SAIL FROM PORT ANGELES, WA TO VICTORIA, BC WITH OVERNIGHT PACKAGES VIA BLACK BALL FERRY LINE

M/V Coho arrives in Victoria's Inner Habour 
©SueFrausePhoto

With Washington State Ferries canceling its Anacortes to SidneyBC route this spring and summer due to crew shortages, it will be more challenging to get to Vancouver Island from my home state of Washington. Oh sure, you can drive north of the US/Canada border to Tsawwassen and take BC Ferries to Swartz Bay, north of Victoria. The Victoria Clipper V ferry makes the nearly three-hour trip between Seattle and downtown Victoria, and Kenmore Air has daily 45-minute float plane service between Seattle's Lake Union and Victoria. But for folks like me living on Whidbey Island, a better and less expensive option is taking the Black Ball Ferry Line from Port Angeles on Washington's Olympic Peninsula to Victoria, BC.

I've taken the Black Ball's MV Coho several times in the past few years; once with my vehicle and another time as a walk-on. I prefer the latter. The Coho was built in Seattle for $3 million in 1959, and at the time it was the most expensive and largest privately funded passenger and vehicle ferry built in North America. 

The 90-minute sailing across the Strait of Juan de Fuca provides wide-open views of the Olympics, with plenty of wildlife sightings, including eagles and whales. While onboard, enjoy the comfy interior lounges, solarium, pet-friendly zones, cafeteria, gift shop and duty free store. The ship docks in Victoria's Inner Harbour and if you walked on instead of taking your vehicle, many of the hotels, restaurants and attractions are within walking distance. For more information, visit Tourism Victoria's website. 

BC Parliament Buildings in Victoria's Inner Harbour 
©SueFrausePhoto

Black Ball Ferry Line has a variety of hotel partners within walking distance from its Victoria terminal in the Inner Harbour. And when two adults travel with a hotel package, up to two children ages 11 and older may stay and sail for free. In addition to hotel packages, Black ball also offer various attractions such as Butchart Gardens, the Royal BC Museum, IMAX and a traditional afternoon tea. Here are two of the hotels that are offered, both of which I've enjoyed over the years. 

The Oswego Hotel
©SueFrausePhoto

The Oswego Hotel is a boutique hotel located steps away from the Inner Harbour and downtown Victoria. The hotel features a modern design and luxury amenities. All suites have gourmet kitchens, while the elegant bathrooms include soaker tubs and separate showers. The onsite Bar500 serves authentic West Coast Italian cuisine. Room rate per person including ferry: From $126 USD.

Inn at Laurel Point
©SueFrausePhoto

The Inn at Laurel Point is located in downtown Victoria on the edge of the Inner Harbour, within easy walking distance of the Parliament Buildings, Royal BC Museum, Beacon Hill Park and downtown shopping. The inn prides itself in being a haven for travelers wanting an authentic West Coast experience, offering opportunities to reconnect with nature. Their newly landscaped award winning gardens are now open. Room rate per person including ferry: From $142 US. 

The Butchart Gardens 

Black Ball Ferry Line also offers Day Trip Packages, for those not spending the night. One of the more popular ones is The Butchart Gardens, 55 acres of floral displays spanning a century. The package, from $108 USD per person, includes: 

• Black Ball Ferry fare
• Admission to The Butchart Gardens
• Round-trip shuttle from downtown Victoria to The Butchart Gardens 

The MV Coho arrives in Port Angeles, Washington
©SueFrausePhoto

BLACK BALL FERRY LINE

Click on for schedule/reservations/packages

Port Angeles Terminal

101 E. Railroad Avenue

888-99-FERRY

Victoria Terminal 

430 Belleville Street

800-COHO-475

COVID-19 REQUIREMENTS

Effective April 1, 2022, pre-arrival COVID testing is no longer required for fully vaccinated travelers entering Canada. 

Please Note: Filling out information on ArriveCAN is still required, and must be filled out within 72 hours of entering Canada and prior to arriving at the Port Angeles, WA terminal. Visit Black Ball's COVID-19 requirements for more information. 

Holiday Classics 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' and 'A Christmas Carol' have Canadian connections

Two of my favorite holiday shows, A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) and A Christmas Story (1983), have Canadian connections. I recently watched a report on CBC's The National, and learned that Halifax drummer Jerry Granelli is the lone surviving musician of the Vince Guaraldi Trio. The popular trio provided the soundtrack for A Charlie Brown Christmas (Guaraldi died in 1976).

