Road Trip 2025 - Goats on the Roof

 

While in the Nanaimo area of Vancouver Island's east coast, we had a chance to revisit a favourite stop from our previous 1981 trip.. We couldn't remember the name or place, but I had 2 photos of goats grazing on a green sod-covered roof. The building was a country market and I remember wide open doors and lots of fresh produce, jams, etc. Woven baskets hung from the rafters and sat on shelves. A particular basket caught my eye...a doubled handled oblong one woven with thin, dark twigs. It was about 14 x 10 inches and 8 inches deep with tapered sides. That basket held my knitting for over forty years before the first sign of breakage. 

The Old Country Market, 2025, Coombs, Vancouver Island, BC

Although Crystal was only 3 during our 1981 visit, as a 2025 resident of BC, she knew exactly where Goats on the Roof was located and directed us to The Old Country Market in Coombs near Qualicum Beach and Parksville. 

The Old Country Market, 2025, Coombs, Vancouver Island, BC

And there it was. I spotted the sod roof and smiled. Yet, it was different. Back in 1981, we drove up to the market, parked in front of the wide-open doors, and walked right in like the photo below.

The Old Country Market, 1981, Coombs, Vancouver Island, BC

But where were the wide open doors to the market in our current photo of 2025 below? Times change. Now, there is long wooden bench in front of a lattice-like wooden fence, with an outdoor restaurant filling the space to the market doors. It's a great place to relax and eat, but tough if you're trying to get decent photos of the goats on the roof without the shade umbrellas hiding your view.  As it was a hot day, we took the best photos we could and then chose to eat inside...in the indoor market cafe which was very relaxing, cool, and quieter. Great food, too!

The Old Country Market, 2025, Coombs, Vancouver Island, BC

Established in 1973 as The Old Country Market, it is now a famous tourist attraction alternately known as Goats on the Roof. Information on the history of the market and the goats can be found on their website. And when we visited in 2025, the place was busy, inside the market as well as outside where people stood waiting to get in while being entertained by the grazing goats. 

Goats on the Roof, 1981, Coombs, Vancouver Island, BC

But what of the shelter on the roof? Was it the same one I'd photographed in 1981? I zoomed into my photos and checked the details of the small log shelter in both the 1981 photo above and the 2025 photo below...the shape of the log ends...imperfections in the wood...and am satisfied that it is indeed the same log structure. Weathering aside, not everything has changed.

Goats on the Roof, 2025, Coombs, Vancouver Island, BC

The country market still showcases local produce and goods, but it also sells a delectable selection of imported food, giftware, and apparel from around the world. It took us 2 hours to walk through the crowded market, collecting wonderful items along the way from all sections of the old building.  Of course, we could have gotten through faster even with the crowds, but we wanted to experience the sounds and aromas of the market, and to see everything. 

The Old Country Market, Goats on Roof Mustard, 2025, Coombs, Vancouver Island, BC

Yes, we bought the Goats on Roof Sweet Mustard among other delectable items. It is delicious. The Old Country Market has been a local favourite as well as a famous tourist attraction for over 50 yrs now, and it is heart-warming to know it still carries on the quaint and unique tradition of having goats graze on the sod roof.

Perhaps it's because we were goat farmers for many years? Or maybe it's because we like quirky roadside attractions...like when we were driving on Hwy 7 east of Peterborough, Ontario one summer and our eyes were drawn to the huge Dinosaur Drive Thru sign. Called Canada's Dinosaur Park, it features over 100 vehicle-size stationary and animatronic dinosaurs hidden in a forested area that really was a treat for our eyes and ears. 

Dinosaur Drive Thru, Canada's Dinosaur Park, 2024, Indian River, Ontario

Whatever the reason, Goats on the Roof was a family favourite in 1981 and our recent visit with the kids that weren't around for the first visit confirms it's their favourite as well. Hopefully we'll return some day once more. 

This post corresponds to our 2025 BC Vacation, but not any particular calendar page. 

The next post in this series is our previously mentioned incredible visit to Cowichan Bay, which is pictured on the June calendar page. We hope you'll join us at that time for another adventure.

Road Trip 2025 - Victoria

Our visit to Vancouver Island was laid out in such a way that we would stay a couple nights in one place and be able to reach areas of interest before moving on. One of those times was when we reached Cowichan Bay which will be featured in a future post. Once we settled in for the night, we went over the plan for the next day which was to visit Victoria. Nelson, Crystal, and I, wanted to just sit back and relax in our unique Airbnb with a dockside view. The younger ones wanted to visit Victoria about an hour south of us. We stayed. They went. 

