The Ride Home

Thursday, September 2, 2010
Home.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Sharon made us a wonderful breakfast of French toast. 

We supplied the juice, which was juice from Mexico - Jumex Nectar de Mango.  After breakfast we took Ben the German Shedder for a walk to the end of Durrance Road.  Sharon took us down a path toward the ocean across the Inlet (Todd) from Butchart Gardens.  You could see the smoke stack of the Gardens from as far as we sent on the path.  Larry tried to race all of us up the hill. We said our good-byes, we will actually see them both on September 18th weekend - the Cowichan Valley Wine Festival.

We went and ate at one of our all time favourite restaurants - Noodle Box on Douglas Street in Victoria.  After eating in all those restaurants this summer the Noodle Box was still great.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010
We woke up to rain.  

Evidently it did not rain in Vancouver all summer but today it sure is raining (heard afterwards it was a record rainfall).

We changed some of our plans such as returning to the library.  We checked the internet in the hotel at about one dollar for seven minutes - note to self, do not stay here again - extremely over priced for what you get.

We went to N.Jeffersons so I could buy wholesale quilt batt, needles and books.  I really enjoy this place.  Then we were off to West Broadway and 4th area - Mac computers, thrift, the usual suspects.  After we finally found a big Wholefoods - way more expensive than the States and very busy.  Next we went to Granville Island's Netloft.  Regretfully we had to leave Vancouver and begin one of the final legs of our journey - the ferry to Victoria.

Monday, August 30, 2010

We woke up to cool air and didn't want to eat in the campground.


 



We found a deserted day use area to eat our granola.  We wanted to read e-mails and look on Craigslist, so off to a Starbucks we went.  We hung out there for what seemed like hours - the jazz was so annoying I had to leave and walk it off.

Ken looked at 3 to 4 small trailers to haul things with.  Some were too small or built inefficiently, etc.  None really suited him.  We found a little Vietnamese Restaurant and ate lunch.  We made the decision to eat and sleep downtown Vancouver.  That way we would get a more true Vancouver experience.  We headed for the YWCA Hotel on Beatty Street.  It was expensive but it was our last hotel night.  For supper we walked to a little Japanese Restaurant on Robson, first stopping off at the library.  People watching on Robson was spectacular as usual.  What sights!


Sunday, August 29, 2010

We woke up at 8:00 am so it must have been very quiet with a very restful sleep.  We went and had coffee and tea at the refreshment station for the campground.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

A squirrel was trying to get in the van while Ken was packing up.  We couldn't figure out why she was so tame then the male housekeeper for the hotel fed her a doughnut right out of his hand.  Well, doughnuts are a form of nut aren't they?

Friday, August 27, 2010

Now being in Kirkland, WA we went to Value Village down the street from the Motel.  Ken found two winter/cold weather jackets.  I found, among other things, a designer, funky, black skirt.  We moved on to a thrift store across the mall.

Redmond was our next city.  It has a huge Wholefoods which we ate at.  As usual we got lost at some point in Redmond.  Redmond Value Village was another stop.  It wasn't as good as usual.

We drove to Capital Hill V.V., one of the first VV's to actually be.  Bad thing about it is you have to carry your cart from one level to the next.


(I did not write anything for this day, and obviously I did not remember what happened)
Did not write anything.  Redding, was, HOT! fiery sunset and Grants Pass

• Thursday, August 26, 2010
  
  Wednesday, August 25, 2010
  
  Tuesday, August 24, 2010
  

Monday, August 23, 2010

Early, early, early was the word of the day for morning and its events.






We were meeting an old, high school buddy of Ken's for lunch at 11:15 in Burbank.  The drive was slated to take anywhere from two to three hours according to Google Maps.  One last Bonita Road Starbucks and we were off.  There were only small pockets of traffic congestion on the I-5.  We used the blue dot on Google Maps to guide us to our destination - Porto's Bakery, 3614 West Magnolia Blvd., Burbank.  Kel Z. and Ken spotted each other right away once we arrived.  We also had a chance to meet his charming wife - Val.

Ken and Kel discussed a hitch hiking adventure they took together just before grade twelve.  They went out to BC.  They also discussed plays they were in and other high school buddies.

Now I must say I was a bit nervous to meet Val.  She is an Emmy Award winning actress (for her character "Eve" on Northern Exposure).  She just made both of us feel so comfortable and she was so friendly.  It was a memorable lunch.

The rest of the day was spend driving to just north of Sacramento.