Fall Fell

This morning, and the last few days since Comox the mornings have been crisp, cool, chilly north breeze, and have that Fall smell.   Even more so, now that we are in Victoria, B. C.

We departed Montague Harbour at 0906 this morning.   I think everyone else departed at 0907 as there was a parade of boats leaving the harbour then.   Note: in Canada, harbor is spelled harbour - it's an intentional spelling on my part to allow me to blend-in and go native here.   What do you think?  Spookworthy?

We passed though Captain Passage, just south of Ganges on Saltspring Island, passed Sidney on Vancouver Island, rounded the cape at Baynes Channel, and entered the Juan de Fuca Strait.  

About 4.5 miles later, we were entering Victoria.   All-in, about 37 miles, 5.5 hours, 6.75 knots.   At one point we were doing almost 10 knots with the current in our favor.   At other times we were down to 2.8 knots when the current was foul.

Here is the lighthouse at Staines Point on Trial Island as we entered the Juan de Fuca Strait.   What is it about lighthouses?

In the Juan de Fuca Strait, we crossed paths with this beautiful little ketch.
It is a busy and narrow channel into the inner harbour at Victoria with sea plane, water taxis, ferry boats, pleasure boats, and fishing boats.   Why does everyone feel the need to arrive at the narrowest part of the channel at the same time?  Karen was thrilled that I was the one driving.

We unceremoniously docked at the ShipPoint Marina in front of the Empress Hotel.   

We were dragging a significant piece of bull kelp that has lodged in the starboard stabilizer fin.  Karen & I tried to dislodge it, but to no avail.  A neighboring boat crew, Dillon, volunteered (for $100 USD) to dive and clear it off.   SOLD!  You know I hate cold water - right?

Fingers-crossed for Dillon's success tomorrow.

So, we went for a hike around town to buy a dive mask for Dillon to use tomorrow and me to use at some point in the future.

Dinner was at Il Terrazzo, a lovely Italian restaurant with classy/comfy ambiance and a killer wine list.   Look familiar, Cecil, Carolyn?

Karen had the blueberry glazed halibut and I had the lamb shank.   No way to pair properly with those meals with just one wine, so to heck with it.   We had a lovely Brunello.

The first wine (yup, 1st), was a 2016 Antinori Pian delle Vigne Brunello.   It was their last bottle of this outstanding vintage.  But alas, it had turned raisiny on the finish with just a hint of cork taint.   Our waiter convinced me to refuse it.   If this had been from my cellar, I would probably have just drunk it as it wasn't bad, it just wasn't right.

Our waiter next brought a 2017 vintage of the same wine.  Much better, crisp, clean, and lovely.   Thank you, Neil.  That's the picture, here.
After a nice long stroll back towards the boat, we stopped at the CANADA sign for selfies.   I'd never noticed before, but in selfie-mode everything is mirror-imaged so CANADA looks like ADANAC.

Maybe I'm just slow...

And at the Orca.

And finally, just a picture of the harbour and Blue Redd at our slip tonight.

We will be here tomorrow too.   Then back into the US at Port Townsend where we meet-up with friends.


Nighty Night.

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