family all around, cooking and enjoying multi course meals fit for royalty. Heirloom tomatoes, duck, steak, freshly caught Sockeye, breads from local grain, wonderful smelly cheese and so so much wine. We got to see Joel's family from up island, my uncle and aunt and Grannie, all our siblings and of course parents and a few friends too. It's been another week of good-byes, non-stop food and good company.

Float Plane to Victoria

Float Plane to Victoria, a set on Flickr.

I had so little time to see my family over thanksgiving so my Dad booked a float plane for me to be able to make it for a lunch and be back in Vancouver again for dinner. How crazy is that?

The float plane was a really great thing to do. We get so used to what BC looks like that we forget how breathtaking it is. I unfortunately only had my battered up old Canon powershot with me. Here are the pictures from my flight to Victoria.

Christmas holidays

Joel arrived safe and sound on the 22nd and has been able to stay until the 1st which is the first time since he began his new job that a proposed schedule hasn't changed. A much-needed break in the usual chaos.

As most of you know our families live a few minutes apart in Oak Bay so getting to have the maximum number of Christmas dinners and brunches is something we have turned into tradition. The past few years we have also had an annual ReBar cook-off with our CISV Steering Committee Alumni on Boxing day. We spend the day cooking a multi course meal out of the ReBar cookbook and then the evening is spent eating it. So that was the first three days of eating. On the fourth day of eating (the 27th) we had a fantastic freshly caught salmon and prawn feast with Joel's Uncle, Aunt and cousin from Campbell River.

On the fifth day of eating, we took our siblings out for a 7 course meal with wine pairings at Matisse downtown Victoria and finished the night at Vista 18 overlooking the inner harbour.

On the sixth day of eating (yes I know, I'm in elastic waist pants now) Joel's parents took us out to Le Brasserie Ecole. A fab French Bistro tucked into Victoria's Chinatown.

Today we checked into The Kingfisher Spa in Comox for a 24 hour getaway. We've just had massages and now are relaxing in our beachside suite before we do the Pacific Mist Hydropath and and have dinner which might bring us to the seventh day of eating... I love this place.