[password] shipnavire1
[status]
:position 48°25.43n 123°21.56w

Victoria August 1

Crossing from Vancouver to Victoria on the ferry had the same feel as being in the Marlborough Sounds. The ferry wove its way through narrow channels. Clear, clear blue sky, a myriad of pine covered islands dotted with cottages, and boats of all sorts cruising the waters.

A beaming Bob greeted us at the ferry terminal. We'd met Bob, and later his wifeKelly, en route to Majuro, and Bob's boat Stella soon became a regular destination for sundowner G&T's at Majuro. First stop off the ship we visited Stella while we waited for the ferry traffic to dissipate.

After a visit to a waterside brewery to sample more local beer we ate wild salmon, and the sweetest fresh corn I've ever had. Blueberries were on the menu for breakfast, helping fufill my desire for local food. Today we got a tour of the lower part of Vancouver Island.

After a second breakfast at a local café we meandered along the coast visiting a classic lighthouse. Off shore from the light were dozens of boats trawling for salmon. We stopped at beaches, marinas and stunning lakes. So glorious to be in the woods, to be hiking, soaking up the chlorophyll, amongst vast stands of tall, deeply ribbed pines. We were visiting Avatar, the gnarliest tree in Canada, a huge Western Red Cedar. Further along the highway we were treated to the sight of a dozen Roosevelt elk grazing by the side of the road. What a day of iconic Canada.

The day wasn't over yet. We stopped in small towns that had bands, players of our vintage, playing on stages in local parks. Bob insisted we go through Duncan. I was tired and felt I'd seen enough for the day but as we turned into the main street I saw a totem, then another, the town’s main street lined with them. It was great to see prominent indigenous art.
 Bob and Kelly filled us in a bit on the state of well-being of the first nation people. It's not good, poor health, alcoholism, high incarceration rates. Apparently New Zealand is widely held up as a country that does a good job of cohabiting with indigenous people, and God knows we have a long way to go.


We spent our last day walking in the sun. I reveled in the orderliness and cleanliness of Victoria, hyper aware of it after the semi-squalor of Majuro.


Our final treat was the Victoria Symphony orchestra playing on a barge on the inner harbour. The sun was low in the sky, the day still hot and the harbour dead calm. 40'000 Victorians turned up and the orchestra had all of us doing the Chicken Dance. But even better was a musical stairway. Bob and Kelly led us into a back alley and pointed to a staircase. We walked past someone who looked like they were doing a drug deal and climbed the first set of stairs. Kelly showed us how you make music by simply touching various spots in the railing. Each level has a different instrument or sound. I can just imagine groups of stoned people hanging out there, going up and down the stairs for hours saying “Hey man listen to this level”.

see Janet Facebook for photos[END]