JJ, Nick, Jessie, Legislature Building, 2025, Victoria, Vancouver Island, BC

Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia and the kids made sure they stopped at the historic Legislature Building. I am so glad they took a selfie with the flag flying and the totem pole on the side. 

Legislature Building, 2025, Victoria, Vancouver Island, BC

Nelson, Crystal and I had visited Victoria back on our 1981 trip when our destination that day was the Fable Cottage Estate. 

Fable Cottage Estate, 1981, Victoria, BC

The Fable Cottage was a delightful, magical estate and although it's gone now, even Crystal remembers it. While preparing for our 2025 trip, I searched for info on the Fable Cottage and couldn't find anything that marks its historic presence. From what I remember, a father built the estate for his children. Stone walls and hand-hewed woodwork for the doors and frames right down to the carved built-in seats for his children to sit in. It was truly remarkable workmanship.

Fable Cottage Estate, 1981, Victoria, BC

The Fable Cottage grounds were manicured in a park-like setting. One building was a smaller version of the cottage itself and had a flurry of dwarfs working on it, such as fixing the roof, replacing a window, carrying a ladder, etc. They were the same height as Crystal and she was in awe of them. 

Surfacing, Seasonal Garden Display, 2025, Victoria, BC

Back to 2025, apparently the kids were in the neighbourhood of the Fairmont Empress Hotel, which is on my bucket list, because Jessie took the above photo of Surfacing. Unlike topiary which is just the clipping of trees and shrubs into shapes, this seasonal garden display of a 6 meter/20 foot mother and calf orca is made up of 10,000 living plants on a frame which is replanted each year at the Beacon Hill Park Nursery.

Wild Peacock, 2025, Victoria, BC

While the youngsters were in Victoria, Jessie took a photo of this peacock crossing the street. What was a peacock doing in the city? Had it escaped a zoo or aviary? A bit of research showed that yes, it did seem to be an escapee from Beacon Hill Park. In fact, there are about 40 members of the peacock family residing in the park and they regularly roam the city, especially in the spring during mating season. They stay around the south side of Victoria and seem to like the Hatley Castle area.

 

Wild Peacock, 2025, Victoria, BC

Apparently, peacock vocalizing was a problem during the filming of the X-Men franchise as well as the Deadpool movies, and probably the dozen or so other films and shows that have been filmed in the area. Peacocks are beautiful, but their voices don't sing nicely by any stretch of the imagination. Peacock cries would probably fit right in for a horror movie though.  

Victoria's Chinatown National Historic Site, 2025, Victoria, BC

Nick took the above photo when they explored Victoria's Chinatown. There are hundreds of Chinese communities across our country, and Victoria's Chinatown is the oldest in Canada, thus the distinction of being a National Historic Site of Canada.

Victoria's Chinatown National Historic Site, 2025, Victoria, BC

Victoria's Chinatown also holds the record for the narrowest street in Canada. Fan Tan Alley, as pictured above, was notorious for gambling which was illegal, and opium which was legal until 1908. In my years of research, I was confounded to find how different "vices" become legal/illegal depending on the culture and government of the day. No wonder time travelers get confused. 

Bubble Tea, Victoria's Chinatown National Historic Site, 2025, Victoria, BC

Bubble Tea anyone? Although we can get Bubble Tea at home in Regina, there's nothing better to quench your thirst on a hot day when you're playing tourist, than Bubble Tea. And the cup is a nice souvenir of Victoria's Chinatown as  well. 

Midafternoon found the kids at Fisherman's Wharf near Victoria's Inner Harbour. It looks like a wonderful place to visit. The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority's website says, "This unique marine destination offers food kiosks, unique shops and eco-tour adventures amongst fishing vessels, pleasure boats with live-aboard residents, float homes and commercial businesses."

Jessie's photo above shows float homes, businesses, and tourists. My eye was particularly drawn to the small group of youngsters under the neon green sign. They're all engrossed in something in the water and I'd like to know what caught their attention. 

 Fisherman's Wharf Houseboats, 2025, Victoria, BC

Jessie also took this photo of float homes while at Fisherman's Wharf. I remember calling them houseboats back in the day. Definitely a different kind of living.

