Sendero Group Travel Blog

Today Jim and I headed out on another adventure with April, Denna, Ilona, Sheila, Jamie, Barb and Teresa. We all wanted to go to the beach so we found the nearest “Big Bus” stop and started off in that direction. We learned of a somewhat secluded beach from our bus ride yesterday and had decided to go there on today’s adventure.

Some of us jumped off the bus at Oak Bay village first so we could pick up a picnic lunch. We calculated a route back to Cobs Bread Co. and purchased a loaf of tomato-cheese bread, Country grain bread and a dozen little fruit filled tarts. Next, we found a little market and got three kinds of cheese, black grapes and drinks. We headed back to the bus stop and hopped on the next bus toward Gonzales Bay.


The beach – and the food- was fabulous. We all sat on a fallen log and listened to the waves lapping against the shore while Barb described the sweeping views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympia Mountains located in Washington State. All too soon we had to make our way back up the path and wait for the next bus. We needed to be back by two to load onto a bus to take the ferry from Sidney to Vancouver.

The ferry ride from Victoria to Vancouver was highlighted by an impromptu chat with a boatsman at the bow of the ferry. Mike just happened to hit record on the PK.



We arrived in Vancouver around six. As we neared the hotel, I sat on the bus listening to all the GPS units chattering away announcing the various points of interest along the route. Everyone was trying to decide where to go for dinner. After we checked in to the hotel, Jim grabbed the GPS and we headed off with Denna, Barb and Teresa to find a place to eat. The restaurants were packed and the area was quite lively. Apparently a lot of kids come over from Seattle to party here since the drinking age is 19 and the beer and liquor is a lot stronger than in the US. The sidewalks winded around in no particular order. We went up stairs, around corners and down ramps. Some of the sidewalks even had leaf shapes imprinted in the cement underneath live trees. We kept asking passing pedestrians for recommendations on where to eat but each time we found the place, it was either way too loud or the waiting line was way too long. We eventually decided to turn back and get pizza delivered to the room. Thanks to the GPS, we knew there was a nearby Dominos!