The start of our days off - we are heading to Victoria. An overcast day, a less-than-sunny forecast for the next few days... but, this is time off and we want to take advantage of it... before we get into the crazy part of the season.
Leaving Friday Harbor at 8:30, there was activity with boats, the ferry, and a seaplane landing...
We turned south with nearly flat water, heading south in San Juan Channel. It lumped up a bit before Cattle Pass - nothing big; chop less than a foot...
Interesting twist: Cattle Pass was flat as can be. Likewise as we turned west, running across Salmon Bank. By the time we got into the deeper water of Haro Strait, the current was coming right at us, and the waves began to build... a foot or so... then two feet. Crossing into Canadian water, it was two to three, with the occasional four. The boat rides better at about 12 knots than at displacement speed in this chop. With the wind coming from the southwest, it was trying to be on our beam. The visibility dropped a bit, but radar showed that there were only a couple other boats out there; Wild Blue handled it without breaking a sweat.
Little Izzy was less than enthralled with the movement of the boat - the water has been pretty flat any time we've been out since May...
As we approached Trial Island (southern end of Vancouver Island), we heard a Mayday on the radio: "Mayday, mayday, mayday. This is Victoria Coast Guard. A kayaker has been reported in the water and in distress south of Trial Island. Any vessels in the vicinity, please report if you can assist and your estimated time to that area."
Before I could pick up the microphone, another call, "Victoria Coast Guard, this is SuperCat. We have the individual onboard and will be retrieving the kayak."
"SuperCat, this is Victoria Coast Guard. Please report the individual's condition, where you will be docking, and if emergency assistance is required."
SuperCat (a Canadian whale watch boat) let them know the guy was in good condition, but suggested having emergency services meet them at the dock.
The water was cold and choppy. I would not want to be in a kayak in those conditions. It is fortunate that help was very nearby.
Trial Island...
We passed SuperCat as they were heading for Oak Bay. Then, we made our way through the lumpy conditions into the Victoria Traffic Control Area outside the Inner Harbour.
Before we can get a slip assignment from the Victoria Inner Harbor Authority, we have to clear Canadian Customs. As we approached the Customs dock in the Inner Harbor, Joan looked at a sign on the dock with the binoculars - "This isn't the Customs dock any more."
I called the Harbormaster to find out where Customs might be... "They are near the floating homes outside the Inner Harbor. Look for the yellow caps on the dock posts." I let them know that we'd be looking for moorage after we cleared Customs. We turned around and found the new Customs dock... much nicer and more accessible than the old dock. They do not have an office there (nor did they at the old dock), so you pick up a phone and wait on hold until someone can get to you. When I gave them the boat name and registration, they asked for my name. After I gave them that, the lady asked, "Is Joan with you?"
"Yes, Ma'am." She didn't need our passport numbers. She asked a few questions about anything that we brought into the country, then gave me our Canadian Cruising Number. On to the Inner Harbour.
I asked the young lady on the radio if they had any space at the Causeway Docks (in front of the Empress Hotel and the Parliament Building. "Yes, we can accommodate that - please pull to the front of the dock."
Front of the dock? Yeah, they have a LOT of space available. We put Wild Blue where she said, tied off, registered, then gave the boat a thorough washdown to get the salt spray off. Here's our spot...
With Wild Blue looking pretty, Izzy fed, and the satellite TV tuned in, we walked a block or so for some lunch...
Dining on the patio, with the hub-bub of city traffic going by...
Lunch was great! Bellies full, we walked uptown. Joan wanted to stop at "her" sporting goods store, MEC - like REI, only in Canada. She has a membership here and likes to check it out. On the way, we stopped in Roberta's Hats and had a hat I bought from them last year stretched just a bit. Great stretching machine. Nice people.
Joan didn't find anything in MEC, but I picked up a monocular... like a one-eye binoculars; small and light, I'm thinking it will be handy to toss in a bag. Joan said, "You should try these board shorts..." On me, they were board longs... I don't think so.
We like Victoria; the "international feel" to the city. Interesting architecture...
Touristing...
More city scenes...
We did some more shopping, then looked for a sweet treat.
Anyone else think that greenery in front of the Empress Hotel looks like a green version of the Snuffleupagus?? ;-)
Some views of the marina area...
Back to the boat to rest my feet, check out some news, and listen to the buskers working the waterfront.
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Remember the Saturday Night Live routine with Stephan? He would give reviews for the hip clubs in New York City, always with funny names. This place today reminded me of that...
No idea if the guy in the bike helmet was looking to get paddled?? ;-)
1 comment:
Great Fun!
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