7/30 Victoria

Around 9 o'clock or so this morning, the sailboat across the dock from us left.  Trav had asked the dock attendant yesterday if there would be any problem moving up beside us and at the time she indicated that it would be okay.  We knew ahead of time that the sailboat would be leaving, so Trav had his shore power already disconnected and lines and fenders ready to go.  He backed away and moved into the new spot immediately, getting both a front row to the harbor and making the dock between us our personal patio.  Not even five minutes after we'd secured his lines, the owner of another boat came over asking whose boat that was.  He said he was planning on moving there, and that the dock attendant had said it would be okay.  We had the same story, and since the sailboat on the next dock over would be leaving within the hour, we suggested he take that spot.  He was nice about it and we assumed that's what he would do.  He must have said something to the dock attendant though, as she came over later to ask how long Trav would be there.  When she learned we'd both be here through the weekend, she said that was fine.  She's the one who yesterday both sold us the extra days moorage and said it would be okay to move, so we didn't hear any more about it.  So now we're side by side in what we consider the best spots in the harbor.

 

Later in the morning, Barb, Erin and I went for a walk into town to check out a few things.  We gathered a few brochures, especially checking out the bus tours.  There are three different companies that offer various tours, and they're all fairly similar.  They have 15 to 20 stops around the city and surrounding areas, and give narratives about each part of town.  At any of the stops, you can get off and go explore on your own, return later and catch a later tour bus to continue, so it will give us some flexibility, and also give Trav's knee a rest while seeing the town.

 

We continued our walk up Menzies Street, eventually coming to a Thrifty Food Market, where we did some light grocery shopping, being careful to not buy anything we didn't want to carry all the way back to the boat.  That was enough activity to call for a rest and lunch break.  More people watching ensued in the afternoon, and Erin and I took a short walk around the harbor to check out some of the mega-yachts that had come in.  We also poked into the gift shop end of the Empress Hotel, and saw some wonderful sculptures in one of the shops. 

 

The weather was mostly cool today, although there were some sun breaks.  Tomorrow is supposed to be more of the same, so we'll factor that in as we decide what tomorrow's activities will be.  I'm sure it'll include an excursion to at least one of the nearby attractions.

 

Tonight we played more dominos, and tomorrow Trav is preparing beef stroganoff for all of us.  Yum!