Day 442
Farewell Canada
We had had another wonderful evening with more Warmshowers hosts, Alan and Kathleen. I had only messaged them in the morning but they had cheerfully agreed to put us up despite having another 2 cyclists, Dylan and Rohan, pedalling to their door. We arrived first so got the bed! The guys got the campervan. We chatted over dinner, drank Alan’s excellent homebrew and I, being the friendly sort, also shared a bottle of wine with Kathleen. I do love my female Warmshowers hosts, they immediately become one of my girlfriends. I miss my girls at home so much, and love having the opportunity to natter with another woman! How much they love it is another matter!
Within minutes of starting out we were on a cycle path, the Lakeside Trail which would take us all the way to downtown Victoria. Trail planners of Victoria, stand tall and take a bow. I think what they have achieved is world class. It was cycling at its very best. Canada was sending us off in style.
When we hit downtown, Victoria continued to excel. Free valet parking for cycles. Yes, you read that right, G of Dave’s Bikes, kindly took our cycles, assured us they would be well looked after and sent us to shop! Before we could go, I had to get out the first aid kit, our first time of the trip. Fortunately, not for us, but for a young girl who had cut herself badly on glass. My niece Gabs, a nurse, would have been proud of me!
We found a bike shop, Broad Street Cycles, and bought some rear lights. More is better than less we felt for the upcoming 101 along the west coast of America. The citizens of Victoria were having a fun Labour Day weekend. The majority were dressed as characters from Lewis Carol’s Alice in Wonderland and mighty fine they looked. Tom bought the biggest cheese straw in the world as he knows my nieces Bex, Emmy and Issy love them. Very nice it was too girls!
A couple of hours in a city was enough for Tom and I though. We headed off to another Warmshowers host, Todd. He lives in a fantastic heritage house just minutes from the centre. Our last evening in Canada had arrived. We dined on wild salmon and raised a glass to this fantastic country. Oh Canada!
