Tag Archives: Salish Seaside RV Resort

9/19/2019, Victoria BC, Day 9

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A Salish Sunrise

Victoria BC

Today is a sunny day.  We were up as usual around 7:10.  “Hey Siri, Play NPR”. 

Sidney to Friday Harbor ferry and campsite reservations were the first order of business after morning coffee and some lounging about.  Both came easily: we’ll take the 5:55 ferry to San Juan Island.  There was one RV site at Lakedale Resort open, we took it.  We could have stayed at the state park on Smallpox Bay (right?), but chose to go with electric hookup not dry camping.  We’ll drive to the bay unless other plans intervene (kayaking and whale watching).

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2nd Thing We Saw, 1st Was the Tesla 3 Behind

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Shades of Buchart Gardens

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Ovation of the Seas, 4180 Passengers

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Li’l Beast @ Salish Seaside from the Walkway

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Along the Walkway

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Lots of Activity in the Harbor Today

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The Johnson St. Drawbridge

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Johnson St. Victoria BC

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Tongue-in-cheek Pizza Parlor Humor

The West Bay Walkway starts close by Salish RV Haven.  It runs along the outer and inner harbors to the Johnson St. Bridge.  The walk to Victoria feels effortless with the views of the harbors from the trail.  Benches dot the path, though we didn’t feel the need to stop.  The new luxury marina is finished.  Boom and Batten, the marina’s “high end” restaurant, is open and inviting. We stopped for a look-see, and headed on to Victoria.  A building facing the Johnson St Bridge has a mural announcing Willie’s Bakery.  We went looking and failed to find a bakery in the building.  “That’s a Google search!”

I wanted a hamburger at “the Local”.  With Ellen’s blessing we stopped for lunch, waiting our turn to be seated.  Ellen had two prawn tacos that were too spicy for her.  I offered half of my burger for a taco and (sadly) she accepted.  The taco was good, but the blue cheese and bacon burger was far better. 

Searching for Willie’s Bakery, Google brought up “permanently closed” in red letters. Ellen asked, “which street is the Crust Bakery on?”  Google again:  Fort St up ahead a few blocks then left.  We passed the Dutch Bakery and noticed a bus stop or waiting area on the street and a woman passing out pastry samples.  It looked to be from the Dutch Bakery. Undaunted, we walked the twenty feet to The Crust.  The was one couple ahead of us and another followed behind us.  The Crust is always busy.  As we left a woman from the bus stop waiting area made a bee line for the Crust. 

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Our Favorite Bakery in VIctoria

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Again Their Almond Croissants Were Sold Out

We continued our walk around the inner harbor past The Empress. the Parliament Building, and the Black Ball Ferry building toward Fisherman’s Wharf.  There were two motorhomes queued for the ferry.  Checkout from Salish is at noon.  With our ferry departure at 5:50, we’ll be parking somewhere in Victoria.  Parking along the wharf is for 2 hours only.  That won’t work. As we walked we scoped out parking, but found nothing.  Parking at Fisherman’s Wharf is for cars only, “no RV’s”.

Foot traffic around Fisherman’s Wharf was unusually brisk.  We figured most were cruise ship passengers.  We  asked at the water taxi stand and sure enough, the woman who sold our tickets said “it’s been non-stop since early this morning.  Ovation of the Sea with 4180 passengers is in town.”  With most traffic headed into Victoria, we had a taxi called for us to take us back to the West End, the other direction.  “You will turn left sometime soon, right?” I asked our driver.  “Yes, but I have to wait for that plane to land.” We had to stop at a buoy while a float plane came in for a landing. 

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One of a Number of Interesting Totem Polls

A light drizzle started as we disembarked and walked the few hundred yards “home”.  There’s been a light rain falling since.  Confortable weather to curl up with a book.

Tomorrow we’ll catch that 5:55 PM ferry to San Juan Island and a new adventure.  The island is small enough to bicycle around.  We could also do kayaking and/or whale watching from Roche Harbor weather permitting.

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Houseboats at Fisherman’s Village Victoria BC

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Replacing My Old Home Depot Travel Mug.

The Beast remained home today.  We put mileage on our shoes.  As you can see from the photos, today was overcast and cool; a vast change from yesterday.  Victoria is visually stunning.  The shopping we do is usually targeted.  We seldom just browse shops to see what’s there.  Shopping is not a leisure activity.  The one exception is visiting art galleries.  If the artist’s work appeals to us we’ll make many loops through even a small shop.  Great art evokes an emotional response in us.

Victoria is a thriving city/town. I expect San Juan Island will be primitive.  The difference should be interesting.  Orca Island may be still more primitive.  Fun.