On leaving Victoria we caught the bus to Thetis Lake which is on the outskirts (10 miles) of the town. A lovely campsite set by right by the lake. The lake is a fresh water lake and really warm to swim in, even Paul ventures in. The weather is still hot, notice your temperatures in England are still good according to a newspaper I read yesterday.

So, we've been swimming, chillin by the lake, reading our books, sunbathing, bbqs and a bit of walking around the lake and nearby forest. We have bald eagles and some deers around here too which is nice. Not a great lot of other things to do around here unless you hop on a bus and spend money.

We take a trip to the nearest supermarket every three days and had a bargain wild salmon that we cooked in tinfoil on the bbq...it cost us all of two pounds.

We have been picking blackberries and making our own jam, as we are surrounded by them in all the bushes here and they're free. Found an apple and a plum tree today on the "Galloping Goose Trail", so we are making crumble tonight.

We joined the local library free, to gain free internet access.

Neighbours come and go at the campsite and we have met some really friendly, kind people who have donated various things to us...a light for our tent, some cold cans of pop, a ride in an inflatable boat across the lake, and we were invited to breakfast with one family, ofcourse we had to take them up on the offer...sausages, scrambled egg and blueberry pancakes and syrup, which they eat all on the same plate out here...mmmm. So we get by.

We plan to stay here for a few more days as it's very cheap (seven pounds a night total) and really nice. Looking forward to my afternoon dip in the lake as the walk back from here can be hot.

We shall head back to Vicotira for a couple of days before catching the ferry to Vancouver, then we will stay there until we depart for Fiji on the 30th August.

Love to you all...thanks for your e-mails, it's so briliiant that we can keep intouch whilst so far away from you'll. Takecare and have fun, Kate & Paul xxxxxx