Granelli, a San Francisco-born drummer who moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia in the early '90s, hadn't played the music since its debut nearly 50 years ago. But this past weekend, the 72-year-old musician took to the stage once again to play the familiar tunes, this time in Halifax. Read the complete story (with video) about the reunion of the drummer and the Peanuts gang on the cbc.ca website.

Also aging nicely is A Christmas Story, which turns 30 this year. Although Cleveland, Ohio gets all the glory for being the setting of the film, the classic holiday movie has Canadian roots. Here's an excerpt from the Canadian magazine Maclean's:

"Very little of the film -- two shooting weeks of nine, in fact -- were filmed in the city. In what may come as a blasphemous shock to American fans, the rest of the movie was filmed on a sound stage in Toronto and on location in St. Catharines, Ont." 

Read the full story here: A Christmas Story has surprising Canadian roots. No matter where it was filmed, it's a family favorite, and we'll be watching it this weekend. 

If your travels take you to The Buckeye State, A Christmas Story House is open year-round in Cleveland for public tours. Now "restored to its movie splendor," Ralphie's house is located just across the street from A Christmas Story Museum -- which contains props, costumes and memorabilia from the movie (including Randy's snowsuit). And yes, you can even buy one of those famous leg lamps or deluxe bunny suit pajamas from Aunt Clara in the museum's gift shop. (Photo courtesy A Christmas Story House)

Snowy train ride aboard Amtrak Cascades | Seattle to Vancouver BC

Amtrak Cascades Train #510 | Seattle to Vancouver BC | Photos by Sue Frause

Jasper National Park is a Canadian gem; privatization is in the wings

One of Canada's true gems is Jasper National Park. I passed through Jasper on my cross-Canada trip from Halifax to Vancouver aboard VIA Rail Canada in 2008. And five years earlier, I took the eastbound VIA Rail Canada from Vancouver to Jasper en route to Edmonton. It was winter, and it was wonderful.

It was cold when I arrived in Jasper, about -18 degrees Celsius (-4 Fahrenheit), but luckily I'd purchased a long, down coat the day before at Roots in Vancouver. When we arrived at the train station  (I had a sleeper car for the 17-hour trip), I hopped aboard a Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge shuttle, and headed for the lodge where I'd spend two nights before traveling on to Edmonton. Things got off to a wildlife start when an elk strolled across the road in front of our shuttle (they were originally imported in the 1920s from Yellowstone National Park, and today they number in the thousands). Over the next two days, I'd see another herd of elk, a coyote, white-tailed deer and a red squirrel. I also heard coyotes, howling at the night moon.

Fairmont Jasper Lake Lodge started out with just a few tents on the shores of Lac Beauvert in 1915, and the Canadian National Railway took it over and built a new lodge in 1923. Sadly, it burned to the ground 29 years later, but today it boasts 446 rooms in cedar chalets and heritage log cabins spread out over 903 acres. The lodge is rustic and elegant, with high ceilings and highly polished slate floors. It's a blend of Frank Lloyd Wright and Canadiana.

I don't ski or snowboard, but there are plenty of other winter activities in Jasper, my favorite being the Maligne Canyon icewalk. I booked the trip with Jasper Adventure Centre, and they not only pick up guests at the lodge, but provide waterproof boots and crampons for traversing on ice, along with walking sticks. Mount Pyramid rises high above Maligne Canyon, the deepest canyon in Jasper National Park. As I made my way along the blue-green river, surrounded by frozen waterfalls and towering limestone walls, adventurous climbers gingerly scaled the walls.

So that brings me to the  news that there's a proposal by Stephen Harper to privatize Jasper National Park, the largest in the Canadian Rockies. And what many park lovers are upset about is the proposed 300 meter metal walkway that will be blasted into the World Heritage mountains. Brewster Travel Canada (Brewster) is proposing to develop a "stunning world-class, fully accessible unique viewing experience" in Jasper National Park that will be called the Glacier Discovery Walk. The proposed development  "will provide an immersive, interpretive guided experience focusing on the wonder of the unique ecosystem, glaciology, natural and aboriginal history of the Columbia Icefield area in the Canadian Rockies."

My Facebook page has been filled with links for petitions against Stephen Harper's proposed privatization of the park, including Save Jasper National Park From Privatization. But there's also a counterpoint from Parks Canada: Proposed Glacier Discover Walk – Setting the Record Straight.

