DAY 1 - CANADA

FROM VICTORIA THE STATE TO VICTORIA THE CITY [VANCOUVER ISLAND, BRITISH COLUMBIA,  CANADA]

Up at 4:00am and pick up Helen & Ian Darvell at 4:45pm and head to Melbourne Airport through the cold and rain. Drop car off at Elite Undercover carpark and then go through the formalities of check-in and outgoing immigration.

Then 14 hours to Los Angeles…..very little sleep a little bit of dozing!!!!!

Arrived at Gate 187 at LA.  Rushed with only 1.5 hours between landing and boarding connecting flight.  After full finger and thumb printing, plus photograph, it was off to pick up our luggage and to drop it off in another area, then a 1.5 – 2klm fast walk hike to check it for our flight to San Francisco.  We make it with 10 minutes to spare, after body screen including removal of shoes.

The plane then sits on the runway for over an hour past departure time due to congestion at San Francisco.  We are convinced we and a lot of other passengers have missed their connecting flights.   We are out of plane with approx. 6 mins to spare to departure time.  Fortunately our connecting flight to Victoria’s gate is just 20-30 metres away.  We make it but are uncertain whether our luggage will make it.   The pilot delays the flight to enable the luggage transfer for 6 of us.  This plane holds about 50 – 60 passengers.

We arrive at the city of Victoria at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, British Columbia Canada, around 1:45pm Canada time [9:00am Melb Time].

Customs this time was a breeze, and we are picked up by Warren [teaches English in China 6 months per year] who drives us approx. 20 klm to our accommodation.

He provides a narration of introduction about Victoria…most informative.   Victoria’s unique climate is being marketed for retirees and is often said that Victoria is :

“The home of flower beds, newly weds and nearly deads”

Our accommodation is great and we first of all decide to have a drink and some food as we have not been fed since, some 9 – 10 hours ago.   Grazing platter and drinks sitting in the sun [27 degrees] overlooking the busy harbour  - What a start.

Following a quick shower it was off to explore the delightful layed out city. 

First effort was a ride around the harbor and exploration of the upper waterways in a small “Pickle” Boat…..all four of us struggled to stay awake, with the rocking of the boat.  These “Pickle” boats are many, providing alternate tours as well as offering water taxi services.

We then head off to visit the grand Empress Hotel and stop at their Bengal Bar…authentic Rajah type decorations, with very deep and comfortable arm chairs.  Following champagne for the girls and beers for the boys we feel revitalized and awake, though Michael appears to have seized up his lower back from sitting in this deep chair.

We walk to Fisherman’s Wharf for a late tea of Fresh Clams & Mussels and Crab in garlic butter with chips, which we thoroughly agree was great.

Walk home for much needed sleep.