Visiting Victoria

On Wednesday, Bob and I caught the 8:00 am Victoria Clipper ferry from Pier 69 in Seattle for a 2 and 3/4 hour trip across the Sound to Victoria, BC.  We caught the #5 Express bus on Greenwood Ave. into downtown and then walked a few blocks down Walls Street to the pier.  It would have been a very quick trip there, but we were delayed in crossing the street across from the harbor for quite awhile while a train passed through.

The ferry ride was great — easy boarding process, comfy seats, and a cafe and duty-free store on-board for self-service shopping or ordering via the ship attendants who came through the aisles.  We (just Beth) got a $2 cup of coffee that had free refills for the entire journey.  We arrived into the beautiful Inner Harbor of Victoria.  

After debarking and clearing customs, we walked to the Fairmont Empress Hotel to see if they would be willing to hold our bags for a few hours while we poked around before checking in with our next house sit family.  They allowed us to do that.  

Bob and I then grabbed a bite for lunch and spent a couple of hours walking around the southwestern-most tip of the island.  We walked a designated scenic walkway that took us past Laurel Point, Fisherman’s Wharf, the cruise ship terminal, Ogden Point, and then into Beacon Hill Park. It was a great walk with only one little bit of drama — while trying to take a picture of the kelp? In the water, I managed to drop my cellphone over the railings that ran along the jetty.  The good news was the phone hadn’t fallen into the water, but the bad news was it was on a rock ledge beside (but quite a bit below) the jetty without any stair access.  While Bob waited by where the phone had fallen, I walked quickly to the end of the jetty near the lighthouse and climbed over the railing onto some stone “steps” (stone formations meant for support not for steps) to lower myself (jump) down onto the ledge.  I then had to walk along the slippery ledge (trying not to think about slipping into the water) until I got to where my phone had fallen.  I retrieved my phone and had Bob meet me at the end of the jetty in case I couldn’t lift myself back onto the stone “steps” and then climb back over the railing.  I was able to do this without too much difficulty, but I had attracted an audience to watch my efforts!  Epilogue:  Cell phone works.  I wasn’t arrested.   No kelp were harmed — nor successfully photographed — during this incident.

After picking up our bags, we took a bus into the Oak Bay neighborhood of Victoria where we are doing our new house sit for the fun and lovable (though a bit sick at the moment) Charlie and the quite healthy and independent (though cuddly) Baxter.  The home owners are with family in Edmonton for the holidays, so we will be doing our holidays here.  

We have a great view of the water from the front windows of “our” home, easy access to a great waterfront path and beaches, and a neighborhood shopping street that is lovely during the day and decked out for holidays at night.