Gemini – Well it doesn’t get much better than this because lucky Jupiter moves into Gemini this week. Jupiter is a planet that is so big you can fit all the other planets inside it. Once a year Jupiter changes signs which gives everyone a shift of luck. It will have such broadening expansive and beneficial influence on you that a year from now, others will notice you have more self confidence and poise. Essentially this is the beginning of a new 12 year cycle of growth. It’s time for you to discover who you really are and what you can accomplish. Your year ahead will be fortunate and you will attract fortunate circumstances and influential people.
When we last left you we were on our way to BC Cycle to pick up our uber electrics to ride the trails of Victoria. About 10 miles total, we started at West Song walk, which branches out to the west of the city ending at McLoughlin Point Park, the home of an old fort that used to protect the inlet to the harbor in the late 1800s. The highlight was watching Goliath, a german shepherd marmaduke mix, defy his master and swim with the mallards. “Come back you stupid dog!”
On our way to back to town for the Harbor View trail we stopped at Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub for a farm to table snack and home brewed ale. It is a handsome British like pub but with modern warm wood paneling, marble topped tables and terra cotta floors. We shared the locally grown kale caesar salad with hertel bacon bits, kootenay alpine cheese co’s nostrala cheese, spinnakers foccacia croutons and house made caesar dressing paired with the Spinnaker Ale. Who knew kale could produce a flavor explosion??
Tour, rest, snack is our preferred way to spend the day – allows us to talk about what we’ve experienced, write notes in our journal and have just enough fuel to sustain us along the way.
The Harbor View trail took us past the new cruise ship docks where up to 6 boats a week are now bringing thousands of passengers to shore on this tiny island to throttle the local economy. We covered every inch of the pink outline on this map so if you cruise to Victoria, call us!
Harbor view flowed right into the Secret Passages trail where we visited Chinatown, entering through the Gate of Harmonious Interest.
If you’ve seen one Chinatown, you’ve pretty much seen them all, but have you picked a haircut from a picture menu at the New Town Barber with Mr. Wong on the narrowest street in Victoria called Fan Tan Alley? Eric made Wong’s day right! He had to be 80+, spoke no english and with every few clips proclaimed, “Very Good!”
Alas, our bike tour of the little city with big heart ended and we were on foot for a few hours before our Sunset Kayak Tour with Ocean River Sports. With time to refuel, we took on the fish and chips duel and headed to Red Fish Blue Fish, the hipster food truck created by Kunal Ghose, a contestant on Top Chef Canada.
Our server at the Pink Bicycle the night before swore by the Tempura Cod Dog on Irene’s Bakery hot dog roll with Dill d dijonaisse, tartar and pickled onions with a half order of curry chips – so I got that! Eric opted for the traditional Halibut fish and chips so he could declare the winner in the Old Vic’s vs RFBF throwdown. And the winner is … Old Vic’s for their crispy panko coating.
Off on a window shopping expedition we stopped by the British Maritime Museum to check out National Geographic’s pick for the 2nd best elevator ride in the world, beating out the Empire State Building at #4. This birdcage elevator was built in 1874. We weren’t allowed to take a ride, but membership director Gaylia gave us a history lesson and the chance to step inside.
Window shopping at it’s best, this necklace was hanging on the mannequin in the window of Mango’s. I went inside for a closer look and it was the last one so it had to be mine. When I paid with my Morgan Stanley American Express Card, and the signature on the back said Ask for ID, the owner did just that. Turns out Lynn is from Wildwood, NJ, met her husband there and now owns a boutique in Victoria. She gave me a card to present to Joey at Bobby’s Place, 4108 Boardwalk for the “hookup.” So if you’re going to Wildwood, call me!
Meet Jenika, our kayak guide for the Sunset Tour turned All Weather tour. We had one burst of sunshine, followed by rain turned to clear, turned to drizzle turned to evening clouds. “We go rain or shine,” they say. My first time in the kayak, Jenika demonstrates the frog position for maximum comfort and superior stroking power. A transplant from Toronto, she’s 15 years Victorian and says she is happiest in in kayak and tickled that she gets paid for it. Eric was cramped in the back with improper rudder rigging. Jenika sweetly swore it was right and accused us of being bad paddlers, but Eric convinced her to the contrary. Turns out the rudders were not rigged right, just as he said, and once cleated we were unstoppable. Eric says I have a strong stroke and we’ll be ready for the 55k kayak at Chilko Lake.
We ended the day at the Canoe Brewpub with a $12 pitcher of Summer Honey Wheat Ale crafted by Daniel Murphy, Brewmaster before our 1.5 mile walk home to Humboldt in the rain. All in, another fabulous day on the road, meeting the locals, living life and being together.
Location:Victoria BC