All's well and I'm over the border!

Finished garden loom

Martha preparing to build a garden loom

Martha and friends with completed loom

Warping the loom

I'm bedded (almost) down in a park right on the edge of the town of Hope, BC. My site looks out on a wide bend in the impressive Fraser River. Can't wait to see how it looks in the morning light. I was here, however, BEFORE dark, you will be happy to note.

The trip from Lolli's at Camano Island was super pleasant. After consulting with Lolli and Lisa Grey, who is visiting her and will drive to Fort Bragg with her to visit and teach a class for Pacific Textile Arts, we decided that staying off of 5N and going the whole way to the border at Sumas would be the most quiet and pleasant route. That it certainly was. Sixty (not 50) shades of green (not gray), at least. What a color study. This is positively the most lush place I've ever  seen. Blackberries everywhere in numbers that put anyplace else to shame. Another thing; I didn't know there was so much corn planted in northern Washington. Amazing. The further north I came, the more corn and then a mix of ten foot high corn and voluptuous commercial berry vines. I can easily see the logic to the berries because the wild ones have been profuse, but corn? I never knew. I was traveling on Highway 9N all the way from just beyond where 5N crossed the road from Camano Island. It was winding and quiet and I loved it. It seemed as if every other minute a new lake or river came into sight. It no doubt takes a lot of the famous grey weather and rainfall to produce all this green that I love so much, but, Wow!

In my email tonight was a note from Martha in Poulsbo. She sent me some lovely pictures of a loom she and a friend made out of madrone branches to stand in the friend's garden for some special events where there would be children who could weave "wild things" into the web and then birds could come and "borrow" some of those fibers for their nests. I love that idea. What do you think, Art? Shouldn't that mean very happy birds? I'll post a couple of her pictures here just as soon as I receive permission to do so from Martha.

I'm off for a short "before bedtime" walk with Bobby and then to bed. Must rest up after Tuesday night. Also want to be fresh to take in all the sights here in HOPE tomorrow. Doesn't that have a good ring to it? This is the first night on my trip when I'm hearing many other visitors arriving later than I. It had to happen sometime, eh?  (I am in Canada, remember). Much love to all,   Jackie

Just a little lost?

Jackie with two of Martha's babies

Tikka and his mom at Martha's

Happy Jackie exploring the new wifi device

OK, I knew there would be times like this but Whew! Last night was a goodie. Not.  Martha led me to the Kingston ferry from her home in Poulsbo. That was so thoughtful of her. We had a great time taking care of errands both of us needed to attend to. A visit to the Verizon store set me up with a special month of avoiding their terrible roaming charges in Canada which I had been warned of. Martha was so impressed with the help I received that she ended up converting over from ATT to Verizon and saved a bundle. It's all relative. I, who you know have been having trouble with the hot and cold aspects of internet connecting, ended up buying a little gizmo that I will pay a monthly fee for and it gives me access at any time. It worked well for about an hour and then came up with a low battery indicator.  Those things seem to always happen just when you need the service most.

So I started the trip from Kingston to Camano Island where Lolli is, with great confidence in the Google map directions to be supplemented by Siri and her "ever so soothing voice." I didn't get any further than Edmonds before my access faded out ( due to low battery) and I was suddenly on my own. I made one wrong turn onto  5 after landing, but quickly realized I was going south instead of north. I pulled off on an exit and climbed up a hill until there was a lighted but vacated gas station at which I could regroup and try to look at maps and my frozen IPad map with blue line directions. Finally got out of there only to choose one of the wrong 5 alternates which led me down to another ferry and a dead end. Back up the hill, into a convenience store to get directions to the right 5 and on my way again. That one had me filled with doubts as I drove past the huge Boeing factory or whatever, but I followed the man's directions and finally did get on 5 north. Then watched for the two visible town off ramps to verify my latest choices and finally did come to a Stanwood/Camano  Island exit. What a relief when something finally goes right.

Only thing is, without the map working and not having a detailed map (or any map) of the island, I soon was faced with a dozen more choices. You might figure that it's getting late by now and I had hoped to reach Lolli's by 8:00. So after the first  tour of the length of the island and it was after 11:00 I wasn't ready to give up yet and I frequently stopped and looked at the still picture of the map showing the basic geography of the island. Since I'm a hiker that should have sufficed. But it didn't. After realizing that I'd passed some of the same places two or three times and had done the length again and crisscrossed even more times, I began to give up on finding her at night. So, I drove into the huge State Park and tried to find a sensible resting spot on one of those narrow, pitch dark lanes. I ventured into an area that was obviously not for camping but then couldn't find my way out of it. When I finally did, I found myself way up high in a totally desolated place where there wasn't a car in sight. This story goes on much longer than I'll inflict on you but I did finally find a reasonably shaped site up high with several other filled sites nearby. Like I said, the whole place was very dark, very isolated feeling, (which one usually seeks) and put me way out of my comfort zone.  When I woke up, I explored my location and realized it was completely surrounded with gorgeous, ripe blackberries! How's that for finding the bright side of the page? I finally went to bed just before 3:oo and woke at about 8:30.  Called Lolli and she promised to meet me at the store I had driven past so many times last night and which is only a couple of minutes from her wonderful water front cabin. I was so close many times but without a map I would never have found it. Sooooooooo, the old "all's well that ends well" does happily describe that little adventure.

In the morning, as I searched for an exit sign, I could see that the camping sites were all lovely and inviting. A whole different feeling from what I had experience that night. Helped that I was somewhat rested and not tired and disoriented. I'm thinking of going for a swim this afternoon. The water and scenery look so much like Shoal Bay up around Lopez Island. This north country has a very definite feel to it. I can really see why it means so much to Lolli.

