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Published: June 24th 2014
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I was up early for my 08:00 greyhound bus to Calgary from where I was to revisit my hostel as I had left my tea bags behind, an Englishman can’t go anywhere without them!! No tea bag is left behind! I then gorged myself on an Indian buffet which was to last me all day before making my way to the city hall bus stop from where I was to catch the 300 bus to the airport. Well that was the plan at least as the road had been closed as there was a procession down the main street to celebrate the Canadian Olympic team, there were no signs of an alternative route and after asking some cops and locals I gave in and hailed a taxi, which costs me 35 bucks and early killed me!!!
Stayed at the HI hostel as the Samesun hostel across the road was a bit too wild for me. Vancouver is a lovely city but I only had time to walk round the sea front as the next day I was off to Vancouver Island. After two buses and a ferry I checked into my hostel and then made my way to the docks
to catch my boat to see the killer whales. I decided to go with Prince of Whales as they use Zodiac boats to find the whales which is always fun. Due to heavy seas and strong winds though I was to regret that decision later when we were being bounced into the air and soaked every 5 mins but that is all part of the fun isn’t it:-)
After donning the protective suits we rode the waves for an hour travelling west of Victoria we eventually found the resident J pod which consisted of around 15 killer whales that we could see at the time. It was great to see the whales as I had always wanted to see them in the wild but it was really difficult to take pics in the boat as it was moving in the waves so much, nevertheless I managed to get a few good ones especially when a female swam past the boat. We stayed with the whales for nearly 2 hours before returning to Victoria for a well-earned rest.
The next day I was out to see the whales again, this time with the much posher Eagle Wing tours who
use a power boat to go out to find the whales, this time we headed East but as it took longer to find them we didn’t have as long with them. I would recommend Eagle Wing as there is a biologist on board as well as the captain and the ride is a lot smoother, but it is around $30 more.
That night a few of us went out to the pubs round Victoria and ended up in my favourite of the trip – Big Bad Johns – which was decked out like a hillbilly pub, with peanut kernels all over the floor and country music blaring out – it was great.
Boring bits – caught Pacific Coast coaches which takes you from downtown Vancouver to the BC Ferry terminal from where you catch the ferry to Swartz Bay in Victoria and then the bus drops you off in downtown Victoria.
Stayed at Ocean Island Inn, Victoria
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