John Harvey Photo

April 2019

Go to Slide Show Smaller Images And some clever quip...



Victoria For Easter

We got to Asia most years, around spring break.  Depending on the moon, Easter is sometimes part of our trip and sometimes it isn't.  Easter isn't a big holiday in Asia, but in Canada the kids really like going to Grandma's house for the traditions and chocolate. 

Nara Painting EggNara With Pieces Glued OnClaira Topping Egg


This year the kids figured out they can climb the tree in the back yard!  On the the trees in the front yard fell down in a big wind storm in the spring and the parents are worried the trees in the back yard (which I planted) are going to fall down as well.  They had the trees spiral cut so the wind can go through them, but this has the added benefit of making them much more climbable.

Kids Climbing TreeClaira Coming DownClaira Happy Up HighNara Climbing Down

Two years ago I took Nara on a whale watching trip.  Claira is now the same age as Nara and wanted her trip!  We booked with the same company and arranged for Grandma to take care of Nara while Claira got her trip.  A twist from last time - Helen decided to join us as well!

The big concern is wind - if it's too windy, everyone will feel ill and no one has a good time.  Because April is early in the season, there are fewer tours and less chance of seeing a whale.

Windy On The ShipClaira Photographing Plane


The boat left the harbour in Victoria and headed out toward sooke.  We then crossed over the strait of Juan de Fuca to the American side.  A few other boats were in the area already and we were surprised to see a grey whale surfacing roughly every three minutes.  We were several hundred meters offshore of a river outlet so I assume the bottom was sandy and there was lots of food down there.  The regular surfacing made the animal easy to spot and it did surface fairly close a few times.

Grey Whale BackGrey Whale Blow

Race Rocks From Ocean Side
We had spent quite a bit of time traveling to get here so we headed back to Victoria after this whale sighting.  On the way back we stopped at Race Rocks to see what was out of the ocean.


The islands around the lighthouse are usually covered with marine Mammals - Harbour seals and Sea Lions.  Apprently there were Elephant seals, but they were quite high on the island and difficult to spot.  Finally, there is very active Pigeon Guillemot colony.  The Guillemot's are almost dancing on the water while they feed.

Sea Lions Resting On RampHarbour Seals On The RocksPigeon Guillemot Running Start

  Claira Happy To Be Back
Claira had a great time.  Now that both kids have been once (when they were six), we have to figure out the rules for the next trip together.


Mount Douglas

White Fawn Lily Beside Rock
Mount Douglas isn't too far from my parents home.  When we got home from the whale watching trip, Claira was tired by Nara wanted a bit of adventure.  We drove up to the top of Mount Doug and explored some trails.

California TortoiseshellNara Photo From Rock

Easter Egg Hunt


Walking Fenceline With Basket
The real reason for the trip to Victoria happened on Sunday morning - the Easter Egg hunt!  When you are traveling it's sometimes a bit tricky to get and setup an Easter Egg hunt.  Grandma has all of the stuff - buckets, containers, treats - so the kids really enjoy the hunt at Grandma's house.


Grandma does a pretty challenging Easter egg Hunt.  Sure, there are the usual - eggs under the tree, eggs in the stacking chairs.  This year, there were eggs (in a plastic bag) on a tree limb and another plastic bag hidden on the fence.  The kids have to work for it!

Claira Off On HuntClaira With Fence PostClimbing To PrizeStill Two Prizes Missing
 

Uplands Park

Four years ago I had a nice morning walk in Uplands park.  I went at sunrise when the light is gentle and without kids so I could work slowly with a tripod.  The park has meadows that are full of wild flowers - in the spring it is kind of magical.  This morning I took the kids to see if they would also enjoy it.
 
Common CamasShooting Stars In GrassMeadow Of CamasShooting Stars Under Oak Trees

Claira fell down and hurt her knee. 

Nara's Birthday Party 

Nara is turning 9 this year and she picked the family favorite Granville Island Adventure Zone for her party.  We have been here so many times that the staff know us by name.  The kids are old enough that I no longer go into the maze - it's time to just chat with the few parents that stick around after their kids go in.

Helen With Birthday CakeNara Blowing Out Candles

Putting Coins In Machine
We usually get the maze + arcade package.  The kids get a bunch of tokens to try in the machines.  The machines vend tickets and the kids can redeem the tickets for prizes.  There is no great reward, but the kids take the process quite seriously.  They really want to understand the expected yield on each machine before they commit to putting in tokens.  The are clearly disappointed if they get less than the expected yield.  This is still hard with Claira.

