Victoria -- Friday, 8/30/2013 -- Day 112

Under cloudy skies we exit the marina at Friday Harbor at 10A just as a ferry comes in.   We turn to starboard inside Brown Island and cruise by Albert Jenson & Sons Boatyard and Marina, then turn around point where Herb and I had a long walk earlier in the Summer.  It is 67 degrees and the water here is flat calm.

Circle T Passes Albert Jenson's Boatyard

We head 'around the corner' to Victoria BC, and it is hard to believe we will finally meet up with some special friends from some special places.  I am not ready for the Summer cruise to end.

We go south between San Juan Island and Lopez Island.  At Cattle Pass and the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, we see many small fast boats going out to fish.  Seas become a little bumpy for a time until we are well into the Strait.  

Dolphins occasionally peek out and quickly disappear, but the seagulls stay on their log watching for fish.

There is a buzz of activity on the water today and we see a large gathering of whale watching boats off to our port, far out in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  They must have quite a sighting, and we assume friend Jim Bathurst has a group there.  Too bad we are so far from them for a good photo -- maybe a bigger zoom lens???

Jim?

A nice sailboat slowly glides along, followed by 'Adventure' boats who speed past, playing leap frog then cruise side by side.  Too adventurous for me!

How many times have I photographed the Trial Island Lighthouse?  Today only one time, so I get only one angle.  It is beautiful, no matter how you view it.

Ah, we are almost there. 

But we see the 300 meter Norwegian Jewel approaching on our port and will definitely give way to her.  Best to slow, change course and actually circle a bit to give her time to get into the commercial slips just ahead at Ogden Point.  First she goes to her port in order to make a sharp turn to starboard in front of us.

She is beautiful!  and Big!

Herb widens his turn to allow a good margin of safety.  Then the Coho from Port Townsend appears.  OK, we'll wait for you, also.

Coho

It seems they are coming at us from all sides, as we have Circle T behind us, then hear a very loud noise and realize there is a helicopter overhead!  Pretty exciting stuff!

We let them go....

Waiting our Turn

When it is safe to proceed, we go slowly, yet meet some fast boats who are in a hurry and give us a little wake.

and more traffic....

Victoria Clipper

A call to the marina office directs us to our slip and we hear Patrick on Last Call inform us he is standing by to catch our lines.  What a deal!  We side tie right behind Last Call, with Circle T rafting to us. 

This allows for the other two vessels to go behind us on the same slip when they arrive in late afternoon, so we can all be on the same pier.

Patrick

Hayden Bay (Marcus and Jorge) comes in first for the dock tie, with Destiny (Maureen and David) rafting to her.

Hail, hail, the gang's all here!

Hayden Bay

Destiny

Find Willie's Tug....

Happy Hour is on the dock, with dinner at a Mexican restaurant.

After dinner it seems like a good time to take a look at the Classic Boats, so we walk a bit farther past our marina for the show.  We learn the history of each one, and sometimes walk aboard for a look.

Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
   Friday, August 30,  2013