Sequim, Washington and Victoria, Canada

We left the Elks Lodge in Forks and drove over to the Elks Lodge in Sequim (pronounced skwim) and got parked and hooked up to utilities.

 

We backtracked a little to Port Angeles to first get diesel for $6.19/gallon then take a ferry over to the city of Victoria, on Vancouver Island in Canada.  We had to install an app on our phone and submit a copy of our vaccination cards in order to be allowed in to Canada.

Leaving Port Angeles, Washington

US Coast Guard, Port Angeles

Arriving in Victoria, Canada

That looks like a giant cruise ship behind the building.

Once we departed the ferry we took a public transportation bus to Butchart Gardens.  We visited this area on a vacation from work back in 2002 and loved Butchart Gardens so we knew we had to go back.

 

 

Butchart Gardens started as a limestone quarry in 1904 and was gradually converted to this massive garden which is still owned by the Butchart family and run by their great-granddaughter.   

These peonies remind me of the hanging baskets full of them in my Grandmother's back patio in Pennsylvania

It was a lot more crowded on this visit but we still enjoyed looking at all the flowers and gardens.

Even the trash containers have beautiful plants growing on them!

The carousal was added in 2009

In 2004, two 30-foot (9.1 m) totem poles were installed to mark the 100th anniversary, and The Gardens were designated as a national historic site.

Monkey Puzzle Tree

Who has ever seen a flower with half one color and half another color like this?

Pollinators

Of course there is a rose garden too.

Miss Congeniality Roses

 

Part of the Japanese Garden

Dragon

 

This is Tod Inlet and the site of the Vancouver Portland Cement Company established in 1904.  Adjacent to the plant at Tod Inlet was a village that housed the employees.

 

On our last visit we had Afternoon Tea in this building.

It was another beautiful visit to Butchart Gardens and although crowded, we were glad we got to visit again. 

 

After all the walking at Butchart Gardens and taking the bus back to the harbor area of Victoria, it was time for some Canadian ice cream.

 

The rest of the day was spent walking around the harbor area before taking the ferry back to the United States.

 

 

This area was fun to walk around and look at the houseboats.

 

 

Cute mailbox

This dog has the life!

Sea Otters

Something I would love to do is fly in a float plane.

 

Empress Hotel

 

  

 Parliament Building

Victoria was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previous British monarch and is known as the Victorian era.

 

 

Queen Victoria ruled the British Empire for nearly 64 years, after ascending the throne just weeks after turning 18. She was the second-longest-reigning English royal in history, topped only by her great-great-granddaughter Queen Elizabeth II.

 
Sadly it was time for our ferry back to Port Angeles, Washington.  We had a great day in Victoria and the weather was beautiful. 

We had a beautiful sunset to end a great day!

 Here is the area covered by this blog entry.

 

We enjoyed our stay in Sequim and would love to return to this area.  Next we're headed to Port Townsend and another section of Olympic National Park.  Thanks for following along.   

BTW, if you leave a comment, please include your name or initials so I know who wrote it.  Most comments are from Anonymous and I would love to know who wrote them.