On Vancouver Island

 Ferry landed at Nanaimo and the drive to Fanny Bay where we had an Airbnb booked was longer than we had expected - even longer because we lost our internet satnav and then lost our route for a while. Eventually we found the house in a quiet place on the edge of a forest

We had the whole upstairs and it was beautifully furnished and perfect for a bit of rest and recuperation. Good to be able to cook for ourselves again as well.

Angie found us a lovely walk along a beach and through a quiet residential area. 

There are very few cats here and Alice has been asking me to send pictures of Canadian cats - I have looked around many times without success - finally here was one and he let me take a photo.

After two nights in Fanny Bay we drove towards Victoria in the South of the Island and visited the Butchart Gardens. These are a major tourist attraction - extensive gardens created on the site of a disused cement quarry by a woman called Jennie Butchart. Extraordinary profusion of colour in many different garden designs. Also some incredible trees and some special fountains.

We then drove back to Nanaimo for an overnight stay close to the ferry ready for our morning crossing to Vancouver. Rachel by now still has a faint line on her Covid test - almost gone but annoyingly persistent. 

Long day ahead - taking the hire car back - a drive across Vancouver centre -  and then finding public transport links to connect with the ferry to Gibsons where we are going to stay with Angie’s cousin Jenny. In preparation we had a hearty Canadian breakfast in downtown Nanaimo - scrummy!