It's all very reminiscent of the Grand Canyon Skywalk that opened in Arizona in 2007 and has been visited by more than 1.5 million people (tickets are $29.95 for adults). In Jasper, visitors will arrive at the site via a free 6.5 km shuttle bus ride from the Glacier Discovery Centre. There will be a free public viewpoint or guests may purchase a ticket for the interpretive walk along The Discovery Trail that leads to The Discovery Vista (no mention of ticket prices). 

Fancy walkways and skywalks don't seem like such a good match for the grandeur of our continent. I'll stick with Mother Nature just the way she is -- au naturel.

VIA Rail Canada in Jasper, Alberta
Photo by Sue Frause

Strombo's The List: Reasons We Are Thankful for The USA (VIDEO)

Strombo (George Stroumboulopoulos) did a fun Thanksgiving Eve video on CBC's The Hour titled Reasons We Are Thankful For the U.S.  It's a nice nod to all of us south of the 49th Parallel. I think.  Thanks for the shout out, George!

Turkey Photo by Sue Frause

Port Angeles Victoria Tourist Bureau offers unique traveler services

Outdoor lover Bob Stepp calls the nearby Olympics "the finest mountain chain in the world."

I walked into what I thought was the Port Angeles Visitor Center and the friendly fellow told me I was on the wrong side. Wrong side? Turns out I needed to go to the front of the building, where I would get information about Port Angeles and the Olympic Peninsula.

I was in the "Canadian" side of the building, better known as the Port Angeles Victoria Tourist Bureau, a unique travel center that has been operating for 23 years. Heading up the shop all that time is Bob Stepp, a California transplant who came to Port Angeles with the intent of opening up an advertising agency. His office was located inside the nearby Victoria Centre, and people were always wanting to know about Victoria. So he decided to come to their rescue and work in conjunction with Victoria and Vancouver Island, offering services to travelers. The Port Angeles Victoria Tourist Bureau was born, and Bob says the Olympic Peninsula makes it easy for him to say, "There's no place I'd rather live." Of course he's also a big fan of British Columbia, and knows a lot about Victoria and Vancouver Island.

Conveniently located on Railroad Avenue just down from the Black Ball Ferry Line, the PAVTB serves as a reservations agency and tourist bureau for British Columbia. Services include:

• Special hotel rates for Victoria and Vancouver Island
• Package vacations, weddings and group meetings
• Sightseeing, whale watching tours and fishing charters, expeditions
• Tickets for BC Ferries' Inside Passage

The bureau is located at 121 E. Railroad Avenue. It's open seven days a week; hours vary depending on the season.  Call 360.452.7084 or 866.457.5432.

The book and movie Twilight have increased tourism dollars on the Olympic Peninsula.

Photos by Sue Frause

Colette's Bed & Breakfast: An inn with a view to Vancouver Island

I recently stayed at Colette's Bed & Breakfast, a lovely five-room B&B in Port Angeles, Washington. Located on ten acres overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca, it has views across the water to Mt. Baker, the San Juan Islands and Victoria, BC. All the rooms feature king beds and fireplaces, plus Jacuzzi tubs for two and plush robes.

My favorite feature of Colette's are the lovely grounds, which were still ablaze with late summer color during my mid-September visit. Autumn hues will soon be arriving, compliments of the the deciduous trees, including a katsura and Forest Pansy redbud tree. In the early evening, prior to going out for dinner (Michael's Seafood & Steakhouse and Bella Italia are two good choices), enjoy wine and hors d'oeuvres in the Great Room. Complimentary beverages, along with yummy homemade cookies, are anytime treats. Breakfasts are bountiful, and menu items range from Northwest Eggs Benedict (with smoked wild salmon) to a strata with pesto, prosciutto, mozzarella cheese and tomato.

Photos by Sue Frause

Saskatchewan bison and Alberta deer spotted in Twisp, Washington

While spending a few days in Washington state's Methow Valley, my friend Sandy and I stopped by Hank's Harvest Foods in Twisp. Simply known as Hank's, it's been a popular family-run store in the valley since 1975. They also have a gas station and mini-mart next door, but you'll find all your grocery needs in this full-service store.

An unusual feature of Hank and Judy Konrad's store is all the taxidermy on high. This Saskatchewan bison located above the ice machine greets shoppers as they enter the Twisp gathering place.

