Victoria day tripping

End of a long winter, bad weather, and a weeklong bout with the flu: what better time to look back on trips to Victoria, B.C. and post some pictures of a favorite neighboring city?

The Black Ball MV Coho ferry runs daily from Port Angeles across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Victoria’s Inner Harbour. The passage takes about 90 minutes – pretty painless for international travel. A passport is needed, though an “enhanced” Washington driver’s license may also be used. Until mid-May there are two daily departures from Port Angeles, and two returns from Victoria. There are more sailings during the summer months.

I’ve posted one of the early sights in the harbour, the blue Johnson Street Bridge, which is located at the west side of the entrance. It is a “bascule,” or counterweighted type drawbridge designed by Joseph Strauss, the same man who designed San Francisco’s famous Golden Gate Bridge. You can read about its history here, but after no lack of controversy it was finally decided that this deteriorating span would be removed and replaced. Work has recently begun. A new bridge is being built to the north of the blue bridge, which will remain in service until its replacement is completed. There are live views of the work progress here.

2 thoughts on “Victoria day tripping”

  1. Isn’t Victoria a lovely city? When I was there a few weeks back they were just removing the rail span that’s raised in your pic (a post is coming in a few days). Thanks for the link to the worksite.

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