Don't know where we're going, but we're making great time.
I think it’s important to really understand the place you live in — its history, its customs, and its potential for unexplained paranormal phenomena. And when that place is light on all the above? Then it becomes imperative to marry one’s love of arts & crafts with available materials and a touch of the macabre. …
It’s no secret that Jan and I love seafood. If hamburgers and bacon didn’t exist, I think we’d eat from the ocean every day. While we didn’t plan our stay on Harstine Island to coincide with the 37th annual Oysterfest in nearby Shelton, WA, we certainly weren’t going to miss it. Oysters, people! Oysters! We…
We pulled up stakes yesterday and took the Coho ferry to Anacortes, Washington where Jan’s retired doc friend picked us up and drove us to our next destination on Harstine Island. Originally we were going to sail down, but his Prius could probably handle our luggage a bit better. Doc promises to take us out…
With our last few hours in Victoria, British Columbia we could have stayed home packing wisely for the next phase of our journey, but with beautiful weather and a whole city before us, we just couldn’t do it. Instead, we pursued a trifecta of fun. One last gallop… The weather was cool and overcast when…
If you’re unfamiliar with my background, I was a restaurant reviewer for Chicago Bites for about a decade and worked for a handful of large and small restaurant/culinary outfits in marketing communications thereafter. It was my job to know the local restaurant scene and be able to pick a spot off the top of my…
We’ve been fortunate that our host, Steve, was willing to lend us a few bikes for our stay in Victoria. These didn’t come with the original booking, but were offered up after Jan asked about where to buy a couple of cheap bikes. It never hurts to ask! Only one problem…Steve is a 6′ something…
Jan is of Norwegian decent, but I’m sure I don’t have an ounce of Scandinavian blood in me. My hatred of cold weather is better than any DNA test to prove that point. It’s 20 Celsius in Victoria, B.C. right now, and that’s enough to make my ears cold and achy on bike rides —…
There’s a thriving craft beer scene on Vancouver Island with options ranging from hopped West Coast styles to some innovative sours and barrel aged choices. We decided to do a deep dive into local options, and though we didn’t limit ourselves to just VI, everything we’ve tried is brewed within British Columbia. Admittedly, neither of…
One of the biggest differences in our move from Chicago to Victoria is the acceptance of recycling. I’ve noticed it in the Pacific Northwest, not just Canada, but this is my first time to live in a community that expects people to limit the amount of actual trash they produce. They’re pretty matter of fact…
There’s a bike trail called The Galloping Goose that winds its way from Victoria up the western coast a bit before veering off into the woods. The trail follows an old train route and it’s mostly paved, but gives way in spots to trestle bridges, street routes, and a few dirt roads. Though we have…