Victoria, British Columbia: A Day Trip

June 12, 1982

From the sweaters we’re wearing in the pictures that follow, I can only guess that it was a cool, summer day on which we took the Princess Marguerite II from Seattle to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

The city that serves as the capital of British Columbia was originally named Fort Victoria. It was founded in 1842 by James Douglas, who was charged with the task of setting up a trading post on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. And so it was that Victoria became the first European settlement to be established on the island.

Though I may be a bit hazy about the weather that day, I clearly remember that we enjoyed the boat trip through Puget Sound and across the Strait of Juan de Fuca. I also clearly recall that we had a wonderful time roaming about the Inner Harbor of Victoria. In fact, by the time we were back aboard the ship for the return trip to Seattle, we were already making plans to come back for a longer visit.

Sailing out of Seattle aboard Princess Marguerite II.
(Space Needle in the background)

On the way to Victoria, BC.

Docked in the Inner Harbor of Victoria.
(Empress Hotel in the background)

A meandering walk in the Inner Harbor …

… leads us to Laurel Point where we watch PM II
as it prepares to steam back to Seattle.

From 1949 to 1989, PM II provided passenger service
between Victoria and Seattle.

Tally Ho!
A horse-drawn wagon tour provides an orientation to the sights.

Once inside the Undersea Gardens, visitors are under the Pacific Ocean.

The Fairmont Empress puts on a nice afternoon tea.
At the time, it was a bit too rich for our pocketbook.

Mui hobnobbing with royalty at the Royal London Wax Museum.
(the first Madame Tussaud Museum in North America)

The Classic Car Museum
(no website; so I assume the museum is no more)

Mui hobnobbing with Clark Cable.
(1941 Packard Super 8)

The original Parliament buildings (1859) were replaced by
the current sandstone buildings in 1898, one year after
Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee.

The stained glass windows were made in Leeds, England.
They were shipped to Victoria in molasses.

“Two to Travel” really did make it to Victoria together.

Now, talk about a real blast from the past …

Having fun on the PM II on the return trip to Seattle.

Here’s something else I recall clearly from this day — Mui lost the car!!! OK, so he didn’t really lose it; he misplaced it temporarily. When we disembarked the Princess Marguerite II in Seattle, I waited at the ferry landing, while Mui went to get the car from the parking structure. I waited, and I waited, and I waited. This was before the time of cell phones, so I had no way of reaching him. Nor did I know where he’d parked the car, so I couldn’t go find him. After what seemed like an interminable wait, he finally drove up to the ferry landing. With a sheepish look, he explained that he couldn’t remember which level he’d parked the car on. So, he waited for the structure to empty out and then went looking for it floor by floor. Smart solution; but next time, just pay attention to where you’re parking Mui.

(Before I posted this blog entry, I searched the web to see if PM II was still running. It was apparently taken out of service permanently in 1989. If interested, click here for the history of the ship.)

USS Missouri: Where WWII Ended

June 5, 1982

WWII started on 1 September 1939 with Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland.  It ended on 2 September 1945 when Japan signed the Instrument of Surrender aboard the USS Missouri.

We went to Bremerton to see the “Mighty Mo,” as the ship is fondly known, via the Vashon Island Ferry.  Why?  Your guess is as good as mine.  We could have taken the Tacoma Narrows Bridge for a much shorter route, so I can only surmise that we wanted to take a ferry ride.

The ship, which served in both WWII and Korea, was decommissioned in 1955.  It served as a museum in the Puget Sound area until it was recommissioned in 1986.  After going through extensive modernization and refurbishment, the USS Missouri was deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991 and served during Operation Desert Storm.  The ship was decommissioned a second time in 1992, taken off the Navy rolls, and established as a memorial — this time in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Waiting for the next ferry to Vashon Island.

On the way to Vashon Island.

Vashon Island

“Mighty Mo”

Left: Let's go aboard the USS Missouri.
Right: The site of the Japanese surrender.

The two images above are from the “Instrument of Surrender” plaque.
[to read, click for a larger version]

The guns that helped win wars.

Not that we need an excuse to go to Hawaii, but the “Mighty Mo” would be a powerful incentive to do so.

