Xmas On the Island '10

Woot!

Just received the email regarding our office closure dates for the holidays. :)

I will be on Vancouver Island Dec 22 - Dec 27th. Woot!
I get to beat the crowd of walk on's before and after the all the craziness.

Walking on is cheaper, although you lose the comfort of your bubble zone being in a car. (which cost considerably more, but takes the same amount of time to commute to and from the ferries).
I'm a huge fan of the Sea Lounge. For $10 you get to sit in comfort of the "quiet zone" Seriously!!
Large captain chairs two seats per section, all you can eat snacks and drinks, tea, Starbucks coffee, juice, milk, water, private bathroom, all the newspapers, magazines to suite every need, and NO SCREAMING KIDS! What's not to love? Oh did I mention that every single chair is a window seat? :)

In short, its the first class section of the ferry. Unless you want to spend $25-$75 for a state room, you can get a TV and a bed!!!

In the past I use to be pretty wound up still when I got to the island. I hadn't learned how to calm to "island time"... after the first year or two, I've learned to distress and mellow the fuck out on the ferry in that 2 hours.

I love the ferry. I do. (minus screaming kids and rude people) The wind in your hair as you catch some sun on deck (seasonal of course) or cold air on your face in the winter, the smell of the ocean(well a strait that leads to the ocean again). ahhhhhh.

Its a mini cruise, through the Juan de Fuca Strait. So much to see during day light hours.
The ridiculous homes you view as you pass thru the Southern Gulf Islands (see the inset on the map) and many whales, sea lions, and bald eagles. It makes me appreciate it more when I hear/see an out of town visitor or first timer ferry rider, get super excited about seeing something that we take for granted a lot of the time. The staff are more than qualified, pleased and eager to assist with ANY questions about the surroundings and ship.....well most of them.

I recommend everyone do at least one touristy thing in their own town and explore a little more.
Might find a new love, restaurant, secret little get away place. :)