This is the 1st of a series of posts dealing
with my 2015 trip to Portland, Seattle, and vicinity. I’ve made minor
corrections to these reports (typos, bits I don’t feel like making public).
Also, I’ve added additional thoughts with the hindsight of two years later or
to add further clarification. These are
indicated by “NOW”.
First off my cell is basically just a timepiece/alarm clock
in the US, no phone service so if you need to reach me try email or phoning the
hostel (Ground Inn Tues, Northwest Hostel Wed-Sat, City Hostel Sun-on).
[NOW: 7-11’s Speakout cell service is limited to Canada; Groud Inn has closed.]
Before the trip went to the Strawberry Festival in Saanich
via the 72 Victoria Regional Transit bus. Weather was nicer than expected but
my mind was getting a head start on the trip/getting an earlier bus tomorrow
and my friend wasn't sure if she could make it so I went back downtown before
they started serving ice cream and got started. I took the 75 bus which turned
into the 30 bus (Victoria Regional Transit) back downtown.
At Black Ball Ferry Terminal it was pretty crowded and
there was some line confusion (I found myself in line for Immigration when I
wanted the line to get a ticket) but it got worked out. Passing through Immigration
the officer seemed suspicious that I was on medical leave but still employed by
the government but after reading my history for a few minutes let me
through. On Black Ball's Coho ferry I
sat beside a couple of nice women and saw three dogs on the ferry. The guy at
Customs was the friendly guy whom I deal with the most so there was no problem
there.
[NOW: I’ve been on medical leave for a long time as part of
having Asperger’s, but volunteer at Pacific Peoples’ Partnership.]
I walked to ToadLilly House International Hostel and
checked in. It was threatening to rain
so I made heading to Port Angeles Plaza my next priority, on foot because no
transit on Sunday. At Big Lots there was a 20% off everything sale as long as
you grabbed a coupon outside so I grabbed one and bought three blu-rays
including once I considered from last trip. I grabbed another coupon on leaving
as a souvenir. I also visited Rite Aid before leaving the Plaza for the McDonald’s
across the street, where I had dinner.
It started to rain before I reached Walgreen's and started
to come down harder as I reached downtown, so I cut things short, not wanting
to wreck my camera on the first day. I climbed the stairs by the not-open Port
Book and News from 1st St to 2nd, took a few photos from
the top of the hill, then continued on to Safeway then another Rite Aid before
returning to the hostel early to keep the camera safe.
Computer was slow to turn on and then connect to the
internet so if I do disappear for a few days, it's the connection. Some people saw a deer but I
didn't find out until it was gone.
[NOW: Addendum from day 3: At ToadLily hostel the sliding bathroom
door had a tendency to come off its rollers.]
[NOW: The mini-notebook worked the rest of the trip.]
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