Actually, our Cowichan Bay Airbnb was over the water and while the kids were in Victoria, Nelson, Crystal and I spent hours looking over the deck railing at crabs and things and seeing how they handled the incoming and outgoing tide. We loved it! 

Our Cowichan Bay visit will be posted here on June 1st.

This post on Victoria corresponds to the May calendar page. We thought it would be a fitting tribute to Victoria Day when it rolls around on May 18th this year. 

Road Trip 2025 - Forests of Vancouver Island

We arrived at Port Renfrew after a cloudy, yet exciting morning exploring Botanical Beach on the Pacific Marine Circle Route on the western side of Vancouver Island. As we sat outside at a picnic table eating a scrumptious lunch of fish and chips, rays of sunshine fell upon us. I heard a familiar hum and flutter. 

Ruby-throated Hummingbird on Crocosmias, 2025, Port Renfrew, BC

Sure enough, a ruby-throated hummingbird searched and slurped sugary goodness from the bright red crocosmias just a few feet from where I was sitting. I had hoped to see one of the hummingbirds that we don't see east of the Rockies, but any hummer is food for my soul.

We weren't back on the road very long before I started seeing tsunami signs.

Tsunami Evacuation Route Sign, 2025, Pacific Marine Circle Route, BC

I'm not talking about signs that a tsunami was about to hit. These were actual signs of how to evacuate the coast if there was a tsunami warning. We thought it was cute...until 2 days later when we were on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island and there was an actual tsunami warning after a major earthquake off the Russian coast. The warning was cancelled the next day and we were more appreciative of the little tsunami signs we'd passed along the way.

Further up the road we were on the lookout for the Harris Creek Sitka spruce. It doesn't have significant signage, nor a parking lot. You park on the side of the road, walk in to admire the famous giant, take your photos, and head back out. A quick and fun side trip to get you out of your vehicle for some fresh air and exercise. 

Harris Creek Sitka Spruce, 2025, Pacific Marine Circle Route, Vancouver Island, BC

The Harris Creek Sitka spruce is 4 m/13 ft in diameter, approximately 80 m/260 ft tall, and hundreds of years old. No one knows its true age, except that the old-growth forest was first logged, or harvested, in 1893 and this tree was saved. Sitka spruce are known to live 800 years and only grow within 80 km/50 mi from the Pacific Ocean. Although the Harris Creek area is part of the second-grown forest, this Sitka spruce stands much taller than the surrounding trees. 

A few days later we were on another inland road on our way to Cathedral Grove, an ancient forest in MacMillan Provincial Park. Back in 1981 we had passed through here on the way to Tofino and now we wanted to see how the old growth forest was doing and to revisit some spots for updated family photos.

Anita and Crystal, 1981, Cathedral Grove, MacMillan Park, Vancouver Island, BC

The trees in Cathedral Grove are some of the oldest and tallest in Canada, and we almost didn't recognize the place. We were looking for the tree in the above 1981 photo of me and Crystal, but now there are boardwalks directing you where to walk. Which path had we taken over 40 years ago? 

Cathedral Grove, MacMillan Park, 2025, Vancouver Island, BC

And then I recognized this tree...except we couldn't recreate our photo because we had no access to the tree unless we jumped the fence and left the path.

Of course, we could have asked for permission like George Lucas did to shoot scenes in his Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi. Or like they did for Jurassic World: Dominion, which was released in 2022. Both movies show great examples of prehistoric and futuristic worlds and the fact that they were partly filmed in Cathedral Grove means they'll always be available to view on the big screen. 

Cathedral Grove, MacMillan Park, 2025, Vancouver Island, BC

Actually, there are Canadian TV series and movies currently available where I recognize parts that were filmed on Vancouver Island due to the look of the trees, ferns, and moss. It's a fantastic feeling of being there. 

Cathedral Grove, MacMillan Park, 2025, Vancouver Island, BC

The 1981 photo below is one we tried to recreate where Nelson pretended he was pushing over this huge tree. 

Nelson, Cathedral Grove, MacMillan Park, 1981, Vancouver Island, BC

You'd think it would be easy to recreate, but in 44 years things do change. Although we had to stay on marked paths, we feel the 2025 photo below seems a reasonable recreation.  

Nelson, Cathedral Grove, MacMillan Park, 2025, Vancouver Island, BC

Once we had the shot of Nelson pushing down a tree, we went looking to recreate the one below where he stands beside a toppled tree as if he had actually pushed it over. 

