Victoria and environs, Canada Day

Since it would be a crime to visit Victoria in the summer and not see Butchart  Gardens, off we went recently.  Here are some shots of the sunken garden

 a lovely trellis

the rose garden
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Tony contemplating life, the universe, and everything in the rose garden
 
and the Italian Garden
  
The weekend before Canada Day, we went camping with Mark to Englishman River Falls, about 2 and a half hours north of Victoria - Here Mark tests out his new propane campfire (while Carolyn makes a point or two) - It was good to have the propane fire as there is currently a campfire ban, due to the lack of rain. Camping was great... very cold dips in Englishman River, an afternoon of paddling on nearby Horne Lake (and much warmer swimming!), and dominoes and ukelele singsongs in the evening -- who could ask for anything more!

A little lunch break at Maple Bay, on the way home to Victoria...
 
 Out for breakfast on Canada Day morning, Mark has doubts about the crispness of his bacon (this one is for Mom and Brian and Bill and Bruce)

 
In the afternoon, Tony and I visited Tony's Aunt Dini and Uncle Richard (who live in Victoria), cousins Paul and Grace and their spouses Kelti and Chris-- here are Aunt Dini, Grace and Paul

 

and here are Kelti, Carolyn, Chris, and Uncle Richard.

 In the evening, Tony and Mark await the fireworks on the front lawn of the Empress Hotel
  
Happy Canada Day!

 Despite their love of Canada, some out here on the West coast feel a few things should be changed.....

 

That's it for now!