Oh wow! What a wonderful first day we've had here in Canada. Having arrived at Vancouver airport last night at 2pm local time, we somehow managed to stay awake until about 6pm (that's 2am the next day according to our body clocks and follows an early morning start to Manchester airport) so an early start this morning was easy. We took the train (think driverless like the DLR) from Vancouver airport to the Waterfront, a quick taxi ride and checked in at The Prince of Whales (do look for their facebook page) office ready for our whale-watching trip as our transport to Vancouver Island. The sun was shining, Vancouver's skyline glistened in the morning sun, boats bobbed in the marina and seaplanes landed in the bay: all so beautiful.

Ocean Magic lived up to its name - finding a family group of transient Orcas travelling between islands along the edge of Vancouver Island. Our first sighting was a plume of spray - then closer we could see the whole family as they surfaced to breathe. The family group consisted of an adult female and male with a son and two daughters, one of which had a baby. This group was a transient one - so a rare sighting but known well enough to be identified by photos on board the boat. The young adult male in particular had a distinctive marking that helps to identify the group. We learnt that the average lifespan of Orcas has decreased in recent times from 80 years to more like 40 years - a sad reflection on man's pollution of the seas with PCBs and heavy metals which accumulate in the whales' fat.

All too soon our allotted time with these beautiful animals was at an end and Ocean Magic made full speed ahead for Victoria. That's very fast! We met a fog bank and suddenly it was jolly cold - thankfully we had packed our thick jackets in our day bags but hats and gloves that were packed in the suitcases would have been welcome. Sailing through the fog was rather atmospheric though - a bit spooky really. And out into sunshine again as we reached Victoria.

And so to find our first house-swap house. And wow, it's amazing! Situated in a private, secluded bay it is a beautiful modern new-build. With a lift, or elevator as they say in America (yes we know the Nanci Griffith line is the other way round!) - but we didn't find the lift until Dave had already carried our bags upstairs, oh well - blame the jetlag - and never have been in a home with a lift before it didn't occur to us that there might be one.

Still fighting the jetlag we made it to the supermarket without driving on the wrong side of the road and shopped for a few days' groceries - if you thought food had become expensive at home you should try living here - we'd estimate the shop was about 30-40% more expensive than an equivalent shop at home. But having said that the local salmon was a great choice for tea and good value. My jetlagged brain though must have opened all the drawers and cupboards ten times looking for appropriate cooking and eating items - maybe our Kim's Game abilities will improve with some sleep.