The Drrons shoot a killer and other delights.

[drron]

The last of the fort.

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And end with a beautiful pair of birds.

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We now set out for our final stop before Vancouver-Friday Harbour.We were free to wander around the town for a couple of hours.Not really sure why.But first pics on the way.I thought I saw something poking out from this island.

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Indeed,another volcano.

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Mt.Baker.The 4th cascades volcano we have seen clearly.

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[JohnM]

Thanks for bringing back memories of a pleasant weekend driving around there a few years back with a mate from Seattle who was previously an engineer aboard the Trident subs that are based near there, and who a had a property in the area .

 

[drron]

A pleasure JohnM.
The mountain became clearer.

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Arriving at Friday Harbour and there is a plane in the marina.

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And now our little wander.

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I think that vehicle needs some TLC.

 

[drron]

A wonderful archway made by pruning a single tree now ~ 100 years old.

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Some flowers and a nice gift shop through it.

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But nothing as nice as this lady.

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I did have to have a little giggle at a restaurant promoting eat local.They had Tasmanian Ocean trout sashimi on the menu.Only local for me when working in Tasmania.
We spent a fair while just people watching particularly when the ferry arrived then left.

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Before getting the zodiac back to the ship we had a very nice ice cream.it was a bit warm sitting in the sun.
On the way back there were now 3 planes in the marina.

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In that zodiac coming back a Venetian family coming back from their short visit to the Explorer.
Some nice places with a great view if the weather was as good as today.

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[drron]

But the Explorer beckons.

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Back on board we found out the reason for this stop.The pilot for Vancouver was coming over on the ferry and it was a little late,
That night it was one of the not so good menus so I went simple.A salad and a burger.did the job.

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Waking the next morning we were steaming into Vancouver.

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One of the larger cruise liners docked behind us.The Radiance of the Seas.

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[drron]

This turned out to be a blessing as we did not have to line up at Immigration and customs like they did.So we waltzed off and there were lots of taxis waiting.So soon at YVR.Mrsdrron meets a moose and our plane to Victoria has arrived.

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Not a bad view for an airport.

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So we were now going to have our first CA flight.Well it certainly was memorable.We had chosen a later flight just in case some delay in getting off the ship.Had no problems checking in ~ 5 hours before the flight.Asked about earlier flights and there was a $C75 change fee.basically as much as we had paid so declined.No lounge-though there was meant to be a Priority pass lounge which allowed entry to Amex plat cardholders.But where it was on the map no lounge at all.Had a light lunch near the gate and then just sat and waited using the airport's free wifi.

We had been assigned Group 5 for boarding but we decided it really was group 3.not questioned.Was a wise move as BPs not checked on boarding.The FA just shouting-"that carryon has to go under the seat in front".It appeared quite a few were not in their assigned seats.So to our seating.

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Where was the premium hand carry that Q Link use on the same aircraft?

 

[drron]

AC 8069. YVR-YYJ. ETD-1405. Push back-1402. Take off-1416. Seats 7A,C.
ETA-1435. Landed-1430. At stand-1434. Bombardier Q400.
The first flight where taxi time was longer than time in the air.Personal headphones added to the list of things not allowed to be used in flight.Quite a few pax not in their assigned seats.Across from us 2 Chinese women whose boarding passes were row 10 refused to move when the assigned pax to 7D,F arrived.Also both were using their I-pads with headphones.Told to turn them off-only closed the case.As soon as we were taxiing on they went again.Several others doing the same.when in the air 1 FA remained at the front,one at the back.Seems to be an FA on this sector you just need to be able to yell at pax in English and French.

But it was a Scenic 14 minutes in the air.

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Yes Mt.Baker again.

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[drron]

A short walk from the plane to the baggage carousel and in a few minutes our bags were out.Then to the Avis desk.Several there as a couple of planes had arrived just before this.no Avis preferred desk here but you just hold up your preffed card and licence and you are handed your keys as soon as an agent has finished.So not too long and we are off on the drive to the Four Points on the outskirts of Victoria and just off the Trans Canada highway.
We were given a corner room which is larger but was facing the road.Turns out that the place is full of women rugby players.A round of the Rugby world 7's was being played very close to here.The room.

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So the view from the side window then the front.

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I recognised a couple of the Aussie players from watching their event on the Gold Coast.They looked battered and bruised.Probably because they had just lost to the Kiwis 46-0 in the final.The Japanese team walked through the lobby as we checked in,went up in the lift with 3 English roses and 4 Fijians were sharing the room next to us.
We decided to go out for dinner.The best rated restaurant near by on several sites was Sabhai Thai so that's where we went.It was jumping and a lot of Asian faces.That turned out to be a good sign as the food was excellent.We had marinated beef,garlic pork and coconut rice washed down with a local SB.

