Friday 27 August: Fly to Los Angeles

Debbie took me to the airport early in the morning. I was sad to leave but happy that I would (probably) meet up with her again later - if she could swing it, she would meet up with me again in Bisbee.

The two dogs, sad to say goodbye:

The flight to Los Angeles was a bit confusing, they wanted me to pay extra for my luggage but I managed to convince them that this was not a single trip, but an in-between stop of an international trip so I did not have to. 

The flight was in a sardine can of a plane, the most uncomfortable I've ever been in a plane in my life.

Heading out to the tin-can plane:

To my right was a woman who was going on her first trip to Hawai for a week, a gift for her retirement. I was her captive audience for the entrire trip, gave her my Hotmail email address and finally escaped her in LA airport.

Mt St. Helens? Or Rainier?
I don't know. It was quite an impressive sight.

Landscape seemed dry, with these odd round green patches. Not too sure what that is.

I got my luggage without trouble and found the shuttle bus stop to National. Had to wait some time for the bus but finally made my way to the rental place. I picked up a gray Kia Soul

...and jumped straight into LA rush hour traffic (seems it's like this all the time, according to someone who lives there). The drive out of LA was endless and horrific, it took many more hours than planned and much of it was in the dark. Traffic remained thick the entire trip, especially trucks going at max speed! As it got dark, a magnificent thunderstorm was straight ahead. Surreal drive....

I made it to Las Vegas in the dark, arrived at the Super 8 around 22.00. Gina yanked open the door and hugged me squish... We went out on the town, to the Bellagio, tossed some coins in a slot machine. I had a fierce bellyache and needed quite a few toilet stops. We also went to Paris Las Vegas, wandered around goggle eyed till we went to the hotel around 2 in the morning. I was a true zombie by that time and was unconscious by the time my head hit the pillow!

Friday 27 August: Seattle Airport blues

Sitting in the departures lounge waiting to board the plane.
I'm sad to be going, this was much too short.


Seattle skies are just like the Dutch skies.... ;)

Thursday 26 August: Seattle Visit

 Back in Seattle again - did a LOT of traveling in two days. LOVED Portland and meeting with Joe, April and Shandra :)

Back in Seattle, we went to the Pike Place Market and aside from the very amusing flying fish show and being introduced to some delicious cheese curds, I found a place that sold boerewors and bought me some.

Near the market I also bought a Rand McNally road atlas, just in case my American TomTom did not work as advertised. We also visited Debbie's work where I found a fellow South African expat, we spoke in Afrikaans and greatly enjoyed confounding the rest of the office!

Ate supper at the incomparable Melrose Grill, where we met up with islandgirl.

Debbie and her lovely son Franco

Washington State - Olympic (Hoh), Ruby's Beach and Portland

Some pictures.

awesome!








April and Shandra and Joe:

Lucy & the Dutch Lion

Lucy went please please PLEASE Dutch lady, I want it.....

...so, of course she got it!

A mighty battle ensued.

The Dutch Lion lost:

Rarely have I seen a more surprised and bedraggled Dutch lion. Or a more deliriously happy dog!

Monday 23 August: Fly to Seattle

I'm at Halifax airport now sucking down some Burger King coffee and burping gently over a traditional(?) Canadian breakfast while glaring at the Tim Hortons next door. I'll get my bags checked in in a minute.

Here is a quick overview of where I've been. Paradise...

Liz thank you so so much. Oh, and I'm adopting Widgie, just so you know!

PS Lizbob was exactly the wonderful person I thought she'd be. So were John and Barbara. It did not feel strange for even a second - they all are family (I'm the odd second cousin, eh!)

.John and Barbara drove me to Halifax airport in the morning, I got on the flight to Seattle via Chicago. A day of airports, flight, lots of waiting.

Mount Rainier, I believe, a gorgeous view from the plane:

Debbie picked me up in Seattle and took me to her house, she left me there go get to know her two dogs while she quickly fetched some other people from the airport.

Sweet Sophie

Eager Lucy

The spaniel Lucy fixated on me - more correctly, on a little fuzzy orange lion toy which she promptly loved to death:

When she came back, we had a great time getting to know each other. We had the most delicious supper (Halibut, if I remember correctly, Sas made it) and I had an early night, in fact for most of this holiday I tended to topple over around nine in the evening!