O' Canada

Today is 9-11 - so hard to believe it's been 9 years! It's strange not being home today, not being able to fly our American Flag, not watching all the specials that I'm sure are on the TV today. But know that we remembered, that we said a little prayer for the families, and that we will never ever forget!

After having a wonderful breakfast with Joyce and Jack, and lots more conversation, we finally left and headed up I-5 to the Canadian border. Bellingham is only about 15 miles short of the border, and we have been carrying our passports along on our last few vacations "just in case", so this time, we decided to actually cross over the border.

As you approach the US-Canada border, you see . . .

The Peace Arch

And then, the Canadian Flag depicted with flowers

The Line to go through the Border


35 Minutes Later - Finally, We're Next


We passed inspection! They let us through!

Canada!

Joyce and Jack had told us about a really cute little Historic Fishing Village very close to the border, called Steveston. So we drove over to check it out . . .

It's an authentic fishing village, with lots and lots, and I do mean lots, of real fishing boats - not weekend warrior fishing boats. These are the real deal . . .

Gulf of Georgia Cannery

A National Historic Site of Canada which commemorates the history of Canada's West-Coast Fishing Industry from the 1870's to the Present

It might have been interesting to go through the cannery, which has tours and interactive exhibits, but John didn't want to, so we moved on down the dock to look at more of the fishing boats.

Check out all the nets and gear

We wondered a little further down the dock, and found where all the action is . . .

This is the "Fisherman's Wharf", with little shops, restaurants, and . . .

It's where the Fisherman back their boats up and sell their catch for the day.

People were lined up everywhere to make their purchases!

You could buy fresh-caught . . .

Dungeness Crab

Shrimp

And many different varieties of fish - especially salmon

And you had your choice - Heads on?

Or Heads Off?

This guy was swimming up and down alongside the wharf

Just waiting for a hand out? (Or maybe a heads off?)
Sorry!

We popped into one of the restaurants and had a delicious salmon dinner - so good! We were going to stroll through more of the town, but by the time we finished eating, they were rolling up the sidewalks, and it was pouring rain. So we opted to just go to our hotel.

Tomorrow we're getting up really really early to hopefully catch the 7:00 AM Ferry out of Tsawassen over to Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island. Stay tuned . . .