Bow, Washington/Diz & Viki and visit Mike&Paul in Blaine, Washington 8/2 - 8/7

From: casarollnotes.blogspot.com 

Tim and Linda Bunyan

We arrive the pastoral countryside near Bow, Washington.  This is where my cousin Diz and Viki live and we have been eagerly anticipating visiting them for the 2019 Family Reunion and setting up our RV at their acreage.  We have come from the ferry departing Port Townsend to the 'mainland' of Washington state.

DIZ and Viki's "corner of the world" 'digs' in Bow

Mike and Paul whisk us away up to their new house in Semiahmoo located right on the Blaine Harbor with boat traffic passing by their backyard patio.  Oh Canada (Surry, British Columbia) across the harbor.  View from Mike and Paul's backyard.

Mike and Paul's "corner of the world" fantastic view in Semiahmoo, WA.

Our first sunset from the patio at Mike and Paul's house.

On the way to Mike and Paul's, we met up at my cousin, RuthAnne.  She lives in a golf community and has friends she travels with quite often.  She tends her garden and prepared a picnic menu for our dinner visit.  

RuthAnne's "corner of the world" in Burlington, WA.

RuthAnne's blouse matches The Rose dishes as Aunt Bernice loved too.

Of course, Strawberry/Blueberry Shortcake for Desert!

We had a fine birthday celebration for RuthAnn and a great visit with her at her house.

Blaine chamber is hosting a Maritime Festival and we are here just in time. 

 Mike reserved an afternoon in Blaine in Drayton Harbor aboard the merchant ship: 
 Lady Washington.  It is a perfect way to spend a nice sunny, blue sky day!                         ALL ABOARD !!!

THE CREW

The sailing crew aboard the 70' merchant sailing vessel:

Lady Washington

The first American-flagged vessel to round Cape Horn. 

 Captained during the American Revolutionary War.  

(home port: in Aberdeen, WA...I lived nearby in Hoquiam.)

Walking around Blaine, the Peace Arch city, we find it so nautical.  The main street, Peace Portal Drive is along the shoreline to Drayton harbor filled with boats that travel into the Pacific Ocean .  

You can see the Peace Arch international monument 

just across the park.  It lies partly in Blaine and partly in Canada.  Population near 5,000 in Blaine.

Watering hole for puppy dogs.  Cute!

There is music playing at the waterside plaza, just across the street from the fanciest Starbucks ever!  This town is at the border with Canada.  First established as a seaport for the west coast logging and fishing industries......and as a jumping off point for prospectors heading to British Columbia's gold fields.  (We are planning our 2020 Travel Tour of British Columbia, retracing some of those early settlers.)

The MV Plover once conveyed workers to and from the cannery in the 1930s.  Today it is a Historic Foot Passenger Ferry to Semiahmoo to/from Blaine Harbor.  Here we are at the refurbished cannery.

We walked all around the harbor.  Here are people enjoying a campfire, roasting marshmallows, and an embarcadero along the lawn and harbor.

 Such a happy and delightful place to be outdoors.

 The walkways all around Mike and Pauls house and their home on the Harbor and Ocean.

Spending time at the marina is soothing and a calm place to take pleasure.

 The warehouse at the fishing pier has been refurbished as a reminder of days gone by.

 We admire the old, worn wood to the building as it remains standing the test of time.

 Mike and Paul's neighborhood: Semiahmoo Resort is a lovely place to be!

Taking a test drive on Mike and Paul's electric bikes.  Great GO power to conquer!

Fine dining....one of our favorites.   Mike BBQ'd the corn dogs!

Paul picked up Terry from her house and brought her to Mike and Paul's for a nice visit.  She is wearing the perfect sayings T=shirts.  Love her so much!  "Seas this Day"!!

Fine dining, view, visit, and hanging out on back yard patio ……… like a day on the water!!!

 Bike Riding around Mike and Paul's neighborhood.

 We strolled about downtown Bellingham and came across a Barber Shop where he also provides a myriad of keepsakes of the past.  It is a rare, casual museum of collectibles that fancy the eye of the memories.

 One of my favs of the days gone by.

I have never seen a vintage (looked up cost: $24.40) Starbucks truck; but here it is.  Could be more valuable than a stock(looked up cost of stock: $85.61) of Starbucks...…….maybe not!

 ACME Ice Cream, reads: "It's Damn Good"; downtown Bellingham.

 Old and new and restored "Rocket Donuts" and Acme Ice Cream sells here; keeping Bellingham a pleasurable downtown center.

 Tim, Mike, and Paul doing the downtown stroll in Bellingham.

 Vintage artwork at Hotel entrance.  The art is paint mural with the clothes made of dimensional relief made of fabric.  Wonderfully clever.

 Sign says open; but this new beer stop is closed today.

 Market Square also has an outdoor theatre past this charming entrance.

Fairhaven  offers quaint boutiques, book stores, restaurants making it a unique, historic style neighborhood to stroll.

 So many unique qualities with variations in architecture.

 A nice place to pause.  The bookstore with Tim and Mark Twain!  I bought my 2020 Journal Book....all ready for next year 2020 Travel Tour through British Columbia!...perhaps come through here again next year!

 Zane burger anyone?  There is a "car to go" on top; not to be missed!

 a pleasant street Bistro

Is that Ralph Waldo Emerson???.

 Waterfront views here in Bellingham...……..has it all!!!

Back at Mike and Paul's back yard!

Ranger Boat Tim and I planning for the Puget Sound Travel Tour......a great adventure boat for the two of us!

This is the Ranger Tug 'showroom'; the factory where they are made!

Boat to order...…..and this is one of their factories!  Money goes into the boat, rather than the showroom!

Mike and Paul took us all (Terry, Angela, Tim and I) up to Mount Baker for a wonderful day.

First stop to fuel up and Paul bought us ice cream cones.
   Just 30 miles east of Bellingham.

 The most beautiful, delightful place to view and hikes for all levels!

 This is the ranger station where we gathered on the front porch with the view of the Cascades.

 Mount Baker is a 10,781 ft active glaciated andesitic stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc in the North Cascades.....3rd highest Mountain in WA with lots of wilderness for hiking.

 We returned Terry to her home and Mochi on Boardwalk Drive; we returned to our trailer at Diz and Viki to help out in preparing for the 'Final' 2019 Family Reunion!!!