ChrisNCarol Chronicles

Hello All from Vancouver, Washington!

Since we last wrote, we've had lots of long rainy chilly days! Out here, they routinely talk about the possibility of "sun breaks" when giving weather predictions! (We think it's just to keep folks hopeful!).

We haven't let the weather stop us from seeing some amazing places, but the motorcycles are definitely sitting way more than we'd like! Recently we've seen the World Kite Museum, the biggest driftwood I've ever incountered, beautiful mountain waterfalls, as well as Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens (both of which were still heavily snowed in - parking lots not plowed, etc. as of yesterday!) We've visited longtime friends of mine here in Vancouver, and made some new ones. In fact, we met a couple who are now going with us to Alaska! Janet and Ron don't ride, but are lots of fun and I'm sure we'll enjoy having their company along the way. Janet shares Chris' birthday, and it's been VERY interesting to see how similar they are!

We're stocked up and heading to Seattle tomorrow. After spending a few days with some friends on their houseboat at Friday Harbor (near Victoria, CAN) next weekend, we'll do our final preparations, meet up with Janet and Ron, and cross into Canada on June 5. It will take us 3 weeks to make the long run to the Alaskan border, with many interesting stops along the way, AND the thrill of about 50 miles of gravel highway (construction) on route #37! We're expecting to be in Alaska 5 weeks before taking another 3 weeks to come diagonally across Canada and back into the US somewhere in Minnessota.

Yes, the price of diesel is ALARMING! We've started thinking of $4.39/gal as a bargain... UGH! We're both thinking we'll need to find some part time work this coming winter to refill the coffers :-).

Hope you all are enjoying a wonderful spring and looking forward to summer fun!

ChrisNCarol