There is so much we want to say about our experience in Sooke at Norm & Pam's place - and will probably need some time to fully appreciate and reflect.... for now...... it was our absolute pleasure and we will be forever grateful for the opportunity to have booked and stayed here.... it was truly one of the best experiences we have ever had as a family, and we have not yet fully processed it...
It starts with the really amazing welcome received on our arrival. Unlike most, we chose not to hire a car but to travel by public transport, we made a slight error in the following the instructions and ended up by the shops in Sooke ( a few hundred metres up the road) - all was not lost as we were able to pick up a few essentials for the next day or two! We found that the bus was going to be a little while and taxi's are never around when they are needed (in our experience) so we walked down the main road... getting the lay of the land! :-)
We got there and received the most amazing welcome from both Norm and Pam - and we were shown around the cottage that was to be our home for the following 5 nights. Norm was particularly conversant and engaging with our boys (15 & 13) - which was refreshing. We settled in and the appreciated our environment. After a long day or two of travel (UK to Vancouver to Vancouver Island) the extremely comfy beds were the best thing ever.. the boys shared the Murphy bed and commented on how comfy it was!
The accommodation was perfect! Really well thought out and provided everything we could have needed. The view phenomenal, the whole location put us immediately at ease and we relaxed - enjoying the break from our busy work lives!
We walked to several locations - including back from the Potholes (Pam very kindly dropped us off there), Ella Beach - which was approx. a 6 mile round walk! and along the Stickle Back route to the boardwalk and harbour. The shops were approx 10 mins walk away, so we made a few trips up to stock up - convenience shops as well as a few eating places. Just an amazing location and opportunity!
Cannot wait to re-visit! Thank you both for such an amazing time.