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Back at the hotel and boy was it noisy.The New Zealanders arrived back at ~ 2130 and were out again after I presume a quick shower and change at 2200.A big group arrived back after midnight and sounded well lubricated.

 

[drron]

At breakfast the next morning the buffet was only for the women 7s players and their many hangers on.But we could order from the menu and still get the 250 point amenity for the disruption.Probably a win win situation.So mrsdrron had the pancakes and I bacon and eggs served with lots of toast.

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After breakfast we headed north.As I had not seen an orca I was keeping an eye on a couple of orca watch sites.More were being seen at the north end of the Salish sea.So north on Highway 1 we went.The first pary is over the mountains and virtually the whole climb was roadworks and bumper to bumper traffic.So we stopped at the first rest area after the works.lovely scenery.

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After we had descended to sea level we often took the coast roads rather than highway 1/17.Many North American madrone trees.They had lost their coloured bark unlike those we saw in Mexico.

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[drron]

We continued up the coastal road and stopped at Qualicum Beach which says it is the centre of Vancouver Island's Sunshine Coast.I don't think it is quite as good as QLD.

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There were though people sunbaking and paddling in the water.
We were going to have lunch here but couldn't find anything decent open.Whilst taking these photos we were asked if we knew where a certain building was as we looked like locals-er no but we are standing next to the Information centre.

We continued up the coast to Courtenay where we were going to stay.It was after 1400 and most restaurants were closed.We finally went to a steakhouse-Prime-though it was difficult to find how you got to their parking lot.We were the only 2 people in there.Lunch was fine and service for some reason really good!

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A club sandwich and a prime rib sandwich.Both nice.
And shots of the river which runs behind our digs.

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[drron]

In Courtenay we stayed at the HI.Upgraded to a large spa room.

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The only downside was the view.

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All in all a pleasant stay though the spa was a little difficult to get in and out of.The welcome points were already in my account by the time we got to the room and I checked my emails.

 

[drron]

The next morning we set out for Campbell River to go on a whale watching cruise.Orcas had been seen for a few days.We went with Campbell river whale watching as they had very good reviews.First of all the outskirts of the town.

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Spring flowers in full bloom-

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And a nice little park.

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[drron]

Now booking with them was a shambles.I rang to see if we could get on the 9am 6 hour cruise.Told maybe but We will ring back.An hour later I ring and told sorry now it's full but we have a 1pm 4 hour cruise.OK.So was told they would email the directions etc.No email received.We knew where they were from the website so turned up early.Apparently the fellow I talked to had taken the 9am cruise out but they were expecting us.
After paying etc they asked what you wanted to see.Well I am here just to see an orca.Nothing else.Well you are in luck we have seen them the last 3 days and the morning cruise has already sighted them.I was hopeful.
A few pics on our way out of the marina.

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We turned left out of the marina to the north.Our guy says there is a pod of 25 orcas to the south but they are heading north.there are some awesome sea waterfalls and some humpbacks to the north so we should do that first and catch the orcas as we come back.He then added he had never taken out a group who hadn't seen whales.I got a sense of foreboding.
but here we go.

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The water looks great but soon changes.

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[drron]

It really was spectacular.Like the horizontal falls in the Kimberley but on a very much larger scale.

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The scenery was spectacular.

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And the local way of transporting lumber.

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[drron]

Just breathtaking.

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[drron]

We come to another area of rapids where another zodiac is remaining stationary with motor running.

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There were at least 20 bald eagles having a feast here.They perch on the trees,fly out,grab a fish and straight back to the tree.Very hard to catch one in a photo.

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This is the holiday home of one of America's largest shipping companies.On the estate are a golf course and a fishing lodge.Just around the corner comes the best area of rapids.

 

[tgh]

Nice country. Having already come down the inside passage , we decided to drive out to Port Renfrew from Victoria, but it was not memorable at all.

 

[drron]

At first this section looked pretty quiet but you soon noticed the current at the edge of the water.

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It soon enveloped us and the whirlpools appeared.

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[drron]

Once again there were many bald eagles here at their buffet.

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So there is one flying and you should make out towards the right a white head towards the top of the pine.As I was there I know there were 4 eagles in that tree.

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Amazing the s[peed and power of the water.But now more of the holiday retreat of Dennis Washington.

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And off we go.

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[drron]

Yet another set of rapids.Not so fast this time.On the far bank is a very upmarket fishing lodge.

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And on the stump a juvenile bald eagle-they have yet to get the white head.And in the water juvenile seals.

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Another limited rapid.

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But a male Steller sea lion waits for anything caught up in the current.

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