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I couldn't sleep on Wednesday night. Just couldn't. I finally became unable to stand it about 3 am, got up and dressed and was on my way before 4 am. I got to the ferry at Anacortes at about 6 for a 7:45 am boat, and napped and read for a long, long time before they finally loaded us at 7:30.

The San Juans were heavy with cloud, the islands slipping by silently, dreaming rock dreams. I wrote and read quietly, sitting near a window on the top level, watching the landscape and the water and the way the islands humped up out of the water and scratched their backs on the fog. They all looked like sleeping dragons.

We stopped at Orcas Island and then at Friday Harbor, and then it was on to Sidney, which is about 25km north of Victoria. After a cursory Immigration inspection, I drove through the driving rain down to Victoria. I parked, got some lunch, and then went to the Royal British Colombia museum. They have some neat historical displays, so I spent a lot of time taking pictures of those. None of them were good enough to put online, however--I was taking pictures for my own reference for the piece that I supposedly went to Victoria to research.

I spent some more time wandering and then decided to go find my hotel. I was staying at the Swan, which is up by Chinatown, and I'd never been there before. Turns out my room wasn't going to be ready till 4:30, so I found the hotel parking lot and went downtown to wander.

They were filming a BBC film across the street from me, which I found amusing.

Random observations about Victoria:

1. I am in awe of Canadian parking skills. All of the spaces were *tiny*. The Green Machine was at a decided disadvantage.
   
2. If my parents had inflicted me with the name Jesokah, I'd run away from home too.
   
3. Lush is still divine.
   
4. It's hard to take pictures when you've got an umbrella in one hand and a camera in another.
   
5. I could almost see myself living here. Some day.
   

I bought lots of books at Munro's and lots of bath stuff at Lush, and then went back to the hotel ad was finally let into my room. It was lovely and high-ceilinged, and included a kitchen that was almost but not quite larger than my kitchen at home. I ventured out once more in the rain to find a grocery store, and then made myself dinner and curled up and slept for a while.

Friday, I wanted to go out to the Butchart Gardens. I was hoping the sun would put in an appearance, but it was cloudy and grey all day long, and drizzling most of the time I was in the gardens. I had my umbrella with me, of course, and the gardens were almost deserted, which was really nice. I can deal with wet weather if it means if I have someplace almost to myself.

By this time, I was quite chilled, so I headed to the indoor exhibit, the "prelude to spring" in an indoor conservatory. There were some lovely rhododendrons and lilies, as well as a lovely red flower I couldn't identify, an interesting orchid, and a few other flowers I thought were pretty but couldn't say what they were. (I also got in lots of practice with macro mode.)

After taking pictures, I had high tea at the Dining Room, which is one of the restaurants in the Gardens. It's by far the best tea i've had in Victoria (yes, beating out the Empress) and high tea is a *very* substantial meal. I noshed happily for something like an hour and a half, and then toddled back to Victoria proper and wandered downtown some more. I found a DVD for Chris, and went back to my room to do some writing and relaxing. I discovered that I had access to cable TV, and stayed up way too late watching it. I needed to prune some brain cells, you know.

Saturday, I went to Craigdarroch Castle in order to avoid the crowds of protesters who were pouring into Victoria for the day. (Everyone had their panties in a twist about government cuts. It was really fascinating to hear people talk about the differences between the Canadian political system and the US political system. We both have rosy views of what goes on on the other side of the border, I guess.)

I did some more wandering, but I was really starting to feel a little oppressed by the grey sky, so I warmed up with yet another pot of tea and then went back to the hotel. I spent a while looking at the toothless building across the street, watching the black fabric on the windows billow in the breeze.

Sunday, I drove up to Sidney, and took the ferry home. The sun finally decided to come out, so i was treated to some of the most spectacular views that this area has to offer. I also took a couple pictures of myself, both of which turned out rather well, I think. I did get a few chapters outlined, but I was interrupted by someone who I had a passing acquaintance with once upon a time and who recognize me on the ferry, and chatted with me for an hour and a half or so.

And then, I was home, and my cats were there to yell at me for having the temerity to be gone. I am a mean mommy, according to them. But they love me anyway.

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