Weekend in Photos

Here's a look at the photo tour I took over the weekend. Well I actually took 3 large tours, a great way to people watch and enjoy the city.

I managed to get a few laughs in with some of these captures. See if you would agree too.

Are they getting ready to up into outer space? I chuckle every time I see the whale watching tour boats go out and come back in. Even if it is 30C, they wear these beastly suits.

An Empress Sky

Spying a Tourist.
She was up high looking out her hotel room, obviously quite excited.

A beautiful evening.

Heading out on a jet plane, or a float plane?

Fall Leaves

Swapping boats?

The Fisherman's Wharf

Finding a Sea Lion or two.
These guys were getting a load of fish from the tourists.

The Seawall, all blue and beautiful. Looking out towards the East.


One Lonely Cruise Ship ready to leave the port of Victoria.

Beautiful colors just after sunset.

I might mention that I finally did a larger bike ride, 40km roughly.
I also got up too early this morning to swim! But it felt great knowing what I had accomplished by 7am in the morning.

Great Views

This weeks Photohunt Theme is Views

Go to Tnchick.com to participate

Views to me mean being outdoors. My three favorite types of views would include something of the following, but are certainly not limited to just that..

Incredible colors for a sunset, filter used.

Incredible Views in the Outdoors.

Beautiful Views from Outdoors.

All of these views just happened to be from over the summer. I definitely had great summer views. Hope you enjoy the view too!

Joke of the Day

I couldn't pass up sharing this joke today...

Ask a silly question

I have 2 dogs & I was buying a large bag of Pal at Big W and standing inline at the check out.

A woman behind me asked if I had a dog.

On impulse, I told her that no, I was starting The Pal Diet again although I probably shouldn't because I'd ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IV's in both arms.

I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it works is to load your pants pockets with Pal nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry & that the food is nutritionally complete so I was going to try it again.

I have to mention here that practically everyone in the line was by now enthralled with my story, particularly a guy who was behind her.

Horrified, she asked if I'd ended up in the hospital in that condition because I had been poisoned. I told her no; it was because I'd been sitting in the street licking my balls and a car hit me.

I thought one guy was going to have a heart attack he was laughing so hard as he staggered out the door.

Stupid woman...why else would I buy dog food??

A Snowbird Viewing

So this weekend I was a little lazy. I did not even bring out my big camera for the appearance of the snow birds. Here's a sequence of photos from the show.

In Formation

Looping around - The Plane are on the far right side bottom.

The crowd out watching the show.

There you go, the Snowbirds of Canada... And here's to starting the first day of Fall

First Day of Autumn - Fall Equinox - day when night and day are of equal length September 22, 2008

About Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is located off the Coast of British Columbia boarding the Vancouver Mainland by the Straight of Georgia and Washington State by the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Vancouver Island is 460 kilometres (290 mi) in length and 80 kilometres (50 mi) at its widest point, formed when volcanic and sedimentary rock scraped off the ancient Kula Plate some 55 million years ago.

Nearly half of the 734, 860 island residents live in Greater Victoria area within 32,134 square kilometers. Other major cities on Vancouver Island include Nanaimo, Port Alberni, Parksville, Courtenay, and Campbell River. Our population on Vancouver Island is nearly 1/10 the size of the entire country of Belgium within the same radius.

Victoria is the Capital of British Columbia and also happens to be where the Parliament resides. The climate on the Island is the mildest in Canada with warmest summer days usually range from 28-33 Celsius. But don't be fooled as Henderson Lake on the west coast of the Island is the wettest place in North America with 665 centimetres (260 in) average annual precipitation. Victoria on the other hand often gets 64 centimetres (25 in) at the driest recording station being on the Saanich Peninsula.

Here is a collection of useful links about Vancouver Island.

• Vancouver Island - Maps and information All About Vancouver Island
• BC Ferries - The transportation network to get onto the Mainland
• Victoria Transit - The Bus for Victoria Regional Transit
• Victoria - Tourist information for the area
• Victoria Parks - Parks and Recreation around Victoria
• Butchart Gardens - Check out the flower report before heading out
• Sidney BC - visit the beautiful town of Sidney
• Galloping Goose Trail - Victoria's extensive trail network
• Vancouver Island Parks - Visit the many provincial parks on the island
• Goldstream Provincial Park - Famous for spawning salmon
• Attractions - Things to do around Vancouver Island
  

I'm sure to add more to this list as time goes on.

