We’re planted in Serious Coffee this morning with a Coal Miner’s dark roast after literally passing out while blogging last night.
Yesterday morning began with a 615am dreary day ride from the loft to Pier 69, where we’d take the Victoria Clipper ferry to Victoria for a 2 nite stay in one of the smaller provinces of BC. We would travel about100 miles at 30 knots in 3 hours. What we didn’t know was that the great Pacific Ocean would unleash it’s power and send rollers and crashers from the west to greet us with pitching and heaving on our trek north. It started out with slow cradling motion in the protected waters of the Sound. Eric bought me 25 cent motion sickness meds, which worked well until we passed Whidbey Island (an American Navy base where Eric would fly A-6 Attack Aircraft back in the day). When the slamming started, the captain closed the weather decks and put on the fasten seatbelt sign. I turned green and spent the last hour inspecting the facilities, if you know what I mean. It would take most of the day to recover, but I kept going and we put 21,387 steps on the pedometer.
From the ferry we put our packs on our backs and headed to Humboldt Street to meet Jenny. Jenny is a high school cheerleader turned new age yoga instructor. Fresh off a visit to Hollyhock, she offered ginger capsules, neck massage and wabi sabi wisdom to bring back my energy. Jenny is interesting people. When she’s not lending her apartment to people like me and Eric, you might find her living in her car, which she calls camping. Trading stability for freedom, she questions the 9-5 worklife to shop in big box stores and vacation in all-inclusive compounds. He apartment is sparse on amenities, like TV, fluffy towels and soap, but is high on philosophy decor and frozen fruit.
Yesterday we were intent on trying Red Fish Blue Fish truck fish n chips but the guy at BC Bike rentals called it “overrated” and sent us instead to Old Vic’s. Eric is the fish n chips connoisseur – he’s had better in Anchorage – but these were very good. Today we will hit RFBF for sure.
I also had my first tea latte and the best cookie of my life – the hazelnut macaroon. If would send everyone I know a box of these cookies, but alas, they are freshest on the day they are made and Murchie’s doesn’t box or ship. At least I have a picture of a half eaten one to savor the memory.
We rented electric bikes at BC Bike – 4 blocks from our apartment on Humboldt. Electric bikes are the greatest invention since the washing machine. Their motto should be “never bike uphill again.” Push the magic red button and fly. Release when you want to pedal normally. We tested them out in Beacon Hill Park bike paths then headed to Dallas Road to hug the Southern coast. We were whisked into breathtaking scenery, dozens of kite-boarders catching air and our retirement dream town – Fairfield.
After almost running out our electric battery, we dropped off bikes for recharging, grabbed a snack at Local Market and headed out on a 7 mile walk of Upper Harbor, seeing the historic Selkirk Tresstle and the crew teams training out of the Gorge Rowing Center. Our late night dinner at the Pink Bicycle on Blanchard did not disappoint. Hipster burgers, Vancouver beers and a waitress who sat with us to go over our trip made this the perfect ending to an imperfect day.
Despite the rough start of my body rejecting the ferry ride, I gutted out the day, Eric was saintly patient and we both agreed that Victoria is a courteous, gentle city of spectacular beauty and charm.
Off now to pick up our electric bikes and see what we can get into today. Cheers!
Location:Humboldt Street, Victoria BC