Day Four February 9th There is something about not wanting to return to real life when one is away on holiday and enjoying life that doesn’t have the day to day cares, while at the same time knowing full well that that is unrealistic, and trying to take the holiday for what it is. A wonderful blessing – a break between real life cares.... Today was a good day of highlights and little cares. I woke earlier than Andris and went for a walk – just within the property of the resort, without heading to the shore. I spoke to a couple as they were leaving – and when I asked if they had been here before, the man said no – but that his wife’s sister had been, and that time had been in the hot tub when the lid fell on her and she chipped a tooth (!) AND YET she still loved it. To them, if after all that she still thought it worthy to recommend, it should be tried – and now they too are “satisfied customers” likely to return. After a “break-fast” at home, we drove out to Sooke to the Vienna Bakery for internet connectivity, lattes, coffees and sweet somethings. We spent a good hour there or so, then went to Whiffen (?) Spit – which Andris says we did in a previous trip. It was like a dog park with people walking dogs mostly off leash and enjoying one another. We spoke to many – but one gentleman, formerly DND, had 3 beagles - Missy (a hunter), Travis (a happy-go-lucky pup) and Sinclair. Another was a woman who had moved here 10 years ago when her husband had retired. She had a young lab playing with Travis. Somehow it seems that the older adults who move here are all slightly eccentric.... or is that what one needs to move to Vancouver Island? The man with the three beagles had his own commentary – which, as a immigrant, is an astute observation. The first year the newby arrives, compared to locals, he/she dresses in anticipation or gratitude of warmer weather – ie in shorts and bare legs before the locals were to do so. The second year, the newby is already into winter coats and scarves at the same temperature as the year before which elicited the shorts or sleeveless tops. By the third year, the “no-longer newby”, like his fellow Vancouver “Islandites” is complaining about the ferry service to the mainland..... The man with the beagles suggested a place for lunch – a pub-restaurant by the golf course – Mulligan’s. Not bad – but definitely Valley sized portions! Arriving “home” Andris napped and I worked on pictures (great shots of the jays this morning!!!) but before long we were getting ready for my present to “Andris” (?) – massages for the both of us in our cabin. Andris had a hot stone massage by Judy, while I had a West coast scalp massage (which actually involved hot stones, foot massage as well as head shoulders massage – and she added in work on the piriformis ) by Andrea. Although I was a bit worried about Andris, who was incredibly giddy (read: nervous) before the massage, I THINK that he now “gets” the benefits. With a quick intervening shower by each (to at least get some oil out of my head and hair on my part!) we had dinner at the Point No Point Restaurant – which many people had complimented and suggested as a place worth visiting, but it had been closed for its annual January to early February break, and today was it’s first day back on track. As an aside – at lunch time there appeared to be many cars – ie many people knew that it was once more open to the public. The food was quite good – though perhaps exquisite would have been expected for the price. Andris had one appetizer, then 2 appetizers for his main. I had 1 of each with two (!) Manhattans.... Both of us had dessert and coffee. And although Andris now has already been in the hot tub while I have been writing, I would be ready to go to sleep! Tonight we have people in the cabin to of our left – and as we came home we were barked at by the two dogs in their car. Perhaps two pets is beyond what the place allows.... But – without the dog aspect, at dinner Andris and I spoke about how much it would cost to come again... perhaps a bit later in February. What a wonderful thought – even if it ultimately becomes a pipe dream.....