ST HELENS to RICHMOND – part two begins

Thursday – and we are driving to Richmond just outside of Vancouver which is in Canada.  The weather is still not kind but the forecast tells us it will improve as we head further North.

Kylie has not fully recovered from her episode of flu so Tyler is driving and that is always an adventure in itself.  For those that do not know – I will state that I am really not a great passenger.

My feet will hit phantom brakes and I hold onto my seat belt for grim death no matter what.  I try not to say anything, I really do as I am sure that it only adds to the driver being even more nervous when I am in the front seat, but sometimes a stifled scream or intake of breath escapes before I know it.

As we continue the weather is not improving, in fact the rain is getting harder as we cross the Lewis & Clark Bridge into Washington State but as we near Seattle two and a half hours after leaving home the skies start to break up and the sun peeks out every now and again.

This has given our spirits a lift for sure.  A little bit more driving and then it is time to stop for a bite to eat.

After huffing and puffing about what we feel like, maccas and everything else does not seem to raise our interests so we take the healthy option – Subway.

Kylie has regained her appetite and we head inside to enjoy our lunch.

I always like the fresh salads on the Italian Herb and Cheese bread.  I have a Chicken Teryaki with Sweet Onion Sauce.  Yep, delicious and very filling even though sometimes the fillings tend to fall out and onto the paper towels.  Still nothing wrong with scraping them up so as not to waste.

The key to the rest room is attached to a dirty big glass beer mug – not too sure what is going on here but at least the amenities are clean.  Discussing the remainder of our journey we get back to the car and it is not long before we see some encouraging signs – I love signs and I will take a photo of any sign – bit like trees – but not as beautiful.

Finally we have blue skies – another lift for our spirits.

Passports are ready for inspection and as usual there is a long queue of people rushing out of the US.  Something to do with the just finished election?  I certainly hope not but then again we may not be allowed back in and will have to stay in Canada.  I can handle that!

This is The Peace Arch.  You can read about it on the link but I will say that this point is the third busiest US / Canadian border crossing for passenger auto traffic.

About 3,500 cars pass through it on a slow day, and as many as 4,800 cars on a busy day. As a consequence, the wait time entering either the United States or Canada can reach 4 hours – hopefully that will not apply to us.

Our turn finally arrives and passports are checked, questions are asked – all done with a friendly smile and soon we are stamped and on our way.  Kylie goes back to sleep.

It is about a 40 minute drive to our hotel in Richmond – the Executive Airport Plaza.

We chose this hotel as it is only a short drive from here to Vancouver airport which we have to do in the morning.

Back to today –

Arriving at our hotel – we get our bags out of the car and check in.  We have a Suite with 2 bedrooms so that is good.  Tyler finds out where to park the car – down the alley; around the back and into a secured high rise area.  Kylie and I are left with the bags so we grab a trolley and head to the lifts.  The corridors on our floor are narrow and twist and turn all over the place which makes for interesting comments every now and again.

Finally at the room – it is a good size but the bedrooms are really small and I have the air conditioning unit for the entire suite in mine.

There is also no luggage racks so we have to call and ask for some to be brought up.  Nevermind we are here for only 1 night.

Once we get settled our tummies make themselves known and as we are not in the mood to cavort around the area, we decide to order Pizza Hut.  That makes a nice change – I have not had Pizza Hut in ages. Our mouths are watering with the thought – I have ordered a Super Supreme Single Serve.

While waiting for our friendly delivery person – I venture onto the verandah with camera in hand –

This is the view from the main room.  As you can see it is late in the afternoon – hopefully the skies will be clear in the morning.

As the sun starts to set even further the sky lights up with the most brilliant colours.

Getting too cold out here for me – inside to warm up and our Pizzas arrive – they do smell delicious.

Pig out time – we eat like there is no tomorrow.  Time to hit the shower and the sheets – tomorrow we head to Whitehorse.

Highlight of the day : PIZZA!