Archive for the ‘Holidays Travel’ Category

What is the gas price in your neighborhood today?

We’re driving in Nevada today and saw $3.48 per gallon - that’s the cheapest we’ve seen yet!

Washington State was around $3.79 and North Eastern California topped out at $4.29.

Fuel in the area of British Columbia, where I live, is approximately $5.43 per gallon - the difference being taxes. We pay Federal tax, Provincial tax, road tax, transit tax and a carbon tax… and there could be others of which I’m not aware….

OUCH!

On our way to Seattle today, we had a slight detour to Oak Harbor for Trevor to visit a customer. We stopped at the bridge over Deception Pass for a quick walk on the bridge and to take a couple of photos.

As we stood on the sidewalk looking down at the water, Trevor noticed a seal chasing a fish. It was cool to watch as the seal went after the fish, catching it and diving underwater. It was amazing to see as we were so high above the water.


While Trevor went to the Oak Harbor Marina, Morgan, Crystal and I went ‘uptown’. It was 5 pm and the shops were closing so we had to go the Oak Harbour Tavern for a few drinks. We were greeted at the door by Kelly who ID’d us - even me! She welcomed us and we sat at the bar, eating peanuts, chatting and laughing with the other patrons. Kelly gave us some history of the bar and showed us the military paraphernalia on the walls. The Whidbey Island Naval Station is in Oak Harbour and the various squadrons are represented by flags, posters and ‘Zap’ stickers, all displayed on the walls.  The Oak Harbour Tavern also ‘keeps the lights on’ for troops serving in Iraq.

Crystal couldn’t make up her mind about what to drink and entertained the whole bar.  Kelly ended up offering me a roll of white duct tape to take on the plane with me, saying I was certain to need it to keep Crystal under control. I took a photo of her with Kelly and the tape, but she asked me to NOT post it.

We enjoyed our hour and a half in the bar and when we went back to pick up Trevor we told him how much fun we had.  He suggested we stop in for a quick beer, so of course we all agreed!  The absolute funniest quip from our bartender, Kelly, was when Crystal asked if they served food.  She said, “Yes - we have Steak and Potatoes”, and showed us a stick of pepperoni and a bag of chips.  HA- that was the best line I’ve heard in a long time…

We then had a quick dinner at a Chinese buffet and were back on the road again, heading toward Seattle.  It’s still another hour and a half, but we’re all fed up and happy.

Our friend Jim, from Fargo, North Dakota, and two others arrived on their motorcycles at Egmont last night! They’ve put in 2300 miles already and pushed hard yesterday, riding about 15 hours to get to Egmont to spend time with us on the boat.

Actually, they aren’t spending time with ‘us’ as I’m on my way home to Surrey for an overnight trip. Kent is planning to take them to see the Skookumchuck Rapids - by boat, then to pick up the prawn traps and hopefully to spend a lazy day so they have time to recover slightly. These guys are not spring chickens!

When they leave us they head to Vancouver Island, down to Victoria and across to Anacortes on the ferry to continue their adventure down the west coast through Washington and Oregon.

We have a funny saying here - there are only two seasons in Canada - Winter and Construction! And, we’re smack in the middle of the construction season with a ton of roadwork going on everywhere. Friends of mine are just starting out on a road trip in their motorhome with 2 kids and a dog. They’ve planned this trip for months and will be away nearly 5 weeks. No matter how good a mechanic he may be, or how well equipped they may be there are always unforseen emergency road hazards which they could encounter and have trouble dealing with alone. I’m sure they are prepared for almost anything but it’s good to have a backup plan.

A few years ago when we were taking a summer vacation and planning a long drive in the motorhome, we bought a membership with an automotive emergency road service club. They offered good value in roadside assistance and when we required a battery assist they immediately sent out a truck to help us. To me, that feeling of security more than covered the price.

Most auto clubs offer travel and dental insurance as well as other related services. I found interesting travel ideas, deals and advice online. It’s a great idea to be prepared - especially when you are taking your family on a holiday. You want the trip to be memorable for all the right reasons!

Two score and six years ago Way, way back when… my parents and I were aboard Pop’s troller, the ‘Mary Ann W’ heading to the West Coast of Vancouver Island on a fishing trip. Usually Pop was all business when it came to earning a living, but occasionally when Mom and I were aboard, he slowed down slightly for shore excursions and sightseeing.

For some unremembered reason we stopped in at Port Neville where the Hansen Family owned a store and operated a post office. We tied to their dock and they welcomed us ashore, inviting us to their home for the evening. Their daughter, Lorna, was a year older than I, and she offered to take me to the barn to see the new kittens. She also showed me how to roll in the sweet smelling hay. We played until dark then I reluctantly returned to the boat with my parents.

Our Mom’s suggested Lorna and I become penpals and we exchanged letter for a number of years, finally dwindling into oblivion as we both became young adults and moved on with our lives. Over the years, I’ve thought of Lorna and wondered how she was and where she was. Four years ago when we were cruising Johnstone Straits I heard she was living in Port Neville and working as the Post Mistress, but we didn’t have time to stop for a visit.

Yesterday, 46 years later, I met Lorna again! We anchored behind July Point at Port Neville, went ashore and I introduced myself. Lorna is still the Post Mistress and runs a museum and gift store, offers tours and hosts potluck dinners for various groups of boaters.

We didn’t have time to stay for a potluck dinner, unfortunately. Lorna and I exchanged addresses, talked about our children and grandchildren and the years gone by and decided to exchange Christmas cards. Neither of us is up to becoming penpals again!

While in Port Neville, we watched a black bear rolling rocks on the beach, two deer and a fawn running skittishly along the beach and a bald eagle perched on a rock. The wildlife is abundant at this time of year. While in the dinghy we stopped at a lovely white sand beach and let Hugo run and play. The sun was shining and the beach was as beautiful as any you’d find in the world! Did I take a picture or video? Duh, Heather… what was I thinking?