Nelson, Cathedral Grove, MacMillan Park, 1981, Vancouver Island, BC

The tree in the recreated photo below may or may not be the actual toppled tree in the above photo, but it appears to be about the same height so we took the best angle we could considering where we could walk. 

Nelson, Cathedral Grove, MacMillan Park, 2025, Vancouver Island, BC

Now, if you're wondering why Nelson's jacket is a few sizes too large for him, it's because we really were trying to recreate the 1981 photos and thus, tried to find similar clothing that matched the old photos. 

Cathedral Grove, MacMillan Park, 2025, Vancouver Island, BC

If you're wondering why Nick and JJ aren't in these photos, it's because they took one token photo and then headed off to a place that made their eyes shine. 

Cathedral Grove, MacMillan Park, 2025, Vancouver Island, BC

After a brief tour of Cathedral Grove, Nick and JJ skedaddled to Horne Lake Caves which will be the topic of our next post. 

A sad side note to our morning visit to Cathedral Grove in MacMillan Park was that later that day, we heard there was a wildfire on the north side of Cameron Lake which adjoins MacMillan Park. In fact, we had travelled alongside Cameron Lake on Hwy 4 to and from Cathedral Grove which encompasses both sides of the highway. As the day wore on, news about the out-of-control fire dampened our spirits with worry for the ancient forest as well as the hundreds of people who needed to be evacuated from their properties. 

This post on Cathedral Grove in MacMillan Park and the Harris Creek Sitka Spruce corresponds to the April calendar page. 

Road Trip 2025 - The Butchart Gardens Part 2

 
Part 1 of our Butchart Gardens tour took us through the Sunken Garden, Concert Lawn, and Rose Garden. Part 2 will now take us through the Japanese Garden, Italian Garden, and Waterwheel Square. 

Gateway to the Japanese Garden, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

Everything in the Japanese Garden is there for a reason...to immerse you in peace and feed your soul. It's a quiet place. You barely notice the dozens of other people on the paths because they walk slowly and hushed, paying tribute to the peace. The sound of a soft waterfall, a sprinkling fountain, and what I call a bamboo water drop (shishi-odoshi), are natural sounds in the garden. 

Shishi-odoshi, Japanese Garden, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

The shishi-odoshi is my favourite feature in a Japanese garden. I seek it out and wait as the closed bamboo tube fills with water, and then slowly...slowly...the bamboo starts to tip until finally, it releases a soothing stream of water. But wait---it's not finished yet because as the tube empties, gravity pulls the base of the bamboo back down where it hits the rock with a loud, hollow knock. And the process begins again as long as there is water to fill the bamboo tube.

Japanese Meditation Garden, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

Another feature I appreciate in a Japanese Garden is the Zen Meditation Garden, often called a stone garden. It's purpose is not the digging and planting of a flower or vegetative garden, but one for meditation and reflection. The sea is represented by undulating lines of sand or gravel curving around large stones and natural elements giving the aura of rippling waves. The art of creating such a garden is skillful. The art of allowing yourself to sit beside such a garden is calming...if you allow it to be. Breath slowly and relax. Let the world slide by for a moment or two as you follow the waves of a dry sea.

Moss-covered Stone Lantern, Japanese Garden, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

The cool Japanese Garden is filled with dappled sunlight which restricts growth, yet encourages moss. Moss abounds which helps deaden noise and allows for interesting, if somewhat subdued, views.  

Japanese Garden, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

A lily pond is beautiful on its own, yet takes on an ethereal beauty when floating above an artistic stone floor that shimmers as lily pads dance above.  

Artistic river bed, Japanese Garden, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

As we left the Japanese Garden, we felt the full rays of the late afternoon sun. We grabbed a quick view of the wide Star Pond before heading toward the historic Italian Garden. 

Italian Garden, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

The Italian Garden was constructed alongside the residence of Robert and Jennie Butchart. It has the shrubbery and greenspace of most gardens, with the focal part being a large plaza with the Cross Pond.

Italian Garden with Cross Pond, March 1992, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

In the above photo from my 1992 visit, you can see the distinct cross-shaped pond in the centre of the plaza. Since it was March when I visited, there weren't many plants in bloom, yet it shows the promise of a spectacular display. 

