I spent a few weeks in Victoria, the capital of the province of British Columbia, biking, writing, exploring and being at ease and loving my family.
It is home to the first Chinatown in Canada, and the rose garden beside the parliament building was in full bloom, with each bush's flowers a distinct, intoxicating aroma. I went there many times and drank in their essence until I was in a swoon. There are bee hives just a block away at the Empress Hotel. The city is built in a unique Gary oak forest, which grows right down to the edge of the land, and the beaches host quaint neighborhoods with personal character. One of these, in Oak Bay is home to Hands Down the best bakery I have ever been to: Ruth and Dean on Estevan Avenue.
The scenic highway along the southern coast of Vancouver Island has so many beaches, but my favorite is the Jordan River beach. Its a great place to surf, has rustic campsites , and it's long, so there's room of everyone. The river falls gently down a shelf of rocks to meet the sea.
However, if you try and ride your dog around in a milk crate on the back of your bike along the networks of cycling routes that outmatch the roads for cars, you will be harassed by local cyclists if you do not have goggles for your dog.
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