From Vancouver Island along the San Juan Islands to Seattle

Friday, 13th July

Since I wake up shortly after 6 o'clock, I get up before the alarm goes off and leave this strange accommodation at half past seven. At Tim Horton’s I get some oatmeal and a good coffee as well as one of the great yogurts and drive away from there at half past eight, fully fortified. Today, the Trans-Canada Highway No. 1 is my road - somewhere at the end I would reach Nikki's place near Toronto if I drive about 6,000 kilometers further.

Between Duncan and Victoria/Vancouver Island

But about 60km to Victoria are enough for me, where I turn onto the smaller Highway 17 to the north and after another 20km reach the small town of Sidney.

Dark black clouds hang over the sea. I see the check-in/departure facility in front of the ferry terminal, drive through the small town again because it's only 10:00 a.m. In a bakery, I get myself a cheese stick, although the strawberry and blueberry tarts look much more delicious...

It's empty at the ferry terminal and I can pay my remaining debt of 10 CAD for the ferry ticket I reserved months ago and roll up to passport control.

Entry into the USA at the ferry terminal in Victoria/Vancouver Island

In a mini wooden shack that looks more like a coffee drive-thru, there is an American sitting who now asks me how long I want to stay in the USA and is satisfied with my answer without asking about food or illnesses. The question about weapons that the Canadians asked me a week ago when I entered is of course completely irrelevant to the Americans.

90 minutes before the ferry departure, I am in my car in the queue and since the weather is getting more pleasant again, my blue beach chair is used for the last time here, much to the delight of the surrounding car drivers who sit in their hot cars or stand next to their cars while I sit comfortably in my folding chair next to my car and read.

At half past 11, the loading starts and I drive onto the ferry. Goodbye Canada!

I deliberately chose this ferry route because it is more beautiful and different from the one I chose last Saturday. Last week, I was looking for the fastest connection, but today I have time and have opted for a nicer route through the island world. The ride is truly fantastic.

Initially, there are still misty clouds over the water and you can see the blue water below the white cloud and the blue sky above it. However, the clouds may also be smoke from Siberia, as they are sometimes yellowish in color. Several sailboats are on their way between the small and smallest islands.

Mount Baker at a distance of 200km

The San Juan Islands are noble residential areas. There are houses that leave you speechless with their sheer size. Then Mount Baker majestically comes into view and this moment is announced by the Captain, so everyone with cameras goes into pole position. We are about 200 kilometers away from this colossus and therefore the view is not completely clear, but it is an impressive panorama.

At around 2 p.m., I arrive in Anacortes, Washington and thus back in the USA. Black clouds are moving in and lightning flashes in the distant mountains. Great! After exiting the ferry, there is another passport control. The woman here even wants to see the printed ESTA form! Good thing I did that, even though everywhere it says you don't need to print it. She asks how long I want to stay and then I can continue driving. Anacortes is quickly passed through. At a street corner at a fruit stand, I get a bowl of raspberries. Next to it is a type of berry that is a cross between raspberries and blueberries and almost twice the size of raspberries. I don't like the sample so much and I'm happy about raspberries that look like they were painted.

Between Anacortes and Seattle

Now it starts to rain - welcome to Evergreen State Washington! At Tulalip I leave Highway 5, about 50 miles north of Seattle. I quickly zoom through the outlet and consider whether I should buy new hiking shoes, but then decide on two t-shirts. At the car, I start rearranging all the clothes in the trunk to distribute them better across the two bags and weigh both on site. The one with wheels weighs 23 kilos, the other 16, so there is still room... but despite the lower weight, it is extremely difficult to maneuver. I pack three pants and a few t-shirts in my carry-on baggage, drive a few more miles to an outfitter, but they don't have really good hiking shoes either and decided to drive to Sea-Tac, where I will spend the night one last time. There is thunder, crashing, pouring rain, and lightning, and now I'm also stuck in traffic. I finally reach the hotel shortly after 7:00 p.m., check in, gather everything from the car, drag my stuff into the room, and go eat something. Then refuel and return the car. The woman is happy about my blue beach chair and the approximately 10 CDs I burned before the vacation. I walk to the hotel on foot, which is on the other side of the intersection.

At 9:30 p.m., I start packing again, so that both bags contain as many used clothes as possible and customs don't get any strange ideas...