Victoria, BC

It was Saturday of the August long weekend and after getting the last campsite in the South West corner of the island the night before, we decided not to press our luck and headed for the city.

Earlier in our trip we had contacted my cousin Matt Love (check out his photography on Facebook TheRealMattLove) and he was glad to let us stay with him for three nights in his downtown Victoria apartment.

Beautiful waterfront 

When we first arrived, we found parking and took a self guided tour of the waterfront. The city was preparing for a weekend of floating symphonies, fireworks and parades in celebration of B.C. day.

After dinner in Chinatown we stopped in for gelato for dessert,

Decorative Gelato

Had to get some gelato

Fiddle playing Darth Vader

Military march for B.C. Day

After dinner we met up with Matt at his apartment, conveniently located right in the middle of downtown Victoria and a short walk to all things awesome. He  took us out to one of the bars near his place for a few drinks and good conversation.

Having a drink with our host, Matt Love

After the bar Matt took us on a short walk around the downtown area, pointing out some of his favourite spots and recommending stuff for us to do during our stay

B.C Parliament building at night

The next morning we walked down to fisherman's wharf. There were plenty of fish and chip shops, tourists and floating houses. Unfortunately, the resident seals weren't in at the time.

Floating houses at fisherman's wharf featuring Bill's finger

Narrow walkways connecting the floating houses

Found a new friend

Matt had recommended The Churchill as a good bar to sample different craft brews. They had a huge rotating selection of beers from local breweries. We spent some of the afternoon with a sampling flight. Our bartender was a Guelph University alumni and recommended some favourites out of the huge selection.

Huge selection of taps at the Churchill 

Featured Craft Beer at the Churchill

Back in Guelph, Bill and I had just started getting into the new board game trend that seems to be sweeping our generation. With our favourite board games thousands of Kilometers away packed up in storage, we found ourselves itching to play something. Luckily Victoria has a board game cafe. We gladly spent the afternoon learning and playing three new board games.

Learning a new board game at Interactivity Board game Cafe

We met up with Matt after he finished his shift and had pizza. Afterwards, we met up with a group of Matt's friends for a beer pong tournament. Their high rise apartment also had awesome view of the B.C. day fireworks going off in the harbour.


The next day Bill and I walked to Beacon Hill Park where there's a free petting zoo with goats and peacocks.

Petting zoo in the park

Peacocks in the city park

Beacon Hill Park is also home to some amazing ocean views and the official Mile 0 marker of the Trans Canada highway. By this point we've driven a decent chunk of the route, but not all of it.

Mile 0 of the Trans Canada Highway 1

North East of the park is Craigdarroch Castle which we paid a visit to next before walking back to the harbour front 

Craigdarroch Castle

Our third night at Matt's was spent a bit more low key. We made stir-fry, watched Interstellar and just relaxed. The next morning we said our goodbyes and drove North to catch the ferry to Vancouver Island.