Day 7 - Ferry Well!

Well today was basically all about ferry's in waiting, or was that waiting for ferry's?  Anyhow, the game plan for the day was getting ourselves from Orcas Island over to Victoria BC.  And though is sounds simple (and it sort of was in the end), it came with a bit of stress.

Seems that to get to Victoria (well Sidney actually, but we are going to Victoria) from Orcas, the best way is to take an inter-island ferry over to Friday Harbor and then catch the bigger boat over to Victoria.  The only issue was that we were not at all sure we would be able to get on the Victoria ferry.  I called the night before and asked about the route and was assured that everything was cool by the operator at the Washington State Ferry system, but I got a strange look this morning when I told the lady at the terminal I did not have a reservation.  Reservation?  Nobody said anything about a reservation last night!  I double checked with her!  Damn, there goes any sense of peace and tranquility for the rest of the day.  

So we get our tickets for Friday Harbor for free because the ticket agent felt bad for us, so a bit of a win to start.  But then, fog has rolled in and the boats are all running late.  Not too bad normally, but we only have an hour and fifteen minutes to catch the Victoria boat in Friday Harbor and it tends to be packed this time of year, so we sit in line at Orcas and sweat it out a bit.  Bummer!  Oh wait, did I mention that there is only one boat a day going to Victoria?  Yeah, double bummer and a potential disaster if we don't make it!  Finally we get on the boat and make it over to Friday Harbor and run over to the ticket and we were able to buy our tickets to Victoria!  Another win!  Oh oh, too soon to celebrate however as we bring our car in to the line the attendant assigning lanes is surprised at our lack of reservations and puts us in a lane with just one other car, so we get to sweat it out again wondering if we are going to make it on the boat or what.  

So the departure time for our ferry to Victoria comes and goes and then departure time plus one hour comes and goes.  I guess we needed a little extra time to sit and wonder our fate.  Finally we hear the horn and the ferry arrives and surprise, we are one of the first to load.  Whew!  We make it to Victoria a bit late, but we are here.  Quickly enough we find our hotel (another win as it is awesome) and check in and go out to have a fantastic dinner (after getting lost and running around aimlessly for a while first).  So that finishes out our day.  Tomorrow is high tea at the Empress Hotel for the girls and Jack and I will find something to fill a few hours.