2002-07-29

Vancouver

It is great to be back and even better to see Deb again! We stayed in Vancouver overnight and spent part of the next day enjoying Stanley Park.

The shipping company has no record of my motorcycle arriving so we will take the train back to Seattle tonight. I can return to pick it up later.

The waitress positively insisted that this is a Mexican restaurant and we must wear sombreros. Ok, rules are rules and we can play along. Maybe no one will notice the funny hats?

It is overcast but we don't care. We are just happy to be together.

The two barges are platforms for an upcoming fireworks show.

Any city with graffiti like this ranks high on the 'civilized' scale.

Sand can be blinding as well.

Deb, ready to board the train to take us home to Seattle. They gave us customs forms to fill out. There is a section to list up to four countries you visited before entering the U.S. I squeezed them all in: China, Russia, Ukraine, The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Germany, France, Luxembourg and Canada. It also wanted to know if I have visited a farm or ranch. Yes, many! I remember the friendly "potato people" of Russia with great affection. And the Old Believers in Siberia who shared their house and dinner with us. And riding my motorcycle through rice paddies in China. I will never forget the vineyards of the Loire valley that stretched to the horizon. So I marked "yes" to that question. Is there any baggage not accompanying you? Yes, my motorcycle must qualify.

I expected to have an interesting conversation with the customs man but was surprised when it didn't happen. He took my card, glanced at it for a second, asked a brief question about visiting farms and that was it.

The train ride to Seattle was terrific. Lots of great scenery to enjoy. Good food in the dining car. And the most wonderful travelling companion I could ever hope for.