7 - One Huge Factory, a Great Market, and a Killer Host

After the great time we had in the Vancouver area, Colin and I began our journey south, making our first border crossing! It wasn't a huge deal obviously as we have been to the States many times before, but still a first on this trip. Colin had found a marine shop that carried the size of Pelican cases he wanted to replace his busted ones with so we made our first stop in Washington. In the parking lot we used a drill borrowed from the store and got his new cases all mounted up and carrying the load rather than his bags being tied on with rope.

From here the plan was to go take the Boeing factory tour in Everett but by the time we got there we had missed the last tour of the day. No worries, we'll come back and check it out tomorrow. We made our way into Seattle where we met our host for a couple nights, Rick, whom I got in touch with on MotoStays.com, a couch surfing-esque site for motorcyclists. We parked our bikes behind his building, had a beer on his rooftop patio, and then went out for Tapas. We had great food and drinks there, made our way to a bar next door and continued the great conversation. Rick has been all over and had so many great stories to share. He's also a pilot, so the three of us had common ground there, and him and Colin are history buffs, so the conversation was always interesting. Oh, and he's a great impressionist!

We woke the next day with the plan of going back to the Boeing factory and then heading downtown and checking out Pike's Place market among other things. The Boeing tour was really cool and definitely worth doing. They have the world's largest factory in Everett and the size really was unbelievable. We got to see the lines where they build 767s, the huge 747, and the brand spankin' new 787 Dreamliner. I wasn't allowed to bring my camera on the tour, unfortunately, so again I'll say it's worth checking out if you're around Seattle. After the tour was done, however, we got to see one of the Dream Lifters come in and unload, which was really neat. They modified a 747 to carry huge sized cargo, specifically the parts for the 787 which is assembled here. Airplanes are magic.

We rode back to Rick's, grabbed some coffees and amazing biscuits, and hopped on a bus downtown. Pike's Place was a really cool spot with such a variety of wares being sold. Tons of fresh seafood, vegetables, handmade leather items, killer electric guitars and basses, and everything else that can be made. I really dug this place and loved just wandering around taking photos and talking with the makers at various stands.

From the market we walked a couple miles to get to an REI where I wanted to pick up a footprint for my tent. It seemed every shop in Canada was sold out for my Copper Spur UL2, and so was this REI. I ended up buying one over the phone from the REI in Henderson, NV where I would be in a couple weeks' time to pick it up. With that out of the way we walked over to the Space Needle, which wasn't hard to find, and checked out the surrounding park. There were tons of neat sculptures and structures that were built for the World Fair in 1962.

Colin went and touched the huge fountain in the unknown duration of time it was off

The camera is sad...

These goats were for hire!

After walking around a while longer we hopped a bus back towards Rick's place where we grabbed some Pho and wine for the night. A huge thanks to Rick being such a gracious host to us! Seattle was great!

6 - First Spill, Wake Surfing, and a Bag o' Wine

We said our goodbyes to Alissa and Whistler and began our ride to White Rock to visit Colin’s cousins for dinner and a few days. A few things should be noted at this point: both of our rear tires were pretty shot, my rear brake was not working at all, and in typical west coast fashion it was raining. We were traveling pretty slowly on the 99 as Colin’s rear tire was getting squirrely cornering on the wet pavement, but we were still on pace to make it for dinner. Colin was in the lead at this point and took the exit off the highway that we needed; I was right behind him and had front row seats to what happened next. He was slowed down pretty well, going maybe 25-30 km/h I figure, and the exit ramp had a slight curve to it. Turns out it was enough of a curve and he braked a bit hard perhaps and I see his back end go back and forth and then just like that he’s sliding off the road into the ditch.

I braked, although not too hard after seeing what happened to him and pulled off onto a boulevard just past. I quickly ran off my bike, headphones being ripped out of my phone as I had forgotten to unplug them and Colin is standing. “You alright?” “Yeah, I think so. Can you help me pick it up?” We get his KLR up and on its side stand and assess the damage. The contents of his side cases were all over the ground and the Pelican case knock-offs were in a million pieces.

