Tuesday continued
I forgot to mention that the rhodies (rhodendruns) around
here are absolutely magnificent: so many colours, varieties and sizes. I’ve
taken a lot of pics on my phone so far, but unfortunately I discovered I don’t
seem to have iTunes on my laptop and I may not get an opportunity to download
it till I get back to Sydney. This morning, after about 1½ hours at the Library, doing lots of email,
Bob and JoAnne King came for an early light lunch. It was so lovely to catch up
with them. I’d seen JoAnne at church on Sunday but Bob had been sick. After
they left, Jan and Fred Alkire picked us up and we went to the Museum of Flight
at Boeing; it was just fascinating hearing about the history of the planes,
especially the early flight machines, the latest high-tech stealth planes and
the WWII fighters. They have an amazing collection of aircraft; we’ve been
there in the past but they’re constantly changing their display and adding to
their collection.
One of the nicest things about Edmonds, and also about NE
Seattle, where Rick and Barb used to live, is that there’s no high-rise. The
tallest condos are no more than 4 levels, although most are 3 or less.
Tonight we had a leisurely dinner and talked about the
future for each of our families and had a truly special prayer time (which is
always the case when the Kings and Gilmores get together!); cost and distance
make future visits unlikely but you never know! So, ready to be up early in the
morning and head to the Amtrak station down the road for the 3.5 hour trip to
Vancouver. I’m really looking forward to that.
Wednesday
Up early this morning to do the last of the packing and have
breakfast. It’s never easy to say goodbye, but we got through it! Check-in was
easy and the train was right on time. I realised when I settled in the waiting
room that I’d left my travelling provisions back at the condo. We stopped at
Everet, crossed the Squohomish river, and passed through very pretty towns for
the next half hour. The train was very comfortable: plenty of leg room, large,
comfy seats and an empty seat beside me. The car was no more than half full; I
walked down to the food service car and got a hot water (for my coffee bag) and
an apple – that should do me until I get aboard and have lunch on Lido deck!
We passed through pretty farmland for quite a stretch and at
9.15 we stopped on a siding to wait for the Canada train to get through! One
track! We were stuck here for about 20 mins because the other train was running
late. Still on schedule for arriving in Vancouver close to time at 11.45.
We stopped at Stanford, Alberta, passed through Skagit, with
the San Juan Islands to our left; here there were oyster farms and shucking
plants, the produce bound for Japan. Passed through Dead Man’s Gulf, Laribee
State Park and Teddy Bear Rock. Last stop in the US was Bellingham WA; South
Bellingham is predominantly a defunct industrial site, with hundreds of plants
closed down because of action by environmental activists. Many people lost
their jobs and were retrained at government cost.
It’s so nice doing this trip on the train. We briefly had
vision of the freeway to our left but then were back to trees on all sides.
Some time later we crossed the Frazier River and were in
Canada. By now the schedule was shot and we were aiming for 12.00pm Vancouver
but didn’t arrive till 12.15. It took quite a while to get through immigration
with a long queue from the train and only a couple of officers on duty.
No pictures up to this point, because they’re on the phone –
the camera was packed in the suitcase.
Pictures will follow in the next days, provided it doesn’t take too long
to upload.
I had to wait a little while in line for a cab but was soon
at Canada Place Pier and lining up for boarding, after going through emigration
– after less than an hour, out of Canada and back into the US! So by 2.00pm I
was on Lido deck having a salad for lunch. The bags arrived by about 3.00,
lifeboat drill at 3.30 and it was almost time for sailaway. We haven’t sailed
out of Vancouver before: Canada Place is very impressive from the sea.
I went to Mass at 5.00 and then dinner at 5.30.
Unfortunately, none of my dinner party turned up, so I ended up eating alone.
If they don’t turn up tomorrow night, the steward will move me to another
table. I haven’t connected with Bob and Rita yet, but there’s plenty of time
for that. The welcome show is on tonight at 9.30 and then we set our clocks
back 1.00 hour before we go to bed. We’re expecting some rockin’ and rollin’ in
the early hours of the morning – yay!
