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January 8th, 2012

Last week we ventured across the water to Victoria.  It had been raining for a couple of days, and promised to continue but we decided to go anyway, and visit family and friends.  Has turned into a lovely interlude.  The trip over stood out as the first time I have not gone out on deck, especially when sailing through the Islands.  It was a tad rough during the open water phase of the trip, so I walked inside.  Then we had a window seat so I stayed with Jack.

We got the 1 pm boat and took the side roads rather than the faster multi-lane to Sandra’s.  Much more pleasant.  Arrived about 3:30.  Went to supper at The Rose, a pub that has been a family favourite for more than a decade, particularly with Jack’s brother and Sandra. John came over the next day, so we picked him up at the ferry.  That night we went out to supper with Bob and Linda, Sandra’s brother is a great pal of Jack’s and usually takes him out and about to do guy stuff (motorcycles, firehall, coffee shops and stuff).  Had a lovely meal at Boston Pizza but then.....

Jack was just sitting there and suddenly went rigid.  He had severe cramps in his legs, then belly, and chest. So bad he ended up on the floor and barely conscious.  Result, we got to ride an ambulance to Victoria General Hospital.  Yup, I got to ride in the front seat. Jack got checked all over, blood, kidneys, bladder (for infection, etc) At 2:30 am they decided he was good.  All tests came back good.  And sent us home with the recommendation that he stop taking statin drugs again.  This has happened before and he has had to stop taking the cholesterol drugs.  I don’t know why he keeps trying to take them. So we think the cramps got so bad because he sat on a hard chair for so long that his hips and/or back spasmed a bit and set off the other cramps.  Would never have called an ambulance for this at home, as it has happened before.  But when he looses conciousness in a restaurant and ends up on the floor, well.........

The next day John, Jack and Bob went out for the afternoon, touring motorcycle shops and going to a camping store to buy John a butane stove for camping. John spent Friday night with his friends Pam and Martina.   We visited our friends Marg and Dick Saturday afternoon.  Sunday we went to Jack’s nephew’s son’s hockey game (so cute to see the youngsters play) then we all did Chinese buffet.  Took John to the ferry that evening for the trek home (he does the bus/ferry rather than take the car because it costs $80 each way with a car!  Yikes.

We’re staying a couple more days in Victoria for a bit of sight seeing and visiting.  Weather says the sun will come out today so Julie is going to the beach, and down Marine drive to see the mountains.  I have been craving some time by the ocean.  I also need to take photos of the mosses and lichens, ivy growing up tree trunks, ferns and such.  This is what I love about this island on the Pacific.  Nature as I savour it.

More next time.

Julie