Tuesday 13 May, Victoria

A good night's sleep, which was just as well due to the blood nose I had just before getting into bed last night. Couldn't get it to stop bleeding for ages. No idea what brought it on, but hopefully it was a one off. We were boarded on the bus for a 7am departure to make our way to Butchart Gardens where we had breakfast. I'd have preferred breakfast in the hotel and then go to the gardens as the service was slow and the breakfast uninspiring. I wanted a lot more time to wander those magnificent gardens. As soon as brekkie was over we headed off to explore. spolier alert, if you don't like flowers or gardens then scroll through pastall the photos which are only a few of those I took. It was impossible not to want to photograph everything in sight.

we came upon the carousel which Jo and I were the first to venture onto. It was the best $2 Ive spent so far! Im sure that my horse was the fastest and definitely the prettiest.

More wandering each area of the gardens. Unfortunately we were a bit early in the season for the roses, but the tulips definitely made up for it.

The Japanese garden was so well planned. We found the Himalayan blue poppy which is very rare.

The Italian garden was equally lovely.

I made sure to rub the nose of the boar and am assured of continuing good luck.

Just a few minutes left before we have to all get together for a photo opp, so I made my way to the gift store and looked at all the pretties. It is a lovely shop and I'm sure my credit card works have received a bagging if I'd had more time. Bought an outdoor mug for both Jo and me. Her mug says "We will always be friends. You know too much! I will be using my mug at Vicki and Joe's home...

Sadly it is time to make our way back to our hotel. Sandy and Bron, sisters from Sydney have told us that they are interested in doing a hirse drawn carriage ride but are hoping to share the cost, so we agreed to go with them in a half hour ride through the James Bay area. It was lovely. I loved the different heritage housing and the stories our driver Katie, told us.

Once back at our hotel again, Jo and I decide to head out to find somewhere for lunch. We both only want something light like a sandwich, but it took some doing as the many eating places were very much big, hot meal venues. However I spotted a sign for sandwiches in a little shop down a side street, so Jo purchased our sangers and we made our way back to the hotel for Chicken and cheese sandwiches washed down with a couple of glasses of Chardonnay! (Vicki and Joe had better not be sniggering right now...) Time to start on the blog and then try and print up boarding passes for our ship tomorrow. The stupid app that Holland America insist on us using was worth less than useless. We are supposed to be able to add our boarding pass to a digital wallet but no such luck. Instead all we are offered on this blasted app is the ability to email it to ourselves. Somehow we are required to present the digital boarding pass or hard copy boarding pass upon arrival. Well, I'm sorry, I left my Canon printer and paper at home in Australia!!! With that, after about 45 minutes of bad language and still no success we headed down to the lovely lass at the concierge desk, who simply printed up a hard copy of the boarding passes we emailed to ourselves! Back in the room to finish off the Chardy and a good opportunity to simply sit back and relax before we head out to our end of the land tour component of our trip with Dale and our fellow travellers. Dale has been an absolute gem. She is certainly one of the best tour directors that I've experienced. Dinner was a buffet. There was certainly plenty of food but it was an odd assortment. The common complaint from the group was the difficulty they were having with downloading their boarding passes from the Holland America Navigatir app! Funny about that. Fake tells us that it is likely that HAL have closed the app due to so many people stentorian to use it right now... all those about to disembark in the morning and all those about to embark. Just as well Jo and I got it sorted this afternoon. Hopefully it will be a seamless embarkation. Time to say goodnight for now as we have to be up at 5, bags out at 6 and leave the hotel at 7.30 to make sure we get to the ferry terminal in time for our 9am ferry back to Vancouver. Hope you have enjoyed the land portion of our holiday. I certainly have.