Victoria, BC

 Astoria is about as far north as you can get in Oregon and Victoria is about as far south as you can get in Canada, so it is just an overnight by boat to go from one to the other.  We arrived at our scheduled time and were informed that the Victoria marathon was being run right past our pier.  This is bad for sight-seeing transportation.  All ship tours were delayed until 2:30 as were the shuttles into town (provided by the city for a price). Since we were cleared to go ashore at 10:00 we decided to walk into town.

The route in followed the runners for a mile or so.  Having attended our first marathon in the Quad Cities two days before commencing this trip we watched the suddenly familiar encouragement offered to runners from spectators, the large milling crowd near the finish line, the constant patter of the announcer welcoming runners to the finish line, often by name, and by time.  One sign read “You’re running better than our government”. 

Some shops were open even though it was Sunday morning.  We wandered into one that showcased our favorite: local artists.  Note the life-sized driftwood horse peering over the fence at the marathoners. We kept going past the finish line enjoying the harbor sights, the government buildings, and the spectacular flower display at the quite famous Empress Hotel.  We walked all the way to Chinatown.

Do we have serious jigsaw puzzlers in this blog?  Look at this website (www.puzzle-lab.com) for a unique idea from a local artist/puzzler who not only has refined a wooden puzzle that is picture-worthy, but he ranks the difficulty using hot tamales.  5 tamales, the toughest rating is listed as – not fun.

We seem to have more endurance when we’re hiking in nature rather than walking in cities.  By the time we turned back to the ship, we were lagging more than those who had completed the race!  Having arranged a casual bridge game with our bridge instructors, Skip and Carolyn Wilton, we enjoyed an afternoon back on the ship before the dinner and evening routine: supper, usually in the Grand Dining Room (with 150+ of our closest friends) with a 3- or 4-course meal followed by the evening entertainment at 9:15 in the large Regatta Lounge with comfy barrel chairs facing a stage.

Tonight was different, though, because it was our first Sunday on this vessel with a new-to-us cruise director.  Would this one allow a Christian worship service?  Would he be open to having Jen or others participate?  Do the services happen only on sea days (like our Around the World tour did)?  Well, Jen being Jen, she introduced herself to the cruise director casually during the days prior, eventually slipping her room number, name, and email address into his hand after he had been warmed up to her.  So, yes, he contacted her, she wrote some extra prayers, then shared the 4-pg pre-written service leadership.  We had about 20 in worship (some were still on tours) and a few stepped forward to offer to participate in the future.  After the 15-minute service, a tall Lincoln-esque man came to me and shook my hand.  “What brand are you?”  I answered, “ELCA.  Lutheran.”  He let that soak in, then said, “I was a Presbyterian pastor in the San Jose area for 47 years…but no, I’m not wanting to lead on the ship.  Here, I get to worship with my wife.  After my heart attack, I’m happy to let others lead.”  He walked regally and stiffly away with his wife deftly guiding him without guiding him.  That’s a skill.