Friday, May 26, 2023

Pacific Northwest Trip 2022 Day 16 August 1 Seattle, Bainbridge Island, Poulsbo, Port Townsend, Discovery Bay, Sequim, Port Angeles, Victoria

 

This is the 16th and final part in a series of posts covering my trip to the US Pacific Northwest in 2022, adapting emails originally sent to friends. I use NOW to refer to any updates since I did the trip.

 

Last night one of the Green Tortoise Hostel workers printed out the ArriveCAN code. Someone outside was talking throughout much of the night. When I checked out they said that breakfast would be ready in 20 minutes but I was worried about missing my ferry. I did a final visit with Rachel the Pig at Pike Place Market and then walked to Seattle Ferry Terminal (for Washington State Ferries). I missed the first of two ferries I could have taken but made the second. The ferry terminal didn't have a dining area due to construction, and the dining area on the ferry was closed. I took the ferry to Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal, Bainbridge Island.

 

[NOW: At the time, it was mandatory for people visiting or returning to Canada to fill in vaccination details in advance in ArriveCan to enter the country.]

 

Probably due to more construction, foot passengers had to leave the ferry via the car desk. I took a 390 bus (formerly 90; Kitsap Transit) to North Viking Transit Center in Poulsbo. The ride was free due to the ORCA reader not working. I took a 7 bus (Jefferson Transit; free due to the pandemic) to Haines Park & Ride in Port Townsend. There's a McDonald's very close but I didn't want to risk missing my connection. The 8 bus (Jefferson Transit) soon arrived. There was a large stretch of construction starting around Discovery Bay and in that stretch cars on both sides of the road had to use the same side of the road and thus were taking turns. So it took an hour to get through what should have been a five minute stretch. I had thought of taking the Strait Shot bus but given its later departure I would have missed my ferry if I had.

 

[NOW: The 123 Strait Shot bus is Clallam Transit.]

 

At Sequim Transit Center in Sequim, I got off and walked to a McDonald's a few blocks away. Too late for hash rooms but got a bacon and egg biscuit at least. I returned to the transit center I caught a 30 Commuter bus (Clalllam Transit) to Gateway Transit Center, Port Angeles; along the way in Carlsborg I passed the private road My Way, so your options there are literally My Way or the highway. I got a couple comic trades from First Street Outlet, then took the Coho Ferry (Black Ball Transport) back to Victoria; I ran out of time to check the exchange rate so I guessed 133%. I made it home okay. Most of the rest of the day is beyond the scope of these trip reports, However, I did let myself crash a bit at Thetis Lake and was feeling pretty relaxed until someone asked the police to speak to me. I can't win there: if I'm feeling anxious on the beach, someone will sic the police on me. If I'm feeling too relaxed, someone will sic the police on me.

 

[NOW: I have Asperger’s and am prone to anxiety attacks. Thetis Lake is in View Royal but still Greater Victoria.]

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