Nancy Cycles!

Nancy Cycles!
"You got to be careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there." ... Yogi Berra

Friday, December 28, 2012

More Victoria walking

Our plan was to take one of the (many) loop walks outlined on the walking map we got from our hotel. Time has a way of speeding by however, and after having breakfast (at eclectic and interesting Floyd's Diner) and doing a bit more --- shopping, it was time for our visit to the Royal British Columbia Museum so our loop walk did not fit into the day.

We were able to find a few purchases so that we will not have to leave Boxing Day/Week empty handed. For example, I have a few stocking caps, but I do not have this toque (rhymes with "duke"):

How could I pass up this find!?
And Susan has a few rear blinking lights for her bike, but she does not have the newest model we were able to find today.

Happy with our purchases (and just a couple of more small items we could not live without), we strolled along the waterfront, walked a few more streets we had not yet been on, made a visit to the Information Center to be sure we were not missing something, then went to the museum.

"Homecoming" sculpture at the waterfront
Mastodon at the museum
 

Susan boards the Galleon
Our evening walk (after a midday rest at the hotel) before dinner took us through Chinatown. But not to worry -- there is a Starbucks on the corner near the gate.

There's a Starbucks on the opposite corner that I am glad did not make it into the photo
 

Chinese Public School
We will be taking the noon boat home today so this about ends my adventure blog for this trip. We have had a great time and we love Canada.

The Clipper will be sailing us home
 

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Victoria, BC 12/26/2012

Boxing Day in Canada

Not exactly escaping our weather at home

When Susan made the arrangements for our little getaway we did not realize that it was Boxing Day holiday for Canada. We didn't know until we were rushing to catch the Clipper ferry that we would be in Victoria on the biggest sale day of the year! Our fellow traveler walking next to us said that is why she was heading there. Must be a big day as the 260 seat ferry was filled to capacity.

 

It wasn't actually raining when we arrived in late morning, but it was gray and cold. We were able to check into our hotel early to drop off our luggage and freshen up a big for the first walk about town.

Pink Bike Restaurant
We would have had lunch at the Pink Bike Restaurant but it was closed -- until January 1st. The Clay Pigeon was the other spot that the hotel staff suggested and it was quite good. After lunch we "needed" to check out some of the store sales -- EVERY store had them! It is a sign when we do not find anything to buy! We have everything....

Colorful post boxes in Victoria
Three hours of walking and shopping, after three hours sitting on a boat, had taken a toll on my back and it needed a rest. Back at the hotel we relaxed before planning our dinner outing for the evening. Our room is on the fourth floor, the Vista 18 hotel restaurant is on the 18th floor and we were told that the view was worth taking a look at. So we did -- and it was.

In front of hotel Susan commiserated with the fisherman who she thinks may have lost or had his fly rod stolen as there is no sign of it.

What happened to your fly rod?
 

And the buggy arrived with "boxes"
As Jaydon calls them -- "Santa lights" in Victoria were beautiful.

 

End of a good Boxing Day -- but some stores do "Boxing Week" so there is still a chance to find the one thing we do not own, and at a sale price.