Going back to Canada

After two full years apart, I was finally able to see my parents again. The border closed in March 2020 and still hasn't fully reopened. In June 2021, Canada began to allow fully vaccinated Canadians living in the U.S. to return without a quarantine period.

I had to do the following for gaining entry to Canada.

- be fully vaccinated for COVID at least 2 weeks before travel date.

- have a PCR COVID test done within 72 hours of arrival at the border.

- sign into the ArriveCanada app and give them all the details of my trip including the address of the place I was staying. 

Both of my parents have birthdays in September so I picked a date to visit that was close to those birthdays. 

I was really nervous about crossing the border into Canada. The border guard questioned me because the COVID test was done more than 72 hours before my arrival at the border. She sent me into the building after she said "is there a reason your test is expired?" The big burly male guard inside said "you're going home right?" I said yes. He said you can go ahead. I think male border guards are better to deal with.

I needed to find a Canadian SIM card to fully use my phone in Canada. I wasted time trying to find a WalMart without being able to use the Maps app. Once I found one, I bought a SIM card but I found out that it wouldn't work after I had already purchased it. 

I tried to buy a paper map in WalMart and struck out. I got a photo of directions to the ferry from the Walmart computer. I liked the woman who worked there. She tried all she could to help me. To communicate with my family I had to be on WiFi and use e mail. So old fashioned!

I missed the 3 pm ferry by 2 cars. Many times there is a ferry every hour but not at 4 pm. 

A view from the ferry.

And a lighthouse that I spotted as the sun was going down.

I stayed in a very modern Air BnB in the North Park neighbourhood of Victoria. Sort of a studio apartment. Photos here.

I was able to help my parents with some practical things. I found a smaller filing cabinet for them to use. I helped with filling out some things online for them. I moved my mom's clothes to accommodate the changing season. I did some cleaning as well. 

Can you tell what my dad's favourite colour is?

I took them on a scenic drive on Dallas Road. Victoria is indeed a beautiful place. No photos from that since I was driving!

We went to Oak Bay Hotel to celebrate both of their birthdays which are in September. We ate in The Snug. The photo of us with our desserts is at the top of this post. We had a fantastic view. The only issue was the door to the outdoor dining area was open and it got chilly. I asked for a blanket (which they provide for outdoor diners) for my mom. I had salmon, of course. Here is the view and the sunset.

The province of B.C. started on September 13th to require proof of vaccination for dine in restaurants. Here is a sample sign.

I'll refrain from sharing my opinion on this development. 

On Thursday we had lunch at Mattick's Farm at Adrienne's Tea Garden. I felt very young there. :) I had the afternoon tea plate. Very yummy.  We ate outside.

Mattick's Farm reminded me of Bothell Country Village which was sadly torn down a few years ago. 

I enjoyed all the greenery.

I spotted some blooming wisteria on the arch pictured above. Amazing since wisteria is a spring flower.

We were blessed with gorgeous weather during my visit. It only rained once and that was at night. Here are my parents enjoying the sunshine at Mattick's Farm.

I went up on a Monday and returned on Friday.

The weather on the ferry ride back to the mainland was perfect. I spent a lot of time out on the sundeck. 

When I came to the US border, I was again nervous. My green card is expired but I have proof that my application for a renewal has been received and things are in process (a renewal notice). I didn't know if there would be any COVID questions.

The border guard just asked for my green card and renewal notice, looked at them for a bit, and didn't ask for any other papers or ask any other questions. He said quickly, you're good to go. I actually didn't hear him and paused. He said you're good! What a contrast with the Canadian border. 

There is an inscription on the Peace Arch 

that says "May these gates never be closed." 

How ironic! Those gates were closed for a very long time!

I plan on visiting my parents again in a few months. I praise God for keeping them healthy during these past 2 years, despite some health scares.

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Dahlia Festival

There was a one day Dahlia Festival at Triple Wren Farms in Ferndale, Washington on Saturday September 4th. I asked about four of my girlfriends to go but none were available. J was my companion.

Ferndale is about a 90 minute drive north of us. Entry was 10 dollars a car. I had prepaid.

There were food trucks and a folk band playing. For lunch, I had a buttermilk fried chicken sandwich and J had a Rueben sandwich. This was the food truck we bought from.

You could cut dahlias to take home. It was $1 a stem, plus a fee for a bucket and snippers. If I go back next year, I'll bring my own bucket and snippers. 

Each row of dahlias was well labelled with a QR code to scan for more information about the variety and ordering for later. Dahlias are planted in the Spring.

At random places, there were dahlias artfully displayed on the ground.

There were multiple bouquets on display. I wish I had taken more photos of the bouquets.

We ran into J's supervisor who was there doing his photography hobby. We cajoled him into taking our photo with his great camera (we'll see that one later) and also one with his phone (at the top of this post).

We stayed about 2 hours which was about the right amount of time. I now have about 20 dahlias in multiple vases at home. 

I loved it so much! Better than the tulip festival, better than the lavender festival, for sure.

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