Friday, July 10, 2009

"The Flying Beaver"

Yesterday after spending the morning bubble wrapping "treasures' that will be going to San Miguel, lunch was in order, and we went to a delightfully different place.
It was called the "Flying Beaver". The name made me chuckle for so many reasons.....I can't imagine a beaver flying, but I did see lots and lots of seaplanes taking off. How cool.
Harbor Air flies out of a place next to the restaurant. It was fun to hear how people fly to Victoria and other places fast, rather then drive.

After we finished lunch I asked how much it cost round trip to fly to Victoria - $210 Canadian, yikes! Not cheap. I think we'll drive. I want to see Buchart Gardens, if possible.

It is so beautiful here now that the sun has come out. Warm and not humid - I could imagine I'm in San Miguel as I sun out in the backyard. Lovely.

RUCO has paid the $1.99 Canadian ransom and "The Tequila Man" and I will be meeting him on Sunday for coffee. Coffee seems to be the national drink of Vancouver. I've never seen so many Starbucks in my life. Nor have I ever been anywhere where every store, shop, business has signs in Chinese. Very unique.

I like the idea of being in a wooded area which is also an island surrounded by water. I saw the fishing fleet of boats yesterday and the canneries. Brought back memories of Cannery Row in California. BUT this was not gentrified.

To have lunch where there were boats, water, and planes was the ultimate. All the things that have been part of my life - always..............and now with a man. Yippee aiy o!

14 comments:

Bob Mrotek said...

Good luck driving to Victoria. If you don't take the ferry you better bring your scuba gear along. Victoria is on Vancouver Island :)

Michael Dickson said...

I sat in the copilot seat of a small seaplane between Seattle and Victoria in 1997. I recommend that route to you.

Anonymous said...

Go midweek to Victoria. The fares are cheaper on the ferry. Otherwise it's about $85 each way for car and two passengers. You will LOVE Victoria. It is a beautiful city. You could spend the day there and then drive up island to Nanaimo and catch the ferry home. The drive from Victoria to Nanaimo is very beautiful. Nanaimo is my home town.... and... if you have the time, I really recommend driving 3 hours north west of Nanaimo to Long Beach and Tofino. Have lunch at the Wikinnish Inn... it's a world class gem.

Bob Mrotek said...

In 1970 I drove my 1960 Volvo across Vancouver Island to Chesterman's Bay between Uculet and Tofino and spent about a month camping on the beach. I will never forget it. It was one of the highlights of my life. Babs, you gotta check it out :)

Tancho said...

I envy you, I love Vancouver and Victoria. I almost started looking for digs up there awhile ago, but then remembered the seasons....
Enjoy your visit, nice place to visit.....

Larry in Mazatlan said...

If you get to Victoria, and you should, don't you dare miss Buchart Gardens. Plan on spending a day and make sure you have extra batteries for your camera. On the return think about taking the Anacortes ferry. It weaves through the San Juan Islands. It stops at Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. There are a couple of great B&Bs there. Spend a day cruising the island and checking out the lavender farms and shops on the west side.

Larry

Babs said...

My oh my, all of you have given me all kinds of ideas. I'll have to see if we have time for any or all of it since this is a "working trip - you know bubble wrap and packing.....etc. BUT if this weather could get any better, I don't know how. It was just like San Miguel today - ahh I love the sun and the warmth.

picklesandroses.blogspot.com said...

You must, must, must see Buchart Gardens and spend the night in Victoria. The customs house is covered in lights near the harbor and the downtown is really fun!

picklesandroses.blogspot.com said...

From Victoria you can take the ferry over to Pt. Townsend and the islands and then ferry over to Seattle.
Did you get to the park in Vancouver with all the totem poles? And there is a quaint little shopping village called ??? Island I think that is right on the water. Nice places to eat there and some beautiful beaches.

picklesandroses.blogspot.com said...

Barb, it is Stanley Park where the totem poles are and a great view of Vancouver. But for a real treat, take the tram up Mt. Seymour and have lunch. It may even still have some snow on it and the view is lovely.

Bob Mrotek said...

Yes, by all means take a trip up Mt. Seymour like Kay suggested. The views are spectacular. One of the things that I noted on Mt. Seymour were the stumps. It is covered with tree stumps of incredible diameter and some of them have large trees growing from them. No matter how impressive Mt. Seymour looks now, the first European explorers who saw the area must have been awe struck. Too bad they cut down all the really big trees for sailing masts. At one time it must have looked like Mount Stumpy.

bmct said...

Hi Babs; it's nice to see you are in B.C. enjoying what a greater power has created for all of us to enjoy. As a young lady who has travelled extensivly; you can now appreciate how unique the west coast of North America can be; at the right time of the year of course. To sit at The Flying Beaver, on the south arm of the Fraser River, and watch the sun set; you really must feel a long way from Texas now. Good luck with your future adventures; as a born and bred BC boy; I know both of you will be happy where ever you are. Ben

Babs said...

How lovely of all of you to make suggestions. I found out, (don't laugh) that I'm not in Vancouver, but in Richmond. And yes, Bob, I know we have to take a ferry, a very expensive one - I never appreciated the free one from Galveston to Bolivar before!
We are going to the "north shore" and today we were in White Rock which reminded me of the California coast.....beautiful day.
The weather is beyond perfect.

cdube said...

Babs, you are now in my old home town. I grew up on the Island and in Vancouver. The island is a great place to visit you really should try and get over there. If you do, and can take the time, drive to Tofino. It really is spectacular if not just hit Victoria it is more British than Britain is now.

I have spent a lot of time in The Flying Beaver. We used to sit there and watch the multitude of small float planes coming and going especially the Beaver hence the name for the restaurant. Brings back great memories. I often take the Beaver over to the Island to visit my mother in Nanaimo. Love the small float planes. They contributed greatly to the opening of the more remote areas in BC. As a kid I spent a lot of time flying in them.

Anyway enjoy the wild West! Wish I was there to show you around my old haunts. There are many:)

Take and see you in San Miguel.

Chris