Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (April 2019, week 3)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Fri, 19 Apr 2019 10:25:04 -0700
Reply-To:     Roger Whittaker <rogerwhitt1@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Roger Whittaker <rogerwhitt1@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Victoria BC
Comments: To: Stan Shapiro <mail@stanshapiro.com>
In-Reply-To:  <001601d4f639$1203ba70$360b2f50$@stanshapiro.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

Dear Never on Ferry - Never on Land - Only in Vanagon where I can barely stand - (ok nuf dr suess like talk)

Some stuff that you may want to heed

Heading for Victoria -- ( i assume you can look up on google earth and maps - or follow name via internet to see how to access the information i have included below )

Firstly You will have customs to tend with -

Do not bring fire arms into Canada - (just not worth the hassle ) -

If you have a DUI from home you may be turned away - as DUI is considered what you guys call Felony and Canada supposedly does not allow criminals in :) -

Pets require proper paperwork and if you are going south again *pet food and citrus bought in canada is not allowed into usa* -

Have your paper work in order including a utility bill from home - and maybe some sort of paperwork that shows you are required to be going back to usa (mortgage - business - kids - what have you ) Passport and or Visa from country of origin -

DO NOT bring POT with you - in any form -

USA $ are accepted nearly everywhere in Victoria and fair value is usually offered - though you may want to not use cash at all - green backs are often traded for Loonie at between 29 and 35% depending on any number of things - you will get a better deal at your own bank before you cross (do not use storefront currency traders ) they charge a premium for exchange -

You will be in CANADA - that is not USA - all members of your party should always carry passport in pocket or on person at all times - Before you cross utilize your AAA insurance to beef up health insurance for the stay in Canada the few $$ you spend for AAA Auto club health insurance will pay off if you find your self having a problem and need medical services -- Health care is not FREE in Canada as you may have heard - IT is subsidized - foreigners pay huge $$$$ for simple procedure - and hospitals in Victoria charge for parking - Most important to remember - You are a visitor here and as such you have NO rights - that is ZERO - NONE AT ALL - Rights are for citizens - so if you find your self in trouble with Customer Service Representatives of Her Majesty QEII - you will need to contact your own consul offices - You SHOULD HAVE THAT NUMBER EASILY AVAILABLE for each member of your party - as only the bad guy will be taken and the rest of you left - so the rest of you will have to figure out how to extract - which means calling your consul office - That will be the embassy with all the barricades around it :) and they are actually in Vancouver - Consulate General of the United States, 1075 W Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6E 2M6 -

in victoria - Cook Street Village around Cook Street and Oscar - there are all sorts of markets and coffee shops - both corporate and local - AT the foot of Cook Street is the road running along the ocean (Dallas Road ) where you can park either on breakwater or along street - Dogs and kids and old folks - and miles of beach and ocean - so called Spiral Beach -

BIG WHEEL BURGER on COOK at Mackenzie - is awesome -- and maybe be most awesome - that is up to you -

I know you are in a Vanagon -- BUT sometimes hotel is required - I strongly urge Hotel Zed if you require - (also Pet friendly) and a great restaurant --

If you want a play ground experience - just before Dallas road and on Cook Street there is a huge playground for kids - lots of adults there too- this is also home to largest totem pole etc - -

You may want to try Butchart Gardens -

Stealth camping is frowned upon nearly everywhere in the city -- i have done - but you have to be extra double stealthy - no pop top up - no coming and going from van in night - you know the drill - - from what I understand walmart still allows parking over night in their lots -

Cordova Beach is awesomeness times 500 and usually a little less crowded than Spiral -

There is a really great China Town in the heart of Downtown -

The down town wharf sea wall usually has all sorts of interesting stuff going on - and there is a ton of olde Victoria to see along that street - including BC Museum and the Provincial Legislature Buildings etc

There is a very healthy arts scene in victoria --- I once attended a 5 hour showing of David Lynch college movies - it was great - there may be an open mic at some restaurant or bar -- or some great show at the Belfry Theatre -

There will be repertory movie theatre and any number fun things if you look around and ask a variety of persons Localized free papers will have adverts for smaller events

The mayor of victoria is on a campaign to eliminate motor vehicles in the city - bike lanes are being installed everywhere and not all are happy about this - so be very careful when driving - bikes riders often operate as if there are no rules that apply to them (calm down - bad bike ops know who you are ) -- you may even find bike lanes running inside sidewalk cafe - as the drive through (joke) -

Stay Calm - Be Brave - Wait For the Signs (Dead Dog Cafe)

On Thu, Apr 18, 2019 at 3:50 PM Stan Shapiro <mail@stanshapiro.com> wrote:

> I am thinking about taking my 77 Bay from Idaho, to Fort Flagler meetup, > and then heading over to Port Angeles and then taking the ferry to > Victoria > to explore for a few days. > > > > Any camping suggestions for Victoria? Or any other advice for taking the > ferry? I have never done the ferry before. > > > > Thanks!!!! > > > > stan >

-- roger whittaker 604.414.6266

---------------------------------------------------------- PR MARINE SURVEYORS & http://www.tvthatworks.com http://www.tvpowellriver.com LinkedIn -

- ca.linkedin.com/pub/roger-whittaker/14/78a/b71/Explore printed work at: http://www.prliving.ca/ View the growing list of video work at: http://www.youtube.com/user/LastonLastof#g/u http://vimeo.com/42309497

http://www.prpeak.com/articles/2010/11/29/multimedia/video/doc4c62e5f80d228504902172.txt


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.