After riding our bikes across the road into a parking lot we put his gear back on the bike as well as we could with some rope and him wearing one of the backpacks that were in his side cases. Good as new! Well, maybe not, but it’ll get us the last 40 km to his cousins’. Traffic going through Vancouver was backed up like mad due to construction on a bridge and my bike began to overheat as the rad fan was not working. We eventually made it to White Rock, even after breaking the rules and wearing sunnies in the tunnels. We parked in the garage at Frank and Tammy’s next to a killer looking TE449 and went inside to a late, heated up dinner due to our being so late; it was delicious!

A few days were planned to kick around the Van area with our lovely hosts, but after mention of going out boating on Sunday we decided to extend our stay until then. Vancouver and the surrounding area was great. After the next day spent relaxing around the house, catching up on some writing, relaxing, and laundry, we went out for sushi with the family; we didn’t even get food poisoning this time!!

The next day, which was a Saturday, Colin and I went downtown with his cousin Mark to check out the area. I really dig the downtown area of Vancouver and had a blast walking around there and along the water. 

An old steam clock in Gastown

I couldn't not take a picture of a pink double-decker

Colin and Mark walking along downtown

Shot from across the bay. Like all images, click for full-res, which in this case is huge

Free Willy!?

Lots of seaplanes seen from downtown Van

I had to wait a while to get this shot without the chase boat in it

The marina downtown

Something out of a Bond flick, I think

More rowers seen from downtown

We eventually made it to Stanley Park where Mark’s sister Rebecca joined us and we took a nice stroll through before heading for a microbrewery and then a diner for supper. We had some fantastic jars of beer at 33 Acres Brewing and great burgers at Lucy’s Eastside Diner. 

Colin, Rebecca, and Mark walking along Stanley Park

Tons of Totem Poles in Stanley Park

Thought this was the Little Mermaid at first, as in Copenhagen, but I guess she's a diver

One of the many seaplanes flying overhead

There were many gardens in Stanley Park

Colin, Mark, Rebecca, and myself hanging our at 33 Acres

The light was hitting Colin just right through the window at the Diner

The gang of us at Lucy's

Figuring it was too early to call it a night we made our way to Rebecca’s place downtown to enjoy a bag of wine and watch a Tarantino flick, Jackie Brown.

With the movie complete, Colin, Mark, and I wandered downtown for a couple hours with paper cups and our trusty bag o’ wine, missing buses and just walking large distances instead of waiting for the next one. We eventually made it to the bus terminal we needed to connect back to White Rock and what happens to be there? A casino! Well, that can only be a good idea at this stage, so in we went making sure we only lost money until the last bus of the night would arrive.

Mark, Colin, and myself downtown with our goon of wine 

Spotted this sweet NSX downtown and had to take a shot

Need some advice?

I woke in the morning feeling a bit under the weather, but motivated by the idea of going boating today! Colin was up too and we had breakfast; strangely Mark wasn’t up. I guess we had a bit too much wine last night… I felt really bad as he’s pretty big into wake surfing and boarding, but he wasn’t up for coming out on the water. Out at the lake Rebecca first showed us how to wake surf before Colin gave it a try and then I did. It was so much fun! You start out with a pretty short tow rope, get up, get in front of the wake, and then let go of the tow rope being pushed by the wake instead of pulled by the boat. That’s the idea, anyway. Colin and I both struggled the first ways to stay ahead of the wake. Oh, and you’re not binded into the board in any way, you’re just standing on top. Regardless of our lack of skill at it, it was killer fun and I can’t wait to try surfing as we head south.

Rebecca showing us how to wake surf like a pro

Rebecca killing it

We all have to fall sometimes, though!

Colin's first attempt on the surfboard. Love that face

Colin getting the feel for the surf board

And he's without the rope!

What a killer place to play around!

One of our lovely hosts, Tammy

And Frank, our other gracious host and boat driver extraordinaire

And their daughter Rebecca, whom we spent Saturday with in Van

The wake board was pulled out a bit later and I was back to what I’m used to. 

Colin like wake surfing a bit better than boarding. Although he makes it look damn good!

The whole day was amazing and we were so fortunate to get to go out on the water for what would probably be the last nice day of the summer. A huge thanks to Frank, Tammy, Mary, Mark, and Rebecca for the lovely weekend and hospitality!