Last week's intended event was a road trip to Montana for a visit with fellow Mines grads but sadly their whole family came down with the plague. Even on short notice we could think of a few things that might be more entertaining than attempting to nurse a six month old back to health. We decided to head into Canada for a trial run of the exodus following Trump's inauguration. It was a quick trip with a pass through Vancouver and than a couple days relaxing at the Harrison Hot Springs. On the way home we explored Bellingham, WA and tried to get a sneak peek at the tulip farms in the Skagit Valley. That's the short story, picture overload and commentary is below:
Vancouver, BC:
Day 1: The border crossing was the first clue but we knew we had truly arrived in Canada when someone handed us their unexpired parking pass before we had even gotten out of the car. We started in Steveston, an old fishing village at the mouth of the Fraser river. Oak took a header into a mud puddle at the local dog park and I almost washed him out to sea when I tried dunking him in the river. Unfazed, Oak enjoyed his extended swim...
The highlight was a defunct salmon cannery and herring processing plant that had been converted into a museum. I was clearly in shock thinking of all those salmon because I forgot to take any pictures. The herring processing plant shared much of the same equipment of our biodiesel plant but in miniature, it was tough to hold back the nerd but we eventually emerged to continue the adventure in Vancouver proper.
Day 2: Feeling remarkable healthy despite the previous night's Korean pig organ soup and frozen yogurt combo we headed to the Capilano suspension bridge park. Lots of high vantage points to stare down into what looked like very promising salmon waters. Oak got to tag along and was happy to take the high ground in the squirrel war.
Vancouver, BC:
Day 1: The border crossing was the first clue but we knew we had truly arrived in Canada when someone handed us their unexpired parking pass before we had even gotten out of the car. We started in Steveston, an old fishing village at the mouth of the Fraser river. Oak took a header into a mud puddle at the local dog park and I almost washed him out to sea when I tried dunking him in the river. Unfazed, Oak enjoyed his extended swim...
The highlight was a defunct salmon cannery and herring processing plant that had been converted into a museum. I was clearly in shock thinking of all those salmon because I forgot to take any pictures. The herring processing plant shared much of the same equipment of our biodiesel plant but in miniature, it was tough to hold back the nerd but we eventually emerged to continue the adventure in Vancouver proper.
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| Concrete Plant Art |
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| Ghost Ships |
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| Narcissist Daffodils |
Day 2: Feeling remarkable healthy despite the previous night's Korean pig organ soup and frozen yogurt combo we headed to the Capilano suspension bridge park. Lots of high vantage points to stare down into what looked like very promising salmon waters. Oak got to tag along and was happy to take the high ground in the squirrel war.
The Capilano river also has a very scenic hatchery located just below the Cleveland Dam. Very tempting to return for a the chance to catch a king salmon inside the Vancouver city limits.
Harrison Hot Springs, BC:
Day 1: Chilled in the hot water. Be grateful I don't believe in selfies.
Day 2: More of the same but we did head to Sasquatch Provincial Park for a walk around Hicks Lake.
Bellingham, WA:
Spent the morning exploring Whatcom Falls Park, which is worth a visit on any day but we lucked out and got to watch Washington Fish and Game loading up a truck with rainbow trout from their hatchery. This clearly wasn't their first rodeo, they would only disclose that these fish were headed to a lake... On the way home we did a quick swing through the Skagit valley to see if any tulips were blooming. It was too early but the daffodils were in full swing.
Day 1: Chilled in the hot water. Be grateful I don't believe in selfies.
Day 2: More of the same but we did head to Sasquatch Provincial Park for a walk around Hicks Lake.
Bellingham, WA:
Spent the morning exploring Whatcom Falls Park, which is worth a visit on any day but we lucked out and got to watch Washington Fish and Game loading up a truck with rainbow trout from their hatchery. This clearly wasn't their first rodeo, they would only disclose that these fish were headed to a lake... On the way home we did a quick swing through the Skagit valley to see if any tulips were blooming. It was too early but the daffodils were in full swing.
Congrats on making it to the end! Clearly this blog idea works better for day trips... Maybe by the time we do our next big road trip or international adventure, I'll have picked up some editing skills.