Our trip to Victoria

[John Turpin]

Thanks to everyone who gave us ideas and recommendations. Butchart Gardens were simply amazing. I'm not a flower show kind of guy, but this place blew me away. We hit most of the tourist spots and ate very well. I saw Tillikum at the Maritime Museum, but Trekka is now in the water. They gave me directions to its marina, but I never found it.

Paul Gartside graciously invited us to visit his shop and was a wonderful host. He has just turned the hull on a 24' cedar on oak gaff cutter. Not surprisingly, it is a piece of art.

[Dave Gray]

Sounds like a great trip and that is a work of art in progress. Question for those in the know - is that a harpin or a sheer clamp? From what I have read a harpin is a sawn structure which may or may not run the length of the boat and usually has the deck structure built with it, so I may have answered my own question.

[Thorne]

Lucky you! How was the weather, and what else did you see?

[John Turpin]

The weather was perfect. Chamber of Commerce weather. (see pictures at the link below for proof)

We stayed right downtown in a small hotel called the Bedford Regency. When they found out it was our 25th anniversary, they put us in the best room of the hotel. It had a panoramic view of the Inner Harbor. This link takes you to our trip webpage that we built for friends and family:

http://teamturpin.org/trips/victoria.htm

Besides the Butchart Gardens, we visited Craigdorrach Castle, the Maritime Museum and took several tours. The harbor taxis are great fun. And, of course, we ate very well.

If my wife had not been with me, I would have fallen to my knees and begged Paul to hire me as an unpaid apprentice for life. Instead, I was cool and acted all happy with my desk job.

If we were to do it again, we would certainly block out time for a trip to the more remote parts of the Saanich Peninsula. I'm guessing that a drive around that coastline would be wonderful. We wanted to take the ferry to the Sidney Spit, but just ran out of time. Next time, we'll pack a picnic lunch and find a little beach just for us.

[Ed Harrow]

Paul and Barb are just the best. I miss her posts, "oh the light".

Overlooking Haro (I guess they're lazy out there ) Straight is a house featuring nary a square corner, or at least damn few of them. Did you see that?

A fabulous place.

[JimD]

Glad you enjoyed yourselves on our fair island, John

[capt jake]

I am glad you had a good time! I had forgotten most of those places you mentioned. We did the same trip about 14 years ago. I better not let my wife see those pictures, or I will have to start dipping into my project fund for a trip. Victoria is a beautiful town for sure.

[BrianW]

Thanks for the virtual tour Jack! Looks like a wonderful place.