We had planned to set off around 7:00 AM in order to get the the Black Ball Ferry terminal in plenty of time to get the tickets and go across the street for a leisurely breakfast and still be back in the terminal by the nine o'clock deadline for customs etc. And of course to feed and walk the dogs before 10:30 AM sailing for Port Angeles.
We woke to clear skies, a promise of a sunny day and the realization that it was already 7:10 AM!
Following a very hasty shower Art was out the door to get the engine started, slides in (left out from packing yesterday) jacks lowered and the A.C. cord disconnected and stored in the bin. Once the air pressure had built enough to have filled the air suspension Art was ready to go. The Jeep was parked in front of it but Gillian arrived in the nick of time and moved it around the corner and he was free to go.
Our next door neighbours from each side appeared in time to say good bye and to wish us well. Art managed to save a couple of minutes by asking Jason if he would mind moving the leveling blocks off to the side of the driveway sometime and pulled out at 7:50, almost an hour behind schedule.
Followers of our blog will not find this surprising--we always seem to be starting off later than planned!
The drive to and through town was uneventful, Art arriving at the ferry terminal about half a hour later.
At the toll booth Art bought the tickets, for Gillian and the jeep as well, and went across the street to see if breakfast was going to be possible. As he walked down the sidewalk he saw Gillian arrive so once seated he ordered a coffee for himself and an orange juice for her.
She soon came in and sat down and had a look at the menu, we both realizing by this time that breakfast was going to be "to go". The waitress finally came back, Gillian had her travel mug filled with coffee , we each ordered a breakfast bagel to go and she returned to the compound to feed and walk the dogs.
Art managed to get back with a minute to spare! Don't know how fussy they are about being there to the minute but we didn't want to get on anyone's bad side!
Finally the ferry arrived and unloaded, all the paper work and checks done we boarded the MV Coho for a very pleasant crossing on a beautiful day.
On the Port Angeles side Art admitted to having some tomatoes, so was sent off to park on the street (facing the wrong way!) to await inspection by the "aggie guy"--tomatoes are now on the banned items list!
Gillian soon arrived to see what he was waiting for (as he was scoffing down a few of our home grown cherry tomatoes) then set off for Safeway to buy the items we couldn't transport across the border.
The inspector was soon knocking on the door, his arrival loudly announced by Trekker and Tia.
He came into the rig, Art listed what he could remember having, and opened the fridge for the inspector to inspect. Turns out that lamb is banned too, unless it comes from the United States or New Zealand. So much for the 2 lamb shanks that had be destined for the slow cooker!
The slow cooker makes a tasty meal easy while traveling: The ingredients go into the pot, the pot goes into the small sink with a towel for padding, plug it in, turn on the inverter and while we drive dinner cooks.
At Safeway Art filled the rig with diesel, at $4.19/US Gallon minus the Safeway card discount of 3 cents a gallon. Just under $1.00 per liter at a guess.
1:30 PM and we were on the road for real, hoping for a lunch break at the Tides Restaurant near Hoodsport. A beautiful sunny day made for an interesting and relaxing drive, traffic was light as there was almost no commercial traffic, it being Sunday
Lunch at the Tides; fish sandwich for Gillian and Oyster Burger for Art, and a couple of clam chowder to go. Dogs had a stretch and we were off again.
South of Olympia we pulled into a rest area to change drivers as Art was getting sleepy. A few rest areas later we changed back, arriving at our planned stop for the night at the rest area at mile 13 on the I-5. Tomorrow would be only a 20 minute drive to Roadmaster.
Dinner tonight was of course the clam chowder that we had brought from The Tides, followed by a very picante picadillo that had come from home since the lamb shanks were missing. A strange combination so even the white wine and dark chocolate for dessert didn't seem out of place! Funny what you can enjoy when you are hungry!
Early to bed as we had to be at Roadmaster in Vancouver, Washington at 7:00AM. This would be a good night to set an alarm!
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