The two boys had already had their spring break and Mom had to work, so Evie and I decided to go see Grandpa in the Pacific Northwest.

We arrived late on Thursday, March 29 so we will start our travelog on Friday, March 31.

We stayed in a hotel near the Seattle Airport and got on the road early. We realized Evie's hoody collection wouldn't suffice for the weather we found so our first stop was a Target to get her a windbreaker. Once that was done, we made a bee-line for the Olympic Peninsula.

Tacoma Narrows Bridge

Shipyard at Bremerton

Most of our time spent on the Peninsula was on a Byway

Crescent Lake alongside Route 101

We arrive in Forks!

Bella's truck

Bella Swan's house

Mongolian Beef at the Golden Gate

Evie at First Beach in La Push, WA

I dip my toes in the Pacific

Evie awaits the arrival of Jacob in La Push, WA

A wee bit of driftwood

I make it look a bit smaller

The ravens have taken over from the seagulls

Hard to tell from here but some of these waves were at least 15 feet

Our official Spring Break 2012 photo

A gnarly root

We found a bigger piece of driftwood

This duck (?) didn't fare too well

Evie videos inside the big tree

I think Evie wants to move in

Evie continues her running commentary for her video log

Yep, it's a big one

Evie's jungle gym

Raven romping in the sea foam

Panoramic of First Beach, La Push, WA

Another part of First Beach, La Push, WA

Another part of First Beach

Near a small waterfall off Sol Duc Road, off US-101

The little waterfall off Sol Duc Road

Sol Duc Road got a bit of snow

Evie explores the snow at the trail head to Sol Duc Falls near Hot Springs

Looking east on Crescent Lake

Crescent Lake with US-101 to the right

We got checked-in with a bit of day light left and caught up with the rest of the world. Went down the big stairs and had dinner, then an early night as we needed to get to the ferry in the AM. I, of course, didn't read the fine print on the ferry ticket and we had just started eating breakfast when I called the ferry and they told me we had 5 minutes to get there or lose our spot. We got there quick and then waited half an hour...

Port Angeles, WA from just outside our hotel

Bye-bye Port Angeles and the Olympic Peninsula

Evie all toasty warm inside the Coho Ferry

We hope the captain sees this

That's some No Smoking sign

Coming up to Victoria Harbour

For Uncle Mark - some police boats

Some of the floating homes in Victoria Harbour

Evie sees her first float plane

An odd shaped floating home

More floating homes

Even more - Seattle had some on Union Lake but it was a gated community so we couldn't get close

I think I found my old cell phone

A friendly ducky

The beginning of the TransCanada Highway in Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, BC. 

Terry Fox Memorial in Beacon Hill Park, Victoria

Fan Tan Alley - Canada's narrowest street

Evie fits better than I do

Gates of Harmonious Interest in Chinatown, Victoria

Entrance to Fan Tan Alley

Scenic Lookout on the Malahat, heading to Grandpa's

We made our base at Grandpa's and not-so-very-early set our course north. We were heading to Coombs and Cathedral Grove

A raven outside Grandpa's house

Looking east toward the Juan de Fuca Strait

Train trestle on Cameron Lake

Cameron Lake with Hwy 4 (Alberni Highway) to the right

No goats until May

At Cathedral Grove in MacMillan Provincial Park

Cathedral Grove - area that describes the wind storm that took out many of the ancient trees in 1997 

Evie in the gap

Lots of the downed trees in Cathedral Grove

Moss covered trees. We have kudzu, the northwest has moss. 

Looking up and out of the Grove

Evie goes exploring in West Cameron Creek

Evie the tree hugger

Big hollow tree

Evie is moving in

One of the taller trees in the grove

Tranquil scene in the Grove

Two biggies

Snuggled between a tree and a living knot

In front of the biggest tree in the Grove

A big, big day for Evie

Chemainus and Cowichan Bay today.

Waterwheel Park in Chemainus, BC. Good place to start our tour of the murals 

Waterwheel Park in Chemainus, BC

One of a few carved animals lurking in the trees

Carved eagle in Waterwheel Park, Chemainus

Carved bear in Waterwheel park, Chemainus. The entire park has lights strung throughout the trees. Must be quite a sight when they are all lit up

One of the original murals, it now has a special place in Chemainus. We have an original poster from Expo 86 

"Loggin with Oxen" and "Steam Donkey at Work" murals - Chemainus, BC

Grandpa shows us how it's done

Carved bench on the streets of Chemainus, BC 

Sculpture - "The Older Generation" - in Chemainus, BC

"World in Motion" mural - Chemainus, BC

Spot the Grandpa

"The Lone Scout" depicting Edward (Shige) Yoshida in 1939 

"Chemainus - The War Years - Circa 1915"

Unusual house down on the lower part of town

Finally - Fish & Chips! At the Rock Cod Cafe  In Cowichan Bay  - they didn't disappoint 

All aglow with a full tummy of fish & chips.

