North to Canada

Today was an interesting day. We headed north to Vancouver from Seattle. When we crossed the border into Canada we stopped to refresh ourselves and got some folders on different things to do. One of the interesting things I found was that for around 400 dollars I could fly in a pontoon plane and land in glacier fed lakes at about 8000 feet up in the mountains which sounds pretty cool. The only problem with this is a storm is trying to blow through Seattle and Vancouver so we'll see if I actually do this or not. We have a view of the ocean and my wife is very happy. (Even though the traffic north from Seattle was kind of tough especially trying to get into Canada through the tunnel on 99 and after that over the bridges. They closed a lane here and there and it was really a snafu for everyone trying to get to Vancouver this way. Finally, after stropping at times so long (about 100 times to the point where I just put it in Park and took my foot off the brake, we had had enough after going through the tunnel and got off at an IHOP and the lady told us how to get into Vancouver without going hiway 99 which was great.

My Oregon hat was wearing out from hiking this summer and so I bought a Canada hat just over the border. I was happy about this because I couldn't find a baseball cap I liked before in Seattle.

We arrived and the weather is sort of idyllic in Vancouver at around 72 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and feels a lot like Hawaii in March. However, I have never felt Vancouver or Victoria quite like this before. Anyway, being in Canada has a nice feeling. We really like it here in the summer time and feel safer in Canada than most places in California now. However, wherever you go there are always good and bad places to be in any city or suburban area. We have a view of the ocean so we are happy here. It's beautiful!

Driving up was very beautiful too! I remember lots of 16mm home color movies that my Dad took of all these very thick growing Washington and Canadian trees. So, it reminded me of the color movies my Dad took of this in the 1940s and 1950s. So, I found all this very nostalgic thinking of my Mom and dad meeting in Seattle around 1941 and marrying around 1946. We all moved to San Diego when I was 4 in 1952 and I mostly have been in California ever since except for a time in Hawaii and New Mexico during my life and of course trips around the world.

If you are driving up Friday after the traffic mess today, you might want to consider leaving about 4 to 6 in the morning or coming up late at night. Because the traffic will be a real mess up to Vancouver tomorrow if today was any indication for Labor Day Weekend. However, I'm not sure how long the Border stations are open. I do know the Nexus lanes (Nexus.com) are open only until midnight crossing the border.

I notice the guys with Nexux card from nexus.com were just basically driving through the border in a special lane.

1. NEXUS Border Card - NexusFastLane.com‎

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2. NEXUS Card - Apply ONLINE - nexuscard.ca‎

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If you live in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, or Washington State, and you regularly cross the border, consider applying for a NEXUS card. You will ...

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Jul 22, 2014 - NEXUS is designed to expedite the border clearance process for low-risk, pre-approved travellers into Canada and the United States.

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