The Powers That Be have me back on the west coast. Just for a short visit. We have family visiting form overseas and meeting up in Vancouver was more convenient than having them travel up north to Alberta. Although it is rather beautiful and mild there at the moment. So nice, that even the bears are visiting town. I did not see it, but apparently there was a black bear nibbling away on the spring roots behind the town hall.

We did see a large bear however by the side of the road on our way to Calgary and its airport. Sorry no pics of Pooh-bear, just these shots from a couple months ago from our trip to Victoria and my last day in Vancouver.

I consider it a remarkably good omen that nature presented me with a rainbow on my way out. It just so happed to also be juxtoposed behind my favorite building in Vancouver, the Wall Center. The architects based the design on a ship's hull, and I am going with the sky was wishing me a bon voyage until I returned. My return was much sooner than expected.

It just so happened I was greeted with a rainbow my first day in Alberta too. Again, no pics for that either. Let me present instead these grabs of Fan Tan Alley in Victoria. Downtown Victoria is very quaint and has a quiet, sepia character you won't get in the Big Smoke across the Georgia Straight. If you are ever in the area ... set sail. If you leave early enough you can make it as very long day trip even.

The other photos are from Beacon Hill Park. If you have been following along with my blog, I have all but drowned you in the Peacock photos from the day. There were however other nature-type things to goggle at. We timed our visit just right to catch the Camus bloom. Not just eye-candy, these indigo blooms were a very important food crop to the First Nations of the region. The roots are rumoured to be delicious. It looks to be a bumper crop this year. The blooms were every where. I will drop a few more bonus shots below. Wishing you Hivelanders a blooming day:)

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