Welcome to The Weekend Post #157! The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted at Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme. I will also be joining Deb at Readerbuzz for the Sunday Salon and Marlene of Reading Reality in her meme Stacking The Shelves.
My Week:
We had a lovely two-night getaway to Victoria. Although it was a short trip, it was a wonderful opportunity to explore one of my favourite cities. When we arrived on Tuesday, the weather was breezy and cool, but by Wednesday and Thursday, the sun came out and brought with it warm, pleasant days—perfect for patio dining and wandering.
We soaked up the sunshine on several patios and enjoyed some truly memorable meals. Highlights of our visit included a tour of the iconic Parliament Buildings—home to our provincial legislature—and a stroll through the historic Fairmont Empress Hotel. We also found ourselves repeatedly drawn to the picturesque harbour, where we spent long, relaxing stretches watching seaplanes take off and land on the shimmering water.
One noticeable change since our last visit was the surge in cyclists throughout the city. Victoria has clearly invested in cyclist-friendly infrastructure to support this growing trend. In one of the photos below, you’ll see a readograph-style counter that tracks the number of cyclists passing by—both daily and year-to-date. The numbers were constantly updating, so the photo didn’t capture them clearly, but by 8:35 AM, I noted that 438 cyclists had already passed by. It was impressive to see how active the city has become so early in the day.
Despite packing quite a lot into our 48-hour stay, the trip still felt remarkably restorative. Getting there was part of the magic too: Victoria is just a scenic 95-minute ferry ride from the Vancouver area, and on our crossing over, we were lucky enough to spot several orcas breaching—a breathtaking and unforgettable sight.
Books I’ve Added to My Shelves This Week:
From Publishers, Netgalley, & Libro.fm: None that I have accepted.
From The Library: None. I’ve declined a few I’ve had on hold to try and get through my already long TBR list first.
From Audible: None.
What I’m Watching:
As a fan of survival shows like Alone, I was immediately intrigued when I heard that APTN was premiering a new series called Northwoods Survival. I was all in. The show follows a group of young Canadians as they take on a formidable four-season challenge: to carve out a life for themselves in the remote and unforgiving wilderness of Northern Saskatchewan. It’s a raw and compelling look at resilience, resourcefulness, and the deep connection between people and the land.
On The Blog This Week:
20 Books of Summer 2025 Reading Challenge
Book Review: The Summer You Were Mine by Jill Francis
Can’t Wait Wednesday #139: Whistle by Linwood Barclay
Book Review: The Page Turner by Viola Shipman
This Post: The Weekend Post #157
Next Week On That Happy Reader:
Savor the Season: Books with ‘Summer’ in the Title
Book Review: Swept Away by Beth O’Leary
Can’t Wait Wednesday #140
Book Review: Friends to Lovers by Sally Blakely
May 2025 Wrap Up
The Weekend Post #158
That’s a wrap on The Weekend Post #157. How was your week?Â
I wish you a wonderful week ahead!
Mae
We enjoyed a lovely day in Victoria on our whale watching trip in your area. The gardens were amazing.
thathappyreader
Did you go to Butchart Gardens Mae?
Jonetta | Blue Mood Café
Your getaway sounds like it was lovely, Jodie💜
thathappyreader
It really was Jonetta.
Yvonne @ It's All About Books
That sounds like a wonderful trip!
thathappyreader
It was Yvonne.
Marg @ The Intrepid Reader
We enjoyed Victoria when we visited a couple of years ago, and that ferry ride is spectacular! We too were drawn to the harbour both in Victoria and in Vancouver. Pretty much in general!
Have a great week!
thathappyreader
I love the coast too Marg!
Deb Nance at Readerbuzz
I really haven’t spent much time in Canada, but I would love to…if you Canadians are willing to have us visit (or move there, lol). I love seeing the beauty of Victoria. It’s wonderful to imagine a city where bicycle riding is promoted and you can see orcas.
thathappyreader
Americans are more than welcome and we would love to have you here Deb!
Joy's Book Blog
The trip to Victoria sounds lovely. I especially like the idea of a ferry ride to get there.
thathappyreader
It is lovely Joy.
sjhigbee
Your trip to Victoria sounds absolutely fantastic – and what a lovely change to hear of a city where serious investment is being made to make it more cyclist-friendly:)). That ferry ride looks wonderful, too. I hope you’ve found your getaway suitably restorative, Jodie – if anyone deserves a fabulous break, you do!
thathappyreader
Aww. Thank you Sarah. 😊
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature)
I hope some day I can get to Canada. Short trips, even with lots to do can definitely be refreshing. Glad yours was nice! Have a great week!
thathappyreader
Thank you Lisa.
JoAnn @ Gulfside Musing
Victoria looks like a beautiful place!
thathappyreader
It is JoAnn!
Cindy's Book Corner
Yay for a restorative getaway!! I hope you have a lovely rest of your weekend!
thathappyreader
Thank you Cindy.
Anne - Books of My Heart
So glad you had a lovely getaway. I haven’t been but I loved Vancouver and went on a cycle ride there. Canada is beautiful.
Anne – Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
thathappyreader
Thanks Anne. Victoria is much smaller than Vancouver.
Carla@CarlaLovesToRead
I’m glad you had an enjoyable time on your getaway, Jodie. I wish I could have your willpower in turning down books.
thathappyreader
I have a list of what I want to read each season. Unless something sounds stellar I will pass.
Her Digital Coffee
I’m glad you enjoyed your trip to Victoria and that the weather was nice. The counter for the cyclists is so neat! Thank you for sharing your photos. Have a great week Jodie!
thathappyreader
You too Winnie.
Snapdragon
Northwoods Survival looks like an interesting show. I’m always on the look out for survival shows to watch.
Have a great week.
thathappyreader
You too!