Goodbye Victoria!  It’s been a real slice.

Today, I drove up to Shawnigan Lake (also on the Island) to begin my first experience as a Workawayer.  WorkAway is a program that pairs travelers with Hosts that seek help in exchange for food and shelter (see https://www.workaway.info/).

My host family (Kevin, Karina and young Max), has a beautiful property with gardens, a pond, a newly completed garage and even an outdoor pizza oven!

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My project was to help demolish the old garage to make way for a driveway extension.

Stage 1:

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Stage 2:

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What to do with all of the salvaged wood??  Well, dice it up for the pizza oven, of course!

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After a few hours of work, it was time to explore my surroundings.  I took a path down to the water’s edge.

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Nearby was Old Mill Park, the location of and old sawmill.  Here, I learned that “Shawnigan” in Native tongue means “Abode of Evil Spirits”.  According to legend, this region was an ancient battleground and,  to this day, the spirits are restless.

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