7 July 2018
The marina is a pretty spot for lunch with cousin Elena.
The fountain built by the Italian community in Italian Square Park to commemorate British Colombia’s Centennial anniversary.
Had dinner with this lovely couple Pam and Gil whom I met on the Norwegian Epic three years ago. Who would have imagined we would meet up again just 5 minutes from my cousin’s home in Nanaimo Vancouver Island.
6 July 2018
Goodmorning Nanaimo.
Strolling through cousin Giuseppina’s backyard.
A little tree hugging.
This 800 year old tree in Cathedral Grove is taller and wider than the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Billy goats gruff 🙂 Coombs Old Country Market started as a store with a grass roof. The Norwegian owners decided to put goats on the roof to attract passing trade. It is now a popular tourist spot.
Discovered my ancestry on my maternal grandmother’s side includes nobility.
5 July 2018
Crossing into Canada from Seattle there was a crazy lineup of cars and I had to get a ferry to Vancouver Island on which I had reserved a car spot and was worried I was going to miss it. Someone I met yesterday told me to take the far lane on the right to the duty free to bypass the traffic. I did this but the lane was marked Nexus. I wasn’t 100% sure what Nexus meant but I found out you get a full car search while being held in the waiting area. The waiting area had the type of Americans I have not yet met on my travels. The type who the world stereotypes and I was embarrassed to be in their proximity. A loud mouth female bragging she was being held up because she had Trump “pads” (what are they) and tazers in her car. She engaged another man in conversation who was a Trump supporter and I found their conversation disturbing. I was almost annoyed with having to sit there listening to these ignorant people instead of being in my car in the queue. The Nexus lane is a specific fast lane for people who have a permit and have completed specific background checks to get a quick border pass.
However I did get processed quickly and got to the ferry terminal in good time. I had no fear of them finding any contraband and definitely no Trump paraphernalia good or bad.
At the ferry terminal I embarked with my car on the ferry Queen of Alberni which goes from Tsawwassen to Vancouver Island. The ferry takes 2 hours, holds 1200 passengers and 295 cars and is the primary mode of transport to the mainland. The cost is $90AUD one way for car and passenger.
I am staying with my cousin Elena and her family for a few days in Nanaimo.
How about these views from Elena’s kitchen and front of her home.
This is what I woke to today in Puyallup. What a stunning view in the backyard of where I am staying.
I spent Independence Day afternoon in a place I found on my Meetup app. Tom and Peggy have a property with a pool in Puyallup Washington. Fascinating that they advertise their address on the Meetup App for the whole world to see. I decided to go because it was only 8 minutes from where I was staying although driving here it looked like it was in the middle of the bush.
Lovely people. Thank you for your kind hospitality everyone.
Throughout the day the sound of fireworks being let off in homes and streets everywhere brought back fun memories of our childhood cracker nights. Wish they would bring them back in Australia.
When night fell the show started. It is so exciting. I don’t know where to look. There are fireworks at the front of the house, at the back of the house, upstairs you can see fireworks out on the horizon and I am as excited as Sydney NYE. Perhaps more excited because it is just people and their neighbours putting on this great show. 2 hours so far and it isn’t easing up. Not bad considering it is illegal to discharge fireworks in many of these housing areas. What a fun community coming together entertaining everyone!!
3 July 2018
I met Kristen in the bathroom (restroom) of the Longhorn Saloon in Fort Worth Texas in March.
We hit it off and she invited me to her home in Washington. I told her that she has to be careful inviting me as I will turn up. True to her word she has been contacting me checking when I would arrive and today she welcomed me into her home.
On the way to Kristen’s there were several homes decked out for 4 July celebrations tomorrow.
This sculpture caught my attention “hearts are bigger in Puyallup”.
At Kristen’s we had a waterfight with her son Colby and his friends as part of her birthday celebration. Waterfight
Then Kristen’s fiance Kevin, started sliding down the staircase on an airmattress. This is the outcome when Kristen came down with Colby. Pay close attention to the hole she put in the wall with her right foot. However, she may have broken a bone or two of her left foot which did not go through the wall but rather took all the impact. The dangers of having fun. Stair slide
I will leave today with this question. What is it with toilet stalls/cubicles in the USA. They are all built with these big gaps! I don’t understand why.
2 July 2018
I have said this before, I don’t know what it is about bridges in this country that capture my attention. Perhaps it’s because they take you somewhere or that they join two places or just that they cross water? Either way, they are beautiful.
St John’s Bridge goes over the Williamette River and the Cathedral Park is set underneath.
