Victoria, British Columbia

Photos:
1. This is the lighthouse on Race Rock at the entrance to Race Passage (so named for the tide race) in the Strait of San Juan de Fuca. Well named....
2. Jim hoisting the Canadian courtesy flag.





We decided to pass by Seattle and continue with the great weather and make direct for land at Victoria, British Columbia.

We looked, with great sense of accomplishment, at the Northern most corner of Washington State – 1400 miles behind us! This journey began May 22.

We turned the corner into the straits of Juan de Fuca (Vancouver Island to the north and Washington State to the south) expecting the seas to calm as we left the open ocean for the protection of land. However; this was not meant to be our fate. The combination of large Seas coupled with tidal activity, plus unpleasant winds resulted in miserable sea conditions.

Short period waves coming from all directions challenged the autopilot. Jim needed to stand at the helm providing manual assist for about five hours. We got smacked in all directions bobbing us up and down. During this time Lara ran all around putting things back in their cabinets and cubby holes as every now and then a wave would smack us and throw our stuff about. Lara managed to heat up some leftovers (using the fiddles to hold the pot) for dinner, which did not happen until late. This was just one more reminder to NEVER mention the benign seas until you are docked!

As we left the USA our cell phones went silent and all access to the Internet STOPPED. We are now on roaming and want to avoid big, unplanned for, internet/cell phone bills. You may not hear from us for a bit. However, text messaging might be an alternative for emergency access but I am really not sure if anything will come through.

We arrived at the Canadian Customs Dock at 11pm (good thing that the sun stays up until a little after 10pm). In processing was simple (accomplished by phone and they were very interested in the amount of alcohol onboard. I wonder if we had reported large stocks if they would have actually come down to see us in person?). Over the phone the Canadian Customs fellow gave us a clearance number and asked us to create a paper sign that says, “Clearance Number 2008 1830005” This is to be tape it to the windshield. That’s it. We are in processed. I guess I can unhide my head of lettuce and green peppers (fearing they would make me give up the very last of my fresh produce).

Tuesday July 1st.

We were up just after 0500 – which is our new internal wake up time.

Victoria is a lovely town that reminds me of London. The British influence is un-mistakable. However, much to our embarrassment, we ate breakfast at McDonalds – with all of the other homeless (sheeesh). We could NOT find anything open before 0700.

Once fed, our quest for wireless began. We have forgotten that foreign countries are not big on free WIFI nor do they seem to have easy to access, high quality internet. I am writing to you from the lobby of the famed Empress Hotel (famous for their “high tea”) where Jim is trying to gain an internet connection.

My priority is to find a large fully stocked grocery store and to purchase supplies for the next five weeks. We are learning a lot about properly planning for a long passage. I am trying to keep good notes.

The term, “getting your bearings” takes on a new meaning when at Sea. Jim and I had really only planned to get here: Victoria, BC. Our planning for the further northern regions is yet to be developed. We really need to “get our bearings” which will involve getting out the maps and the calculator and making our plan for the possible stops as we continue north. We have another 750 miles to get to Alaska.

We have decided to attempt to dock each night in a marina slip from here to Tracy Arm, Alaska. No plans for any free anchorages for now. This will allow us to have longer days at Sea and make longer distances each day. The objective is to get to Tracy Arm – to the glaciers as fast as possible. Then we will have a more leisurely route down and anchor along the way.

Anchoring is no simple effort here in tidal country. It involves both bow and stern ties. The stern tie involves Lara in the dinghy with a rope and getting to and from the land. For a few bucks we can tie to a marina and avoid that “kabuki dance” more on that topic in a few weeks when we plan to save a few bucks and anchor in lovely quiet harbors.

If all goes well, we will be in Alaska by July 9th. We have also decided to make Tracy Arm the northern most stop on this voyage.

P.S. One clarification from the last post - Emily, Adam and Justine were only at our house in Scottsdale to pick up Grumpy (who they refer to as our "Helen Keller dog" - nice) and then they went back to Flagstaff. Lara and I were alone for the run from Newport to Victoria.