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Day Eight: Roche Harbor, San Juan Island to Victoria, BC, Canada |
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We took about an hour in the morning after breakfast on the boat to explore the resort since we spent so much of the time the day before exploring the island. Scott got caught up on his logs and charts at a table by the general store while I grabbed a cup of strong Northwestern coffee and snapped a few more pics of the resort. |
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Here is a good shot of the working area of the resort. The general store (with a very good wine selection) is in the foreground, the showers are directly behind (near the stairs) and the casual restaurant is to the far right. One of the smaller gardens are directly in front of me and the de Haro Hotel is to my back.
If you look really close you may be able to make out Scott sitting under one of the umbrellas outside of the general store. (Though I doubt you will.)
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Pictured here are the last two limestone kilns from the days when the resort was a working community focused on limestone harvesting. You are able to climb into the kilns - which sit right along-side the parking lot of the resort's general store (which of course I did.)
It's amazing that the fires that used to burn in these kilns were strong enough to break down limestone. |
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Indicitive of the rainfall and general climate of the area, given time moss will grow on just about anything. Here you see the roof of one of the smaller specialty shops that line a small stone pathway in the resort. |
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Back at sea for the last time, I took the tiller for a stretch of the trip when Otto the Autopilot was having "Current Cramps."
We were expecting this to be the day we encountered Orcas, but alas, they were as elusive as ever!
We fought our way for the majority of our time at sea attempting to round in at the Port of Victoria. Though encompassing only 1/8 of the distance for that day's trip, we spent about 1/3 of our time in this area fighting currents and wind. Even under power we were averaging barely 1-2 knots overland. |
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There is an old saying along the lines of this: "I once felt sorry for a man that had no shoes until I met the man that had no feet." This is the sailing equivalent of the man with no feet. Just out for a casual sail in his kayak, this ingenious sailor had fashioned a sail and rigging from a tarp, duct tape, rope, and a pvc mast.
I was feeling self pitty until I saw this soul and realized he was going to have an even more difficult time than us making ground. He was in extremely good spirits and we had a quick chat in passing. |
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Ah, Victoria! Here is the Parliament building after dusk. The government complex is lit up brightly at night.
We sailed into Victoria around 4pm or so and were able to pass customs within minutes. It is an interesting system where you pull alongside a dock and phone in your credentials. There is a video camera by the phone. You answer a few questions and you're good to go.
Shortly thereafter we met Karen at the ferry terminal and we were on our way to a beer garden and then back to Gata Luna for some dinner on the aft deck. |
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The sound of street performers and traffic took some getting used to after all the peaceful nights in remote locations where all you heard was the water lapping at the hull of the boat and the occassional clang up against a dock or mooring bouy.
I thought I would give Scott and Karen some time alone and decided to head out along the waterfront with the camera. Here is a shot of the main avenue right by the dock.
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Next: Days Nine and Ten Victoria, BC |
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Return to Main San Juan Page |
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Return to Main Ford Page |
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