My Favorite Roads

This weeks Photohunt Theme is Road

Go to Tnchick.com to participate

For this photo hunt, I found some different roads I don't normally see in Canada. Ironically, all of the photos came from my March visit to Switzerland.

Here's a look at a few different roads.

A Swiss Tunnel

A Village Road - Brienz

Crosswalk on the Cobblestone Road - Aarau

A curvy Road in Basel

A typical side Road - Basel

Snowbirds in Victoria

The Snowbirds **are coming to Victoria. Since BC is celebrating 150 years, there are many festivities which have been happening this year. Canada's Air Force, the snowbirds, will be showing off their skills with a show this Sunday to celebrate The Spirit In the Sky: Snowbirds Celebrate 150 Years

Festivities are on Sunday, Sept. 21. In keeping with the spirit of the anniversary, the aerial portion of the show will begin at 1:50 pm. Seaside festival activities will get underway at 12:30 pm.

Location: Clover Point and Dallas Rd., waterfront, Victoria

We shall see if I make it to see them. I've heard about the crowds of people, but I'm sure I can even see them from where we live here.

They did a test run over Victoria and at one point it was VERY loud.

**Although this has nothing to do with these snowbirds.

Exercising Around Victoria

Over the weekend, I went for a leisurely bike ride to Thetis Lake and back with a few other bike minded people. It was perfect temperature to enjoy the weather and ride. Unfortunately, I didn't bring along my camera with me so all I can do is show you via the map.

The route was about 13 kms each way.
A great way to start getting back into biking.
(Click for a larger view.)

(Click for a larger view.)

The following afternoon we went kayaking into the Gorge Inlet. I've highlighted the route once again in Red. It was a bit shorter than my bike ride but my beginner arms were definitely warn out at the end of the trip. It was one again so beautiful.

A few photos may pop up soon.

In the Wild

This weeks Photohunt Theme is Wild

Go to Tnchick.com to participate

This is my favorite wild flower.
I have seen it here on Vancouver Island already.

And here are some funny photos from the petting zoo.
Walking around wild...

Peacock walking around anywhere - wild...

Rooster

Two Turkeys

Getting wild

Would someone tell me why the skin (snood) above a turkey's nose grows when they move??? It seems to happen when they get more defensive.

Laugh of the Day

Just a reminder to sit back and laugh from time to time...


An elderly Floridian called 911 on her cell phone to report
that her car has been broken into. She is hysterical as she
explains her situation to the dispatcher:
'They've stolen the stereo, the steering wheel, the brake
pedal and even the accelerator!' she cried.
The dispatcher said, 'Stay calm. An officer is on the way.'
A few minutes later, the officer radios in.
'Disregard.' He says.
'She got in the back-seat by mistake.'

Sunset from September 9th...

Weekend Snapshots

A Look at what I enjoyed this weekend. Victoria has it all.

Picnic tables and grass

Sailboats

Great views of Mt. Baker

A beautiful day at Oak Bay

Baker Views and lots of sunshine. Maybe I'm being duped into thinking this place is a lot sunnier than Vancouver, but it certainly has been beautiful lately.

This location is about 20 mins by bike.

Pulling Strings

This weeks Photohunt Theme is Strings

Go to Tnchick.com to participate

I definitely pulled some strings on this one..
From my walk on Wednesday.

The only string I found on my walk.


Here's to my first week living in Victoria.

An Oceanside Walk

My new home isn't far from the oceanfront. So last night I decided to go out and do a bit of a photo hunt and see what beautiful views I could enjoy.

The oceanfront of Victoria really reminds me of California, either near Monterey or San Diego area. You have a great walking trail which lasts for kilometers on end. Here is just a touch of where I went last night.

Views looking out towards Esquimalt and Sooke in the Straight of Juan de Fuca

Oceanfront Walking in Victoria looking out towards the US.

Beautiful fence at the dog walking off leash area.

The 90 minute ferry going back to Washington State.

Ah fresh air.

I'll have to take a lot more photos but these were some of the ocean views I haven't seen in so long.