Other Canadian wildlife is scattered throughout the store, like these White Tail Deer from Alberta, above the frozen foods section. The collection of trophy animals hails from around the world. Twisp, with a population of around 1,000, is located about 20 miles south of Winthrop -- which is about 45 km (28 miles) from the Canadian border.

Photos by Sue Frause

Artist Dennis Oppenheim dies; works in Vancouver and Calgary

I was sad to read of the passing of US artist Dennis Oppenheim. He died Jan. 22, 2011 in New York City after suffering from liver cancer.

Three of Oppenheim's sculptures were on display in Vancouver over the years. The first, which I never saw, was the controversial The Device to Root Out Evil. It was on display during the Vancouver Biennale in 2005, but objections were raised from some members of the community, and it was removed from its locale near Coal Harbour.

The sculpture was eventually acquired by Calgary's Glenbow Museum, and today resides in the Calgary neighborhood of Ramsay.

The piece I'm familiar with, and enchanted by, is Engagement. It's located on the shores of English Bay in Vancouver's West End.

Another Oppenheim piece, Arriving Home, is located at YVR (Vancouver International Airport).

Vancouver Biennale 2009-2011 continues through the end of the year.

Engagement, by Dennis Oppenheim
Photo by Sue Frause

First Canadian in history wins World Series of Poker ($8,944,310)

A 23-year-old Quebecer became the first Canadian citizen in history to win poker's world championship. Jonathan Duhamel, from Boucherville, Quebec, is the winner of the 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event Championship in Las Vegas.

Two Canadians have finished in the runner-up spot in the past 41 years: Tuan Lam took second place to Jerry Yang in 2007; and fellow Canadian Howard Goldfarb placed second in 1995, losing to Dan Harrington.

Duhamel, described as a poker pro, will take home $8,944,310 in prize money. Along with it, the iconic gold and diamond-encrusted gold bracelet.

The field of 7,319 entrants made it the second-largest WSOP Main Event in history. The tournament started July 5, taking more than four months to complete, which includes the recess prior to the November Nine.

As the Canadian champion, Duhamel is only the sixth non-American to win the WSOP Main Event. Others include Mansou Maitioubi, UK (1990); Noel Furling, Ireland (1999); Carlos Mortensen, Spain (2001); Joe Hachem, Australia (2005); and Peter Eastgate, Denmark (2008).

Boucherville is a suburb of Montreal, located on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River. Other noteworthy residents include Toussaint Charbonneau, a member of the U.S. Lewis and Clark Expedition, and husband of Sacagawea; hockey player Stephane Quintal; and singer/actress Ginette Reno (La Reno).

Here's a fun piece that my friend Matt Villano wrote for GQ.COM: Beer Lines, Sasquatch Costumes and Mouthy Canadians - Watching People Watch the World Series of Poker. The Main Event will be broadcast Tuesday night, Nov. 9 on ESPN.

Photo courtesy World Series of Poker

Canadian Word of the Day: Process (how do you pronounce it?)

Embassy of Canada in Washington, DC. Photo by Sue Frause.

I just watched a Canadian politician on CBC say the word process at least a dozen times. Each and every time he pronounced it pro-cess. Not prah-cess, as most Americans pronounce it.

Since I spend a fair amount of time in Canada, once in awhile I'll slip and pronounce it pro-cess. But some Canadians I know don't go that route, especially those in BC, they're more apt to say prah-cess like their neighbors south of the 49th Parallel.

Dictionary.com goes with the prah-cess pronunciation. According to Wikipedia, there's such a thing as Canadian English. Here's the introduction to the entry:

"Canadian English is the variety of English spoken in Canada. English is the first language, or "mother tongue", of approximately 18 million Canadians (57%), and more than 28 million (86%) are fluent in the language.[2] 76% of Canadians outside Quebec speak English natively, but within Quebec the figure drops to just 8%. Canadian English contains elements of British English and American English in its vocabulary, as well as several distinctive "Canadianisms." In many areas, speech is influenced by French, and there are notable local variations. Canada has very little dialect diversity compared to the United States. The phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and lexicon for most of Canada are similar to that of the Western and Midland regions of the United States. The Canadian Great Lakes region has similarities to that of the Upper Midwest & Great Lakes region and/or Yooper dialect (in particular Michigan which has extensive business ties with Ontario), while the phonological system of western Canadian English is virtually identical to that of the Pacific Northwest of the United States, and the phonetics are similar.[4] As such, Canadian English and American English are sometimes classified together as North American English. Canadian English spelling is largely a blend of British and American conventions."

