Victoria Butterfly Garden

A couple weeks ago, Andrew, Clare and I went to the Victoria Butterfly Gardens. We've been meaning to go for ages but wanted to go on a weekend when it wasn't too busy. Clare also checked ahead to see if any school groups would be there and there weren't. Very nice! 

Not only are there beautiful butterflies but lots of birds and various other creatures. 

See the butterfly on the back of the flamingo?
Gone a second later as the flamingo turned his head, reached down and . . . gulp!

Many much better and beautiful photos by Andrew in his blog post. 

Point No Point

Point No Point (so named because explorers approaching from one direction saw a distinct point, whereas from the other direction they saw no point) is a lovely ocean-side resort west of Sooke, B.C. 

We spent a couple days there with Andrew's sister, Clare. We had a lovely cabin; wandered the trails and beach checking out the tide pools; read our books by a roaring fire while it rained outside; sat in the hot tub for a while; ate delicious meals at the restaurant; enjoyed a beautiful sunset; and, best of all, saw a couple orca whales meander by. A rare sighting we were told! 

Clare and Andrew on the deck of our cabin.

Checking out the tide pools.

Enjoying the beach and the sun.

View from the restaurant.

Coffee and books beside the fireplace while it rains outside. 

View from the loft of the cabin.

Beautiful sunset view from our cabin. 

The restaurant, as seen from the beach.

Rock covered by mussels.

Anemone in a tide pool.

A cloudy, rainy morning.

Little fish in a tide pool.

From the beach, looking up at our cabin.

Another beach-goer.

Sea Otter -- full zoom on my little camera. Amazed it turned out this well! 

Pathway to the beach.

Before heading back to Victoria, we stopped at the Victoria Butterfly Gardens. I'm not patient enough to take butterfly photos but liked the bright colours of these few.