Kids Figuring Out Machine

 

Terra Nova Adventure Playground

Nara's birthday was Sunday morning and it was a beautiful day so we decided to go to Terra Nova Adventure Play Environment for the afternoon.  While it was busy, there is enough equipment that the kids generally don't have to wait to play.

Nara Floating On Tree LimbNara Walking On LogNara On Zip Line

Claira Sitting On BranchClaira In Cargo NetClaira Future Leader
 
 
Nara Climbed Tree
One of Nara's favorite places to play is a large chestnut tree.  Usually there is a picnic table close by and she can use the picnic tables to get into the lowest branches of the tree.  From there she has many limbs to climb, most of which are at least 3 meters off the ground.  It's hard to watch as a parent, but she certainly enjoys it.  This area was settled in 1868 so potentially this tree could be 150 years old.  Apparently these trees can grow to be 300 years old so this tree likely has lots of life left in it.








Climbing To Prize
Grey Whale Blow
Species: Eschrichtius robustus (grey whales, gray whales)
Altitude: 6m (19 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: marine mammal, spout, whale
Claira Photographing Plane
Location: Go To...
Tags: plane
Nara Walking On Log
Person: Nara
Tags: playground, Terra Nova Adventure Play Environment
Sea Lions Resting On Ramp
Altitude: 4m (13 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: marine mammal
Kids Climbing Tree
Tags: climbing, tree
Nara Climbed Tree
Person: Nara
Tags: climbing, Terra Nova Adventure Play Environment, tree
Claira Future Leader
Person: Claira
Tags: Terra Nova Adventure Play Environment
Shooting Stars In Grass
Species: Primula pulchellum (dark-throat shootingstar, Few-Flowered Shootingstar)
Altitude: 13m (42 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Uplands Park
Harbour Seals On The Rocks
Species: Phoca vitulina (Harbor Seal)
Altitude: 9m (29 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: marine mammal
Meadow Of Camas
Species: Camassia quamash (common camas)
Altitude: 13m (42 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: meadow, Uplands Park
Nara On Zip Line
Person: Lloyd, Nara
Tags: playground, Terra Nova Adventure Play Environment, zipline
Race Rocks From Ocean Side
Altitude: 3m (9 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: lighthouse
Claira Off On Hunt
Nara Climbing Down
Person: Nara
Tags: climbing, tree
Grey Whale Back
Species: Eschrichtius robustus (grey whales, gray whales)
Altitude: 6m (19 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: marine mammal, whale
Common Camas
Species: Camassia quamash (common camas)
Altitude: 209m (685 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Uplands Park
Claira Happy Up High
Walking Fenceline With Basket
Tags: flare
Claira With Fence Post
Nara With Pieces Glued On
Person: Nara
Tags: decorating, eggs, painting
Nara Blowing Out Candles
Person: Nara
Tags: birthday cake
Claira Coming Down
Claira In Cargo Net
Person: Claira
Shooting Stars Under Oak Trees
Species: Primula pulchellum (dark-throat shootingstar, Few-Flowered Shootingstar)
Altitude: 12m (39 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: meadow, Uplands Park
Helen With Birthday Cake
Windy On The Ship
Person: Claira, Helen
Altitude: 5m (16 feet)
Location: Go To...
Claira Topping Egg
Tags: decorating
California Tortoiseshell
Species: Nymphalis californica (California Tortoiseshell)
Altitude: 202m (662 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Mount Douglas
Still Two Prizes Missing
Person: Claira, Nara
Tags: fence
Nara Floating On Tree Limb
Person: Nara
Tags: Terra Nova Adventure Play Environment, tree
Nara Photo From Rock
Person: Nara
Altitude: 207m (679 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Mount Douglas, vista
Claira Sitting On Branch
Person: Claira
Tags: Terra Nova Adventure Play Environment, tree
Nara Painting Egg
Person: Nara
Tags: decorating, eggs, painting
Putting Coins In Machine
Person: Nara
Tags: game
Pigeon Guillemot Running Start
Species: Cepphus columba (Pigeon guillemot)
Altitude: 6m (19 feet)
Location: Go To...
Kids Figuring Out Machine
Person: Abby, Claira, Haley, Nara
Tags: game
Claira Happy To Be Back
Altitude: 3m (9 feet)
Location: Go To...
White Fawn Lily Beside Rock
Species: Erythronium oregonum (White Fawnlily)
Altitude: 205m (672 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: flower, Mount Douglas
Tags: Terra Nova Adventure Play Environment(6), tree(5), marine mammal(4), Uplands Park(4), decorating(3), climbing(3)
People: Nara(12), Claira(6), Helen(1), Abby(1), Haley(1), Lloyd(1)
From: John Harvey Photo > Blogs for 2023 to 2005 > April 2019

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