I'll cross the border tomorrow and unfortunately I'll have to forego a trip up into Vancouver Island to see Elaine and Christine. I'll be back. I'm really sorry about that but I have some time to make up after this love affair with Washington state and the Olympic Peninsula. Cape Breton calls.

Deep in the Forest

I'm out of phone reception deep in the Olympic forest with a stream running by. I'm at good old fashioned general store that has a little of everything. The building runs on and on horizontally a bit like Strawberry Lodge only a little more of a "people's place" with wooden walls and lunch room like tables scattered all over. Their menu boasts amazing food at even more amazing prices, meaning very reasonable. (If you find total nonsequiters (sp) anywhere in this adventure,  please forgive. It happens when I touch a key I shouldn't and then the computer Gods proceed to move or remove whole phrases without my permission. Add to that the fact that I'm a terrible typist ......... you get the picture.

I think I am about two hours from Port Angeles on my way to Port Townsend and then Paulbo where I will hopefully make contact with my tapestry friend Martha Fulton who raises Argentinian Lammas. Unlike many other llamas, the Argentinians produce an incredibly fine coat. I can't wait to see them. Tomorrow I will move on to meet up with Lolli at her island cabin north of Seattle. After than I plan to hit the road for the border, see Hope at Patricia's recommendation and then begin moving in an easterly direction.

I have switched over to using my camera instead of the IPad because I'm having so much trouble getting my IPad to go on line. But I just tried to transfer my current memory card to unload using a Targus gismo and half way through I got a notice of no more room on my starter disk and shortly after that all stopped and an error sign came my way. Do you think I'll ever get it all together at the same time? Theoretically it should be so easy. So bear with me — I am a stubborn Taurus, you know.  I took a sweet picture of my last night's camp site and hoped to share it with you. It will have to wait a bit longer it seems.

But I do want to use this general store's wifi to tell you that I'm healthy, happy and who knows about wiser. I had planned to stay in Aberdeen last night but it was such a nothing kind of place I just moved on even though the signs said it would be a lengthy trip to Port Angeles. A little more than half way, after passing through one too many clearcuts,  I came upon this deep forest campground in the Olympia preserve. People are lovely and friendly and I arrived at this general store last night at a quarter of nine. Just in time to have the tastiest avacado/bacon burger I've ever had. Also picked up details about the various camp sites close to here. The final settling in  had its moments, but ended in a good night's sleep among cordial people. Can't ask for much more at this moment. 

Kathy, this checkin is for you. Please don't worry. I'll stay in touch and hopefully get back to illustrating my adventure more promptly by one method or another.   Much love to all,   Jackie

I'm switching to the Mac

I've wasted altogether too much time trying to get the IPad to perform with the personal hot spot. I give up for now. This means I have to use pics from my little Nikon instead of the IPad. So it will take me a little time to get that all unloaded and ready for action. Have patience. But know that I'm having a great time and loving the scenery. Bobby is also having a good time. Love to all and hopefully more later.

Finally broke loose on Tuesday, 20th

It wasn't easy need I tell you. It never is. Art kept locking my doors so carefully and Then I'd have to go back in and rescue some vital item. He had begun to drive off when I had to yell to him that I  didn't know where I had put Bobby's lengthy health certificate papers. Problem being that I had given the keys to the van to Art so that he could  exercise the battery for me once in a while. They were in the van and off I went minus a dozen other things I can do without.

I met Kathy and family for a late dinner at the Trinidad Casino. Delicious fish dishes including mine which was laced with gorgeous pear slices and other fruits. So good to see family again. I tried to drive up their road but when the wheels began spinning on the steep gravel incline and began smelling of hot rubber and finally the car refused to move one more inch, I put on the brake and began pondering the options. Actually, the only possibility lay in a total backtracking since the Rialta was too long to turn around. Let"s just say it was a hair raising experience since I couldn't see a thing. For about a half hour Kathy had to yell at me to go right or left backing up and around curves And over HIIGH centers and drops. A friend  came out of the woods to see what all the  commotion was about. He pitched in with the orders and we finally made it without dropping into the forest. I retreated to a local. RV park.

After Kathy and I had a great breakfast at the Seascape we parted and. I pulled over at the classic Trinidad vista at the lighthouse. I have so many fond memoriies of that spot dating clear back to when Kathy first moved up there to go to HSU. I was sitting there on a bench trying to get my IPad to take a picture while the glare was so bad I couldn't see what I was doing. A man crossed the street and asked me some questions about the Rialta so I gave him a tour. He was Kathy's age but after a career as a builder and contractor he had switched to being a photographer specializing in images to use on refrigerator magnets which he sells to twenty eight different retailers. Both he and his wife suffered serious health conditions which he attributes to electronic devices they have used over the years.  It made me so sad to hear about his wife's second bout with cancer in ten years. He went over to his house and brought back his magnet display stand and offered me several choices. Ultimately he insisted that I take six of them. They're lovely including two blue herons and two different versions of Trinidad bay. Thank you, Michael, I'll treasure your gift. I'm holding many hopeful thoughts for you and your wife.

I departed Trinidad and after a splendid though thoughtful ride up to Oregon, I managed to get the very last available spot at Harris Beach State Park. Before that, Bobby and I stopped for lunch at The Red Fish Cafe which Sandra and I had gone to with Jesse last year on our trip to Gold Beach. Food as good as last time. Followed by a Feast of blackberries along the trail to the beach. Had a great conversation with some young motor cyclists including a young woman who told me where I should stop for dinner and stay that night.  Needless to say, she was spot on right. Great dinner, last place i(again) in a good camp and a good night's sleep. Thoughts about the exquisite ride up the Oregon coast today when I post next. Love to you all.

       View of Trinidad Bay

Girl biker's beautiful plum colored bike.

View down to beach last night