Kit and Carol on the Road

Editorial: We first sailed into Victoria's Inner Harbor over 30 years ago. At that time we knew Victoria was still (shock) dumping raw sewage into the sound. We had no idea they were STILL (beyond shock) doing it. Victoria is the only large city in North America dumping untreated sewage into the ocean. Even Tijuana Mexico treats their sewage. This has to be a major part of the water pollution which is is blamed (as one of three causes) for the decline of the orcas in the Puget Sound. Kit is admanant that we are now boycotting Victoria.
So I take back my recommendation. It is not a cool city.

Houseboats on "Fisherman's wharf". 

The venerable Empress Hotel. 

Virginia at the Emily Carr house. 

This was the view from the time-share where we were staying. The seaplanes were frequent and noisy the what an awesome view. 

SUNDAY: Our friends Virginia and Ernie invited us to spend a night with them in their timeshare on the waterfront in Victoria, BC--so we hopped the ferries and had a lovely time. We had to catch the 7 am ferry (Sunday) from Guemes to make the 8:15 ferry to Sidney. (and pay for parking at the terminal since bus service from town is virtually non-existant). We arrived in Sidney on time at 10:20. Being smart travelers we quickly deduced that the $11 per person that the waiting Grayline Bus charged for transit to the city was a little outrageous. So we walked a few blocks and waited a half hour and paid $2.75 on the city bus to the same destination. It was a then a short walk along the busy Victoria waterfront to the "condo" where we were staying--right on the water at the point where the seaplanes take off and land--and looking down at a marina and a water taxi stop. In the afternoon Kit had a nap and jog and Virginia and I walked out to see the Emily Carr house. (I got interested in Emily Carr after reading Susan Vreelands novel: The Forest Lover.) Next door at the Fish Market we bought some halibut which we fixed for dinner. Alas you cannot buy wine on Sunday.
MONDAY: For our morning adventure we walked into town to check out the new (it just opened in June) BC Experience museum. We spent most of morning there and highly recommend this museum. The centerpiece is a huge relief map of BC and the whole NW. There was a cool movie and lots of interactive displays. Luckily there wasn't a huge crowd on Monday morning. The museum is in the old Crystal Palace which once housed a huge saltwater pool. After fish and chips on the wharf we took off in our friend's car to take the scenic route along the water and through some parks and fine neighborhoods to Sidney, where we had to catch a 6pm ferry. The ferry ride home was most pleasant. We arrived in Anacortes close to 8:30--rushed through customs and to our car--and made the 9pm (new late) ferry home.