What an eventful day! I'll backtrack a few days to fill you in on our last few days in the USA...we traveled up the Oregon Coast in rain and cold weather..met up with Sue & Kerry Fuller in Astoria for a fun time at the annual Seafood and Wine Festival there. We traveled over the 4 mile span of the Astoria-Megler Bridge into Washington. Within 10 miles, we got bombarded with rocks from an oncoming truck and ended up with a large crack in our windshield.
We were mentally prepared for this to happen in Alaska, but not Washington. Had to get it fixed and found a glass shop in Tacoma. Glass was ordered and appointment made for Tuesday..arrived at 8am on Tuesday to find out we needed a gasket. Gasket ordered for Friday. Arrived 8am Friday. Old gasket removed, old windshield removed, new windshield won't go in. Bottom and sides were in, but top couldn't snap in..they told us to drive around the block and maybe it would set in...hmmm. Not happy to drive with 1/4 of windshield loose, but we did. Nothing happened. Glass shop owner went home to get hydraulic thing-a-ma-jig to raise the roof of the coach to fit glass. I'm not happy. Dominic is cool with it. Up till this point, we weren't allowed in coach (for insurance reasons). But, now owner asks Dominic to help support the roof and the thing-a-ma-jig while he raises it. POP---it went in. Big hugs all around (we all bonded after working on in for almost 7 hours!). Time to put gasket in and add black silicon. Temperature is 88 degrees...gasket goes in well due to heat, but silicon is oozy and gooey. Not good. This is the first warm day we've had in months, and we need silicon to be firm. Not happening. It's a mess. We need to go back on Monday to pull silicon off and reapply. Dominic not happy now. I'm okay-stuff happens. The good news is we got to spend a few days with friends (Nita & Marty) that we met in Arizona last year. They live in the area and were wonderful tour guides in Seattle. We enjoyed the company with them.
So, that fiasco is over...we decide to move north to La Conner, Washington so that we are closer to the border. We want to get over early in the morning to avoid too much traffic. Great idea except there is no cell service and no internet at the campground. Not a good thing when we have last minute calls, online banking, etc to do. Now, I'm getting nervous about leaving country and being out of communications, etc. I decide (after procrastinating for 11 years) that we need a will. I drive Dominic crazy (at 5:30am) making the will. We need to drive 20 miles to town to find a notary (had to try 3 places), needed 2 witnesses (I literally pulled them in off the street). But, we now have wills!!!! Not 100% sure if they're legal, but I feel better.
OK, wills are done, banking is done, friends and family are called, we're ready to roll in the morning.
We have a smooth trip to the border. No fruits, veggies, limited liquor and a form filled out to allow us to bring the shotgun over the border. Dominic and I have 'rehearsed' our answers for any potential questions from border patrol in case they separate us and drill us (I told you I was getting nervous!). Mr. Borderman obviously had a bad morning. He didn't even ask for our form-just told us we couldn't bring shotgun over border. But, we could leave it at Bromley's IGA Supermarket in town...so, Dominic had to maneuver around, got caught in USA bound border traffic, and parked the coach. We walked to USA border patrol, got another form, walked into Canada border patrol with both forms, pleaded our case and lost! So, walked back to Bromley's IGA Supermarket and asked what to do. Mr. Bromley himself came to meet us-we felt important. He reminded me of Mr. Whipple (from the Charmin fame). He took our gun and $5, gave us another form, and will babysit the gun until we return to pick it up in September.
So, now we return to the Canadian Border (went to another station to avoid Mr. Nasty Borderman). New Mr. Borderman asked Dominic a few questions about fruits and veggies, then asked him the last time he was in Canada-Dominic said "Never". I thought I was going to die-I thought it was a trick question and he was SUPPOSED to say "oh, about 15 minutes ago"!.
Well, this Mr. Borderman must've had a good healthy breakfast because he released us and told us to have a nice day!
WHEW...we made it!
So, now we are in Hope, British Columbia (very appropriately named town). The scenery is breathtaking. We are in the Fraser River Valley and surrounded by huge, green,lush mountains and tons of waterfalls.
