| Walking Victoria, British Columbia | |
Dateline: 06/01/98
The Victoria International Blossom Walks hosted hundreds of walkers, including my husband and I. This event has been held for seven years as the Victoria Walkfest, a weekend of walking including marathon and 10K distances. In 1998, the event was judged for acceptance as Canada's International Marching League event, subject to a vote at the end of June.
Victoria British Columbia, Canada is at the southern tip of Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada. Visitors must take one of several ferries from Washington State or mainland BC, or fly in. Rich and I elected to drive up from Oregon to the ferry terminal just across the Canadian border at Tsawwassen. This ferry has hourly sailings on large ships with amenities such as a buffet room, espresso coffee bar, study hutches, and comfortable seats. It was a beautiful calm and warm day, so we rode most of the way on the foredeck enjoying the scenes of Puget Sound including killer whales. The ferry docked at Swartz Bay north of Victoria and we drove down to the host hotel, the Ocean Pointe Resort.
We arrived too late for the Friday afternoon 5K/10K walk. We checked into our room, which was very nice. The Ocean Pointe Resort is on the west side of the Inner Harbor. It is only two blocks away from the shops, restaurants, and museums of downtown Victoria. Once we parked the car we never used it again for the weekend.
Don Evoy and others at the walk gave us advice on where to have dinner. We crossed the bridge and found the Hog and the Hound pub, where we saw our friends Bill and Elizabeth. We joined them for supper and enjoyed the local specialty beers. So nice that this Oregon trend has spread throughout the west coast!
On Saturday we chose the 10K distance. Many walkers were out early doing the marathon. We walked with Bill and Elizabeth around the Inner Harbor, seeing the Empress Hotel and the Parliament. We had toured both before, so I left further explorations of them to a future visit. The walk continued along the waterfront path. The Swiftsure yacht races were getting underway. We watched hundreds of pleasure boats getting into position and then beginning the race.
The walk continued through the park and back down through the shops of Victoria. I love the British and Scottish flavored shops. We spent awhile at a native jewelry shop and I bought a pin and earring set. At the vendor booths along the street I found handmade tents for Barbie dolls and bought some as gifts for my nieces.
We returned to the start long enough to get our books stamped freshen up before returning to have lunch at Swans Pub. We relaxed on the hotel's deck overlooking the harbor, reading and enjoying the pleasant day. Inside at the start we later listened to some of the music provided and the door prize drawings. We visited with the many Oregonians who came up for the walk.
On Sunday we walked the 10K west and south into the Esquimalt area. The walk began along the path along the harbor and continued through neighborhoods and parks. The weather was iffy, it sprinkled a bit but wasn't ready to fully rain on our parade. After finishing we went in search of an East Indian restaurant but all were closed, so we shopped and ate elsewhere. We enjoyed the closing ceremonies and failed to win a door prize. Most prized were the posters for the event, which were lovely and colorful. The IML judges spoke favorably about the walking weekend.
If this walk is IML approved, it will be held yearly on the third weekend of April, followed by the Vancouver Washington Discovery Walk Festival on the fourth weekend of April. Put these on your calendar and enjoy a great Pacific Northwest international walking vacation. We will certainly be back, we didn't even make to fabulous Butchart Gardens this trip!
Full Disclosure: Wendy Bumgardner has served as president of the non-profit club that hosts the Discovery Walk Festival.
Photos © Wendy Bumgardner.
More at:
Victoria International Blossom Walks
Walking Trip Reports
International Marching League Events
Canadian Volkssport Federation
Canada for Visitors
