It was very crowded and noisy in the breakfast area of the Inn. We both had waffles amongst the din of clanking silverware and elder folk talking about their plans for the day. At this moment, it wasn’t raining, but the weather radar on my iPad app indicated it wouldn’t be long before the soaking would return. I suggested we venture down the coast a bit to a lighthouse I saw on the map.
It was about a 30 minute drive to Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse. It is a coastal battery built to defend the nearby Naval yard from would-be attackers ranging from Russia to the United States. It has long since been decommissioned, and is now part of Parks Canada and has free entry (not unlike U.S. parks when a government shutdown prevents them from collecting entry fees). It wasn’t yet raining when we arrived, but we sensed it wouldn’t be long. The sky was overcast and the wind was chilling. We walked a bit briskly up to the lighthouse and began our return trip when it started sprinkling.
It is worth noting that no one else seems to be fazed by the persistence of rain. It is just a fact of life I suppose. If one waits for a perfectly sunny and clear day, one will be waiting for a very long time. Nicole remarked that the cast of Virgin River (a bad Netflix show shot in Squamish and Vancouver) stopped filming in the fall because they were just so miserable for enduring two months straight with constant rain. We saw a mother and daughter take their time posing with a statue of Parka, the fun-loving beaver mascot of Parks Canada before walking slowly off toward the coast in what can only be described as a downpour. They were not discouraged by this at all it would seem.
We drove back to downtown Victoria and the Abigail’s while the worst of the rain presented itself. The wipers were doing double duty. After regrouping at the inn, the rain seemed to have subsided (at least temporarily). We used this opportunity to head back out for a bit to nearby Beacon Hill Park. It contains one of the world’s tallest totem poles. There was a plaque labeling it as the tallest, but it is 5th tallest at best being outdone by others in British Columbia and even one in California. Nevertheless, at over 127 feet tall, it is by no means short.
We took a short walk to the coastline and then back to the car as it began raining again. We then drove back downtown to do a bit of exploring. The wind was a bit blustery. Newly fallen leaves were being lifted high into the air in a vain attempt to reattach themselves to the trees. We sought cover inside a local bookstore. Despite eyeing such excellent books like the National Trust’s book of scones and another book devoted entirely to toilets around the world, we left empty-handed. We then stopped to get some tea and scones at the tea shop next door.
I also had a sausage roll. There are numerous tea services throughout Victoria, but none are quite the same as what you would find in England. The sausage roll I had was a bit heavy in comparison to something one might find at Gregg’s in the UK. The scones were more cake-y as well. That being said, the atmosphere at Murchie’s was relaxing and we watched float planes flying overhead as if they were hovering on account of the strong wind.
Lastly, we grabbed a quick dinner at The Cactus Club, a British Columbian staple before heading off to the Odeon to watch Roofman. Nicole says I never take her to see the pictures anymore, but that’s because nobody’s making good talkies these days. It was a respectful audience, which one expects in Canada. It was drizzling and windy when we went in and remained so when we got out. Tomorrow, we will again attempt the floatplane. Seats seem to be few, but we will see how it goes…
passports & pepto bismol 