This is the time of year that many families travel and take their summer vacation. Generally we wait until school is back in session to take a trip, but made an exception this past week when a friend visited from Minnesota.
We spent several days relaxing and enjoying our garden and then ventured northward toward our destination of Vancouver, BC. I will not bore you with the details of getting there, but will only say that we spent one evening at Birch Bay in Blaine, WA. Or as my husband and I may say on occasion, we spent two nights there, our first and last. My apology to those who live there for I mean no harm, but we see no reason to ever go back... and the local residents may also prefer that. ;-)
Our thoughts were that Blaine is located at the northwest corner of Washington... within close proximity to the Canadian border... the largest part of our drive would be behind us, and more quality time could be spent touring Vancouver.
Dinner at the best spot was mediocre and out of whack considering the price. Well, let us be positive and simply say that the view of the water was very beautiful and calming, and the three of us continued to enjoy our time together.
The next morning as we headed out we saw no signs for I-5, so we stopped at a gas station to ask the best way to cross the border. We were directed to go straight down the road, cross over the bridge and we would be there. We did as instructed, but there was nothing to be seen. So we found another establishment and were told to turn right at the stop sign, left at the next sign, back into Blaine, right, right, another right... there were no signs to be seen. We stopped a motorist who pointed toward the direction we should take. Finally! a sign for I-5. It was for SOUTH only!
After 25 minutes of asking directions, circling around a town with a population of 11,000, we finally made it to I-5 north and were headed to Canada. All I could think of was the Kingston Trio and "Well, did he ever return? No, he never returned and his fate is still unknown... poor ole Charlie... he may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston (Blaine)... he's the man who never returned".
I will post again soon on our experience in Vancouver.
