Monday 12 May to Victoria

Awoke to clear skies again so looks like we have fine weather again which is just as well as we are on the ferry later this morning and I am not a good sailor on the best of days. Breakast is out of the way and we are all aboard our coach for an 8am departure. We are heading south on the Sea to Sky highway. More incredible scenery along the way.

the blue skies and fluffy white clouds are just the best, especially where the clouds are hiding the mountains! The views of Tantalus Mtn were amazing

We arrived in good time at Horeshoe Bay in order to catch the ferry to Victoria.

The ferry ride is just over 95 minutes and was very smooth so I was a very happy sailor. We are then heading towards Victoria via Chemainus which was such a lovely little town that had kept itself alive with local history murals in many of the buildings walls. It was really pleasant just wandering around the place checking them all out.

The older buildings were delightful too.

Back on the road again to arrive in Victoria about 4.30. We go for a walk around the main streets near our hotel which is the Fairmont Empress, a magnificent building reminiscent of Downton Abbey. Our room is pretty special too.

Back in the hotel and we head up to our room for a bit of a rest and then it dinner off the left over pizza from last night! Jo is feeling a bit thirsty and suggests we go for a drink in the hotel bar but for the prices they are charging, I suggest we find a bottle shop and get a bottle of wine. We google the possible and find a location a short distance from our hotel so of we merrily set again. Lo and behold, what do we find in the liquor store?

I could hardly believe my eyes as I had been telling Jo about this very same tipple earlier on during our trip! So armed with this precious cargo we head back to the hotel and straight for the ice bucket in our room to fill with ice to chill our wine. While Jo is at the ice machine, I get a message on my phone from Trudy and Ole who happen to be in Victoria right now, finishing dinner at a restaurant around the corner from our hotel. We agree to meet in the lobby in 5 minutes and that's exactly what occurred. Hugs all round and then head upstairs to the bar area for coffees, tea or hot chocolate. Great hearing their travel stories to date. Will be good to catch up with them again when we are all home so that we can swap stories. With fond farewells they head off and we head back to our room where it is time to do the blog and crack open that bottle of NK'MIP (pronounced Inkameep). 20So now it is time for bed as we have another big day ahead of us tomorrow.