Oh dear, deer

A common question from those curious about housesitting is whether we get to know the homeowners. Before we started, I'd made the assumption we'd know very little about each other. I thought we'd be like ships passing in the night, with little more than a handshake, and (hopefully) a lot of relief that our gut instinct - along with emails and video chats perhaps - would not have steered us wrong. I'm pleased to say we usually develop good relationships with the homeowners that continue on past the sit.

Fanci, sitting at the front door after her owners left for the airport

Our current house sit is the fourth for this couple, but only the first at their Canadian home. We're pleased to see they have sufficient confidence in us that they've allowing us to use their brand new Mercedes. It certainly is an incentive when people develop sufficient trust in us to offer or agree to lend us a vehicle. So far, that's also been the case for each upcoming house sit.

Here's Greg today, happy to drive this beautiful vehicle. He's already familiarized himself with many of its features, and as I'm writing this he's sitting reading the owner's manual. One basic feature we couldn't figure out today was how to open the trunk, so poor Fanci had to share the back seat with our grocery shopping. Thankfully she's such a good dog that she didn't try getting into everything. Although Greg is a General Motors retiree, he's now saying he wants our next vehicle to be a Mercedes!

We took a drive along the coast this afternoon, stopping at various spots for a walk with Fanci. We first stopped at Oak Bay, which is directly below our home. We noticed there are logs washed up along the shoreline.

We also walked a little over the rocky area, to look out across the waterway.

We travelled on and I had Greg stop for me to take this photo. Yesterday, when the homeowner was driving she had to brake to avoid a deer, and just as importantly, also to avoid the dog who then ran out to chase the deer.

As Greg pulled away from the side of the road, out came a deer and so he slowed to allow her to cross. She did take a look back at us, perhaps because Fanci was excitedly barking in the back ... let me at her, I think she was saying.

As Greg went to pull away, another came out to the road, and Greg was able to take this photo, without the need to zoom in at all - it was that close. The deer here are obviously used to seeing motorists. Both of us were really focussed on the roadsides on our drive. We were concerned for the deer ... and the Mercedes!

We then took a walk through one of the many parks here. This was an easy trail through a small forested area.

It's been a lovely first day for us in beautiful British Columbia. We're grateful to be here, and really enjoying it.

I'm happy to report that Greg has put the owner's manual away, and now knows how to open the trunk of the car. Yeah!

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Location: Victoria, BC, Canada
Weather: High 27ºC (81ºF), low 19ºC (66ºF)

Note: I have prior approval from homeowners before using photos of their homes or pets.