Hello and welcome to the @mrlukeniktravels blog, this week coming from Nanamio, Vancover Island. I am now at the western edge of my travels in Canada and enjoying what the island has to offer, especially the sunshine!
Since last week I have crossed the water from Vancouver over to Vancouver Island. This involved taking three buses, the Skytrain and a ferry. The journey over on the ferry was very scenic passing smaller islands in the strait before arriving in Victoria. As the provincial capital of British Columbia, Victoria contains the municipal functions (and buildings) of the province. The city was quite small so getting around on foot was relatively easy. The Inner Harbour area in Downtown was particularly picturesque and busy too. There were also a good number of parks and public spaces to enjoy. Unfortunately the warm summer weather has left most of the unwatered grass a very sad, yellow colour.
The Inner Harbour in the darkness, Victoria BC.
Whilst in Victoria I was able to get out sea kayaking which was great to be paddling again and see the city from a different angle. It is important, I think, to see a place from a variety of viewpoints. Rushing through places to get somewhere else can mean missing some of a place’s best parts. It is also important to spend time with the people who call these places home. Staying in hostels means it is often easier to spend your time with people who are from somewhere else- even if they are from a different part of the same country. I try, if I can, to spend time talking with locals and if possible get some recommendations too! The best setting for this is surely a pub with a pint and the sun shining.
Once leaving Victoria, I headed up to Nanamio. It is further north on the eastern side of Vancouver Island. The town itself is smaller an quieter but sometimes that is a nice thing. There are a number of small islands off the coast which are accessible by ferry. Yesterday I went to Newcastle Island, named because residents of the city of the same name came here to mine coal, with some friends from the hostel. It was great to spend time near, on and in the sea. Hiking and swimming were great fun as well as spending time together. Sometimes the best experiences really are free!
The beach on Newcastle Island off the coast of Nanamio.
As I write this there are two sounds coming through the window. Firstly, that of bagpipes celebrating Labour Day today. Second is that of seaplanes taxiing in and out of the terminal. Both of these are quite Canadian sounds. Perhaps sometime I will take a ride in a seaplane too, watch this space! Furthermore, the smell of fresh baked bread is tempting me to speed up the writing of this blog so that lunchtime can begin…
After leaving Nanamio I head back east to the mainland to spend time with family. I shall be staying in one place for a little while which will be nice too. I have less than a month left in Canada now which is a shame, however, exciting opportunities lie further west. A second stint in Vancouver awaits later this month before getting on a plane again to cross the Pacific Ocean. Who knows where that might lead???
If you would like more regular updates in trivial matters, can be found on Twitter at @mrlukeniktravel. If pictures and ‘stories’ are more your thing then my Instagram can be found at @mrlukeniktravels. That is all for now, until next time stay safe and travel on!
Ogden’s Point lighthouse on the harbour breakwater, Victoria.