Final Vacation Snapshots

I'm going to power through and finally finish up the holiday pics, so this will be a picture-heavy post! For best viewing, click on the first pic and then use the arrow keys to scroll through.

On my last full day, Dad took me to Boundary Bay and the "Secret Garden," as well as the Tsawwassen shopping centre.

This little area is just past the parking lot, snack bar and washrooms, and is adjacent to the actual beach/bay. There were a few ducks in the pond, being fed by a local. One of the ducks had a significant limp and we found out from the fellow that the duck has been there for a handful of years, obviously thriving in spite of his "disability."


The garden is a shady, serene "oasis," presumably created and maintained by the gardening residents.


You can see that the garden has been created between the properties.


















The beach at Boundary Bay was filled with elementary students on an end-of-school outing. Apparently it's a popular spot for that, and there were three school buses parked at the time we were there.

By then we were ready to get out of the heat, so the air conditioning in the shopping centre was welcome. 

Our "big" shopping centre certainly doesn't have anything like these amazing sculptures!



I wonder who has to clean the one below! Or if it ever is cleaned, for that matter. 

Below are a few pics from Dad's favourite outdoor store (he likes to browse and daydream--lol). I've never been in an outdoor store that has decor like this, including a huge aquarium.


I actually felt sorry for the fish, below, because while the aquarium was tall, it was not that wide. There's really nothing for the fish to do but keep swimming around in circles, and it seemed to me that there were too many fish for that tank. 

The final snapshot is just a quick one from the return trip home, not too long after take-off. I was happy that this flight was without problem, other than being about an hour delayed. And in case anyone remembers the "gong show" going out, with all my food spillage, yes, I did it again on this flight home. I spent $10 at the airport for a large, fresh fruit cup and ended up spilling it all over my lap on the plane, pieces of melon and strawberry rolling in the aisle and under other seats. I also ended up with the "juice" all over my pants, and I had to fly to Ottawa smelling like a fruit cup myself. So. Embarrassing.


Anyway, if you made it to the end of this post, and all the vacation pics, you get a gold star. LOL. Thanks for sharing the journey with me! I have no plans to fly anywhere in the near future, though if all is well at Dad's end and mine next May, I will make another trip out. I had thought to fly out again at Christmas, but changed my mind about that pretty quickly on this trip, given the hiccoughs. I really wouldn't have been keen to fly in December anyway, given the almost 100% certainty of weather-related flight cancellations and delays, lost luggage, etc. No thanks, too stressful!

Take care, have a good weekend.

Comments

The Secret Garden is beautiful and such a surprise to find. I have enjoyed all your vacation photos, thank you.
Your pictures have been absolutely amazing and I'm actually sorry if you're not going to show us anymore. Of course I love all the ones with the flowers in the gardens. And then those amazing sculptures inside that store or mall. I'm sorry about your fruit salad. First you don't get to eat then second you're wet and sticky and you're stuck that way till you get home. Your photos have been so great it makes it seems like you were there for two or three months and I guess you were just there for one or two weeks. I'm glad you saw so much but it is a shame that you and your father did not get to do a little more of what you wanted and he wanted. Hopefully you will have a next time and you'll know what to look forward to. Thanks again for sharing because I've really enjoyed looking. Lynn and Precious XX
Kea said…
I was there for 6 full days, with 3 days of travel to get there and back. We did cram a lot in. There are other spots I'd like to see, so I hope there's a next time!

I was lucky to have four of those days just with Dad, that was better than I expected. I don't have anything in common with his wife, and, oh, how do I put this...If she's joining you, she already has everything planned out and that's that. She takes good care of Dad, though, and loves him, and as he's pretty easy going/passive, it works for them.
That secret garden is a really cool place! So good to that you and your Dad had a good time.
My Mind's Eye said…
Kim...I bet you and Dad found looks of peace and tranquility in the lovely garden with all the blooms.
Your Dad is an excellent tour guide and your photos were wonderful. I like the wall garden. A local shopping center here has several of those. Quite interesting.
We love browsing thru Bass Pro shop and Cabela. Both are full of all things out of doors
Hugs cecilia
Rian said…
Great pics, Kim! So glad you got to spend time with your dad. And I have to say that those last shots in the outdoor store looked like our Bass Pro or Cabela's too.
ANGEL ABBYGRACE said…
Oh to have a garden like that. Amazing. You got to see such wonderful things while you were visiting.
Katie Isabella said…
I am enjoying each and every picture! They are all works of love and art when you take them and share them as you always do. How gorgeous. Everything is something I too would love to see. Thank you Kim.
Those gardens are sure pretty and I love the sign about not being noisy. That shopping centre is amazing!
catladymac said…
Thanks for taking us along to these special places!
My Mind's Eye said…
Hi Kim
Just saw your comment today about the museum. We did not go in. There was a rather steep admission. Don't think I've ever had to pay to visit a museum. I guess they have to pay for the upkeep the gardens and home somehow.
Hugs cecilia
John Bellen said…
I enjoyed looking at the secret garden. It looks shady and restful and very pleasant. It's nice that it was created in a residential neighbourhood, probably by the residents, as you wrote. As for the fruit-cup, I would have been angry at the loss of the food, rather than the fruity smell. (I figure it likely smells better than I do at any given time, anyway...)
meowmeowmans said…
What a lovely oasis the Secret Garden is. We love that it is built right there in the middle of those homes. The mall sculptures are fabulous, and that outdoor store looks like "Bass Pro Shops," sort of near-ish to us.
The J-Cats said…
Oh, how I love gardens, especially Secret Gardens. The more secret, the better. This one was beautiful!
It looks like you had a lovely vacation. The Secret Garden is so pretty!
Maebeme said…
The secret garden is lovely! Such an abundance of flowers and trees. I can't recall the name, but I love the evergreen tree with the wonky branches.
I'm sure those six days flew by like a flash. Perhaps your next flight, you can wear one of those bibs with the catcher? Just kidding! :p