Final Posting 9/20/08

Well I don't quite know how to say this. THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN, and it needs to be fixed. Re-entering the United States is a chore. We spent 3 1/2?!@%$# HOURS in this line waiting to get back in to the US. I don't have a problem with the Border Patrol or Security I know that they are essential. What I do have a problem with are the cars that go to the duty free store, drive thru the parking kot and then get ussered back into the line much closer to the front. I hate feeling like a chump and being peniltized for following the rules and not working the system. After that long in line, no one was very happy in our car.

All this might have been just a little bit better if I had gotten my knitting out of the back. Well yes, 3 1/2 hours of knitting, that would have made me happier.





Here is the Space Needle on the fly as we whiz by. I'venever been to Seatle before and will have to go back sometime to see anything.

More Stanley Park 9/20/08

Stanley Park has a large collection of Totem Poles in it. There are more here than we have seen anywhere else. Each pole had a marker in front of it that told of the person who carved it and the story behind it.

There were also a large group of international tourists there. Well, I guess that we were a part of the internationals. But I was thinking more of the Japanese and Germans. Earlier we had met a German couple who had flown direct to Fairbanks from Frankfort over the artic. It took them only 9 hours. They had come to Alaska the year before to drive up to and into the Artic. And had
enjoyed it so much that they had come back this year. Maybe I will drive to the Artic Ocean some time. Watch out ICE ROAD TRUCKERS.

But back to the Totems, aren't they just amazing.



















The one on the far left was the only one without paint. It tells the story of Beaver and Raven and Man.

Stanley Park Vancouver 9/20/08

Stanley Park is beautiful and quite close to downtown Vancouver. It seems huge and has some old growth forest in it. Lots of green so close to all the concrete and cars.












It also has an Inukshuk in it. Boy I seem to love these great big piles of rocks. They are just such a cheerful welcome and well wishing. What a concept.








Saturday was Race for the cure here. There was a good sized group of walkers. We just kept running into them.

We also saw a RED BULL truck. A little subaru truck halling around a multi-liter can of Red Bull in the back. (Sorry picts stink.) It was pretty funny when the break lights went on in the back of the can. Humor can be kind of weird when you have been on the road for 4 weeks.

Back in civilization 9/19/08

Vancouver BC is a crowded city. There are people and cars everywhere. And lots of ambulances too.












The view at sunset looking out into English Bay. Look at all those big cargo ships. We think that it is a busy port.















Hey, I didn't know that trees grew on the tops of tall buildings.

We had a good Chinese dinner tonight. I think that I have a new favorite dish, Szechuan prawn and peanut. Yum and spicy. There is a large Asian population in Vancouver


Well, I am all caught up blogging. It feels great. I willl try to not get so far behind again.

Still no picts of knitting projects. But maybe a new yarn shop tomorrow.

9/19/08 Fort Langley

We are back on solid ground, and off to a Canadian historical site. Completely new history to me. This fort was orginaly built as a trading fort about the same time as Bent's Fort was built on the Santa Fe Trail. It was built by Hudson Bay Company. And several years later, this is where British Columbia was proclaimed a colony.










Look at the strong man. Bales of furs weigh a lot of kilograms. Paul is standing infront of a bale press.














And now he is a Red Coat. (Don't shoot until you see the whites of his eyes.)


Canadian historical sites seem to have reinactors manning them. I think that this is good. But it does put the burden on the reinactors to be accorate with their information.

9/19/08 End of the voyage

We are a cute short 3-some as we get ready to leave the ferry.

Hey, I got my hair cut in Anchorage. It is a slightly different style. The verdict is still out.

9/18/09

Yep, we are still on the ferry. This is a carved seal of the state of Alaska. It is under deck by the Pursers desk.













Did I mention that there was a lot of fog and clouds? Well here is one of the many light houses along the way. Most I could not take as well as this because of all the clouds.












Paul is a pirate. ARRRRRRRG!