Fisherman's Wharf 1

People go to Fisherman's Wharf here for many reasons. For me one of the main reasons is the bright colors and often whimsical shapes of the float homes that are moored there. But there's lots of other bright colors too such as these bright yellow seats on a sightseeing boat moored there and the striking red leaves on the miniature maple in the floating micro-garden on the right. Over the next few days we'll take a look at some other good reasons for visiting Fisherman's Wharf.

Float Homes - West Bay Marina

Our damp and dark weather continues as illustrated by this view of the float homes at the West Bay Marina. However, with the winter solstice passing today the days will begin now to get longer and brighter.

Houseboats

I went for a walk with some old friends on Monday along the part of the David Foster Walkway that runs between the Inner Harbour and Fisherman's Wharf. It may be hard to believe but this was the first time I have ever walked along the seafront in that area though I have visited points along the walkway many times. It's a delightful walk and offers, among many other beautiful views, this perspective on the Fisherman's Wharf houseboats.

Watercolor Weekend

I am still enjoying the app on my camera that transforms a photo into a watercolor painting (see last Saturday's post). Here is another example - everybody's favorite houseboat moored at Sailor's Cove off the West Bay Walkway.

West Bay Marina Float-Homes

There are two locations in Greater Victoria where houseboats are moored. One is Fisherman's Wharf - a main tourist destination in James Bay. Houseboats there tend to be a bit funky and relaxed and tourists and locals are free to wander the "streets" and gawk at the romantic dwellings. The second location is West Bay Marina, pictured above. The tone here is decidedly different, much more up-market. This is NOT a tourist destination - in fact the owners protect their privacy with locked entrances to the wharves. However, it is still possible to walk around the edges and enjoy the wonderful shapes and colors of these float-homes.

Signs of Spring II

Here's another sign that we are approaching spring - the appearance of the little Harbour Ferries that trundle around the Inner Harbour and the Gorge, providing both transportation and sightseeing. This one was spotted yesterday cruising in front of the houseboats at West Bay Marina. This ferry service does not operate during the winter months. The first ferries began to run on February 28. During the summer the little ferries perform a "Water Ballet" in the Inner Harbour at 10:30 every Sunday Morning. Check it out in the video below (not my video).

Fisherman's Wharf

Victoria is a tourist town. I quite like this and I often feel like tourist here myself since I enjoy many of the things that visitors do. One of the places where I often go is Fisherman's Wharf. As well as being home to a number of bona fide fishing boats, floating fish and seafood markets, snack bars and art galleries, it is also the site of a community of houseboats such as those pictured above. These picturesque homes are surprisingly inexpensive (compared to house prices here in Victoria). The home to the left is for sale now, priced at $199,000.

Westbay Marina Houseboats II

I love the whimsical designs of some of these houseboats, curved roofs and round windows, interesting colors, and odd little decks and turrets. They make ordinary houses on land look, well, ordinary.

Westbay Marina Houseboats

I love the colors and shapes of these houseboats moored at the Westbay Marina in Esquimalt. Many of these houseboats are manufactured locally, on land. Someday I will post some photos of them under construction because I keep visiting the place where they are made in the hope of seeing one being transported into the water (since I cannot imagine how they manage to get them there.)

Fisherman's Wharf

The Inner Harbor mostly hosts pleasure craft and boats catering to tourists such as sailing and whale-watching excursions. But about twenty minutes walk from the Inner Harbor along the seawall (or a five minute ferry ride) is Fisherman's Wharf. Here there are many fishing boats and picturesque houseboats, as well as fresh seafood, art galleries, restaurants, hungry harbor seals and more entertainment. Below is a favorite food stop of mine, Grilligan's, which features vegetarian chili made with tofu, and there's lots of other good things on the menu too.The boy in the picture above is standing on the wharf. The man behind the counter to his right is on his floating food stand. They are so close together you may not notice that they are not really connected until you lean on the counter, like I did one afternoon, and a sudden wave shifts the restaurant up or down a few inches. Grilligan's also has a water-level "drive through" at the back for kayakers who need a veggie-dog to go.

Fisherman's Wharf Houseboats

Just a few minutes from downtown is Fisherman's Wharf, where some of Victoria's residents moor their houseboats.