Qualicum Beach – Our Home Away from Home

We actually left Victoria much sooner than we anticipated. Change in circumstances - brother and sister-in-law came home a couple of weeks earlier than they expected. Lucky for us, the place we had reserved Buena Vista by the Sea could squeeze us in for that extra two week.

So we spent a few days with Stan (my brother) and Patty (his wife) and then headed up the east coast of Vancouver Island to Qualicum Beach and (Buena Vista by the Sea).

The Island Highway #1 comes out of Victoria and becomes the infamous 'Malahat' - a 25 km (15.5 mi) portion of the Trans Canada Highway 1 running along the west side of Saanich Inlet. It climbs to a summit of 356 m (1,156 ft), and the mountain is considered one of the most sacred sites on southern Vancouver Island. Its name comes from the Malahat First Nation, whose ancestors used the caves for spiritual enhancement.

There are many things to see and do along the 3 hour trip to Qualicum Beach but right then we wanted to get unpacked and settled.

Aw-w-w, it was not to be. The folks who were in the suite we were supposed to go into had been in a car accident and Claire (the owner) being Claire, offered us an upgrade for two weeks to let them stay there until the lady healed enough to move. So that was our introductions to the place. We were assigned the Red Room and it is more than comfortable.

We had a stone patio that led into the backyard and the gate out to the beach and the ocean.

 
Buena Vista by the Sea was built in 1937 and is considered one of the oldest still-operating resorts in the area. It was scheduled to be torn down when when Robbie and Claire took it over about 25 years ago.
As one of the housekeepers said, “you wouldn't believe these rooms when you see it from the front.” They are so inviting and warm. It is built right on the old Oceanside Highway with barely enough room to park a car, let alone the kind of trucks people drive today.
It took us a few days to discover Qualicum Beach (QB) because somewhere along the way, the screen on my laptop cracked (we have no idea how that happened). As Sheila would say, “just give her a computer and she is happy.” Needless to say, I was not a happy camper and nothing else was going to get done until my computer was up and running. I am now the proud owner of a brand new computer but it took a lot of travel time to and from Nanaimo to get that together.
We have become mesmerized by the ever-changing ocean: the waves; the birds and the people who constantly stalk the beaches.

 The Ocean

 

 The Birds

The People