Wednesday Aug 2, 2023 - We were so happy Aunt Gerry & Uncle Gene came for a visit. They haven't been to Indianapolis, so we had a great time showing all our favorite things about Indy. Wednesday we decided to take out our kayaks for a float. Aunt Gerry and I dropped off the car at the Rocky Ripple Town Hall and rode our bikes back on the Canal/Monon Trails. The river was a bit low, but we were able to drag the kayaks through the shallow spots. It was a 2 hour, very relaxing float!
Dragging the kayaks to the Art Center boat launch
Almost there
I think we're ready for a paddle
there were a few fast ripples
Aunt Gerry looks like a pro!
Our usual bridge pic, after dinner at the Broad Ripple Brew Pub
Thursday, Aug 3, 2023 - It's fair day! We drove to the Deaf school to park, which was quite convenient and spent about 5 hours enjoying the fair. Thursdays are our favorite day, since it's $3 admission, each food truck has a $3 special, and rides are only $3...you can't beat it!
We started out with a ride on the free tram
Then off to see the animals. Love these coats on the sheep and their legs are wrapped to keep the wool on their legs clean and fluffy
The new pig exhibit hall. That's a lot of pigs!
one sleepy pig
cute little pink baby pigs
Aunt Gerry & I needed to try out the skyride.
waiting for our fried snickers bar
Yup, it was worth the wait
the cow barn
epic Midway sign
main street from the ferris wheel
these guys are selfie pros!
Friday Aug 4, 2023 - We walked up to Rene's for some of our favorite pastries and a few new ones, and headed to the art center for a picnic breakfast.
cinnamon roll, eclair, bread pudding, frangipan and a torte from Rene's
breakfast in front of the crooked house
then a walk through the art center. There was an exhibit of the instructors' work
Thursday Aug 10, 2023 - We decided since the fair was still open, we needed to ride our bike the 4.2 miles down the trail, have lunch and do a few of the things we weren't able to squeeze in while Aunt Gerry & Uncle Gene were here
$3 corn dogs again, and we forgot cheese fries last time!
We walked through Pioneer Village, so we could watch the volunteers eat lunch.
waiting for the pig race to start
and they're off!
the skyride from main street
the tallest sunflower
prize tomatoes, that I had to keep Kevin away from
cloudy day, but no rain
I'm an angel!
Sunday Aug 13, 2024 - The Indianapolis Philharmonic was playing at the Central Library today, so we decided to ride our bikes, only 8 miles on the trail. There was quite a bit of new construction along the trail. It had been probably 2 years since we rode our bikes downtown.
Made it to the library
bike parking
The Cultural Trail
Someone is following me
Sunflowers
Bottleworks on the left
A pretty view of the rainbow bridge on a walk home from the grocery store
Thursday July 27, 2023 - We packed a lunch and headed out of town to the world famous Butchart Gardens. It was a 35 minute drive from the house and was quite a beautiful spot. We had a picnic lunch there, then headed to Malahat Skywalk, which was about 45 minutes from Butchart. Google took us on a crazy road, for about half of that drive, which went through Goldstream provincial park. The road was quite windy and was mostly one lane. After climbing to the top of the skywalk, there are beautiful views of Mt Baker, the Saanich peninsula and Finlayson Arm. The slide to the bottom was especially fun. When we got home we packed a quick picnic dinner and headed to Willows Beach for a concert. It was quite the busy day!
Butchart Gardens
The sunken gardens were made in a stone quarry. The Butcharts moved here from Ontario in 1904 and started a cement business on the island
The Ross Fountain
There are a few totem poles on Vancouver Island
Entrance to the Japanese Gardens
pathway through a pond
View to Butchart Cove
Picnic lunch on the lawn
Google's windy directions to Malahat
It was a crazy drive
Walking to the top of Malahat Skywalk
Quite a pretty structure
scary ropes walk looking through to the ground
Views of Finlayson Arm
Meg starting her slide down
Elaine's slide down!
Views from the bottom
Second picnic of the day. Dinner at Willows Beach
Lots of people for the live band
A quick walk down to see Willows Beach
Friday July 28, 2023 - For our last day together we drove to Beacon Hill Park for some exploring, we walked along the water on the Dallas Rd trail, then walked to Fishermen's Wharf for fish & chips at the Fish Store. We then continued our walk to the inner harbor where we grabbed a water taxi across the harbor to Spinnakers, which is the oldest brewpub in Canada. We enjoyed a game of gubs on the lawn with some beers, then walked across the Johnson St bridge to the Craft Beer Market for more beers and our last poutine of the trip. Dinner was leftovers and pizza on the deck at our house. It was early to bed since the kids have 6:00AM flights out.
The wonderful Demitasse counter
Meg and I split a strawberry rhubarb danish and cinnamon roll, not sure what Kev had
such a cute spot for breakfast, and only just around the corner from our house
games at the dining room table
and more ping pong
a totem pole?
A visit to Beacon Hill Park
Nicely carved chair for King Kev
Beacon Hill Park was a really nice park, with lots of hidden treasures. This is the Moss Lady
Bench carved out of a log in a small Redwood grove
Cute circular bench around this mushroom looking shelter
the largest totem pole in the world
A walk along Dallas Rd and some nice deck chairs
Fisherman's Wharf for lunch
Lunch at the Fish Store
REALLY good fish & chips (we had halibut). Meg & Maddy had fish tacos.
People actually live in these floating houses at Fisherman's wharf
Quite picturesque!
We walked to the inner harbor from Fisherman's Wharf
and passed the Parliament Building again (and another totem pole)
The Empress in the background
Queen Victoria in front of the Parliament Building
Elaine hiding in the hydrangeas
Here comes our water taxi
We're off to Spinnaker's for a beer
We walked along the Songhees Path to get to Spinnakers
Beer on the lawn
The sky was pretty amazing
Another nice path
Beautiful walk back to the inner harbor
Walk across the Johnson St Bridge
Beer at the Bar
And our last poutine
Last pics
953 Hampshire
Saturday July 28, 2023 - We left for the airport (a 30 minute drive from the house) at 4:15AM. The airport is quite small, so we probably could have left later, but wanted to make sure everyone had easy flights home. Kev and I stopped at Mt Tolmie on the way back to the house to watch the sunrise and hopped back in bed for another 2 hours sleep. After packing up, we headed down Dallas Rd to the Ogden Point breakwater. It was a nice walk, as the breakwater juts out into the Juan de Fuca Strait. We then drove to Mt Douglas, for beautiful views of Victoria and Vancouver Island. We then spent an hour exploring the town of Sydney before heading off to the airport for our 6:00PM flight home.
Sunrise on top of Mt Tolmie
Ogden Point Walkway
We walked out to the end of the walkway
The Dallas Rd stairway
View from the top of Mount Douglass
More views
Picnic lunch with a view in Sydney
Beacon Park in Sydney
Glass Beach
It was only a 15 minute flight from Victoria to Vancouver and so fun to see all the islands, since we never got very high up
Not sure how the trip could have been better! It was great to get to spend a week with the kids in such a beautiful, relaxing spot...water, mountains, city...what more could a person want? And Victoria has perfect summer weather with lots of sun, high temps during the day in the mid to low 70s and low temps in the 50s. Maybe we should move here!?
