Seaplane Adventures Part 1: Victoria

Vancouver and Victoria are relatively close in the terms of the distance between them, but in the terms of travel time/required effort to get from one to the other, they are very very very far apart. It takes about 4-5 hours to get from Vancouver to Victoria including, the trip to bus to the other bus that takes you to the ferry, the long trip out to Tsawwassen, the wait at the ferry terminal, the loading onto the ferry, the ferry ride, the loading off the ferry, the drive from Sidney into Victoria. (add 2-6 hours if you drive during peak season and there are 2+ sailing waits).

As you know, I have some “issues” with BC Ferries.

So when I finally had an official Redpilot business trip to Victoria and had the opportunity to jump on board the zippy little Harbour Air Seaplanes (travel time approx. 30 minutes from ) back to Vancity, I was overjoyed. Overjoyed.

I arrived 5 minutes before take-off and was greeted by happy, smiley, nice people. Everyone was awesome. Three cheers for Harbour Air! We taxied out into the Inner Harbour and took off near the Cruise ship dock (what’s it called?? you know by Ogden Point.) I felt like a kid on a ride at Disneyland as we flew over Dallas Road, Gonzo Beach, McNeil Beach, Oak Bay Golf Course, Willows, Uplands, Caddy Bay… So cool to see this memory filled view of South Oak Bay.

Here are is my Harbour Air Seaplane adventures (Part 1: Victoria)

Seaplane in the Inner Harbour, Victoria.

My mum taking a photo as we taxi out. You can see the good ol’ Empress Hotel in the background.

Cruisin’ over.

Inside the Seaplane.

The Pilot.

Ogden Point and downtown Victoria.

Gonzo Beach & McNeil Bay… South Oak Bay where I grew up.

Islands.

Stay tuned for Seaplane Adventures Part 2: Over the Water and Vancouver.