Back in the USA

Howdy neighbors:

G Bear here again.  He chained me to the PC until I get us caught up.

Well, last chapter we were in Williams Lake, BC and anticipating re-entry into the homeland.

We departed Williams Lake, BC, on Thursday morning with no rain and mild temps.  We anticipated an easy day with only 360 miles to land us in Everett, WA.  We were enjoying the beautiful scenery following the Thompson River south toward Abbotsford and a certain Cuban cigar shop.  Life was good.

No so fast pilgrim !   About 125 miles down the road from Williams Lake we encountered all traffic stopped.  We waited a while and then began to see 18 wheelers and other cars turning around in the highway and heading back North from where we had just been.   A little inquiry found that a serious accident involving a log truck and an auto had happened several miles ahead of us resulting in a death and the contents of the truck all over the road.   It was 2PM and the word was that the road would not be open before 8PM.  We turned around and stopped at a cafe for soup and sandwich and time to discuss our options with others stranded in the same situation.  Conclusion was that we needed to back track 45 miles and take another highway that would take us a total of 150 miles out of the way to get to the same place.  That 150 miles took us an extra 3-4 hours to travel and landed us in Abbottsford, BC looking for the elusive Cuban.  The ride was great with tons of curves and twistees, but the extra time allowed the rain clouds to build and you guessed it,  more rain.

Ray's GPS took us down back streets and across highways to deliver us to a specialty tobacco shop run by Pakistanees where we procured the elusive communist tobacco at a premium price.  With great anticipation we left Abbottsford headed for the US border and away from the Canooks, eh !

Crossing the border in either direction is always a challenge, but once again we made it through with little issue.  We both were happy to be back in the US.  There is just an uneasyness when you are in another country.  Something in the back of your mind always makes you wonder if they will let you back in the country.   Ray knew we were in Washington, he said "it smells like cow poop" ( he didn't really say poop)
We made our way the last 70- miles to Everett-Mukilteo area and found a place to stay.
There I contacted my friend Greg Nichols who shared time with me in Corinth, MS on the management team and had transferred to Everett, WA in 2005.  Greg and another former co-worker Nancy Peterson both work at the Kimberly Clark mill in Everett WA., had planned some activities for us for Friday, July 2.
We started the day with breakfast for the four of us and moved to Nancy's house where her Harley had a dead battery.   After her husband Rick and his great troubleshooting skills identified the issue, Nancy procured another battery and off we went on a little excurison to Snoqualmie falls and a spectacular view (despite the mistying rain the last 5 miles).  On our way back to town we saw several spectacular views of Puget Sound and the surrounding area.  After lunch Greg told us he would be picking us up at the hotel and we would be going sailing and crabbing.  With a little apprehension we both said okay.  Neither of us knew what to expect on a crabbing adventure, but we are always up for a new adventure.

The boat (32 ft sailboat) is owned by Wally Sanders an engineer at Kimberly Clark, and quite a nice fellow.   Wally took Ray and I, along with Greg and four engineers from KC and Boeing into Puget Sound and we set out crab pots in the bay.  Once we had the crab pots set we hoisted the sail and out across the sound we went sailing.  Ray and I hoisted bottles as the younger guys set the pots.  Captain Wally turned to me and said , here hold the tiller (steers the boat).  He disappeared below deck.  Now folks, I have never sailed a boat, but there I was at the helm of a 32 ft sailboat being powered by the wind and cruising across the bay headed toward the ocean.   I steered a boat ~!!!!!!!
Captain Wally told be what a good job I was doing and promoted me to Junior Helmsman.  How cool is this !!!!   Ray took a picture with my chest puffed out steering the boat. ( Just like I knew what I was doing)  I asked Captain Wally about the island I saw ahead of me and he said not to worry for the next 1-2 hours.  I calmed down, ( I think the crew was laughing, I fear a mutiny)
After an hour of sailing we (I) headed back to check the crab pots.  It was a good day for crabbing and we had 18 legal size crabs after resetting the pots and cruising for a little longer.
Again Ray and I watched the younger guys haul in the heavy pots, some over 140 feet underwater.
Greg and Matt began cleaning the crab and Captain Wally fired up the cook pot and before you know it we were eating fresh crabs right there on the boat.   Folks, you just can't get it any fresher than that unless you jump in the water and eat them raw.  Wow, what an adventure !!!  It is hard to stop smiling after one like that.   I steered a freeking sailboat !!

GB for da Bears (BB here...I will add more to this same post later...check back for additional comments and a few pics.)

Greetings again all,
I noticed that GB did not even wish you all a happy 4th of July!!!  Consider it done.
Well, before we pass along today's activities, let's go back to the days of yester year...aka yesterday.
GB and I sprang into acton at about 8:00 and wandered across the street to the Mulkilteo Cafe for a late breakfast.  Curt has great friends in Seattle...I have FAMILY.  Randy and Roy picked us up at the cafe at about 10:00 and off we went for an all day tour of the city.  Both could be tour guides.  They were a wealth of information about the city's history, geography, and culture.  We had a late lunch down at Fisherman's Warf and then continued our tour.  We visited the locks and fish ladders and got to see the salmon that were moving through.  We went to Randy and Roy's place and walked through Pike Place Market, had a brew at a local brewery (Pike Brewing Company), and then headed up to their place for a tour of the building and for a home cooked meal that was absolutely fantastic. We kept hearing from Randy all day that you could see Mount Ranier (100 miles away) from their condo...and finally the clould decided to break and give us the proof.  They have a beautiful corner condo with spectacular 180 degree view of the city and Pudget Sound. We took a nightime ride through the downtown area of "
Seattle before they brought us back out to the motel we are staying in at about 11:00pm.  Another fantastic day.

Today (4th) started kind of slow for us.  We took the bikes up the street to a car wash and worked on them for awhile.  With the bikes each much lighter without their coats of mud and grime, we kicked back for a few minutes before heading over to Rick and Nancy's house for their 4th of July celebration, and then later over to Greg and Lynn's place to visit with them.  I'll let GB fill you in on that.  I'll work on putting a few pics out for you.

Best from da bears...and
Congratulations Suzie!

I wish a picture could do justice to what this rainbow really looked like.

View from Jackass Mountian overlooking Thompson River.

Snoqualmie Falls

BB, Nancy, Greg, and GB at one of the over-looks in front of the falls

Mardi Gras has nothing on the annual neighborhood 4th of July celebration parade at Rick and Nancy's house.

Parade Master Rick ready to roll!