October 31, 2021 • 73

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: A Fine Day In Victoria, B.C.

Do you know how sometimes on very fine days the sun will shine with a particular intensity that makes the most mundane objects in the landscape glow with an unusual radiance, so that buildings and structures you normally pass without a glance suddenly become arresting, even beautiful?

~Bill Bryson

Amy leads us this week with a great challenge. Her A Day of My Week gives me the chance to share a wonderful experience.

At the end of September, we were trying to decide where to go on a mini-trip. At first we considered flying to the Yukon, but when we heard that the temperatures in White Horse and Dawson City were below freezing and snow was already falling, we decided that we weren’t ready for winter yet. So we took a shorter, warmer trip to Victoria, British Columbia.

We traveled by seaplane, a totally new experience for both of us. These planes are small and light, as you can see in the photo, so we could only bring 15 pounds of luggage per person. As the day approached, we worried about traveling in the rainy autumn weather, but we got lucky. On the morning of our scheduled trip, the skies were clear.

As the plane gathered speed and rose above the Burrard Inlet, the views of the surrounding mountains and waterways were stunning. Rich kindly gave me the window seat, so I happily shot dozens of photos during the short 30-minute flight.

Once we landed, we ate lunch and started to explore the city of Victoria, named for Queen Victoria. It’s the provincial capital of British Columbia with a population of approximately 100,000 people. Here, you can see vestiges of the city’s colonial past in its architecture and landmarks like Craigdarroch Castle.

The city is modern, too, with quite a few new hotels and skyscrapers. I loved their water taxis, painted in yellow with black and white checkered trim, like some cabs in the U.S.A.

We took walks all around the city. Along one major thoroughfare, we spotted a row of murals offering moral support to locals and visitors during the pandemic.

As night fell, we found a great Italian restaurant for dinner. After eating a great meal and listening to a live band playing swing music, we took another walk along the shoreline, stopping to admire the city’s landmark buildings outlined in white lights. You can see the skyline reflected in the calm waters of the harbor.

Visiting this city and traveling by seaplane were great experiences. I was surprised at how smoothly the plane took off and landed on the surface of the water, but then again, we had a calm day with little wind. I’m already thinking about our next adventure to photograph the aurora borealis.

A special thanks to Amy for her terrific inspiration this week with her A Day of My Week Challenge. Be sure to stop by her site to see her beautiful photos of a great day.  

As for your “Weird and Wonderful” collection last week, it was terrific! I loved your discoveries of people, places, and things that were far from ordinary. With Halloween right around the corner, Ann-Christine’s timing was perfect. A special thanks to her, too, for inspiring us.

Next week, it’s Tina’s turn to lead the Interesting Architecture challenge, so be sure to stop by Travels and Trifles next Saturday at noon to join the fun. In the meantime, have a joyful and inspiring week, everyone!

Categories: LENS-ARTISTS, Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, Photography

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73 replies »

    • Hi, Frank. I haven’t tried any BC wines, yet. Thanks for the tip! Rich tried some of the local beer and liked it. I guess it’s time for both of us to have some BC wine!

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    • Hi, Brian. It was something I’ve always wanted to do at least once. I hope you get to try it. I couldn’t believe how smooth the landing was. Thanks for your kind words, too. Have a great week.

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  6. The photos complimented the narrative so beautifully, Patti. A seaplane ride must be quite an adventure. Also you captured the flavours of your trip including the eye catching street art so well. One cannot go wrong with Deadpool Ryan. 😊

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    • Hi, Yvette. 😀😀😀. I’m delighted that you liked my “light” motif! And yes, 15 lbs…a bit of a challenge, but we did it with a camera and a computer and clothes and a few pounds to spare!!! Take care and have a great week.

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      • Well good for you for having some pounds to spare.
        A few years ago – a health coach friend (Mike Bruce) was visiting us with his wife and we all had lots of Kate night talks – fun but whew – tiring later
        Anyhow – on one of those unplanned long chats – Mike shared about lightweight dry wick material for most of his clothes – especially for travel!
        The bloggers @ Gallaivante also share about simple light clothes – Anyhow – I took that advice and now have a handful of lightweight universal pieces for trips, it is not even for a restriction – it is because less can be more when traveling – the packing to go is simpler – the ease of these clothes while doing the trip and the unpacking – so unless the trip is for a wedding or event w/ certain outfits needed – I go as light as possible –
        —
        Anyhow – your trip sounds like a great adventure

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      • it can be boring at times to have the same lightweight items – but in neutral colors it makes things work! and sometimes we have laundry options and sometimes not – so the lightweight items also wash easily in a sink and can be air dried quickly –
        have a great day

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    • Hi, Ana. I loved that you came with me on this trip! It was so much fun and a great break on many levels. I hope you’ve had some wonderful weekends in the Pyrenees. I love your photos from there. 😀😀

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  10. You’ve captured a special day beautifully Patti. We loved Victoria, to us it seemed so very British! Seaplanes are marvelous but ONLY in good weather! Someday I’ll tell you our story 😱😱. I’ll close by telling you I am insanely jealous that you’re off to see the northern light. High on my wish list. Loved your beautiful and very special day but of this set your image of the night lights is my favorite.

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    • Thank you, Tina! It does seem very British. I could have had afternoon tea at a number of places!! My kind of city! Oh, you must tell me about your seaplane trip. I was a bit worried on the way home, because the weather was stormy, but there wasn’t too much wind. As for the northern lights…it’s turning into a quest. So far, we haven’t had any luck, but we’ll keep trying.

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    • Hi, Amy. Thank you! I was having trouble with my camera that weekend and was so happy I had a few good shots out of many! I hope you can go there. It was a great experience…great food, great beauty…the whole thing. 😀

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  15. Thanks so much for sharing these lovely photos. Although I’ve never been to Victoria, you’ve given us all something to appreciate. I love the photo with the two yellow boats — mainly because I’d love to be on them, headed inland! A beautiful post, for sure.

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  21. Beautiful clouds in your first shot, Patti! I flew there once when we missed the ferry. It gives you a totally different perspective. I liked your Craigdarroch photo too. A great place for pictures!

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  22. Every trip is a short trip these days; what counts are the basics now: whether you enjoyed it. Looks like you did! I like the fun street art you got there. Victoria seems to be a relaxed place.

    I always wondered what it would feel like to land in a sea plane. It sounds like fun, and I’ll definitely try to do it one day

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    • So true, IJ. We’re back to the basics! Travel is not relaxing anymore…but it’s still great to get away even for short trips. Victoria is a relaxed place, with great restaurants and natural beauty. I highly recommend visiting there and taking the seaplane. I hope all’s well with you.

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  24. What a great day, and a great way to travel! We once went on a seaplane ride, out of Tofino on Vancouver Island to see the coastline and spot grey whales! It was really fun, but it never occurred to me that you could use them to travel from A to B like this!

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      • Absolutely! We did two, one by zodiac as well as the seaplane. In the zodiac we got so close I could almost have reached out and touched the whale’s barnacled back 😍 And from the air we saw a mother and calf swimming together, as well as the great views of the coastline. I have the images as scanned slides – not great quality but I’ll try to share some time 🙂 🐋🐳

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  29. Such beautiful photos, reminds me of when we took a seaplane to Vancouver Island during our four day stay there. It was my husband’s highlight. We nearly didn’t go as we needed our passports! But they let us on in the end.

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