TRANSPORT pages

6 May 2022 : at Damiana’s jump to this page > > >

Walked back and picked up our fully charged car. Got into traffic and dove down Minna Alley. “How'd you know to do that?” asks Rochelle; just then, we see two Uber cars coming the wrong way on the narrow one way (our way) street. Beside us a good lookin' guy in a yellow construction vest and a red construction hat sitting on top of a 40 foot bucket loader.

“What's the matter with those people?” he asks when I roll down my window. We're in a Mexican standoff, nobody willing to back up, and at least three of us not obliged to and in no hurry. Mr Red Hat and I exchange puzzlements. “But we're on a schedule,” says he.

“That's the boss's worry; you're on hourly, right?”

“Yup, long's the money's comin' in, I can sit here all day!”

Then the passenger gets out of the wrong-way Uber and starts to ...who knows what? Mr Red Hat jumps off his rig and officiously waves her back in her car and yells at the driver (probably some poor new non-English speaker recruited to drive Uber in downtown SF), motions (in no uncertain terms) him and the guy behind him to back up, bullying them, really, but when they backed onto New Montgomery, he walked out and stopped traffic so they could get pointed in the right direction, then dramatically called their attention to the DO NOT ENTER sign. Duh.

Then the Friday afternoon early getaway mess on the Bay Bridge, but pretty soon, miraculously, at Damiana's quiet house on a hill.

30 May 2023 : Vancouver B.C. jump to this page > > >

Lunch from a place called Napa Farms that served all its over-priced but fresh and thoughtfully prepared food items in little plastic coffins. When we were finished, we were left with an admirable pile of trash.

The outstanding dish was a vegan Caesar Salad with something called 'seed parmesan.'

We were still early, but our gate was open and already pretty well populated.

Ever notice how the folks getting on a plane to X have X characteristics? Well, Vancouver is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the Americas, and so were the folks waiting for the plane. We had an hour and a half to wait, and the people watching was great.

Lots of dehumanizing / employee eliminating tech 'for your security' and then, on time to the minute, we were pushing back. My general impression at this point is that if authority says the magic word 'security' we uhmurrcuns will put up with anything.

But finally we were on our way :

This is a south-to-north flight (of course) and so it reads backwards. Bear with me. (Bears with me comes later.)

On the way up: the east bay and beyond. Clear skies.

And then we flew right up the spine of the Cascades. I'm guessing: Lassen

Michael glued to the airplane window

Three Sisters?

Rochelle took photos marked with this R

Mount Hood

Bonneville Dam (lower center) and the Columbia

Mount Saint Helens

Mount Rainier

Mount Adams? (in cloud)

Mount Baker

And then we were on final approach to Vancouver International, hereinafter referred to as YVR.

Birch Bay and Blaine, Washington (the top of the US)

The Fraser at Westminster

Burnaby

Log rafts on the Fraser

About here's where Rochelle said, 'I didn't think Vancouver was this big.' Well, it wasn't, but it is now. Our first serious visit to Vancouver was for the World's Fair in 1986.

4 June 2023 : onboard the Great Bear II jump to this page > > >

mouseover to see where the eagles are

We drove to the Port Hardy airport, parked, met our co-travelers Trina and Sandra, checked in, and then vanned back to the seaplane dock in the harbor, where Haydon, our pilot, packed our luggage into the little plane, then we boarded. I got to sit in the right-hand front seat, and had a great view of the flight. As we were taxiing – does one taxi in a seaplane? – we saw several eagles, a mature and some teenagers.

6 June 2023 : onboard the Great Bear II jump to this page > > >

R and I chose not to go on the afternoon excursion, but those who went saw plenty of wildlife and returned with three beautiful wild flowers for the dinner table.

at right: the conquering expedition returns

Dinner was salmon with a maple glaze, grilled zucchini, and sun-dried tomato pasta. There was extra salmon, and R and I tried, and appreciated some Sockeye. Dessert was Apple Pie Cake with maple sauce and whipped cream.

Dinner

8 June 2023 : onboard the Great Bear II jump to this page > > >

We joined the Inland Passage just in time to be buffeted by the BC Ferry’s wake. Passed a marker buoy being put to good use by a family of Stellar Sea Lions; the patriarch roared at us, but only the young one was interested enough to look.

10 June 2023 : onboard the Great Bear II jump to this page > > >

Early breakfast again, and a final farewell tour to this magnificent place.

After breakfast and the quick tour, we upped anchor and headed for our final anchorage close to Denny Island and our date with the Goose.

11 June 2023 : Port Hardy jump to this page > > >

bottom pane: Canadian Coast Guard

next group : Transit to San Francisco

other topics: Lunches Dinners Markets Transport

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