downtown Bellingham

We took an extended stroll through downtown Bellingham and liked what we saw. Besides the usual signs of revitalization, wherein solid older buildings were being put to good use, a lot of energy and creativity had been put into building those pandemic-related outdoor dining structures. In fact, they were some of the finest such structures I had ever seen (which if you think about it, need to be rain-proof). While parts of the downtown still had rough edges, on the whole it was a vibrant place - even with the gray skies.

Four Points Bellingham

Back in Bellingham, WA we went directly to the Four Points by Sheraton, which was pretty good for a chain hotel. Among other things they served an excellent breakfast. And while it didn't have the wow factor of the Chrysalis Inn, it was the pickup point for the shuttle to the Seattle airport and therefore very convenient.

beyond Vancouver Island

Gazing at mainland British Columbia, somewhere around the southern end of Vancouver Island, there was a distinct "mountains beyond mountains" effect. Indeed the whole region is full of mountains. The next morning we would be getting back to Bellingham, WA.

Vancouver Island part 2

Vancouver Island

 

The passage that runs between Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia was one of the prettiest stretches of the whole trip. From north to south we went through Queen Charlotte Strait, Johnstone Strait and the Strait of Georgia. The north end of the island looked bare and rugged, whereas the middle and south sections featured gorgeous real estate - houses perched on bluffs near smaller cities like Campbell River and Nanaimo.

Dramamine?

The island seen above receding in the distance is Graham Island. As we left the Hecate Strait and entered the open sea - also known here as Queen Charlotte Sound - an announcement was made that there may be big swells ahead, that it could be a good time to take seasickness medication. As an occasional sufferer of seasickness, I wondered why on earth I had never tried Dramamine, which was available in the cafeteria. So I took some for the first time, felt nothing, and enjoyed fresh air on the top deck. Not only were there no swells, but it was an unusually clear, fair and sunny day. Later we heard that there were rough seas further out where the cruise ships go.

Hecate Strait sunset