And there's even an online Canadian Slang Dictionary.

Inuit prints on display at Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC

The Embassy of Canada in Washington, DC is located on one of the prime pieces of real estate in the nation's capital. Situated at 501 Pennsylvania Avenue, it's adjacent to the Newseum and north of the National Gallery of Art.

Canada's embassy, designed by BC architect Arthur Erickson, opened in 1989. According to Wikipedia, "Canada is the first, and so far only nation, to build an embassy so close to the Capitol."

A gallery is open to the public. Currently on exhibit is Nipirasait: Many Voices. The collection of 36 Inuit prints celebrates the 50th anniversary of Kinngait Studios of Cape Dorset in Nunavut. It's being presented in partnership with St. Lawrence University, and showcases a portrait of Inuit life and culture in the Canadian Arctic.

The exhibition runs through Dec. 30, 2010. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday from 9-5.

Embassy of Canada in Washington, DC
Photo by Sue Frause

Calgary and Spokane: No direct flights between the two cities

I recently spent a very fun 24 hours in Spokane, Washington. It was one of those perfect autumn days, with sunshine and blue skies, and lunch on the patio at the Red Lion River Inn overlooking the Spokane River. Not bad for an October afternoon!

After touring nearby Gonzaga University, an easy walk along Spokane's Centennial Trail, my friends and I indulged in some wine tasting at Caterina Winery, topped off by an opening night performance of South Pacific at INB Performing Arts Center. What a fantastic production!

I've always send a similarity between Spokane and Calgary; even their website addresses are similar. They're both inland cities located on rivers, and although mid-city cool with fine dining and an abundance of arts and culture, the friendly and folksy feel makes them pleasantly small-town. So imagine my surprise when I discovered that there are no direct flights between Spokane and Calgary. Really?

One Spokane local said Spokane is a popular destination for Calgarians and Albertans. And even though it's 691 KM between the two cities, the majority of them drive. After all, if you want to fly, you have to switch planes in either Vancouver (Air Canada) or Seattle (Alaska/Horizon).

I suggest that Alaska/Horizon put the Spokane-Calgary route on their future fly list.


The Great Northern Railroad Depot Tower looms over the Spokane River
Photo by Sue Frause

Line cutters at Canada-US Peach Arch Crossing create major headaches

I know it's summer. After all, I live on an island, and the ferry lines have been horrendous.

But I didn't expect a 90-minute wait at the Canada-US Peach Arch Crossing between Surrey, BC and Blaine, WA. I arrived at 10 AM on a Saturday morning, and finally made it through the final gate at 11:30 AM.

Part of the problem are the cutters. Just like ferry line cutters, these people think they're being crafty and creative, but they're downright rude. Granted, part of the problem is the way the lanes are designated. This morning, the cars were backed up to the White Rock Exit, and were formed in two lanes. But the third thru lane on the far right was getting a lot of business, with people using that to get to the NEXUS lane.


I don't have a NEXUS card, not did I want to go to the Duty & Tax Free Shop that is also accessible by that lane. Turns out that a lot of the drivers heading for the NEXUS lane all of a sudden realized they didn't have a pass, and then had to cut into the regular lane where we'd been patiently creeping ahead. Ditto with the drivers who went to the Duty & Tax Free Shop; it appeared that some of them merely went through the shop's parking lot, exited way ahead of where they entered, and then cut in ahead of those of those of us who were playing it right.

BC needs to cut the confusion on all of this with clearly designated lanes and improved signage -- it's not a problem when entering Canada from the US. And why should the Duty Free "shoppers" be rewarded for buying booze and perfume? Tempers were flaring as the temperature rose; and for solo drivers, it's really a drag. Guess what? If you have to go to the loo -- you lose. There's no ditching your car.

All the more reason to take Amtrak Cascades.



Photos at the Peace Arch Crossing by Sue Frause

Window on Canada: Salt Spring Island, BC as seen from Lopez Island, WA

I recently spent a few days on Lopez Island, located in Washington State's San Juan Islands.

Although we often refer to British Columbia's Gulf Islands as the Canadian San Juans, I read somewhere where BC folks don't necessarily like that description. The funny thing is, I've never heard the San Juan Islands described as the American Gulf Islands. Weird, huh?

