It's 8:38pm and still bright outside. The sun won't set until 8:54. It shone down on Victoria all day today. After coffee, Barbara and Terry treated me to a visit to the Royal BC Museum's special exhibit from Guatemala, 'Maya: The Great Jaguar Rises'. I had never before seen examples of Mayan languages, which were a feature of this exhibit as this is UNESCO'S Year of Indigenous Languages. I had lunch with them and shortly after walked back to the museum to meet Liz and Ross to watch the 3D IMAX documentary,  "Great Bear Rainforest". It put you right into the grandeur of the old growth forest, its rivers and the creatures that live on the land and in the ocean off its shore. So I had two rainforest experiences on a very sunny day. I walked home slowly enjoying the warmth and watching all the activity along the inner harbour and gorge. 

I finally launched my inflatable kayak at Willows Beach this week. What a procedure. I think I entertained an old couple sitting on a bench near me. I call them old because they looked older than I and I heard a story on the news this week in which the reporter referred to an "elderly" man who later in the story was revealed to be 71. That's younger than I am, so I think that reporter would call them old. 🤣 I tried to be methodical as I blew everything up, so it took time, but it worked perfectly. The tide was very low so even though I inflated it on the beach, I had to pull it a long way out before I could get into it. A seal dove right beside me as I paddled along the breakwater of the Oak Bay Marina. It was fun to be back on the ocean on a sunny, calm day. 

I have had some good bike rides, visiting all the bays around Victoria and on the Galloping Goose but not yet on the new bike lanes that run through the city. 

Liz and Ross invited me again this year to their Indian dinner with Jill's family and in-laws. It was delicious and fun, an entertaining assortment of talented adults and kids. 

A page from a Mayan text from the classic period

Barbara, Terry and I went to the Victoria Day Parade again this year. This is part of the Chinese section. I think these boys are extra legs for one of the dragons, but I thought they were cute because they looked so lost. 

A beached whale near the Oak Bay Marina

My favorite piece of driftwood art

Me with Ross in the driveway at their house. 

Yesterday I biked again along the coast fromVic West to Cadboro Bay to meet Liz and Ross for a walk to FinnertyGardens. It’s a pleasant climb and the flowers are gorgeous, especially the rhododendrons. After we drove to meet Jill for lunch at Red Fish Blue Fish in the Inner Harbour. It’s just a couple of containers made into a food truck but it has become very popular. The line was long but the wait worth it. I had the best crispy oysters I have ever eaten. 

A beautiful garden on the walk up to Finnerty Gardens

Liz and Ross on the path up to the gardens.