Seattle & Portland

Well the few cool things about Seattle were: We got to meet up with Lizzy (our couchsurfer from Stockton) she was just coming down from Alaska and we just happen to find her at Pike's Market at the fish toss. Pretty awesome we found each other. I also got to see an old time friend who happen to be in town for a convention from Stockton too.

The nice thing is the first night we were in Seattle, a couchsurfer offered us a homemade dinner. Of course we said yes. Scott made a crazy roasted chicken, ribs, curry rice, macaroni salad. AAAAAAaaaamazing! We said our goodbyes and stayed with my best friend from college Jane. She offered a nice peaceful space for us to decompress from the trip. I also got to go to the Seattle Flagship REI. An old supervisor gave me a tour of the store. Very cool.

We finally got to Portland and then decided that since we got in so late that it will be cheaper for us to get a $60 hotel to split 3 ways then a hostel @ $30/each. So, we checked into a hotel and then got ready for the night life of Portland. We went out and then went to the famous Voodoo Doughnuts where they make crazy shaped and flavored doughnuts. For example they have maple bars w/ bacon on them, PB & J, and Fruit Loops to name a few. The next day we toured around and then went to the Bridgeport Brewery where we meet with a couchsurfer that just moved to Portland from WI. We hung out for the rest of the night and stopped at VooDoo again for a late night snack. We again didn't have a place to stay so a friend of a friend of a friend came thought and hosted us at 11pm. It turns out that this random girl is from Santa Cruz and knows a friend of mine in SF. Small world I tell ya!

After that we woke up in the morning for our long trip back home. It's a 10hour drive and we set off for the long day. The drive was going great and we passed the OR border and then 1/4 of a mile before we stop to claim anything I get pulled over for speeding. Granted I was going 18 miles over the speed limit BUT I was going down a hill in a very weighted car in neutral (cuz it shakes). I tried to explain to him that my car shakes on downhills because it's really weighted and I put it in neutral to prevent the shaking and then feather the break. I could of made more effort to go slower but I was just cruisn. He didn't budge but he only gave me a ticket for 9 miles for the speed limit. I just blew it off because I am trying to get home.

Like I mentioned in my firsts posts that my grandfather wasn't doing well and that I dedicated this trip to him. I was fortunate to get home late Tuesday night and spend Wednesday and Thursday with him until he just recently passed on Thursday morning.

I have this weird feeling that he was waiting for my to come home. I know he worried about me on other trips and I don't think it would be any different on this trip. So, I am thankful that I got to do this trip for him and for myself. It was beautiful and amazing. Thank you Papa for allowing me to do this and that you made sure that I got home safe.

I love you always and forever Papa!

Canada: Victoria & Vancouver

We got on the 5:15 Ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria. Oh crap, we don't have a place to stay! So, I looked really quick on my phone on the couchsurfing website if anyone responded to our couch requests while I still had Internet.

I saw that this one guy said "maybe" so I called him. In my sweetest voice I said "Hey! This is Ashley from Couchsurfing...blah blah blah!" He agreeded to host us BUT he said that he wasn't going to be home until tomorrow. But, he said that he will leave the key to his house for us with his neighbor and sent me a txt of his neighbors number. Granted, this is not uncommon. I've had couchsurfers do this often. But the other boys were surprised and were taken back that a stranger trusts strangers with his house. Pretty amazing.

We got to the loft (right smack dab in the middle of downtown) which was beautiful and plenty of room. The three days that we were there we went to some gardens, had beer, toured around. Victoria is a small England. Flower, cute shops and the vibe. WE got to hang out with a ton of Canadians. It seems that Vancouver Island is like the hippies of Canada. So pretty progressive. There isn't much to do in Victoria but the residents seem to like it enough.

We then boarded the ferry to Vancouver. One of the most beautiful ferry rides I have ever been on. The SF and Larkspur ferry rides are shit compared to this. Once on the ferry I escaped from the boy and headed up deck to to feel the sun on my face, wind in my hair. I just closed my eyes it felt so amazing. The ferry ride is very unique because you go by so many islands. It's crazy to think that these islands are populated. It always interests me as to what people do for a living and money.

We got to Vancouver and also didn't have a place to stay. So, Julio called a friend of a friend who might live in Vancouver if three people can stay at their house. And by the grace of couchsurfing awesomeness she said yes!

In Vancouver there was so much to do. We went to a Canyon and a suspension bridge. We also toured around downtown. It's very diverse and the ratio to men to attractive women is crazy. We played a little game; to try to find ONE just ONE attractive man in Vancouver. Couldn't do it.

One really cool thing is a couchsurfer emailed me saying that they were going to be in Van at the same time as us and would want to meet up on their way to Alaska. So, we meet up with them at a regagee club. Brad was from TN and Bart was from Belgium very cool guys. Hung out for the rest of the night.

Our trip was winding down and then we had to leave for Seattle the next morning.