Happy Sunday,Mayday mayday! May got away from me. I’m a week late, but I made it here to welcome you into June. Summer has arrived! But for May Long weekend… The weather forecast showed rain, rain, rain. Sitting at YYC airport’s gate A24, I sigh and put my phone face down on the seat beside me. I grab the $7 Starbucks coffee and sip, tentatively. Still too hot and burnt beyond bitter. I think to myself, “this weekend getaway might suck.” 150 minutes later, I’m sitting in the backseat of a Hyundai Kona EV, taking in the lush, green scenes of Vancouver Island. Sarah and I arrive at the Magnolia Hotel in the heart of downtown Victoria around 330pm to partly cloudy skies. After a pleasant check-in with Fabian at the front desk, we drop our bags in the room and head down to the hotel bar for happy hour. The Courtney Room is a 2024 Michelin Star restaurant. I don’t think they won the award for their happy hour snacks, but the cocktails tickled my taste buds. 100 minutes later, we’re walking down Government Street, donned in raincoats. To our left is the Empress Hotel. To our right is Victoria Harbour. The scene is quiet, beautiful, and wet. It’s chilly but not cold. I think to myself, “the rain here isn’t so bad…” On Saturday morning, clouds sit thick over the harbour. We walk 5 blocks to Wonderffle Cafe for breakfast. The wind whips, but no water falls from the sky. My heart sinks 4 bites into my eggs benny when I see people on the street pull up their hoods and speed up to a trot. The rain is here. 45 minutes later, we walk by the docks. Not only has the rain stopped, but the clouds are breaking up. We watch the Johnson Street bridge go up to let a trash barge pass through. By the time the tug boats are clear, the sun is shining. We walk across the bridge to West Victoria, before coming back by way of Bay Street, down the ocean front, past the Parliament building, and up and around Fisherman’s Wharf. We walk 30K steps on Saturday, and the sun never stops shining. On Sunday morning, the clouds are back but they aren’t threatening. They’re already letting some sun through. We borrow E-bikes from the hotel and set out for Beacon Hill Park. For 5 hours, we pedal around Victoria, soaking in the sights and sun. We stop for a snack at Spinnaker’s brewpub and lie on the lawn of three-leaf clover with a sightline to the sea. The scene is glorious with the sun, the sea, and nowhere to be. We end the adventure at Breakwater Lighthouse, watching a cruise ship load people into double-decker buses, ready to pack the streets. Having thousands of people show up out of nowhere certainly injects some energy into the vibes of downtown Victoria. On Monday morning, thick, sticky clouds set the backdrop of the 125th Victoria Day parade. I can see the tail end of the parade route from our hotel room, partially obscured by a row of umbrellas. That’s enough for us not to rush down. 75 minutes later, we check out of the hotel and wander to find breakfast. By the time we finish eating, the parade is over. There is no rain, but the wind is cold, and the clouds aren’t going away. With time to kill and nowhere to go, we seek some shelter. Our first refuge came in the decadent halls of the Empress Hotel. We find some plush chairs to sit and feel fancy for an hour. When the novelty wears off, we walk along the harbour without a plan. 30 minutes later, we stop in at the Flying Otter because it’s on the water. Right in time for a rain shower. We’re only there to wait out the rain before leaving for the airport. But it’s happy hour, so we order food. And hot damn, they served up the best halibut fish & chips I’ve ever had. When we sat down, I felt ready to leave. By the time we left, I felt sad to go. It was the perfect finale for a weekend getaway that exceeded every expectation. 120 minutes later, I’m staring out across the tarmac at YYJ airport. The sun is shining, and I’m smiling.
May in 3 snapshots 🎷 Victoria busking band — I love watching a good band jam live. One guy suggested a song in the key of E. The rest just figured it out as they played. All they needed was the groove, baby. Their cover of Red Bone was incredible. 🌻 Mother’s Day manual labour — Spent that Sunday afternoon at the homestead, loading a horse trailer with farm supplies and digging out my mom’s flower bed. As a soft-serve computer boy, it felt good to get my hands dirty and strain the triceps. 📺 Outdoor Oilers games — Caught a few playoff games in a dear friend’s backyard. He’s got a TV with a side view of the Elbow River. Strange to watch hockey outside, sitting in the sun, but it’s a fine reason to get together, laughing and having fun.
3 Lessons Learned I. Showing up is 90% of every endeavour. True for relationships, work, creativity, living – all of it. Showing up gives you a chance to try. A chance is all you need to be engaged with experience and light up your life. II. You’ll never get what you don’t ask for. Unexpressed dreams and desires rot on the vine of contemplation. Being considerate is a convenient mask for cowardice. Be bold, be brash. Because a clear “No” is better than not knowing. III. Either make peace or make haste. Don’t wait in the middle. When you let things happen to you more than you make things happen for you, you’re paying for it with self-belief. It’s easier to let things play out. But the toll is your confidence.
3 fun videos to check out
I’ll leave you with a quote 🤔 “Not everything blooms in spring. Your season might be autumn. Keep going.” — James Clear Until next time, Scotty
|
