Probably my favourite mantra yet to graduate to bumpersticker status is: "You're not on a motorbike trip until the first ferry," so I suppose there was an element of symmetry in the fact that this migration was destined to effectively finish with one as well. This demented seven-day route of mine might be the only thing in common between the wee Shaftesbury Ferry and the mighty Coho: A 5-minute river crossing vs. 90-minute ocean sail; drive-up service anytime between 07:00-23:00 vs. debating whether to make reservations; 150 trips per day vs. two; free vs. not; embarking via a steep gravel ramp vs. showing your passport at a customs wicket then proceeding to your numbered lane; having the whole deck to yourself vs. access to the car deck is prohibited while underway; a pontoon barge pushed around by a little red tugboat vs. hot dogs upstairs. |
The Coho, she was actually a smooth sailing, under blue skies with, as it turned out, the giant wheel chock wedged under Badger's skid plate serving only as a formality today. The big boat lets you off right in downtown Victoria at the harbour, from where we survived city traffic out to the designated hibernation den, where Badger will spend the winter ahead.
Until next time.
Day total: 422 km, 8h35m Trip total: 3,428 km (end) | Start: Portland, OR. End: Victoria, BC. Soundtrack: Squishy, foamy plugs with brotherly comms chatter. |