New Roads

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 A lot has happened since my last post. An incredible opportunity presented itself in the Pacific Northwest and we packed our gypsy wagon (ok, it was a U-Haul truck), hitched the car in a trailer and, 3,300 miles later, found ourselves in the beautiful city of Bellingham in the state of Washington. We are about 30 minutes from the Canadian border, as far away from the sunny Florida beaches as we could get, but it is worth it. 

     The summer was fantastic, with extra-long days, sun setting around 9- 9:30 PM. Lots of parks and things to do and see. Like the Bellingham Bay, visible from the window of our apartment: 




 To the monument to the lost fishermen at the Squalicum Harbor: 




In the city of Fairhaven, just 15 minutes from our place, Lola was able to sit and “converse” with Mark Twain, outside the Village Books and Paper Dreams: 



I was able to tour the Steamboat W. T. Preston, one of the few patrolling the inland waterways in days gone by, removing debris to facilitate the navigation for supplies, trade and recreation vehicles for many years. Until it’s retirement, in the city of Anacortes, and subsequent designation as a Registered National Historic Place:

                                             





It has been a wonderful time, full of firsts for us, and the city alike. There was a heat wave that hit the city where temperatures reached the 90’s, which we were told had never happened before. Coming from Florida, it would not have been too much trouble for us, except for the fact that there was no AC, and it took a few days to receive a portable unit we ordered. 


More recently, after a long-standing drought, it rained so much, so quickly that all the rivers, creaks and ponds overflowed, causing flooding which prompted schools and businesses closures for two days. 

We have seen deer roaming the streets like they own them and seagulls bigger than some chickens. We have bought fresh seafood at the pier, right off the boats that catch them, and tasted a new berry native to Oregon, called Marionberry, which tastes amazing in a sugar free pie we purchase at Sharie’s, a Denny’s type diner specializing in a variety of pies.


I am looking forward to every new experience awaiting me in this State and city. 

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