Wrapping up loose ends ...

We crossed the US/Canadian border today, and I now declare our Alaskan Adventure has begun! But before I start posting about the next chapter of our lives, I want to post a little about some of our less notable doings. I do this for myself, because if I have written about something, I am more likely to be able to recall it in the future.

Since we visited Seattle a few years ago, we did not feel a draw to spend time in the city. Instead we settled in a small RV park in a little town called Mount Vernon. 

As we drove into town I noticed a small park trailhead sign and a parking area on the corner of a woods. It looked like a nice walking trail, so I got Craig to go with me the next day to explore it.

The day was a perfect temperature for a walk, and the path was wonderfully level.






Unfortunately, the woods only lasted for about a quarter of a mile before it opened out onto a berm between a country road and the river.

We decided to keep going and see what we could. The fields across the road had just been worked. The rows were perfect! I guess tractors have GPS.

The four trees in front of the house made me think of gnomes. The unusual tree in the picture on the right must have been a grafted creation. Possibly two kinds of fruit.

Our walk was not long, but it was nice.

Our last two days in Washington were spent in Bellingham. We stopped there because it had the last Trader Joe's we were going to see for several months. There are none in Canada, nor Alaska. So over the weeks beforehand I tried to use up as much as I could in the freezer to make room for our favorite TJ products. Keeping in mind border-crossing restrictions, I skipped buying any fresh vegetables, uncooked meats, or eggs.

In addition to shopping, we were also able to fit in a visit to the Sparks Museum of Electrical Inventions while in Bellingham. We enjoy finding these "One Subject" museums around the country. 

Electricity in nature has always been a magical mystery. We take it for granted, but scientists worked hard to understand and control it for hundreds, if not thousands of years. 

"The term 'electricity' is derived from a term used by William Gilbert in 1600 to describe static electricity."  from the Web

The collections of all things having to do with electricity were amazing. The story of light bulbs, radios, telegraphs, and recording of sound were well represented.

These phonograph horns were my favorite artifacts. Each was hand made with great precision. Function was important, but elegant form was a necessary element. You know they were treasured possessions in their time.

I'm so glad we have the time to see small museums like this one. We were the only ones there except for a grandfather showing his eight or nine year old grandson around. What a lucky boy. He may not realize it now, but someday, in his memories will be the day his grandpa showed him some neat stuff that the Apple store doesn't sell. 

As we travel we continue to meet some of the nicest people in the world. Other RVers! When we were at the Bellingham RV park, I met a nice man who was also on his way to Alaska. He was sitting out in the sunshine, and I was hauling my wash down to the laundry. It is normal to say Hi, or otherwise acknowledge people you see in an RV park. Somehow, other RVers are not strangers. They are neighbors for a few days. He had noticed our "North to Alaska" sign and started up a conversation. 

Before long he offered to loan me three DVDs about RVing in Alaska and the Alaskan Highway. The only condition was that I promise to return them before we left the next day. How nice was that! 

The DVDs were good, but the generosity of this stranger made my day. I returned them, and we both said we would watch for each other in Alaska. Who knows, we might just cross paths with this man and his wife.

Happy Trails!