The road thusfar has been paved and easy to navigate. Let's hope it continues.
The sun is starting to set and we just had our first dinner in BC and are relaxing and laughing about the last 2 days...
Let's see what tomorrow brings.
We were mentally prepared for this to happen in Alaska, but not Washington. Had to get it fixed and found a glass shop in Tacoma. Glass was ordered and appointment made for Tuesday..arrived at 8am on Tuesday to find out we needed a gasket. Gasket ordered for Friday. Arrived 8am Friday. Old gasket removed, old windshield removed, new windshield won't go in. Bottom and sides were in, but top couldn't snap in..they told us to drive around the block and maybe it would set in...hmmm. Not happy to drive with 1/4 of windshield loose, but we did. Nothing happened. Glass shop owner went home to get hydraulic thing-a-ma-jig to raise the roof of the coach to fit glass. I'm not happy. Dominic is cool with it. Up till this point, we weren't allowed in coach (for insurance reasons). But, now owner asks Dominic to help support the roof and the thing-a-ma-jig while he raises it. POP---it went in. Big hugs all around (we all bonded after working on in for almost 7 hours!). Time to put gasket in and add black silicon. Temperature is 88 degrees...gasket goes in well due to heat, but silicon is oozy and gooey. Not good. This is the first warm day we've had in months, and we need silicon to be firm. Not happening. It's a mess. We need to go back on Monday to pull silicon off and reapply. Dominic not happy now. I'm okay-stuff happens. The good news is we got to spend a few days with friends (Nita & Marty) that we met in Arizona last year. They live in the area and were wonderful tour guides in Seattle. We enjoyed the company with them.
So, that fiasco is over...we decide to move north to La Conner, Washington so that we are closer to the border. We want to get over early in the morning to avoid too much traffic. Great idea except there is no cell service and no internet at the campground. Not a good thing when we have last minute calls, online banking, etc to do. Now, I'm getting nervous about leaving country and being out of communications, etc. I decide (after procrastinating for 11 years) that we need a will. I drive Dominic crazy (at 5:30am) making the will. We need to drive 20 miles to town to find a notary (had to try 3 places), needed 2 witnesses (I literally pulled them in off the street). But, we now have wills!!!! Not 100% sure if they're legal, but I feel better.
OK, wills are done, banking is done, friends and family are called, we're ready to roll in the morning.
We have a smooth trip to the border. No fruits, veggies, limited liquor and a form filled out to allow us to bring the shotgun over the border. Dominic and I have 'rehearsed' our answers for any potential questions from border patrol in case they separate us and drill us (I told you I was getting nervous!). Mr. Borderman obviously had a bad morning. He didn't even ask for our form-just told us we couldn't bring shotgun over border. But, we could leave it at Bromley's IGA Supermarket in town...so, Dominic had to maneuver around, got caught in USA bound border traffic, and parked the coach. We walked to USA border patrol, got another form, walked into Canada border patrol with both forms, pleaded our case and lost! So, walked back to Bromley's IGA Supermarket and asked what to do. Mr. Bromley himself came to meet us-we felt important. He reminded me of Mr. Whipple (from the Charmin fame). He took our gun and $5, gave us another form, and will babysit the gun until we return to pick it up in September.
So, now we return to the Canadian Border (went to another station to avoid Mr. Nasty Borderman). New Mr. Borderman asked Dominic a few questions about fruits and veggies, then asked him the last time he was in Canada-Dominic said "Never". I thought I was going to die-I thought it was a trick question and he was SUPPOSED to say "oh, about 15 minutes ago"!.
Well, this Mr. Borderman must've had a good healthy breakfast because he released us and told us to have a nice day!
WHEW...we made it!
So, now we are in Hope, British Columbia (very appropriately named town). The scenery is breathtaking. We are in the Fraser River Valley and surrounded by huge, green,lush mountains and tons of waterfalls.
The road thusfar has been paved and easy to navigate. Let's hope it continues.
The sun is starting to set and we just had our first dinner in BC and are relaxing and laughing about the last 2 days...
Let's see what tomorrow brings.
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