This ended up being pretty much a day of car, ferry and bus travel in order to get us back onto the North American continent.
Our accommodation at Isabella’s Apartments entitled us to breakfast in the old bakery downstairs which is also owned by our landlord. The bakery dates back to the 1880s and although now modernised, it has retained much of the old-world character of its 19th century establishment.
After a sumptuous breakfast we drove north from Victoria following the coast road which afforded expansive views across the intertwining waterways to the east. The Gulf Islands off the coast of Crofton make the navigation through the Strait of Georgia potentially complex but offer numerous safe and appealing anchorages for boats venturing across from Vancouver or up from Victoria.
BC Ferry, Vancouver
BC Ferry 'Queen of Cowichan' life belt, Vancouver
Departure Bay, Vancouver Island
On arrival at Nanaimo we dropped the car off at the Budget office and obtained a shuttle ride to the ferry terminal nearby.
We boarded the BC Ferry, ‘Queen of Cowichan’ and an hour and a half later arrived at Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver. Today is a public holiday in Canada and the ferry was loaded with passengers and cars coming back from Vancouver Island after the long-weekend.
After retrieving our luggage we boarded a bus into the centre of Vancouver and then walked two blocks to our accommodation for the night at Moda Hotel. The city was very crowded and the central mall area was packed with holiday makers, shoppers, food stalls and musicians. Apparently the beginning of ‘fall’ and the long-weekend had brought everyone out into the city to celebrate.
We relaxed in our hotel room for a while, caught up on some washing and then headed out to a local Chinese restaurant that had been recommended to us.
Our meal was delicious as evidenced by the fact that the vast majority of the restaurant’s discerning customers were Chinese or Asian. After walking the kilometre home it was time for bed.
Tomorrow we begin our Rocky Mountain traverse to the east and we’ve decided to take a route that follows highway 99 through Squamish and then via Whistler to Lillooet where we’ll probably stay tomorrow night. Let’s see what eventuates!!