Monday June 20, Jordan River, BC

Finally summer arrived this morning, woke to clear blue skies and warm sun and the temps got up into the low 20’s, felt so good. Lets hope it last for a few days.

We met Witta and Dick in downtown and managed to find a park for the van near Fisherman’s Wharf. A great spot with over 30 very eclectic houses built on the water along with food stands and a marina. It was so enjoyable to explore the area with the sun shining, chatting to some of the locals.

Then we took the board walk into the town centre as I needed to buy a new polarising filter for the camera, yesterday mine just fell apart (no, I didn’t drop it!) and it couldn’t be fixed. Got directed to a really good quality camera store and got just what I wanted. Witta and I could have spent quite a bit of time there…but didn’t!

Found a good restaurant down by the harbour and sat outside for lunch, soaking up the sun and people watching. We dropped W&D off for their ferry home and after stocking up on some supplies, and another stop at Lee Valley tools we headed down the peninsula to the West Coast. We have really enjoyed Victoria, it isn’t too big but is very vibrant and alive.

We had heard about Jordan River and camping on the beach from a number of people, which sounded pretty good, and was only just over an hour from Victoria. Evidently it is a really popular surfing beach, but tonight it was just dead calm. The camp is forestry run, with no facitilites except camp table and firepit, and the beach was littered with logs. So tonight we are having our first camping fire, overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca with Washington and the Olympic Mountains in the distance. We are pretty impressed.

 Met some very friendly “Islander’s” camping nearby who invited us for a few drinks, we had a great night and they were able to pass on some good ideas re travel on the island.

….. When I was at Burchart Gardens I saw this little vase with a suction pad, just what I was looking for as really enjoy the wildflowers and haven’t had anyway of “travelling” them. It adds a touch a home!