Mike & Joy

Most busker musicians' repertoires focus mainly on adult tastes but here's a duo that adds a good selection of kids' songs to a collection of pop classics. This is Mike and Joy. If you're on the causeway with your kids, keep an eye (and an ear) out for this pair. They sound good no matter what age you are.

Those Lamps

I find the faux gas lamps pictured in today's and yesterday's posts very attractive and I wish there were more of them throughout old town instead of only in Bastion Square.

Chancery Lane

Just off busy Bastion Square Chancery Lane remains peaceful and cool even on a hot summer day like today.

Chinese Cemetery Redux

Fern's off on a road trip to our southern neighbor so I'm back on Sunday posting duty. I mentioned a couple of days ago I had returned to Harling Point. I found the tide out again - I really should trouble myself to check some tide tables. I found that the altar pictured above has been freshly painted since last time I photographed it and it looks quite different. I am posting another photo of it today because it's such a peaceful and slightly mysterious scene. You have to keep in mind that this scene is urban Oak Bay - little more than a hundred meters back is a dense residential neighbourhood. Click HERE to see some past posts of Harling Point.

Canada Day on The Gorge

Every year Canada Day is celebrated here on the Inner Harbour with extensive ceremonies and entertainment, and, huge crowds. So, for the last couple of years I've been enjoying Canada Day on the Gorge, a much smaller and more intimate gathering of locals more like a block party than anything else. There's lots of food and drink - strawberry tea at the Gorge Canoe Club for only $3 - and lots of other food purveyors including kids selling lemonade. About half the people strolling around wear something red since thanks to our flag it has become our national color. And there's music - One Man Band Dave Harris was entertaining a large crowd, the Karpes Family Band were producing some great jug band style music and other musicians were performing as well. Lots of classy vintage cars and cotton candy made from Maple Syrup - bet you wish you were here. There's canoe rides and bouncy castles and everyone relaxes and has a good time. I did, and I thank the kids and others who allowed me to take their photos.

Below is a 20 second video of two small boys dancing to some Dave Harris Dixieland.