Monday, September 9, 2002
Hi everyone (this is Ron writing)
WE MADE IT !!!!!!
We pulled into Bellingham on Sunday. A couple of very long days driving but well worth the effort. On Monday we spent most of the day goofing off in Canada. Check out the attached images.
First observations: This area is unbelieveable. It is beautiful
Sunday it rained...boy did it rain !! :) Temperature is in the mid seventies to low eighties.
The further North you go, the nicer the people are.
Imagine this, a Starbucks where the trash cans are empty. Yes, the trash is not overflowing onto the ground. Everything is clean.
People actually wave at you when you drive by (probably because we don't have CA plates on the new truck yet).
Everyone is friendly and willing to talk nicely.
The pace is a lot slower, people are not rushing around like idiots.
etc. etc.
We're heading South tomorrow and will start the camping portion. We've stayed at a motel the last couple of nights (only $40/night for a GREAT room).
The San Juan Islands are just plain beautiful to see from a distance. Today was clear and sunny and the sunset was magnificent.
Truck performed perfectly.
The first night we stayed at a place in Los Banos, CA. Now my Spanish is either poor or non-existant but doesn't this mean The Bathroom ???? Jose, you want to jump in on a translation on this one ??? Anyway, if my Spanish is indeed correct, the town is appropriately named :)
CYa
Ron and Marjie
PS to my last
House prices in Bellingham range from $40k to $250k. There are a few in the $500k area but not many. The low end is a prefab that is about 10 years old. An average 3 bedroom type home is $120k.
Rain and gloom about four months a year. Very little snow ???? August temps hit 90. Seven Starbucks in the area :)
The rumors about this place being a frozen Hell hole are totally wrong. Every store / restaurant imaginable with ample parking and no lines.
Two colleges, one Technical and one focused on environment. Several JCs.
Unemployment is about 6%
Rents for two bedroom are about $600.
Very interesting
Ron