Butchart Gardens

We started our last full day of vacation sitting around  Ruthie's kitchen table. We enjoyed yet another country breakfast and discussed ideas for things to do in Victoria. It seemed Butchart Gardens was the way to go.
After hugs and promises to send pictures, we loaded up our little rental car and headed off to Victoria. 
We arrived at Butchart Gardens by 10:30 am thinking we would look around for 2 hours then head off to the waterfront. The sun was out and the weather pleasant, not hot. What a beautiful day and what a beautiful garden! From the roses to the sunken garden (it was once a gravel pit, but now a veritable fairy land of blooms), the Japenese gardens etc, there just aren't words..... It is incredible!! 
Soooo our 2 hour planned tour turned into almost 4 hours, but worth it!
We have noticed that we have met a lot of people from Ontario who come to visit and then move back to live or just .. never leave. We stopped for tea and ended up talking to a really interesting lady (who is from the Kitchener area)  retired from the military and now doing all manner of jobs, including being a tour guide at Butchart Gardens. She plans to fly to Europe in Dec., then backpack, stay in hostels and travel on a Eurorail pass for 3 months!
Our plans to wander Victoria gave way to the need to relax a bit before our busy travel day tomorrow. It was a great day for the ferry, sunny skies and calm water. At least this time we weren't parked on a steep ramp!
We met Connie and her husband Eric for supper. It was nice to meet him. What an interesting background he has, he is a 3rd degree black belt in martial arts, Tai Kwon Do, I think! He has also worked as a movie extra and has met the Dali Lama!! Wow!! He has some health problems, but Connie seems the perfect match and will be good for him (and him for her)
Well we finally made it to our motel, exhausted beyond words. It's been a good but very long day!!! 

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