[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1maXFYXVY5w/Un5mJ9KmwMI/AAAAAAAACkQ/QpQYcfNi8PM/s144-c-o/1108130745.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/VictoriaBC02#5944300879399534786″ caption=”waiting in line for boarding” type=”image” alt=”1108130745.jpg” pe2_img_align=”right” ]Our day started about the same time as always, but today we could not sit around like I usually do, till about 10 or 11. Today we needed to break camp and get to the Ferry Dock in Port Angeles, WA by 7:45am so we could catch the 8am ferry to Victoria, BC. Lexie did well, she ate immediately and did her business. I packed up and we were out of there by 7:20 and on the ferry line by 7:40am. Once on the ferry, we had to leave our cars so I could not cook breakfast aboard. Therefore, I ran into town and grabbed myself some breakfast and beat it back to the bus before they began to load.
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ifU7Y2pNj5M/Un5pCmL-d8I/AAAAAAAACbM/gJhwkHZX-Ic/s144-c-o/DSC06695.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/VictoriaBC02#5944304051507066818″ caption=”because there are so few cars, the ship will be tossed around quite a bit” type=”image” alt=”DSC06695.JPG” pe2_gal_align=”right” ]Once aboard Blackball’s M.V. COHObound for Victoria BC and only after all passengers were escorted off the cargo hold deck without the ability to return, they announced that the heat was not working. BRRRRR! I ate breakfast and then we headed out to the deck for some photos of the US and Canada. We must have been running really light as the swells, though small, were really moving this huge ferry up and down.
Back inside I met a couple that deliver RV’s for a living. They too have a travel buddy. Her name is Luna. I have a friend named Luna too. This couple has been to all Lower 48 states this year already and while they don’t make a ton of money, they do get to see a lot of the US. I’m actually quite familiar with this type of business because when I had my Dodge Dually, I had considered doing it too. It’s actually a great way to travel if you like to drive.
Lexie and I headed back to the concession stand for some coffee to warm me up and we found it very warm back there. The girls thought Lexie was so cute and they let us ride out the trip back there even though the dogs are not supposed to be back there.
As the US disappeared behind us, I kept an eye out for Seals and Whales as they are common in this area, but I didn’t see anything. Eventually Victoria began to show herself on the horizon as more than must a mountain in the distance. We pulled into the harbor and were ordered back to our vehicles to prepare for unloading.
[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-AsY9S3ilYXM/Un5mLVTIoxI/AAAAAAAACkQ/3p_W6AjPy8Y/s144-c-o/1108130746.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/VictoriaBC02#5944300903057629970″ caption=”Good Bye USA” type=”image” alt=”1108130746.jpg” pe2_img_align=”none” ] [pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BghaN0CGg8M/Un5mTDA5HFI/AAAAAAAACkQ/MuGNBlye5-4/s144-c-o/1108130838.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/VictoriaBC02#5944301035588230226″ caption=”Mount Olympus in the distance” type=”image” alt=”1108130838.jpg” pe2_img_align=”none” ][pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-A5Yry6k9qC8/Un5sYi5iZhI/AAAAAAAACkQ/OQ1MIcq1ZD0/s144-c-o/1108130840a.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/VictoriaBC02#5944307727116428818″ caption=”Mount Olympus in the distance” type=”image” alt=”1108130840a.jpg” pe2_img_align=”none” ]
I got in line as directed for passage through Customs. I was a bit nervous, though I did have all my documents, but this was still the first time I had to do this since 1999 or Pre 9/11. A cute Canadian Customs agent approached the bus and thought, Perfect! Yeah right :/ She immediately order me to turn off the vehicle as it was “loud” She then asked for my documentation as well as Lexie’s. [pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KGuHuCV2Zz8/Un5mj8yNPII/AAAAAAAACkQ/D-oG4f2hwVY/s144-c-o/1108130955.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/VictoriaBC02#5944301325973798018″ caption=”waiting in line at Customs” type=”image” alt=”1108130955.jpg” ]Then the questions started. I answered them as honest as I could, but when she asked if everything in the bus belongs to me I explained that I just bought it in Nevada and am driving it. So I said, what I put in there is mine, but I can not be 100% certain that everything in there is mine. She must have had a sense of humor as she laughed and seemed to understand what I was saying. Rumor has it that these buses have secret compartments where people would stash their weed. I have no idea if this is true or not and I didn’t search the bus for any if there was. Some have said they have found it in buses they have bought. We were almost done when she asked why I was there and I replied “We are sightseeing in Victoria” WE! You said you were alone. Who else is in there with you? Ummm, We…my girl and I. “Your Girl” she asked. Lexie! So I picked up Lexie and said WE travel everywhere together. She then asked if I could open the door so she came around the passenger side and popped it open. Upon looking inside she stated that it was very nice and asked me how much I paid for it. I told her the purchase price and she responded, “well these only go up in value and you have a nice one here “Welcome to Canada”
WELCOME TO CANADA! We made it. 😀
We pulled out onto the street and immediately began to take pictures. Other than seeing some well maintained old cars as Daily Drivers, this could have been any New England Coastal town. They also has some other unique cars I had not seen before. Everything was clean, calm and Fall was in the Air. I toured the region and found it quite beautiful. While I like warmer water, I did love everything I was seeing…including the SUN! It was the first Sunny day I have seen in over a week.
