Back in the Lower 48

Hello and greetings from Washington State and the Lower 48 !


We crossed back on 8/27 and have been hanging out in northwest Washington. I should apologize for not getting an update out sooner but I got into a good book and my nights have been filled with reading.


We started out in a small town near the San Juan Islands. It's been a lazy time and we've caught up on some little chores, including giving the coach a good bath. We stayed at a local Elks Lodge and it was really convenient to stores, etc. We moved south a few miles, got the coach serviced at Cummins and we're now at the Burien Elks Lodge in the shadow of SEATAC airport and have been touring Seattle. More about that later.


When we last talked the rigs were in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory and we left there on 8/17 and headed south. Much of the road we traveled had been done already but we soon turned off to the Cassier Highway and returned to British Columbia. The Cassier is a narrow, 2 lane road that is 95% paved with only 2 bad sections of about 10-15 miles of dirt, mud, calcium chloride rocks and some extremely beautiful scenery. It's slow going but the mountain views and woodland are spectacular.


We stopped in Jade City which is nothing more that large store that sells local jade. No services, no electric, no phone, just free coffee and place to park overnite and an opportunity to buy some jade. Over 90% of the world's jade supply comes from this area and they have plenty. We made a small purchase.


We also met another couple, Roger & Mary Buss from Nappanee, Indiana. Yep, hometown to Newmar and they even know the owner. They drive "Big Rig", race tractors and are a fun couple. Big Rig is a full size Freightliner cab with a 35' Newmar coach mounted to the chassis. The coach was a front end gas model that was wrecked. They cut the nose off and mounted it on the cab. Great rig, but big.


Roger and Mary joined us and we traveled together down the Cassier headed for Stewart/Hyder. We found a great little Provincial park on Burns Lake, toured Stewart & Hyder, enjoyed a few happy hours and a pot-luck dinner. They were headed for Jasper & Banff and 2 days later we parted company. Someday we hope to share a road with them again.

The view from our coach at Burns Lake Provincial Park, on the Cassier Hwy. near Stewart / Hyder.

Taking Pics of the Glacier, enroute to Stewart

The Glacier

Entering Hyder, Alaska

A 'halibut" dinner at Burns Lake. Roger & Mary on the left.

We spent 4 fun-filled days in Vancouver and got to bike Stanley Park and the Lionsgate Bridge. Vancouver is a great city and we will return again someday. We enjoyed a superb meal at our favorite restaurant, Bishops and had a "See Ya" dinner with Gene & Lynn. We've shared the road with them for 88 days and 6,000 miles and enjoyed the experience but it was time to part ways and each of us had things to do and places to go that didn't match up.

Vancouver Harbor

The "view" under the Lionsgate Bridge

Point Atkinson Lighthouse in Vancouver.

We've had the opportunity to visit friends, Bill & Joanne Johnston at their lovely home on Orcas Island (just across the bay from Bill & Melinda) and we headed over to Victoria Island, BC for a few days.

Bil & Joanne Johnston on Orcas Island

Their home on the Island

Their "view" at sunset.

Some sights from our visit to Vancouver Island and the Provincial capital of Victoria. A side trip to the world famous Butchard Gardens as well.

Floral display at Butchard Gardens on Vancouver Island, BC enroute to Victoria.

More of the Gardens

Flower

Some more floral display & Laurie

Legislative Bldg at nite.

Fairmont Empress Hotel.

Inner Harbor, Victoria, BC
Our hotel for 2 nights in Victoria.

At the end of the month we'll fly back east for a little quality time with our daughters, son-in-law and grandchildren and friends in Ocean City, NJ.

Enjoy the pics.

We'll talk again soon,

Gene & Laurie