At the Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre

A sporty little runner in the Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre. 

A fixer-upper for Grandpa.

Float homes at the Bluenose in Cowichan Bay.

Boats and float homes at the Bluenose in Cowichan Bay, BC. 

The Miscellaneous Tool Gate in Cowichan Bay.

World's Largest Hockey Stick, in Duncan, BC. Another first for us from Expo 86. 

A quiet day today. A trip into Victoria to see Aunt Audrey and a tour downtown for a bit of sightseeing and shopping.

Lunch with Audrey at the Oak Bay Bistro.

Grandpa was handing out hundreds.

Silly seals. The one on the right always swam upside down. It only turned over to get a treat. Oak Bay Marina. 

They are not shy!

The first time they surfaced, it scared Evie. We thought she'd jump off the other side of the dock.

My turn to give them some fish.

The white one would not approach but it would slap the water until you gave it some fish. 

Downtown Victoria for some shopping.

Back in Cobble Hill. Fine dining - Island style!

Left Vancouver Island via ferry from Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay, then Grouse Mountain and Capilano Bridge, then find us a Swiss Chalet!

Waiting for the ferry at Departure Bay. Left is heading to Horseshoe Bay (West Vancouver), right is heading to Tsawwassen (South Vancouver). Neither is very full.

Tsawwassen ferry next to us.

Evie grabbed a window seat.

We are on the Queen of Oak Bay.

Fishing vessel out in the Strait.

Bye-bye Vancouver Island.

Out there somewhere in the Georgian Strait.

Evie catches a refreshing breeze on the Lido Deck.

Tanning on the fore deck with ferry heading back to the Island. 

Vancouver way in the distance.

Vancouver over on the right.

Looking north in the Strait of Georgia.

On the Grouse Mountain Skyride looking down on Vancouver. 

Evie was dreading the temperature and the snow on the mountain but put on a happy face. 

Brr... Looking up the mountain from the gondola.

On top of Grouse Mountain.

Sleigh ride on top of Grouse Mountain.

These are actually pretty tall carvings. Snow base is about 5m. 

Heading in for hot chocolate and hot apple cider.

Red lift - blue wasn't in operation today.

Someone left a little snowman.

Evie and the snowmen.

Ah, some nice hot apple cider.

Here we are at Capilano. No snow!

At the park at Capilano Bridge.

On the bridge.

Looking back over at the Cliff Walk. We'll go there later.

Who's afraid of heights!? Plus, Evie was shaking the bridge.

Up in the Tree Top Walk.

Up in the Tree Top Walk.

Up in the Tree Top Walk.

Observation spot carved out of downed tree.

Grandma Capilano (about 200ft tall). 

Evie, the totem.

Hugging trees again.

Heading over to the Cliff Walk.

Looking down river from the bridge.

It's not often you get Capilano Bridge to yourself...

Heading down onto the Cliff Walk.

On the Cliff Walk.

Cliff Walk from above (it really is circular).

Nothing but air under there... (about sa 300 ft drop).

Made it to the big city!

Our view of downtown Vancouver.

Ah, Swiss Chalet! Bring on the dipping sauce.

Vancouver! Driving, walking and SkyTrain...

At Cafe Crepe for breakfast.

At Cafe Crepe for breakfast.

Lions Gate Bridge from Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC.

Evie at Prospect Point - Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC.

Hollow Tree, Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC.

Third Beach, Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC.

Evie at Third Beach.

Evie at Third Beach. I stitched in another picture after.

Canada Place, Vancouver, BC.

Seaplanes off Canada Place.

Back at Canada Place after 26 years.

Vancouver Harbour at Canada Place.

Harbour Air Seaplanes.

Olympic Torch at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

Evie at the Olympic Torch.

Olympic Torch detail.

Digital Orca by Douglas Coupland (2010). 

Evie at the Digital Orca.

Millennium Gate in Chinatown, Vancouver, BC.

Evie gets her noodles at Jade Dynasty in Chinatown, Vancouver, BC. 

Dad gets his Dim Sum - Sticky Rice, Har Gow, Shuimai (later), cha siu bao and radish cakes (later). 

Lights in Chinatown.

Old Gastown, Vancouver, BC.

Steam Clock in Gastown, Vancouver, BC. 

Evie at the Steam Clock.