I’ve never seen so many pickup trucks and boat trailers in one place!
I discovered Cathedral Park is appropriately named because of the gothic cathedral arches supporting the bridge.
The cutest bridge I have seen is this one which has a collection of trolls.
I didn’t have any trolls but left a koala. Do you think the trolls will be ok with that?
1 July 2018
Many cities in the USA have park and ride parking stations next to train or light rail stations in the outer suburbs FREE. So I parked at Orenco and took the light rail into Downtown Portland. I found a free walking tour on Trip Advisor, Secrets of Portlandia
Portland Square(similar to Sydney’s Martin Place) has free entertainment but I like the movies they have every Friday night. You don’t have to bring cushions because Ikea provides cushions and lounges to sit on.
While waiting for the walking tour I was thrilled to be entertained by The Oregon Crusaders, a competitive junior bugles and drums band. Our NSW equivalent would be the NSW Public Schools Millenium Band
The Voodoo Doughnut Shopis an icon of Portland. They even have a bacon or wasabi flavoured donut.
This is where the Oregon Trail commenced.
Mill Ends Park is the smallest park in the world, the only colony in the world West of Ireland for leprechauns.
The Meetup App has been instrumental in me locating social groups throughout my trip. I use it at home as well and that is how I learned to play golf, attend various theatre and other groups. This is not a dating app but for meeting people who have similar interests.
Here on my USA trip I have been to Singles dances in California, trivia nights in Georgia, Arizona, Ohio, salsa dancing in New Jersey, Italian festival in Nebraska, contra dancing in New Mexico and Oregon to name a few.
Looking up Meetup today in Portland there is such an eclectic mix of groups such as a Naked Nature Walk, an Ultimate pick up (frisbee group), a consent touch and pleasure group. This city certainly lives up to being different.
Trip advisor is also a very important source of travel information.
While I was having fun yesterday there was apparently a riot in this city. Portland Oregon Riot 30 June 2018
I rarely get to see the news while on this trip and I have to admit that more often Facebook posts from my friends is how I keep updated.
I ended my evening by going to the cinema to see Ocean 8. When I go to the cinema people laugh at me taking pashminas because I get cold. Lots of people in Portland had blankets. I don’t feel so silly now. Tonights session had a full house. Not like the night I went to the cinema in Iowa. I don’t mind going to the cinema alone but when I went to see the Book Club I was the only person in the theatre and probably should have felt sad and lonely but I laughed even louder than normal.
30 June 2018
Another stunning backdrop in this country. Diamond Peak
Disturbing.
I am in bear and Bigfoot land.
An important safety provision for drivers in this country are rest areas of which are impressive. The USA provides excellent areas for a restroom break for humans and four legged friends, to stretch your legs, have a picnic, a quick nap or a long one, drink and snack vending machines and travel brochures for the state you are in and bordering states. I should have taken photo is of others but this one is beautiful.
For my running friends, I took a slight detour to this spot (known as Pre’s Rock)in Eugene Oregon where Steve “Pre” Prefontaine died. Pre was a famous runner who held many records at the age of 19 and featured in Sports Illustrated and sadly died at 24. It fascinates me when I come across these shrines, and this one in particular, with medals and even Nike shoes people have offered in Pre’s memory more than 40 years after his passing.
Tonight I had a fantastic time at contra dancing. I did 16,000 steps 3.5 hours!! I had so much non stop fun I was annoyed that I forgot to film it.
However this YouTube clip sums it up and we actually have this dance in Sydney. I will be chasing this up when I get home.
On this trip I have been watching my rugby league games live on my phone. Tonight my NRL game was on at a civilised time (9pm here) instead of between 2am and 6am and I had to choose between it and dancing!! The State of Origin game will be on at 2am on 11 July. One good thing will be that it is after my dancing. Go Blues!!
29 June 2018
After a 6 hour drive to Bend I was quite tired but went out and enjoyed some line dancing at a typical country bar Maverick’s Country Bar and Grill.
Bend is a busy ski resort town in winter but at this time of year everything is very lush and green.
Brook Park has a river flowing through it, as do many of the towns I stop at. I love the trees here and again, the memorials for their servicemen always make me emotional.
28 June 2018
The Airbnb I am in Meridian Idaho is so comfortable I took it easy today. I went for a walk with my host, Denni, along the Green Belt of the Boise River.
We should have these bike tools and pump along our bike paths in Sydney.
I then went back to the Airbnb and lazed around the pool before going into downtown Boise for a last drink at The Balcony as I make my way to Portland tomorrow.
Over 50 Aussie female solo traveller USA road trip and beyond 
