From Sprout Lake to the Saanich Peninsula

Sprout Lake

I left Sprout Lake to head for another house sitting assignment on the Saanich Peninsula.
If you are leaving up island and use Map Quest for directions, do NOT opt for the shortest route! Chances are it will take you twice as long.
For 1 1/2 hours, I drove on twisting one-lane roads, never quite sure if I was on the correct one. Oncoming traffic all knew where they were going and took their half out of the middle.
Be aware that No Thru Road signs do not mean you can't get through or are on a dead end. It just means that eventually you will probably end up at the shore and there won't be a ferry. Chances are, there will be several big intersecting roads or streets that you can use to get through to where you want to go. Do NOT turn around if you see this sign thinking you are in trouble; you will merely get on the wrong road and have to figure out how to find your way back to the No Thru Road.
Also, VI notoriously does not use street and road signs. The major streets have NO identifying signs. All the little cul de sacs that are true dead ends with a dozen properties are prominently signed. Go figure....
I asked for directions several times. Eventually, I hailed down a car and started to cry. I was not frightened, I was just so exasperated.
If my phone had worked, I would have called the people and told them I was not coming. I could not imagine spending the next 10 days trying to find my way in and out of this hazardous trail of twists and turns.

Another Couple Trusts Me with Their Home

The next morning I drove the owners to the airport and learned the easier way to get to their house. Actually, there are even stores and amenities in the area!
Once again, I have a lovely home to live in with only minimal watering duties to perform - Oh yes, and keep the burglars away.

My Yard

A Nice Patio

When I went to the strait a few miles from last home, I could look across and see Oregon.Correction! Of course that is incorrect. There is no way I could see Oregon, which is south of Washington! It is, of course, Washington. Here, I can also look out the window and see another side of Washington and its San Juan Islands. You have to go further North and West on VI to see Canada!

View of Washington State Out the Window

The weather is quite temperate. This house is built on the side of a hill. The driveway is quite steep - you can tell not much ice and packed snow is around here. You don't ride your bike up or down this driveway either!

There Are No Icy Winters on VI

To take advantage of the lot, they built a large home with a small footprint and several levels.

Four Levels

There is also a very fine market at the Saanich Fairgrounds on Saturday mornings.

Saturday Market at the Saanich Fairgrounds

On Saturday night, I watched the Buchart Gardens fireworks from my porch.
Unfortunately, fireworks a mile away as seen through a screened porch don't turn out as very beautiful in a photo.