Day 6. Victoria to Lake Cowichan. Thursday 23rd April 2015
Breakfast – unwittingly broke the rules. Bowled in to the breakfast room rather than waiting in the ‘drawing room’ until invited. Comedy routine ensued as Thomas, Billy and Chris played out chastisement and contrition!
Another beautiful brekky and we were joined by two entertaining women, Patti and Mary from the USA. A breakfast so lively Thomas felt compelled to leave the kitchen and join us.
Reluctant packing, long looks at each other – go or stay. Albion Manor the Perrrrrfect Place! Soooooo tempting to stay and Thomas giving us every encouragement. Tore ourselves away, still wondering as we headed out of Victoria.
Met Mary on the way out the door and said goodbye. She was delightfully effusive about my appearance described me as “ so adoooooorable” – as you would describe a cute doll!!
Chris had picked up our rental Yaris which had turned into a giant GMC all wheel drive. Comfy but huge!
Careful drive out “Keep right. Keep right”. I have a lot of trouble with the navigating – instructing “Turn left” when I mean right and vice versa. Not always a well received hiccup. I now add a clear hand gesture as well.
While Chris got used to driving on the other side we decided just to keep going for a while.
Headed for Duncan a town of totems and followed the Totem Walk
Passed older mechanics at work in their garage with a Cadillac in the window.
The caption read “An antique auto is like another man’s wife. Look and admire but DO NOT TOUCH”.
Our car was parked on the edge of Duncan near an old building called Duncans garage. After the Totem walk, and after trudging around in the we and cold, we went in for a look – while the town was quiet and cold – this place buzzing. Warm, steamy and bustling. Wonderful array of interesting (and healthy) food. We had lunch then bought stuff for dinner to take with us.
We had decided to head for Lake Cowichan to stay the night. I was picturing a remote Canadian lake with lakeside rustic accommodation. As we approached Chris suggested this might be our Canadian ‘Pigeon Forge’ (Dolly Parton’s hometown in USA) which surprised us with miles and miles of endless kitsch and shopping malls.
Well it was not quite but it was no quiet lakeside town.
At the Info centre we met Katherine and her cute as a button dog who took an instant liking to Chris. Difficult carrying on a serious information gathering conversation while a cute as a button dog is furiously humped your leg! Katherine was a down to earth no-nonsense kind of woman, helpful and straightforward. Eye to eye with me so obviously on the short side.
It turned out lakeside accommodation + kitchen was not easy to come by. Katherine had phone calls with several people – sometimes all at once. Finally Dave said he had a vacancy and we headed out – a short Kiwi gentleman opened the door, a little vague on the rate which made me a little nervous at first.
Not helped on first inspections of our quarters. Reminiscent of Dad’s shed with the bedroom window barred from a view by a boat and much equipment outside.
After initial reticence and no lake view we settled and Dave was more than helpful and friendly and the accommodation comfy. Including a welcome complimentary bottle of wine and cooked breakfast.
Earned a beer at ‘Jakes on the Lake’ with a 5km walk beforehand.
