Osoyoos to Victoria – 13 May 2025

Leaving Osoyoos, our first stop was Vancouver for a few days at the business warehouse. It was a nice surprise that Jo happened to be there on business too, so we were able to catch up in the city. One afternoon we drove out to Abbotsford, where we picked up some pet shampoos and enjoyed a stroll through the historic district. The area is filled with bakeries, so of course we sampled a few pastries with coffee—delicious!

Abbotsford is known as the “Raspberry Capital of Canada”, producing millions of pounds of berries every year. It’s also home to the famous Abbotsford International Airshow, one of Canada’s largest. That visit brought back memories of flying into the airshow in a small plane with our neighbour—over 28 years ago, back when we were taking flying lessons ourselves.

Later that day, we treated ourselves to sea air in White Rock. Jax was thrilled to run on the beach at Semiahmoo Bay while we enjoyed classic fish and chips along the waterfront promenade. White Rock gets its name from an 11,000-year-old boulder deposited here during the ice age. Although it’s often subject to graffiti, the city keeps it painted white to maintain its iconic look.

Back on the Island

After a couple of days in Surrey, we caught the ferry back to Victoria and settled at Weirs Beach RV Resort in Metchosin. The area is alive with birdlife, especially Great Blue Herons and Bald Eagles, whose relationship is fascinating. Eagles prey on heron chicks, yet herons nest close to eagle nests because the presence of a territorial eagle keeps other predators at bay—a “mafia protection racket,” as researchers call it.

That weekend we hiked in Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park, expecting just a beach walk but discovering beautiful forest trails. The highlight was spotting a family of Great Horned Owls. Their fluffy chicks stared back with those striking eyes, while their mother perched protectively nearby. Owls are extraordinary—they can rotate their heads 270 degrees and, like burrowing owls, often reuse nests rather than building their own.

Along the trail, we also discovered a banana slug, the second-largest slug in the world at nearly 10 inches long. These curious creatures can live up to seven years, move about six inches a minute, and even self-fertilize. Their colour and spots vary with diet, and while they’re native to the Pacific Northwest, they’re also famous as the quirky mascot of the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Life at the RV Park

Father’s Day brought some memorable moments—though not the kind we expected! A sewer pipe broke at the campground just as our tanks were full. We dubbed it “Shit-anigans for the Blue Team.” Not the gift Derek had in mind, but at least the day ended on a brighter note with a barbecue and family time.

Around this time, our grandson Liam, 18, moved in with us. He had been facing mental health struggles and wasn’t getting along with his parents, so we were grateful to have the space for him. We spent some quality  time walking in the forest, playing pickleball together, and just talking things through.

Life in Metchosin felt peaceful and rural. I loved the daily walks with Jax, surrounded by foxgloves lining the roadside. It’s interesting to remember that foxglove is both highly toxic and, in controlled doses, used to create effective heart medication. Our beach walks brought other surprises too, including fascinating jellyfish washed ashore—a Moon Jelly with its rounded translucent bell and a Crystal Jelly, whose transparent body glows with bioluminescence in deeper waters. Thankfully, both species are harmless to humans.

Pickleball & Repairs

Pickleball remained a constant during these months. As the weather improved, we moved our games outdoors, battling the occasional wind but enjoying the fresh air. I joined a group of women for early-morning matches, and even entered a tournament with fellow pickleball player Lisa. We didn’t win, but it was a fun and worthwhile experience.

Before moving up to Parksville, we finally scheduled some long-overdue RV repairs left over from our Alaska adventure. Insurance covered meals and accommodation during the repairs, so we made the most of it by checking into some lovely VRBO homes around Victoria and sampling new restaurants—a nice change of pace before the next leg of our travels.