We pulled around one bend and there on the side of the road were [pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-De0CIkGFykY/Un5n3_F1PVI/AAAAAAAACkQ/7FCtzFJq7oQ/s144-c-o/1108131153.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/VictoriaBC02#5944302769701993810″ caption=”and more” type=”image” alt=”1108131153.jpg” pe2_img_align=”right” ]Pumpkins. Hundreds of Pumpkins, all carved and decorated and all lined up along the road. I do not know the significance of this, but I loved it. So much so that I do plan to try to establish something like this back in Vermont. Â (edit: took me a year, but I found out the what and why of the Pumpkins. It’s a Pumpkin Art Festival called Pumpkin Art on Oak Bay Avenue. Here is a link to check it out. http://pumpkinart.ca/) Â We continued our tour and then headed downtown. Around 1pm I decided that we better figure out where we would be camping as I did not have access to Wifi or my Smartphone due to roaming restrictions with my carrier. My Garmin GPS is not great for doing searches like this but it was all I had so I plugged it in and figured we visit a few places starting with the closest one first.
I pulled into Westbay Marine Village RV Park just outside the city and on the harbor. I was greeted at the gate by a nice girl who gave me the information and told me what site (yes just one site) was available. I explained that I was simply checking out locations and I might just head to Sidney tonight instead and she said OK and then let me in to see the park.
[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ymorUI2xuA8/Un5oO0XYtgI/AAAAAAAACkQ/5qHNJg1Z9hc/s144-c-o/1108131440b.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/VictoriaBC02#5944303161959822850″ caption=”I just love these float homes” type=”image” alt=”1108131440b.jpg” pe2_gal_align=”right” ]I first spotted the Float homes as I pulled in thought the gate, then I found the one spot and it was right on the water and next to the Float Homes. I returned to the gate to get more information and said I’ll take the spot but wont hook up yet as I wanted to head back into town. There they told me that I could take the walking trail across the bridge if I wanted and told me what things I could do in town with Lexie. Then as I glanced outside and saw a kayak on the side of one of the float homes I ask if there were places to rent kayaks. She pointed to a gray building next door and said the woman in there rents kayaks. I knew immediately that I would be staying right here so I told the girls to register me in and then I headed next door.
Upon approaching the gray house a little friendly dog greeted me at the front steps. As I walked up to the entrance, it seemed more like an art and craft studio with cute little trinkets than a kayak rental shop, but the nice woman behind the counter told me I was in the right place. We went over the details and she was OK with Lexie kayaking with me so i headed back to the bus to set up and get ready for kayaking.
[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Ds2nmuZ1QxE/Un5oXrzLHSI/AAAAAAAACkQ/mWDstCTCT8w/s144-c-o/1108131510a.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/VictoriaBC02#5944303314279275810″ caption=”Let’s go Daddy!” type=”image” alt=”1108131510a.jpg” pe2_gal_align=”right” ]I returned to kayak shop I know knew as Victoria Waterfront Tours and met back up with Nici, the owner. We got me suited up with a lifejacket and paddle. We went over the safety regulations and map of where I needed to stay out of and we carried the kayak down to the dock, After some quick tips Nici wished us a good time and off we went.
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gyq58Swbtec/Un5oevv2TsI/AAAAAAAACkQ/NYKxAlh1bi4/s144-c-o/1108131519b.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/VictoriaBC02#5944303435598155458″ caption=”How about now? That’s a seal.” type=”image” alt=”1108131519b.jpg” ]I had already planned on staying in the Inner Harbor since we were alone and I didn’t feel comfortable heading out onto the Salish Sea like that so I paddled out and hooked a left turn to stay bythe shore and out of the shipping lane. It was about then that I saw the M.V. COHO, the same ship I took to get there, making her way into the harbor. A minute later I see something up ahead…its a Seal! Yep, playing right up in front of me a seal is poking its head out of the water and checking me out. We played that game for a few minutes until I was too close and it stayed under.