Inner workings of the Steam Clock.

More of Gastown and the Steam Clock.

Close-up of the Steam Clock - Evie wouldn't let me wait the 5 minutes for it to go off but we could here it a block away.

Memorial for those of CP Rail who served in WW I and II. 

From the SkyTrain: Science World sphere (from Expo 86).

From the SkyTrain: Queesborough Bridge 

From the SkyTrain: BC Place and Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC.

Old Bank of Nova Scotia, Vancouver, BC.

Granville Street.

Traveled from Vancouver to Seattle. Took way longer than we thought with a 2+ hour delay at the border and a search for Chick-Fil-A. Got checked in downtown Seattle and then walked over to Pike Market, then a late dinner.

Heading south on BC-99 through Granville, BC.

Finally got to the border after more than 2 hours in line.  

We made it!

Nice house in Bellingham (during our search for a Chick-Fil-A). 

Spotting Seattle from I-5. Evie missed it as she was napping.

Nice view from the Warwick Hotel.

View from our hotel room.

At Pike Place Market.

Outside the market. The wonderful fresh fish smell was too much for Evie. 

Traffic was backed up around the market. Now we know why. 

At the waterfront, overlooking Elliot Bay and Puget Sound. 

CenturyLink Place - where the Seahawks play. Safeco Field on the right is where the Mariners play.

Neat light fixtures on the back side of Pike Place Market. 

A little bronze piggy.

More of those light fixtures.

Yet another.

Evie found a light fixture way up high. 

Post Alley, heading for the Gum Wall.

The Gum Wall!

I didn't know there'd be free samples.

Evie is disgusted with the whole concept of the Gum Wall. 

And it's free for the taking!

That first piece was so good, I decide to try another.

Post Alley, Seattle, WA.

Coming out of the market.

Corner Market on the way back to the hotel.

Nice old building at 2nd and Stewart St near the hotel.

Night shot from the hotel.

Last day - we spent it sightseeing in Seattle - tour buss and Space Needle - and then got to the airport early for the red-eye back to Charlotte. 

Driving by Pike's Place Market.

The fancy man on the right was singing along to the guitar-play busker on the left. 

Umbrella sculpture.

Stainless steel tree.

More sculptures in Olympic area.

Small park on the sight where UPS was founded in the basement of a tavern. 

Pioneer Square Pergola. Very Victorian era...

Close-up of Pergola.

Yet another view.

Older building in Pioneer Square.

Trolley stand next to Occidental Park.

Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Occidental Park.

Electric bike shop.

Smith Tower in Pioneer Square was the tallest building in Seattle until the Space Needle was built. 

Smith Tower in Pioneer Square was the tallest building in Seattle until the Space Needle was built. 

Smith Tower in Pioneer Square was the tallest building in Seattle until the Space Needle was built. 

Mount Ranier from the floating bridge (I-90) on Lake Washington.

For Tanja...

Statue of Lenin in the Fremont district of Seattle. 

The Lake Washington Ship Canal at Commodore Park.

Evie in Commodore Park in front of the Lake Washington Shipping Canal. 

Large sculpture in Commodore Park.

Detail of sculpture.

At the dam in Commodore Park, part of the Hiram M Chittenden Locks. 

Dam and lift bridge.

Flowers on the hill.

My fancy pose.

Views of the Olympic mountains from around Marshall Park. 

Views of the Olympic mountains from around Marshall Park.

View of Seattle from Kerry Park in the Queen Anne district.

Panoramic from Kerry Park in the Queen Anne district.

Try it a different way...

View of Seattle with Mt. Rainier in the background - from Queen Anne district. 

Walking to the Space Needle - getting close!

Street view of the Space Needle. Built for the 1962 World's Fair. 

Evie arrives at the Space Needle.

At the base.

Waiting for tickets.

New sculptures at the base of the Needle.

More glass sculptures with the entrance to the monorail which was also built for the 1962 World's Fair.

Official Space Needle photo.

The Frank Gehry designed EMP Museum in the shadow of the Space Needle. 

Evie and I at the top of the Space Needle.

"It's in the P-I" - the Post-Intelligencer, a Seattle newspaper. 

Looking west from the Needle.

One of the buildings downtown.

Float plane heading to Union Lake.

Mount Rainier beyond downtown. About 58 miles away.

Looking south from the Needle.

That float plane landing in Lake Union.

Lake Union and the Cascades in the distance.

Lake Union on the left and downtown on the right.

Big pillow fight at the base of the Needle.

Another Seattle sculpture.

On the way to the airport.

Evie tweeting away while we wait for our plane.