Goodbye USA, Hello Canada

Day 59  Monday 30^th May 2011 (Memorial Day)

As we checked out of the hotel we could see the sea of small American flags decorating the graves in the Washington Memorial Park opposite the hotel. The trudge to the airport was made more difficult by the weight of the bags strung around our necks but we were fortunate because the weather had held and it was not raining.

We were early for the “Quick Shuttle” bus to Vancouver so we perched ourselves in a spot that would ensure comfortable people watching but passenger traffic in the airport was slow and not much went on before our coach appeared. We were fortunate enough to be on the overspill bus for that day and we had plenty of room and the wifi was working at a good speed (better than the hotel in fact !)

The trip to Vancouver Airport (which sits in the Richmond area) was uneventful save a good view of Seattle from the Interstate as we approached downtown.

View from the bus (Space needle far left)

The Canadian border crossing went smoothly as passenger details are forwarded to border control in advance and unless you have been a naughty boy/girl then entry should be straightforward.  We reached Richmond not long after  and the bus driver dropped us off a stop early at the casino telling us that the Skytrain station opposite would be better for our hotel than going all the way into the airport. He wasn’t wrong and after a quick trip inside the casino to use their ATM to get some Canadian dollars we were on the Skytrain bound for the Richmond Center shopping mall which is just around the corner from our hotel on Westminster Highway.

We checked in, dumped our bags in the room and then went for a recce of the area. It was buzzing. The district is heavily populated by Chinese and many signs are in Chinese. We spent ages searching the streets for a liquor store and eventually found one about a half mile or so from the hotel but on the way back with our arms aching after carrying bottles we found two more liquor stores almost opposite the hotel entrance – Doh !

The Last Supper

Day 58  Sunday 29^th May 2011  

We took our last walk in the environs of SEATAC airport in search of a steakhouse that was showing up on Google maps. We located it inside a nearby Clarion Hotel but the restaurant decor was not exactly inviting so we put off the decision to eat there until latrer when we would be too hungry to care anyway.

On our way back to the hotel we were about to pass the local Denny’s when I suggested that we should, by way of a tribute to American Diner food, have our last USA meal there in this most American of all American icons instead of the steakhouse.  And so that is what we did – stuffed ourselves to the brim with Nachos starter for two followed by fish for me and chicken for Mark and then, unprecendented for us, a pudding of carrot cake and ice cream. The carrot cake slice was HUGE, so big in fact that it beat us. We waddled back to the hotel stopping only to give the street beggar who we spoke to most days during our stay a pocketful of dimes, nickels & quarters that had accumulated over the past couple of weeks. Christmas had come early for this poor guy as he eagerly received the five or six dollars worth of silver from Mark’s hand.

Just a few dollars richer now

We didn’t do much else except pack bags ready for the off tomorrow.

Spot the Looney !

Day 57  Saturday 28^th May 2011  

The weather in Seattle was looking bright as we stuck our heads out of the window so we took the light rail and paid a second visit to downtown Seattle. The carriages were virtually empty as we pulled away from SEATAC station but the next stop changed all that as a sea of green football shirts filled all the seats and took most of the standing room. Apparently Mexico were playing Ecuador at the Qwest Stadium in Seattle and so we had excited Spanish conversations buzzing around us and we were thankful that they did not take the opportunity to blow their vuvuzeylas whilst in earshot. The train emptied the green shirts at the Stadium stop and we got off (again) at Pioneer Square and headed down to the Waterfront where we sat and people watched (as well as looney watched) whilst looking out across the Puget Sound at the loading of container vessels in the port – our bikes are there somewhere Bon Voyage Motos.

We headed inland uphill taking the steps so as to get some much needed exercise and took ourselves to Westlake Park opposite the Westlake Center where we sat and watched a disproportionate number of people who displayed symptoms of being one large sandwich short of a picnic. Quite amusing to watch their antics but also slightly disconcerting in a country that allows the carrying of guns.

As the afternoon wore on we went in search of a good restaurant but, like all good restaurants, they came with good prices. Sticking to our travelling on a budget we could not warrant spending so much on one meal so we got back on the light rail only to find ourselves in the company of the Mexican football supporters on their way home from the match. Thankfully, they were in good spirits having drawn 1-1 with Ecuador.

