Victoria, British Columbia

Friday 24th July

Hi folks

It was early start this morning, a boat whistle just outside the window woke us at 5am.

The Astoria hotel rooms are on stilts over the water

slower wake up for some, we got tangled in a karaoke bar last night

I did a pitney 'Town Without Pity', then beat it to bed.

Astoria Bridge across the Columbia

So it was off in the mist and drizzle at 6am, (over the bridge in the background of last nights hotel room pic)

Astoria's out on the coast of Oregon, mid-left of Seattle and Portland.

Headed for Port Angeles to catch the ferry to Vancouver Island at midday

so we were under some time constraint

meaning we were batting the bikes along on a wet road,

cold too, leggings and ice-breaker on.

Struck our first taste of American angst...

the bike train got stuck behind, then split in half, by a logging truck that wouldnt pull over.

We came upon a road-works traffic light, so those of us at the back lane-split to the front of the semi

the driver jumped out and abused us, rather pathetically

as in "do you's think i left this gap jest fer you's, gard dammit"

funny little man with a big puku and a walrus moustache

but we didnt argue, just in case he was carrying.

Anyway, we raced off at the end of the works, round a corner and down to a long straight, quickly up to 65mph

when, rooomf.......

the logging truck sailed past, probably doing all of 85mph, fully laden, i counted 20 logs, 30' long.

My roomie just chipped in, 'he went past like we were stopped'

A few miles further on we turned onto a freeway, and we simply lost sight of him.

Nigel, who copped the brunt of the tirade, said he was het up because he had to have his load somewhere and he was late.

Ken organising the troops at Port Angeles Ferry

So were we...

luckily the road dried out

but in accordance with murphy, having hardly seen a cop up to date

this road was infested with them.

We just made the ferry in time

Ken had us pre-booked so we coasted to the front of the queue

looks about 20mls across, and now we're in Canada!

Lovely day...

we're here for 2 nights, chance to stretch the legs, and do some laundry

although have found a good drier for my smalls

drape them over the top of the table-lamp, only takes a couple of hours.

Gee, Ken's done a great job, another top room all booked

we all know where we're going to be each night, so dosent matter if we get mis-mothered during the day.

Customs was a simple procedure

now we have to get some canadian currency from an ATM, just enough to do the couple of days

Feeling quite converted to left hand drive now, coming naturally today

and curiously disconnected from back home RHD

Just a couple of pics

me on the ferry

and the shot out of the hotel balcony, see the french architecture on the building to the left.

The customs man said 'bon jour' and 'how you doing' in good english.