I was thoroughly enjoying this decision now. Not only was I back on the water kayaking, something we had done every day all summer until leaving to pick up Sandy, but now I was kayaking with Seals and Lexie was doing great even without her custom made Crows Nest on Lex-T-Sea.
A little while later and we were going under the blue steel bridge we had driven over just an hour before. After touring around in the smaller bay we headed back out and into the downtown section of the harbor and that’s where we came upon a Mega Yacht out of Miami, FL anchored up. While I was admiring the yacht I noticed something out in the water. I quickly turned my focus to see another seal and two sea gulls fighting over a fish. I watched this play out and was wishing I was aboard Lex-T-Sea where I had multiple cameras, binoculars and an anchor for then I would have sat there and watched all day, but I had to be mindful of the swift current here and photo ops had to be quick so I could get back to navigating the kayak and keeping out of boat traffic.
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8b5J7we30C8/Un5o6iKCEZI/AAAAAAAACaI/sYVTzpu8zwQ/s144-c-o/1108131644c.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/VictoriaBC02#5944303912986218898″ caption=”That is because we are in the Sea Lexie” type=”image” alt=”1108131644c.jpg” pe2_img_align=”right” ]Further up and I came across the Float Planes. What I didn’t realize before was that this wasn’t recreational, but a business. This was a commuter airline shuttling passengers from one island to the next. I had not seen anything like this since I was in Homer Alaska many a year ago. We paddled on past and went further downtown, but I figured I’d better start heading back so we turned around and made the paddle back to the docks. Again I got to see the Seal playing in the same spot as I had done on our way out. We arrived at the docks earlier than I expected even though I was paddling against current so I toured the Float Homes with the kayak and we still had some time so I figured, why not. I’m comfortable with this kayak. She handles well and Lexie is good…so I turned the bow toward the Inlet and paddled for the Salish Sea. Not long after we made the first turn to get out did we come upon a group of Sea Otters playing in the water and we continued to paddle till I was at the end of the inlet and in the Sea. This was far enough being solo so we turned around and rode the current back in.
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-l32XCSbLWP0/Un5o76eZsdI/AAAAAAAACaU/brZGiBl-mDw/s144-c-o/1108131701.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/VictoriaBC02#5944303936693973458″ caption=”This was our kayak for the afternoon.” type=”image” alt=”1108131701.jpg” ]We arrived at the docks and I disembarked the kayak, got everything all set and went to find Nici. It was exactly 5:01. That’s perfect timing, but it only got better. Nici headed back to the dock with me to get the kayak and then it began to rain and rain. Yep, we managed to use up every last ounce of a perfect day! Nici and I chatted for a bit and then Lexie and I went to head back to the Bus, but not before I noticed a strange bus in the parking lot.
I headed over to it as Nici washed off the gear and I took some pictures. I asked Nici if she knew the owner, partly hoping she would say it was hers so I could check it out. She did indeed know the owner and i told her how unique it was and I had never seen anything like it before. She must have been laughing on the inside because she explained that this right hand drive vehicle was quite popular in Victoria. Really I questioned her? She said that the people in Victoria are very British. OK I said and back to the bus we walked. Not 20′ from Vctoria Waterfront Tours, did I spot a second one of these buses. Then a third at the RV Park entrance. This odd vehicle was none other than a Mitsubishi Delica
We got back to Sandy, I fed Lexie and then it was time to work on the blog and dinner and reflect on this awesome day. I truly wish I could have spent a week here in Victoria BC as i did indeed love it that much. I do hope to return again in the future. Perhaps when I have more than a day to spend here.
Thank you Victoria for a wonderful time.
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It was a pleasure meeting Larry and Lexie at our kayaking shop. Your photos of Victoria are awesome. I hope you come back for a longer visit sometime. My pup Sawyer enjoyed meeting Lexie too! Nici – Victoria Waterfront Tours
Nici, Victoria is definitely on our MUST RETURN list. I could spend a week there!
We’ll be sure to get another kayak from you when we return and spend the day exploring the harbor and waters.
By the way folks, Nici gives Kayak Tours too! I highly recommend it!