On Saturday, after an uneventful series of flights, we arrived in Victoria, but our luggage didn't. We picked up our rental car and headed for Sooke, B.C, on Vancouver Island, about an hour's drive west of Victoria. We found our cottage, and dozed off, waking briefly later when our luggage was delivered.

When we woke the next morning (Sunday) and looked outside, it was already late. Having only been conscious a short time, Ritch was annoyingly impatient to ride. Ritch had picked the Dutch Retreat Bed & Breakfast because it was close to the Galloping Goose Trail, and being selfish, he wanted to spend his "vacation" (honeymoon) cycling. The Galloping Goose was a decommisioned railroad that had been converted to a packed trail. Ritch wanted to ride the 27 miles to Victoria, bike around downtown, then ride 27 miles back. Suzanne had a different plan. 26 miles into the ride, with downtown in site, we had to turn around. 3 miles further and it became apparent from the mile markers along the trail that our average speed had dropped to 4 miles/hour. Realizing that at this rate they would arrive home 4 hours after dark, Ritch abandoned his soon-to-be bride by the side of the road.

For the next hour, while Suzanne languished (or was it anguished?) in the Pacific mists, Ritch terrorized the other trail dwellers at speeds averaging 20 miles per hour (on dirt!), at times fearing that he would rip the cranks right off the bike that our hosts had been kind enough to loan him. So driven was he to get back to the B&B, to get the car, and rescue his princess, that it wasn't long before he was enjoying a hot shower and a box of neaopolitan ice cream sandwiches. Outside he stopped and talked comfortably with our hosts, leisurely laughing and enjoying their warm hospitality.

The Dutch Retreat was a small cottage on the bank of the Sooke River. Our hosts, Ernie and Mia VanBeers, were very nice. Now retired, the cottage had been their home for 17 years. They built a new house on the same property, several years ago, and now rented out the cottage.

"Oh wow, look how dark it's getting. Guess I better go find Suzanne" Ritch quipped, as he bid Ernie & Mia farewell.

As was not unusual, Suzanne's demeanor confused Ritch, who thought anyone could ride 54 miles. Realizing that Suzanne's uncharacteristic anger must be due to low blood sugar (and no fault of his own), Ritch fed Suzanne huge portions at Mom's Cafe. Having satiated their well-earned appetite, and having passed yet another pre-marital test, Suzanne and Ritch settled into a well-fed pre-sleep fog. Life is good.

The next day (Monday) Suzanne chooose the activities. We drove to Victoria to get our marriage license. We spoke with the Marriage Commissioner, and made plans for a Thursday wedding. Suzanne shopped a little. When we arrived home Ernie was cleaning salmon, informed us he was going to smoke them, and invited us to join he and his wife the following evening for smoked salmon hor'duervs and homemade wine. We reluctantly agreed, and settled into our cottage, drifting off to the sounds of the nearby river.

Tuesday we lounged around, exploring the town of Sooke. We ordered the flowers and a cake for the wedding, and lunched at the 17 Mile House. Later we met Ernie, Mia, and their grandson on their back porch. We asked Mia and Ernie to be our witnesses, and hoped they would say "yes", which, to our delight, they did. Mia twice had to make more Salmon hor'duervs. Yum. Ernie had to fetch a second bottle of homemade wine. "Ish's goood!" We had a great time. Ha. Went to sleep that night wrapped in good feelings.

Wednesday we had a big breakfast at Mom's Cafe, and rode Mia's and Ernie's bikes to a part of the Galloping Goose trail that overlooked the inlet, and the provincial park on the other side. Sat on a rock outcropping and watched the daylight dim while we listened to the silence and anticipated tommorows events. Ernie gave us a big piece of smoked salmon and we ate it all for dinner. Went to bed happy but nervous.

Thursday we woke early, dressed, and went outside to take some pictures. We were not able to find a photographer on short notice, so we had to take our own photos. By now we understood why the groom and bride were separated in the days leading up to the wedding. It must have been Suzanne's sense of humor that held us together and made everything easy.

The wedding began at noon. Suzanne of course looked beautiful in her dress, Ritch in his suit, Ernie and Mia had dressed well also. Laurie Smith, the Wedding Comissioner, had been performing 250 weddings per year for 15 years and her experience showed. The ceremony Laurie performed was beautiful. We did not regret that we didn't write our own wedding vows. The written words here do not portray the poetry with which they were spoken. Everyone was teary-eyed.

Then we all had cake and champaign. Ernie and Mia joined us for an early dinner.

Thursday night we checked into the Empress Hotel on the waterfront in downtown Victoria. The concierge noticed our attire, congratulated us, and upgraded our room at no charge. After delivering our luggage, the bellhop went for ice for the champagne Ernie and Mia had given us as a wedding present. As well as ice, he brought us a present, a souvenir trivet that said "We Honeymooned at the Empress". Later the hotel sent up a tray of confections.

Friday we walked around downtown Victoria and bought souvineers for our families from artisens in the market square. There was a classic boat show in the marina. I haven't mentioned the weather because it was so pleasant, low 70's during the day, 60's at night. We dined at Il Terrazzo, and held hands as we walked along the waterfront.

It was our last night in downtown Victoria, and we didn't want it to end. An evening shower chased most people indoors, and by late evening we had the streets to ourselves. We walked all over. We sat watched the crowds by movies, searched for places to buy ice cream and pastries, listened to the music drifting out of the clubs, looked at the classic ships in the marina, walked along the waterfront, visited the Parliament building, the gardens downtown, and sat on the benches in front of the hotel. It was 2 AM, but that didn't stop us from sneaking around all the different parts of the hotel, sitting rooms, restaurants, shops. We read the hotel's history in the pictures on the walls. We places we weren't supposed to be, and still the staff was nice to us. We finally went to sleep, but not because we were tired, but because we didn't want to be tired tomorrow.

Saturday we rose early, did some last minute shopping, and ate breakfast at a bagel shop. We arranged to have one of the artisens in the square press some of Suzanne's bridal bouquet between the beveled glass lid on a stained glass box. Later we left Victoria and headed to Sidney to stay at our last stop, The Waddling Dog. It was an Old English Tudor style inn. We had something to eat, rested a little, and drove to Cowichan Bay, where we went ocean kayaking with some seals.

Sunday we took a drive to Nanaimo, and did some sight-seeing by car. Later, the hotel's mascot, a Bassett hound named "John", took us for a walk. We had dinner, and drove into Sidney where we spent the evening strolling along the shops and waterfront.

Monday we rented bikes and rode around Sidney, and explored the northern extension of the Galloping Goose Trail. Later we ate ice cream and walked around window shopping.

Tuesday, we woke at 4:00 AM, were at the airport by 5:00 AM, and on our way back home by 6:00 AM. We were sorry to have it all end. But more adventure awaited us. We arrived in Greensboro about 6:30 PM. After some trouble with rental cars, we were upgraded twice to a Cadillac. Man, that was nice. We went home, slept, changed clothes, did laundry, repacked, and by on Thursday afternoon we drove the 10 hours to Split Rock Lodge to visit Ritch's parents.

While we were there we dined out, saw a movie, played miniature golf, and had a great time. On our drive back, we stopped at Hershey's Chocolate World.

We both agreed that if we could be together every second for two weeks straight, and have a wonderful time, we would be together forever.

Ritch & Suzanne