October 2nd

As we were getting ready to leave the hotel we made some pictures. One is of the water slide in the pool area. This should make the teenagers jealous! Great facility! Riding toward the ferry James spotted the “World Famous Gnome” and just had to get his picture with it. (He is really trying to find new friends on this trip.) We got to the ferry loading area and had to wait an hour and 20 minutes for the next sailing. As we waited I took a picture of some of the LARGE commercial vehicles waiting to board the SAME FERRY we were going to be on. It is unreal that the ferry can accommodate that many, and that type, vehicles. Once we approached the US border, we made a few pictures (me with the eagle at the duty free shop, the border gate (which states “BRETHERN DWELLING TOGETHER IN UNITY”), and the “Welcome to the United States” sign. I wonder about the sincerity of the “dwelling together in unity” sign. One of the news reports we heard while in Canada was about a town in Vermont which straddles the US and Canadian border. For years the townspeople have gone back and forth between the two countries to shop, visit relatives, and attend church. One of the men interviewed said that his brother lived on the other side of the road and that they were in separate countries. Within the past month, a border gate has been erected and now the people have to have passports and be cleared to go across the border. I know the world has changed since 9-11 and it appears the changes are hurting the innocent people even today! Enough on that subject - Another great sunset as we headed to Bellingham, WA for the night.