We're just back from a quick trip to Victoria to visit family and also to see a former student compete in the Vancouver Island's Got Talent contest. Karissa sang one of her own songs beautifully and we weren't surprised one little bit when she was selected for the next round.
Independently owned toy stores are as hard to find as independent restaurants, but they can be as worthwhile. We found one in the Oak Bay Village, Timeless Toys, and picked up some great surprises for grandkids.
Good news: We managed to make this morning's 7:00 a.m. ferry sailing from Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island to Tsawassen on the Mainland, much better than our two-hour wait Sunday when one of the ferries was pulled off due to mechanical problems.
Not-so-good news: The southbound Peace Arch border crossing is still "under construction" and that probably contributed to our 40-minute wait. Still, we're back home for a bit and packing up to distribute some timeless toys to grandkids in Wenatchee and Issaquah over the next few days.
Kathy and Brian
Two retired educators alternating joyfully between seeing the world and enjoying our eight grandchildren (in order of birth), Jake, Avery, Taegan, Lily, Peyton, Riley, Blane, and Jace.
Kathy and Brian met in the clarinet section of the University of California (Santa Barbara) Symphony Orchestra several decades ago.
Brian's Western Canadian roots and Kathy's Colorado ties resulted in their making beautiful music together along with producing a cross-border crop of descendants.
Kathy spent a year studying in Vienna at the Institute for European Studies and the University of Vienna.
Brian started the school band program in Hope, British Columbia, and later became the high school's vice-principal for 6 years and subsequently principal for 15 years before retiring in 2001.
Kathy, in between raising our three children, taught kindergarten and first grade, middle school, and high school - mathematics, computer studies, ESL, and her first love, band, before retiring in 2001.
We enjoy sharing our travel experiences and providing the odd travel tip to friends, relatives, and visitors.