Do you see the vine-covered pillar with the large round planter in front located to the right of the lattice-work gazebo? This next photo shows how we found it this past July.

Italian Garden Gelateria, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

This vine has certainly flourished outside the Italian Garden Gelateria, travelling up and out from the pillar and hiding anyone playing hide-and-seek behind its beauty. Is it the same one I saw 33 years ago back in March 1992? I'd like to think it is, but I haven't done any research on it. 

Waterwheel Square, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

It was late afternoon when we stopped for a breather at Waterwheel Square. Butchart Gardens is an outstanding example of taking something useless and turning it into something sustainable that holds beauty and meaning and the hope of tomorrow. 

Butchart Gardens is concerned about the protection of our planet and have implemented initiatives in the Gardens and departments toward sustainability. For more information, check out their Sustainability page.

Check out a post I wrote in 2020 on The Butchart Gardens with photos and information of my 1992 visit.

Note: The Butchart Gardens Part 1 and 2 blogposts correspond with February's calendar page.

Road Trip 2025 - The Butchart Gardens Part 1

 

While in the Victoria area of Vancouver Island, we visited the 55-acre Butchart Gardens which we'd passed a day earlier in Brentwood Bay after disembarking the ferry from the BC mainland. A few years ago, I'd written a blogpost about Jennie Butchart and her dream of transforming her husband's depleted limestone quarry into a colourful and imaginative feast for the senses. Jennie wasn't a gardener, yet she knew what she wanted and who to contact. As a testament to her faith in the project, the Gardens, which are still owned and operated by her family, were granted National Historic Site of Canada status in 2004. 

Snail Pond, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

The Snail Pond is the first feature you pass enroute the Sunken Garden. It's one of many fountain sculptures and pond features highlighting the Gardens. The internet abounds with photos of the Butchart Gardens, yet most are views of the same statues, fountains, and garden designs. There were six of us taking photos on this trip and we were attracted to different things. This post shows the beauty, artistry and fun of our visit on that day in July, 2025.

Path to the Sunken Garden, Butchart Gardens, 2025, Brentwood Bay, BC

In this land of beauty, even the drab holds surprises. Moss topiary sculptures hide in places sun-loving plants don't grow, and other surprising locations. There's one lying between the trees on the left side of the photo above. See it close up in the photo below.

 

Moss Topiary Sculpture, Butchart Gardens, 2025, Brentwood Bay, BC

It's hard to believe the Sunken Garden was once a limestone quarry. The rock walls and ground are alive with natural textures. The pathways lead down, around, and wind up again, not straight lines, full of variety and hues to hold your interest with astounding vistas around every curve.  

The Sunken Garden, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

Each year, over 265,000 annuals made up of 900 varieties are planted in the Butchart Gardens greenhouses. They are used in the beds and baskets that colour the Gardens. Add to that the 180,000 biennials, 300,000 bulbs, perennials, shrubs, etc that flourish under the loving hands of the staff who use a holistic approach to protect and enhance the plants under their management. 

Nelson in the Sunken Garden, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

The Sunken Garden, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

We climbed out of the Sunken Garden and followed the path around the Concert Lawn. To the left was the Rose Carousel, as well as the Firework viewing area. Along our sun-drenched path, the dahlias grew almost as high as JJ. 

JJ along the Concert Lawn, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

I took a lot of photos of the magnificent walkways, but it's hard to tell the height of the stems and blooms unless someone is standing beside them. In the photo's background, you can barely see a building hidden under a canopy of greenery.

Jessie, Nelson, and Monkey Puzzle Tree, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

We turned to look for the rest of our crew and I was thrilled to see a Monkey Puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana) entertaining two of my monkeys on the Concert Lawn. 

 

The Rose Garden, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

 We continued down the path, past the dragon fountain, and entered the allure of the Rose Garden.

The Rose Garden, July 2025, Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, BC

The Rose Garden was breathtaking but admittedly, as we feasted our eyes on rows upon rows of roses, we didn't do it justice. The sun was draining our energy and we wanted to rest somewhere in the shade.

We continue our tour of the Butchart Gardens in Part 2 where we explore the cool and meditative Japanese Garden, the historic Italian Garden, and Waterwheel Square.

Check out a post I wrote in 2020 on The Butchart Gardens with photos and information of my 1992 visit.

Note: The Butchart Gardens Part 1 and 2 blogposts correspond with February's calendar page.