Into Oregon

Early rise this morning, we wanted to be at Les Shwab the tire people first thing. When packing up to leave Victoria on Saturday afternoon I noticed the rear left tire on the trailer was badly scrubbed on the inside, I have spent the last two days beating myself up on having the trailer parked up for two months and not noticing this problem and then of course seeing it when its too late to do anything about it. Problem now solved the people at Les Schab fitted a new tire and rotated the others in the time it took us to have breakfast in the diner next door, all for $147. great service. On the road by 9am uneventful journey down through Washington State and into Oregon.

 

All done and dusted and ready to roll down the I5 freeway. 

 

Here we are parked up at The Seven Feathers Casino Resort at Canyonville Oregon. Tonight we will put the boat out and eat at the casino and maybe put some money in the slots.

Leaving Victoria, British Columbia.

Sunday 5th.January. To day we sailed out of Victoria heading for Port Angeles on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington State, on the first part of our journey to warmer climes, being California and Arizona.  We started our journey Saturday afternoon taking the truck and trailer to the quay where the ferry for Port Angeles departs, you can leave your rig on the quayside over night ready for the morning sailing, they evan let you sleep there, not for us though, we decided The Days Inn across the road was a better choice.
Everything went smoothly, evan driving on the boat through the sideways door turned out a lot easer than I expected. Great crossing very calm and a interesting drive down the peninsula to Centralia where we are now parked up for the night. The 101 Highway is a good drive a bit twisty turny pulling a Fifthwheel and some frost on the road where we went through the wooded parts but on the whole ok.

 

On the ferry COHO as it pulls away from the quay in Victoria.

 

The floatplane dock on the other side of the harbour.

The hydrofoil clipper just arriving from Seattle.

 

Just entering the narrow section of the harbour entrance, first sighting of Fishermans Wharf.

The houseboat end of Fishermans Wharf.

 

Fishing boats at the other end.

Sailing past Ogdens Point and into The Juan de Fuca Strait.

 

Ruth gazing at the view - - -

Mount Baker, letting us see it as a farewell gift.

 

But I'm afraid the rest of the coastline of Washington State has its ever present cloud cover.

Under the cloud as we approach Port Angeles

Farewell Victoria we have enjoyed the three months we have spent here.

Another visit to Esquimalt Lagoon.

New Years Day, with only a few days before we leave Vancouver Island we decided to make a last visit to Esquimalt Lagoon. We were rewarded with seeing three different types of ducks and two different gulls.

 

We think this is a immature Mew Gull.

 

Three in a row immature Herring Gull, Glaucous Gull and the Mew Gull.

What a handsome couple Mr.& Mrs. Northern Pintail.

 

Female Mallard practicing body surfing.

 Northern Shoveler.

 

A collection of Lesser Scaup (I think)

 Female Red -Winged Blackbird.

 

Brewers Blackbird.

 One of then new finds a Green-Whinged Teal. A great morning out with lots of birds to watch.  Looking over the Strait to The Olympia Mountains the cloudy haze is still there, maybe it will lift when we sail over there on the ferry this weekend.