PYC to Causeway Harbor

June 17, 2022

[ 69 NM, 4 hours ]

We departed Poulsbo at 6:30 am and arrived in Port Townsend to fuel up at 8:30. The waters were rough and log watch was necessary. The seagulls became helpful friends in locating the debris. It was a slow crossing across the Strait of Juan de Fuca at 17 knots from Port Townsend to Victoria. We were slow and steady for 2 hours before we reached the customs dock in Victoria Harbor. Rayburn Point was our location to enter the country of Canada. We were the only ones at the dock and were given access to a phone with no dial tone. Our phones had developed their own needs of new service as we crossed the imaginary waterline. As it turns out, you need only say “hello” into the dock phone to get a response. A shortish hold time brought us a customs officer. He asked all the questions that had been required of us on our ArriveCAN form. Name, passport number or birth cert number, date of birth. Traveling with one minor and only one half of her biological parents with her, posed a hold up on the phone. We were able to proceed but with the warning that in the future we would need a letter from her father stating she was with permission to travel out of the country. I had read about this need and completed it for Mexico travel with never needing to present it. Noted that Canada is more watchful of our youth. Our officer asked of declarations and I honestly told him the quantity of alcohol. 6 bottles of alcohol/wine weren’t of any concern to him. He wanted to know about food, and primarily meat. I gave him a rundown of our contents and his only need was to know if it would leave the boat. No, it would all be consumed on the boat. He didn't ask about pets, although we had packed rabies certificates.

We left customs with never seeing a person, only a phone call. Nothing was verified that we were in fact who we said we were.

We left customs with never seeing a person, only a phone call. Nothing was verified that we were in fact who we said we were. Causeway Marina was our stop for the night. A very friendly deck hand greeted us upon entry. Causeway had sent a text message 2 hours before our check in time of 1 PM giving us all the details we needed know about staying with them. Slip assignment, gate code, Wi-Fi. They also let us know where the customs dock was located. Texting rather than VHF was their preferred way to communicate. The views from our dock were fun to say the least. We stared directly at the gloriousness of The Empress Hotel off the stern. To our port side we had a full view, framed by sailboat mast of The Parliament Building. That view turned quite spectacular after dark when they lit every detail of its structure with string lights.

Back to our arrival, after a walk of the dogs and rinse of the boat, we all headed to the Yates Street Taphouse. It was given good food reviews and found on Bring Fido for being dog friendly on their patio. Both were accurate. The taphouse was located just off Government St. We were able to walk from Causeway Marina with very little auto traffic since they close off Government St. for pedestrian use only for a large portion of the day. The patio was a rustic (the good way) designated area on the street. No special accommodations for pups, but the tables gave lots of room to be able to leave length on leashes attached to our seats. Lunch included some very cold and very tasty frozen Bellini’s along with a fresh tasting quinoa bowl with shrimp and carrot ginger vinaigrette. Leah had an excellent mushroom and goat cheese pizza, Cole had their chicken pad thai, and Dave went with their spicy ground beef nachos.

Ultimately, this isn’t the vacation we are coming to Canada for. Small towns and beautiful views will fill the rest of our days.

We walked some of our fare off with a stop at Roots clothing store for memory apparel and another stop at the pharmacy to get the famed pain relief including codeine and caffeine for Dave’s pinched shoulder. Apparently, it worked almost instantly. Our very not busy day had us wanting some rest back on the boat where we followed it up with some French dips for dinner, gelato seeking for the kids, and dock walks that always lead to the meeting of fun people. Victoria is a lovely city with much to keep busy at. Not wanting to leave the dogs on the boat for this location limits the amount to entertain yourself with, but the walking sites were worth a stopping stay. Ultimately, this isn’t the vacation we are coming to Canada for. Small towns and beautiful views will fill the rest of our days.