Victorian Visitors

Good morning! It is beary bright and early and we are down by the harbour in Victoria (in case you hadn't figure out from the map earlier).

We are meeting a couple of beary important guests... but they aren't here yet...

There's a lot to see down here...

All sorts of boats...

... and floatplanes!

I'd like to go on a float plane some day... I think I could be Pilot Sandy!

 Hmmm... that is a fish weighing station down there... that would be nice too... an ocean-fishing charter adventure with lots of salmon!

Ooohhh... that is the Empress Hotel!! It is a big landmark in Victoria. It was finished in 1908 and has over 400 rooms and a beary empress-ive (heh-heh) Tea Room. Except it looks funny... it's supposed to look like...

This!! With all the ivy on it... sigh...

What else... oooh... there's the BC Legislature!! Behind all those boats.

A nice orca statue...

 Made out of bits of glass.... Beanie Mouse would like this!

There's a better view of the Legislature!! Victoria is the capitol of BC. Many people think it's Vancouver... but it's not. And Victoria is on Vancouver Island. Lots of people think Vancouver is on Vancouver Island... but it's not. So confusing!

Time to get back to the float plane base...

I bet some rich stuffie owns that boat! Maybe Bear-once? Or Bear-adonna?

 Float planes leaving...

And arriving!! The plane, the plane!

 They sure taxi slow though...

 Almost here...

Well... now... almost here! And who are our guests???

Rose and Auntie!!! Here to visit Grampa! Why do people always pick up stuffies and hold them like that??

Dr. Sandy

OK... clearly, I need to wake up earlier! We are in a hospital... I think I need to put on my Dr. Sandy hat.

Ah-hem... Dr. Sandy here, doing my rounds on the pre-surgical ward. Today's patient is Grampa... he is having some surgery on his leg... I'm sorry but as you are not surgical residents, I can't provide you with more information... doctor-patient privilege and all that. Although... if you were to show me your credentials, I'd be happy to discuss this intriguing case with you over a pint of honey beer!

Anyhow... let's go say Hi to Grampa!!

 Hmmm... patient seems to be feeling quite well at the moment! It's hard to maintain a professional composure when one keeps getting picked up!

At least Grampa has a nice view from up here...

 Now... we wait... there sure is a lot of waiting in hospitals... a LOT of waiting! I might just nap....

Mystery Adventure

Well... hello! Hmmm... I am somewhere... in a hotel, it looks like. This is what happens when you fall asleep in the car. You end up in strange places!

Our room even has a mini-fridge and a microwave. I wonder if they have hot chocolate here?

Noooo... of course not! What the heck? Why is it always just tea and coffee??

I ask you... why??? Oh... I seem to have a new t-shirt. I wonder if it has something to do with this adventure?

At last, a clue!! There's a map here... can you read it?

Alright... I better get a good night's sleep if there are adventures on the go!

Adventures in the Marsh - Part 2

Hullo again... we are in a flooded marsh and wondering where we are... luckily, I am a beary good navigator bear and I know where we are!

Mama's phone helped too... We identified some clumps of trees and we are good to go.

Next... we found a huge pile of old lumber...

A closer look at the lumber...

...and signs of an old fire pit...

 ...along with some bags....

 ...and a rudimentary water hose in a run-off rivulet...

...all indicate that this was likely a homeless camp at some point. Nobody here right now though...

I did however find more skeletal remains... leg bones...

jaw bones...

and... oooohhhh.... a full on skull with antlers!!!

We need to come back and get this in the dark-of-morning one day... I couldn't convince Mama to take it home this time...

After some more bushwhacking... we found a road/trail of sorts!

Hmmm... more flooded waters... but...

 We are getting closer to the mystery thing... remember, that white square in the middle of the marsh...

 Here's another view... it looks like a roof or something.

Ooohhh... and some snowdrops!

Closer still... and there are a stash of lawn chairs....

 But while we are beary close... the area is flooded and we can't get there... drat!

But a photo zoom-in shows a roofed shelter... maybe a bird-watching place? For the local university??

I tried to convince Mama to go wading but she said she got enough soakers when she was a kid and she's not doing those anymore. Phooie!

 Oh well... at least we know how to get here for next time! We came up the other side of the highway embankment on the way home... much easier!