Saturday, July 8, 2008
I woke up worried about the phone situation, as my phone was now dry and still not working. I went online before setting out for the day and discovered that phones that are dropped in salt water have no chance for survival. Salt water conducts electricity much better than pure water, so electronics become fried.

I would need to replace the phone, as I was not comfortable with no ability to call for help if I needed, but was also feeling lonely by not having the ability to call friends and family while on the road.

I visited a nearby mall and found a cellular phone store and was met with bad news: I would not simply be able to purchase a phone and have it set to my number- I would need to purchase the phone from SaskTel to do that. Given the shortage of SaskTel Mobility outlets on Vancouver Island I was forced to purchase a “pay as you go” phone from Telus- complete with a Vancouver Island number. I was discouraged by the added expense, but felt better about having a phone.

I spent the afternoon riding around the cottage country around Victoria.  I rode west to Sooke and enjoyed an oyster sandwich by the seashore before heading north for a visit to Butchart Gardens and the Church and State Winery. I didn’t visit the gardens because it means leaving my bags unattended on Silver, but I did visit the winery. I purchased two bottles of Shiraz- one for dinner tonite and another to take home.

After hours of riding through the small, meandering roads around Victoria, I eventually found my way to the ferry and, like the last trip, was ushered to the front of the line past hundreds of other waiting cars. After reaching the Tsawwassen terminal on the mainland I made my way back to Burnaby. Dinner that night was amazing. Scott had made a seafood stew with fresh mussels, clams, halibut, and scallops (think I missed something there, too). Gotta love that fresh seafood. I will miss the seafood.

Vancouver Island has a unique vibe. The scenery is beautiful- especially in the rugged northern parts. Much of the south is more developed and the only word I can find to describe it is “delicate.”  The Island also gave me a little bit of background anxiety…not enough to make the experience negative…but there was something in the back of my mind that made me slightly uneasy.  Maybe it was being on an island when all I’ve ever been used to is being located on the middle of a massive continent.  Maybe it was the reliance on a boat to get home. Whatever it was, it was overshadowed by the majesty of it all…and it was cool to see a green license plate on Long Beach overlooking the Pacific.