This is rather after the fact, but finally getting a blog posted from our side trip to Victoria Island. Let’s just say that as we traveled back down to California, we finally got the damn COVID virus and it knocked us for a loop, and shortened our trip altogether. We are fine now but I never finished the post and I wanted to!
Dave had never been to Butchart Gardens and I hadn’t been since Rita and I came up to Washington 6 years ago…so naturally we had to go while visiting all the National Parks of the Northwest! We took the first ferry leaving from Port Angeles at 8 am. We did stop for donuts first from Sasquatch Bakery Donuts ( near the ferry terminal) before hitting the Black Ball Ferry. And going through customs etc. So much easier and organized going to Canada than back, btw. We found a “tour package” that included the ferry, bus transport to and from and the park tickets. Just taking a car on the ferry is now $90! Sheesh! Other than it being unclear where to get the bus, and as such a bit of scrambling on our part, it was pretty smooth. The tour service had just started so I have no doubt those technicalities have been resolved! The trip to Victoria on the ferry was OK and I only got mildly seasick. Coming back was very different- we hit fairly high waves, rocked all over the place. I managed to not feed the fish, but barely. I ate a lot of Emitrol!
Just a bit of additional editing – this is probably when we were exposed to COVID- dang Canadians!
Butchart Gardens is as beautiful as I remember. I was surprised that so many things were in bloom because it was still early summer, but I forgot that Victoria has much milder weather than even those northernmost areas of Washington! Dave and I walked the entire gardens and he took so many pictures! I truly enjoyed the Japanese gardens!
After we caught the bus back to the harbor (it was a perfect amount of time in the gardens!), we wandered the shopping areas around the harbor and found some souvenirs, including some “Remember the Children” tshirts for the girls. It is a National group that reminds people about the injustices done to the First Nations children at the government, Lutheran and Catholic schools. Every time I read about the abuses of these schools, it makes me angry, sad and just astounded at the pure meanness of some people.
After we walked around we went to Frankie’s Modern Diner and had POUTINE! Such good stuff. Then we headed home.
