Day 3
We woke to another fine day in Seattle so we checked the
weather station to see how things looked in Alaska. The temperatures and the
likelihood of rain was listed for 48 states in the union but Alaska wasn’t even
on the map!! Imagine the uproar at home if Tasmania was not on the Australian
map and not mentioned in any weather reports!!
We had an interesting chat at breakfast with an American
couple from Pennsylvania. At the age of 50 he had decided to change careers and
move from business motivational speaking to become a preacher. He said it was
good because, as a preacher, you never have to retire.
We went back to the airport to catch the highway coach to Bellingham.
Neil had worked it all out and we were at the right place in no time. We waited
where all the buses come in to the airport from the cruise ship terminal. Buses
would pull in, crews of about 10 youths would rush forward and offload the bags
and put them in 2 rows on the footpath and then the bus driver would let the
people get off the bus to collect their bags. Even with such a well-drilled
operation, there were some bags left behind but eventually the owner would
return to collect the lost property even if it was in the middle of the next
set of luggage by then. The buses stayed only a few minutes and then left to
make room for the next ones (and that was using 6 different bus bays)
Our bus arrived and we were the first ones on after Neil
chatted to the driver. We headed to highway North 405 at precisely 10am and
noticed a few things on the way to Bellingham.
·
We saw our first car with the stick family on
the back window. Perhaps the marketing needs some polish in the USA
·
The local town council (Renton City Hall) had a
billboard which listed all of its sponsors
·
We passed another boeing factory
·
We travelled in the HOV lane (Heavy Occupancy
Vehicle lane for buses and cars carrying two or more people between 5am and 7pm
ie all day)
·
If drivers noticed someone doing the wrong thing
there were signs beside the road saying “REPORT VIOLATORS:764 HERO”
·
The freeway was full of road works and we felt
like we were at home at Springwood
·
We had some great views of Mt Baker and the
driver told us it is still an active volcano
·
Tulalip Casino is built on Indian land as are
all of the casinos apart from Las Vegas, Reno and Atlantic City ones. The
Indians run their own casinos and take all the profits to use on their people.
·
Petrol is about $4 per gallon (about 80 cents per
litre). Why is so dear in Australia?
·
The main industries in the area are logging and
fishing so trucks carrying huge logs are commonplace on the highway
·
A small Winnebago passed us. It was called “mini
winni”
Just before Burlington (Washington) we crossed the bridge
which had collapsed and caused the closure of the highway in both directions in
May. Two oversized trucks had tried to pass each other on the narrow bridge and
one had been forced through the guide rail and hung over the side of the bridge.
The bridge collapsed under the strain. They have “patched” that section of the
bridge to let traffic through but they will do a complete rebuild of the bridge
in October. We crossed everything as we went over the bridge and we made it.
From the bus we had spectacular views of Lake Samish, fir
tree-lined roads with blue skies above and tree covered mountains. I’m glad we
were not driving by ourselves because it
was relaxing to just take in the scenery and also because there were 7 exits
listed for Bellingham. How would you know which one to take as a first time
traveller in the district? Luckily our bus driver lives in Bellingham and there was no problem at all. We went
through the Old Fairhaven District instead of taking Chuckanut Drive. We went
passed Starvin” Sam’s Café and finished the trip at the Bellingham Ferry
Terminal. The name of the local water taxi was a worry: ”Leap Frog Water Taxi”
but we were booked on the Columbia Ferry for the next 3 nights.
Boarding wasn’t until 4pm so we had some lunch and thought
we might try a local staple food “Halibut”. It is a fish that is very popular
in Alaska but I think the fish we had might have been from last summer’s catch.
Rubbery and bland are probably the best 2 words to describe it. After lunch
Neil went to take some photos and started chatting to the local and the highway
police who were at the entrance to the boat in numbers. They were looking for
criminal who might be trying to avoid retribution in the lower 48 states by
escaping to Alaska, especially the wilderness areas. We had to show our tickets
and our passport (photo ID) to get on the boat and that was checked by the boat
people and the police. However, I think they may have missed one guy. He looks
like Cochise from the old cowboy and indian films. He has long silvery grey
hair and is of tribal ancestry and he jumps into doorways whenever anyone comes
along….weirdo or wanted felon????
Neil also photographed the ultimate in president worship. He
found a Volvo station wagon with President Obama’s face painted across the
bonnet, the word “Obama” painted along the side and some deep and meaningful
statements painted on the tailgate. Talk about fanatical!! Do you think someone
will put Kevin Rudd’s face on their car? What about Tony Abbott??
Our cabin is on the 5th floor of the boat. It is
cosy but Japanese style (small). It is clean and we will be on the decks to
watch most of the scenery. We can see the western mountains from our cabin.
They look like drawings with the sun behind them. When we were up on the deck
before we could see a fantastic view of Mt Baker and another mountain with 3
snow topped peaks which is called the 3 sisters.. It was beautiful with the
blue sky behind it.
On the boat there are 2 types of travellers: those who have
paid extra for cabins and those who are sleeping under the stars on the upper
deck. The ones on the deck bring tents and sleeping bags. They tape their tents
to the deck (Neil helped one fellow to hold his tent while it was taped).
Apparently, sleeping on the deck under the stars is a “must do” at some time to
be at one with nature. I just hope they don’t play “nine green bottles” all
night or there may be some very full whales in the morning. I don’t intend to
put that on my bucket list.
There is one very touching story though. An elderly couple
(both 79) thought they could just pay for a cabin when they arrived but there
were none left so a young couple near us said that they only needed one bed in
their cabin and the elderly couple could join them in their cabin..a tight
squeeze but very generous. The young couple have just been transferred to
Fairbanks in Alaska for 3 years and don’t know how they will survive the winter
with temps of -46 degrees. The things you hear on the side deck of a boat!!!
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