Victoria BC

Norm is still struggling with whatever it is that has a grip, but we did get out for a walk along the harbor and saw the exterior of the 25^th Inner Harbour Boat Show.  If he feels better over the weekend we’ll partake and go aboard the 200 vessels.  This is the largest West Coast in-the-water boat show.

In our wanders we stopped at the Bard & Banker for coffee and chocolate cake.  The Bard is Robert Service and the Bank was the Bank of Commerce where he worked before moving to the Yukon Territory.  Being at the Yukon border, I grew up with the poems of Robert Service but three in particular; Law of the Yukon, The Shooting of Dan McGrew and The Cremation of Sam McGee I remember to this day.  

When I was about 10 years old I was in a stage production of The Shooting of Dan McGrew where I played the “kid that handles the music-box” and also did the scream of the lady known as Lou.  The pub walls have photos and memorabilia of Robert Service – the whole place just totally took me back to my childhood!  Too cool!!!

Beginning of The Shooting of Dan McGrew

“A bunch of the boys were whooping it up in the Malamute saloon;

The kid that handles the music-box was hitting a jag-time tune;

Back of the bar, in a solo game, sat Dangerous Dan McGrew,

And watching his luck was his light-o'-love, the lady that's known as Lou.”

Always loved The Cremation of Sam McGee which begins with:

“There are strange things done in the midnight sun

By the men who moil for gold;

The Arctic trails have their secret tales

That would make your blood run cold;

The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,

But the queerest they ever did see

Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge

I cremated Sam McGee.”

My absolute favorite: the last lines of The Law of the Yukon:

“This is the Law of the Yukon, that only the Strong shall thrive;

That surely the Weak shall perish, and only the Fit survive.
Dissolute, damned and despairful, crippled and palsied and slain,
This is the Will of the Yukon, -- Lo, how she makes it plain!”

When we started off this morning we saw that the Crown Princess had docked and by mid-day the Coral Princess had also docked.  Apparently there is room for three cruise ships to dock at one time.

 Now that it is dark outside, we can see the cruise ships all lit up from Rob's office - lovely!

After Norm had a nap, we went off  with our friend Margaret to the Bengal Lounge in The Empress for Happy Hour.