TRANSPORT pages

Lunch from a place called Napa Farms that served all its over-priced but fresh and thoughtfully prepared food items in little plastic coffins. When we were finished, we were left with an admirable pile of trash.

The outstanding dish was a vegan Caesar Salad with something called 'seed parmesan.'  

We were still early, but our gate was open and already pretty well populated.

Ever notice how the folks getting on a plane to X have X characteristics? Well, Vancouver is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the Americas, and so were the folks waiting for the plane. We had an hour and a half to wait, and the people watching was great.

Lots of dehumanizing / employee eliminating tech 'for your security' and then, on time to the minute, we were pushing back. My general impression at this point is that if authority says the magic word 'security' we uhmurrcuns will put up with anything.

But finally we were on our way :

This is a south-to-north flight (of course) and so it reads backwards. Bear with me. (Bears with me comes later.)

Michael glued to the airplane window

Rochelle took photos marked with this R

And then we were on final approach to Vancouver International, hereinafter referred to as  YVR.

About here's where Rochelle said, 'I didn't think Vancouver was this big.' Well, it wasn't, but it is now. Our first serious visit to Vancouver was for the World's Fair in 1986.

But I'm way ahead of myself. This was a long, anxious day. It started with us trekking 6 blocks with luggage to where we were supposed to be met by our ride to Victoria, arriving (surprise!) 22 minutes early.

Thirty minutes late, the bus showed up. That works out to 50 minutes of anxiety. 

The schedule promised arrival in Victoria at 12:35, but actually we arrived a little after 1:30 with a drive of unknown duration ahead of us, a 6pm deadline, and unsure we had a car yet.

It all worked out. And there were lovely moments along the way. Here the ferry from Tsawassen is working its way through the tight channel between Galliano and Maine Islands. Our route today was the dotted blue line in the map below.

We drove to the Port Hardy airport, parked, met our co-travelers Trina and Sandra, checked in, and then vanned back to the seaplane dock in the harbor, where Haydon, our pilot, packed our luggage into the little plane, then we boarded. I got to sit in the right-hand front seat, and had a great view of the flight. As we were taxiing – does one taxi in a seaplane? – we saw several eagles, a mature and some teenagers.

R and I chose not to go on the afternoon excursion, but those who went saw plenty of wildlife and returned with three beautiful wild flowers for the dinner table.

at right: the conquering expedition returns

Dinner was salmon with a maple glaze, grilled zucchini, and sun-dried tomato pasta. There was extra salmon, and R and I tried, and appreciated some Sockeye. Dessert was Apple Pie Cake with maple sauce and whipped cream.

Dinner

We joined the Inland Passage just in time to be buffeted by the BC Ferry’s wake. Passed a marker buoy being put to good use by a family of Stellar Sea Lions; the patriarch roared at us, but only the young one was interested enough to look.

Early breakfast again, and a final farewell tour to this magnificent place.

After breakfast and the quick tour, we upped anchor and headed for our final anchorage close to Denny Island and our date with the Goose.

next group : Transit to San Francisco