We got off the railway a stop early at Tukwila and walked back towards our hotel and came upon a small Indian restaurant. We filled our boots with not quite Indian food as we know it Jim but good enough to take away our hunger pangs – I think that we are spoilt in the UK as our Indian restaurants do kick out some pretty good food on the whole and the choice of dishes in the UK is far superior to any that we found on our travels around the States (but they beat us hands down with Mexican food).

Only 36 hours to go now before we leave the USA and head into Canada.

On the Move Soon

Day 56  Friday 27^th May 2011  

We booked the Vancouver bus online as it appears there is no representation for this Canadian bus company at the airport and employees of the other bus companies were singularly unhelpful in giving no good advice about the Canada/USA service. Having the booking confirmed allowed us to go over to SEATAC airport again to find the departure bay. We found door 00 and went and sat amongst the cruise ship passengers who were busy trying to get themselves put on the coach that matched their differing coloured tickets. Some of the travellers looked either far too old and infirm or much too obese to be taking a cruise and I wondered how on earth they would cope once on board in their tiny cabins. We sat and waited for the Quick Shuttle bus to come in and we were now satisfied that we knew how it all fitted together and I was feeling much more knowledgeable and confident about our trip on this service on Monday (Memorial Day).

We headed back to the airport concourse and found a couple of good seats to sit and people watch and it wasn’t long before we were rewarded by the sound of commotion behind us. We stood and turned to get a better look only to find ourselves in the direct route of the resident looney who was headed our way. He stopped a few times to berate the straight frightened faces of the Korean Air check in staff who had formed a small four person strong huddle to avoid the rants of the maniac bearing down upon them with a torrent of abuse. He turned and resumed his route towards us and we lowered our heads to avoid eye contact a tactic which we had learned from previous looney encounters  throughout the trip.

Fortunately for us as he approached within a few feet a cop on a three wheel Segway turned up and the guy darted out of the concourse to the outside world, but it was too late for him as back up had already been ordered and the last we saw of him it looked like he was not going to escape the clutches of the lawmen today.

That was the sum total of our excitement for Friday save to report that we also booked our hotel in Vladivostok. We went for the more expensive digs with our own room having decided that $25 a night hostel wasn’t for us for the eleven nights we are due to spend in the city waiting for our bikes to complete their Pacific Ocean crossing.

Downtown Seattle

Day 55 Thursday 26^th May 2011

We met up with Bob Erion this morning as he delivered back our original V5 registration documents that were needed for customs. He also imparted that, despite interweb reports to the contrary, today was going to be fine weather so we took the opportunity to take the light rail transit from SEATAC airport to downtown Seattle for the really good price of $5 each return.

Seattle, famous for giving us Jimi Hendrix and Starbucks, started us off in Pioneer Square which has a lot of older  buildings and some interesting native Indian carvings. 

Pioneer Square

Nice Boobies

Native Indian Carving

 

 

 

We then headed down to the waterfront and walked along most of its length until we reached the sculpture park at Broad Street and turned uphill towards the Space Needle.

Captain Birdseye

We sat at the foot of the needle and deliberated whether or not to spend $36 for both of us to go 520’ to the observation deck but we talked ourselves out of it by comparing it with the Empire State in New York which at twice the height easily outshone the Needle. We headed south again along 5^th Avenue under the monorail system which above us was carrying the masses who could not be bothered to walk the half mile or so.

Sopace Needle from Waterfront

We reached the Westlake Center, home it seems to the shops. We paid a quick visit to Radio Shack to buy a couple of replacement computer bits and then sat for a while and people watched before going into P F Changs Chinese Bistro for a tasty Chinese meal – our first restaurant meal since Tigard (we had been self catering at the Motel 6 in Fife). The clock was striking 5pm as we left the restaurant so we scooted to the station to avoid the rush hour squeeze.

Back in the hotel we polished off some wine and caught up with emails etc and decided that tomorrow will be booking the bus to Vancouver day, and that’s official.