In the state of Washington now, just across the water from Canada…
A beautiful sculpture along the bay in Victoria, British Columbia (Canada), a tribute to the sea.
This is either the house of a master collector of kitsch or a retired propmaster!
Boathouses, or Floathouses here in Canada – it’d be an interesting life, but perhaps a bit damp and mildewy?
This cute little group of miniature ferries carried tourists across the bay to downtown Victoria – they had a synchronized performance on the water near the Empress Hotel, also.
The elegant Empress Hotel in Victoria B.C. with its floating airport and afternoon tea!
Built in the late 1800′s by Robert Dunsmuir to impress his wife and family with the great northwest – the poor fellow died before it was finished, and the house was nearly always inhabited by women – his wife & daughters. There was an awesome upper level billards room and an adjoining ballroom, with framed dance cards from their many parties. Sweet!
So you’re wondering…what is a dance card? Well, the ladies would be issued a booklet when arriving, and each gentleman would have to sign up for the opportunity to dance with her. There were even categories of dance – waltz and several others. This one says: “Have a grand time!” Enough said.
On down to Issaquah, Washington to my longtime friend Patricia’s homestead. She had llamas, and one had given birth the week before we’d arrived. They named her Chai. Sweet. The llamas really were rather skittish, not warm and friendly like I’d imagined. Oh well.
Downtown Seattle, this landmark is always a “must visit” site for visitors to Seattle, the Pike Farmers Market. With flying fish and flowers and hand-crafted treats, it is a wonderful place to spend a day.
A hand-carved sign showing symbols of the northwestern native Americans, a wheel of salmon – seen in downtown Coupeville on Whidbey Island, Washington.
Aunt Jane & Uncle Jim’s country home on Whidbey Island – always feels like home to me. Boogie dog and his ball are always waiting for an unsuspecting kind person to THROW THE BALL, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!
Multnomah Falls, along the Columbia river, which divides the southern border of Washington state and northern border of Oregon. This cascade is just amazing to look up at and you can climb up to the top if you’re fit, but it takes awhile.
Kitesurfers along the Columbia in Stevenson, Washington. This was the path of Lewis & Clark on their way to the Pacific Ocean!
What else? Karaoke at the Elks Club on Friday night – This 70-something gal used to sing on cruise ships oh-so-long-ago, and could belt out a grand version of “I Cried a River Over You.”
Oregon’s Cape meares lighthouse with it’s brilliant Fresnel lens and wildlife light the way for ships entering Tillamook bay.
Creeping down the coast along highway 1, in historic Eureka there are many lovely Victorian homes to admire.
Pulling over to the side of the road to a Sandcastle festival on the beach, north of Eureka.
The lovely town of Ferndale, on the Pacific coast – the site where many of the buildings were used in the filming of The Majestic, with Jim Carrey – the other town where it was filmed was north in Fort Bragg and Mendocino.
Avenue of the Giants through the ancient Sequoia forest – the roadway parallel to highway 1 – they’d carved a small house in the base of one of the trees (they’re THAT big!)
The Skunk Train runs from Fort Bragg east an hour or two through the Redwood forest, a classic steam train that is a familiar sound and sight in this sleepy little town.
The family’s cabin in the redwoods – our names all carved on the depot’s bench. The train stops if you wave by the tracks!
At the Guest House museum in Fort Bragg, this display was great! It’s a split log, with a crevice holding a cache of acorns buried over 750 years ago! The wood grew over the hole and entombed the acorns.