While having dinner with friends who have a place in Lopez Village, I enquired as to what I was looking at across the water (photo above). Turns out that it's San Juan Island, with Salt Spring Island behind it.

When my hubby looked at the photo he said that beyond that, barely visible, is Mount Warburton Pike rising in the background. It's located on Saturna Island.

View from Lopez Island
Photo by Sue Frause

RCMPs spotted in San Francisco during Canada Media Marketplace

Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police greeted guests to the opening reception of Canada Media Marketplace in San Francisco last night. Sue Frause photo.

The Canadians are coming! Actually, some already descended on San Francisco, arriving last week with BC Experience, located at Embarcadero Square through April 18, 2010. I'm headed down there tomorrow morning to check out the 600-ft. zipline. Notice I said check out, not experience!

I'm attending Canada Media Marketplace at The Fairmont San Francisco along with around 150 other travel journalists and editors, plus representatives from across Canada. Last night was the opening reception across the street at the Top of the Mark. Sponsored by Travel Alberta, it had a cowboy feel about it, including music by Canadian country music star Paul Brandt from Calgary.

Although I don't think the crab cakes or wine was Alberta grown, there was a definite BYOB (Bring Your Own Boots) feel to the event. Today the meetings begin; I have appointments with 14 Canadian partners, from Tofino's Wickaninnish Inn on Vancouver Island to the Atlantic Canada Cruise Association. 

Shawn Levy's 'Date Night' a hit for Montrealer?

I didn't realize that film director Shawn Levy was from Montreal.

But with the Levy-directed Tina Fey/Steve Carell film Date Night opening on April 9, 2010 there's plenty of buzz about the Canadian filmmaker.

Born in Montreal in 1968, the 40something worked on two hits TV shows in Los Angeles after graduating at age 20 from Yale University: thirtysomething and Beverly Hills, 90210.

His film credits include both Night at the Museum films, The Pink Panther, Cheaper by the Dozen and Just Married.

British Columbia and the City: Canadians head to San Francisco

San Francisco sunset. Photo by Sue Frause.

I'm headed to San Francisco next week for the US Media Markplace, sponsored by the Canadian Tourism Commission.

Every year, on alternating coasts, more than 100 US-based travel writers and editors meet with tourism representatives from across Canada to find out what's new and what's cool north of the 49th Parallel.

This year's host hotel is The Fairmont San Francisco on Nob Hill.

Running concurrently is BC Experience, a unique marketing showcase sponsored by British Columbia's Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts.

BC Experience is at Embarcadero Square April 8-18, 2010 and the centerpiece is a 600-foot zipline. It's the same one that was in Vancouver for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

On hand opening day (April 8) will be two gold-medal winning Olympians, Canadian ski cross racer Ashleigh McIvor and US speed skater Shani Davis. They'll be zipping above the streets of San Francisco to christen BC Experience.

I'll be posting words and photos from my trip to San Francisco next week as Canada (and I) head south!

Washington State Ferries: Service resumes March 28 between Sidney, BC and Anacortes, WA

The M/V Chelan en route to Anacortes, Washington from Sidney on Vancouver Island. Mount Baker is in the background. Sue Frause photo.

Good news for people who both enjoy and rely on the ferry between Washington state and British Columbia.

Sunday, March 28, 2010 is the date the Washington State Ferries' Spring Schedule goes into effect. Among other things, it means that after a winter hiatus, service will resume between Sidney on Vancouver Island and Anacortes, Washington.

You can read more about it and see a slide show of my photos at my Seattle Travel Examiner site.

I'm so glad my direct link to Vancouver Island has returned once again, as are folks up in Canada. Read this article in the Victoria Times Colonist: Chelan's return worth celebrating.

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin does Calgary

2009 Sarah Palin Calendar

Sarah Palin made a visit to Calgary this past weekend, where she spoke at the BMO Centre (formerly known as the Calgary Roundup Centre) on Saturday.

It was the 2008 Republican Vice-Presidential candidate's first foray onto foreign soil since she resigned as governor of Alaska. Yes, Sarah, Canada is a separate country and not a part of the USA.

"She drew on some Canadian connections in her family history, and recalled how when she was young, those who were ill went to Whitehorse for medical treatment. She lauded the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, noting the Canadian men's hockey gold medal win over the Americans, and the connection of her own family to the game."

Click on to read the rest of the story in the Montreal Gazette.