Amy Marie Visits: Victoria - By Bike & Boat
What could be better than docking in front of the Empress Hotel
Approaching Victoria from the water is an interesting exercise. The city is located on the southeast corner of Vancouver Island and just off the Straits of Juan de Fuca. This is an area notorious for strong currents, confused seas, and wild winds. It did not disappoint. We experienced all three as we rounded the corner and wove our way through the Chatham Islands towards the inner harbor. The sea conditions could be compared to boating inside a washing machine. There were no waves. That implies some semblance of order. Instead, the water was jumping and spinning randomly. We followed two fishing boats, on the assumption that they were locals and knew the best route through the islands, rocks, and reefs. They were also much larger than us. If they didn't hit anything, then we would not either. The plan worked. We turned to starboard, passed the cruise ship dock, and were into a remarkably busy inner harbor.
Once inside the inner harbor you discover you are sharing it with float planes. Six were actively moving as we entered. There was a separation scheme and protocol to ensure boats and planes could peacefully share the same stretch of water.
Water taxis scooted around the harbor moving people from place to place.
The Royal British Columbia Museum was one of our first stops
One of the featured exhibits was on the temples at Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The temples have a real Indiana Jones feel. They also have a long history that predates their "discovery" by European explorers. The temples and grounds were still in active use when first seen by outsiders.
The Museum also has an Imax Theater. Check their schedule to see which of the featured films you might want to view. There are usually multiple options.
For kids and big kids there was a terrific dinosaur exhibit. Here a T-Rex is just finishing his lunch.
Beth, unaware a bear is approaching, checks her messages....
Amy Marie takes a well-deserved break while we explore the city.
As evening falls, the Parliament Building is lit.
The next morning, we rented e-Bikes to explore the city. We discovered that Victoria is a very bike-friendly town. Even downtown, there are bike lanes separate from the car lanes. We felt very safe biking the Galloping Goose Trail. This is a rail to trails that starts from downtown Victoria and heads east to the Pacific side of the island.
Here you can see the width of the bike lane on one of the downtown bridges. There was also a separate pedestrian lane to avoid conflicts. The town had a bit of an Amsterdam feel!
It is possible to rent hot tub boats with which you can tour the inner harbor!
We are now on the Galloping Goose trail headed west. We headed out of town on this trail but returned on the E&N trail.
Keep in mind that this trail is in a urban area. It was lovely and well used. The bikes gave us the opportunity to explore some of the neighborhoods that surround the downtown core. Victoria has many layers and different personalities that you can only discover by expanding your explorations. The bikes helped us expand the areas we were able to see and experience.
The Nest Cafe
The Nest is a trail side cafe located near the intersection with the E&N Trail. If so inclined, you can ride the E&N trail north to Sydney & Nanaimo.
Outside the Nest, there are circular rustic spots to eat your meal
Hatley Castle
This is the former home of a Vancouver Island coal Barron. For many years, it was a military college. Since 1995 it has been the administration building for the Royal Roads University and is designated a National Historic Site.
The gardens are well maintained and open to visitors. Hatley Castle can also be rented as an event or wedding venue.
Here our tour guide is indicating which way to go.....
One of the visitors is admiring the flowers....
Our tour guide is getting impatient waiting for me to keep up with the group
Leaving Town
Sadly, we had to move on. We had a fabulous visit and can't wait to return. As we were exiting town, we were passed by a Chinese junk motoring towards the inner harbor, no doubt eager to begin their own Victoria adventure!
If you would like additional background on the Chinese junk in the above photo, click on the below link to read an article about the builder and the vessel's history.
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