Mount Rainier

May 29, 1982

At 14,411 feet (~4,392 m), Mount Rainier (or Mount Tahoma, as the mountain is traditionally known), is the highest mountain in not only Washington, but in the Cascade Range as well.  An active volcano, Rainier’s last recorded eruption was between 1820 and 1854.

Often blanketed with 25 feet (~7.5 m) of snow in the winter, the sub-Alpine meadows are supposed to be aglow with wildflowers in spring and summer.  Perhaps that’s true, but on this end-of-May day trip, we found snow instead of flowers.

Mt Rainier makes a majestic backdrop.

Along the Kautz River.

Mt Rainier National Park Longmire Visitor Center
The photo on the right shows a tree ring from a 670-year old (1293-1963)
Douglas fir that grew in Snoqualmie national forest.

Longmire Springs

The spring water has a metallic taste … or so they say.

Left: Christine Falls; Right: Narada Falls

No wildflowers for us; we get plenty of snow instead.

Nisqually River Valley
The gateway to the “Mountain that was god.”

Mt Rainier from Ricksecker Point.

The Henry M Jackson Visitor Center is in the popular Paradise area of the park.

Enjoying Paradise!

After we came down the mountain, we swung over to Elbe and took a ride on the Mt Rainier Scenic Railroad, the longest continuously operating steam train railroad in the Pacific Northwest.

Left: All Aboard!
Right: Do you have a request?

Should I sit inside or …

Left: Topside seating provides great viewing opportunities.
Right: At the turnaround point we get to stretch our legs.

It was a great day of exploration, with the mountain behaving itself and not blowing its top!

Point Defiance Park

May 22, 1982

Tacoma’s Point Defiance Park is one of the largest urban parks in the US.  On the grounds are a zoo and aquarium; several formal gardens, including a Japanese garden; beaches, trails, and a boardwalk; Fort Nisqually, a Hudson's Bay Company outpost built in 1833; and much, much more.

Back in the day, also on the grounds of Point Defiance Park was Never Never Land.  The theme park was home to storybook figures from Mother Goose to the Brothers Grimm.

So why would a couple of so-called adults check out a theme park designed for children?  To relive happy memories of the stories that were read to them when they were children of course.

(The attraction, which opened in 1964, closed in 1985.  Metro Parks Tacoma took over and tried to operate it for a while, but eventually all of the figures, except Humpty Dumpty was put in storage in 2001.  Humpty joined his friends in 2004.)

Baa Baa Black Sheep

The Three Bears

Great memories of a place that still is; great memories of a place that is no more.

Beer Anyone?

May 15, 1982

I wasn’t going to post these images, but they have some historical significance. It turns out that the Olympia Brewing Company, located in Tumwater, Washington, is no more. The company, which was founded in 1896 was closed down in 2003. That means that when we do finally go back to Washington to re-explore our old haunts, we won't be able to repeat this experience.

Maybe these photographs will make us rich and famous someday! (Don’t worry, we’re not holding our breath.)

Into the Wild Blue Yonder

May 10, 1982

After four months of looking for a job that would challenge him,  Mui had an idea.  Why not join the armed services?  “I’ve always wanted to serve in the Air Force,” he said to me as we sat on the postage-sized patio of our apartment.  He hadn’t had that opportunity in Turkey, where he’d done his 18-months of compulsory military service in the Turkish Army.  And so it was that Mui joined the US Air Force.

(Sorry about the blurry photo; it’s the only one we have from the swearing-in ceremony.)

The four-year enlistment paperwork was signed, but it would be another six months before he reported to basic training.  He put the time to good use.  He worked the odd job when the opportunity presented itself and took care of the household chores during the week so we could continue our weekend travels.

Rolling in Dough

May 1982

Wish we were … rolling in dough that is.

A more appropriate title for this one would be: “rolling out dough for mantı,” Turkish dumplings filled with minced meat.  The miniature dumplings are boiled, strained, topped with yogurt, drizzled with red pepper melted in butter, and garnished with mint and sumac.

Chef Mui in action!

This is what mantı is all about.
[from Wikipedia]

My contribution to dinner … setting the table and washing the dishes afterwards (no dishwasher, mind you).