Victoria

And we thought that rainy day was bad.....oh boy, was today frustrating! Yesterday we has tried to make a reservation for the ferry to Nanaimo, but the website said nothing was available. On spec, we got up at 4:30 am, got packed in the dark and headed out to the ferry dock for 6:30 am departure. Bev had said to Dave "bikers will never be there that early, we're sure to get on!!!" And so we got on. We arrived in Nanaimo and headed down to Victoria. Traffic on the road was heavy and Bev was nervous with all the highway stoplights. Our plan was to stay in a campground just outside the city and then tour the city, but when we arrived at the campground we discovered it was on the side of a very steep hill and the tent sites were perched on the very top. The nice lady at the desk took us up in her golf cart and even that scared Bev. It was 2-way traffic and the downhill cars were cutting the corners....after Bev cried a bit, Dave caved and they moved on. She was determined not to drop that thing again.

Plan B was to see some sites in Victoria, catch the afternoon ferry to Port Angeles in Washington, and find a campsite there. The weather was hot and sunny and the marina area was setting up for weekend dragon boat races so with the grand Empress Hotel, the parliament buildings, etc. there was lots to do and see. Once we got onto the ferry, life turned stressful yet again. There were tie done ropes but nothing to tie them down to. Dave's bike has a tight angle on it's side stand and so we spent the whole trip worrying about it pitching. This worry could not be avoided as one looked rather drunk walking in the ship it was rocking so badly back and forth. That said, the bikes managed to keep upright.

When we arrived in Port Angeles the total town was in a state of traffic gridlock with literally every street with cars and trucks going no where and people swearing....apparently they are replacing two bridges and had closed all the major arterials. On top of that, Bev realized she was really low on gas and the traffic backups were on hilly roads in high heat. After about an hour of stop and go, in desperation we got off the main road, did find gas and finally found a motel (the campground was full). Another scenic route was also be bypassed as Hurricane Ridge road is under heavy construction.

Thank goodness tomorrow is yet another day !!!

BTW, in case you are wondering how many hats Dave is travelling with...only one at a time. You will have seen three in various pictures but when he looses one we just buy another. #1 from Mackinac Island in Michigan, #2 from Cody, Wyoming and the current one #3 from Jasper, Alberta.