6.27.9 VICTORIA IN DA RAIN... TOO.

“Think we need an umbrella?”
“Naw... its just overcast.”
“Are you sure... maybe a poncho or hooded coat?”
“Naw, just the light jacket.”
“Last chance, maybe your fuzzy hat?”
“CHUCK... its ok. I'll be fine.”

Now from the top...

The fast run from Ketchikan overnight and most of the following day was through pretty rough seas with 50MPH winds and ALOT of “rockin da boat”. We arrived in Victoria about an hour behind schedule [7PM]. Since this is a short stop we are cautioned again to be back by 11:30pm for departure and the final run to Seattle.

While enroute, we head to the dining room for an early scheduled meal due to the evening schedule in Victoria and of course... with both meal services hitting the Vista Dining Room at the same time, the staff is overwhelmed, the kitchen backed up, hence pretty poor service and a really poor meal. By the time we get our coffee, 15 minutes after getting the dessert, and 25 minutes after getting our after dinner drinks, we finally head for shore.

As we board the shuttle bus, advertised as complimentary but costing $6.50 pp, round trip, the first thing the driver says, “Hope you folks brought your foul weather gear... its gonna rain.”
Now about that umbrella, poncho, wool hat etc that she refused...

We pass a few historic spots including the world famous Empress Hotel and the not so world famous MERCURIO Art Gallery.

We get to downtown Victoria as the clouds roll in but maybe... just maybe... it’ll blow over....WRONG!!!

After dodging in and out of a few tchotchke shops on the perpetual “T-shirt for the Grandbabies Hunt” we head to the central harbor area to the “Night Market” [mini-arts and craft flea market] to see if the T-shirt pickings were any better. Passing the Darth Vader/violin street performer reported to be in his 10th year on this corner, along with other acts in the area, we start to feel the first drops.

By the time we reach the docks... its starting to “Mist” as the Victorian’s call it. We duck into a tchotchke shop to see if they have a throwaway poncho [like the unused one in Sitka...that stayed behind in the cabin...] No Luck.

“I'll be OK,” she says.

So we continue along the docks, but find nothing but overpriced local arts and crafts, an interesting local version of the xylophone band, a Raptor Rescue exhibit, a couple of ancient Tall ships... and increasing misty rain.

We headed back up to downtown to find the right T-shirts; it really starts to come down. We duck into another shop and this time after finding what she wants in Kiddy Apparel, I buy a new golf hat and talk her into wearing it till we get back to the ship.
On the way back to the shuttle stop, we spot the line for the bus... ALLLLLL the way around the block...which we’re sure will take at least an hour to get to a bus, if not more. It seems like the first sign of rain had all the tourists scrambling to get back to the ships [there were 3 in port].

Rather than standing in the rain, we decide to kill an hour at a highly recommended Pub called the Bard and Banker. Great Scottish pub with super atmosphere, a fine local Lager on tap, and an excellent band named “The Politics of Dance”. Seriously... I have no idea what it means but the leader, while on break assures us it is the title of an 80’s New Wave song... about what he cant recall, but it sounded like it should be the name of their garage band that is now one of the hottest groups in Victoria.

Around 10:30pm we head out to see what the line looks like and possibly grab a cab back to port when lo and behold... there was no line at all, and 2 empty busses waiting for riders. The shuttle had us back on board with time so spare. We grabbed a couple slices of pizza at the Lido and headed to 6153 to finish packing, edit the Zipline Adventure, upload photos and crash.

And that’s all there was to Victoria, not that we expected much more with such a short time ashore.

Tomorrow, back in Seattle, where we will hook up with the Sedlik’s for some more Sojourns in Seattle.

Ciao 4 Now
Chuck and the slightly damp, but safely in her warm and cozy bed, Dragon Lady