Days 7 and 8

After Ketchikan it was time to start wending our way homeward.  Most of day 7 was at sea, sailing down around the outside coast of Vancouver Island and then into the Straight of Juan de Fuca (which the announcements persisted in mispronouncing).  It was a good day for sleeping in, working on the blog (until we used up our pre-purchased internet minutes), reading, and packing back up.  Mike thought he had done a very efficient job of packing until he found an additional closet of clothes he had missed. Tami spent a cold hour up on deck looking fruitlessly for more whales.

Walking into Victoria

We caught an early dinner so we would be ready to get off in Victoria.  Apparently every cruise needs to stop in at least one foreign port (we think it has something to do with maintaining their non-US registration).  Therefore they make a point of stopping in Victoria even if it is just for an evening.  We were able to disembark about 7:30 pm and had to be back on by 11:30 pm.

Not to be dissuaded by a short time span and closed shops, we walked into downtown Victoria and found a pub.

Mike testing the maple bacon amber

The pub had wifi, so we were able to get some more blog work done over a couple pints.  Mike particularly liked the maple-bacon amber.  You can’t get more Canadian than maple flavored beer, eh? Tami thoroughly enjoyed her double chocolate porter. A Mariners game was playing on the pub TV but they unfortunately lost. The walk back to the ship was a pleasant walk after dark in Victoria.

Evening in Victoria

The next morning we woke up back in Seattle, just a few miles from home.  First we had to wait to get off the ship, however. At least our assigned waiting place was in the theater so we had cushy seats to wait in. Many people were assigned to places with little or no seating. Finally the time came for our group (Gold 7) to go.  A short bus ride and we were home.

Pre-game warm-ups… Oba!

Of course we still had to do the Seattle tourist activity like in the rest of the ports we had visited, so we headed downtown to see a Sounders game.  And what a game – the Sounders kicked Salt Lake butt 4-0, their first defeat of the season!!

Just about ready for kick-off

Here come the refs! And 40 years of the Sounders

Just about ready for kick-off