Victoria 

1st June

Slept badly. Up and out to nice coffee in Ucluelet and into bus at 8. Drove back across to the east of Vancouver Island and then south to Victoria. Stopped on the way for Tim Hortons coffee, another for leg stretching and another at Duncan to see the totem poles, there are a great many.

The local community acknowledges that the totem pole collection is located on the traditional lands of the Quw’utsun’ (Cowichan) people. Cowichan Tribes has the largest First Nations population in BC and their oral tradition states they have lived here since time immemorial.

Duncan is in the Cowichan valley, it has a nice little museum. Lunch next to it on the grass. By the time we got to the east side it had stopped raining.

Then dozed the way to Victoria. Into Howard Johnson or hojo which is another tired old place in need of a refit. Quick wash and out again to get into the city. M dropped us off. Joy and I went to the Museum of BC. Excellent First Nation exhibits. I paid a student fee as we had less than an hour. We walked a bit in Beacon Hill Park then around the town.

Met up with our party at Lure. Nice resto, good food but slow service. I had crab, blue cheese, avocado, bacon and egg with lettuce. A beer and then a dark chocolate pot, no berries until I asked for them.

Duncan railway station, now Cowichan Museum
One of many totems. All with different meanings. Some are new interpretations by First Nation artists and some are very old totems.
Victoria government building by night
Heron
Argillite carving in MBC. Argillite is stone similar to slate that enables fine detailed carving.
Totem in Duncan

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