Day 78 Bellingham 2nd Time
Trip Start
May 07, 2008
1
85
205
Trip End
Nov 22, 2008
Concrete,
Washington,
United States
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Well as indicated last entry we were heading back to a RV park we had previously stayed in, obviously we were happy with it otherwise we wouldn't have revisited this place.
We had a short sleep in and headed into Bellingham to the RV service shop and book a cab to take us "downtown" (we now know the routine or is it a tradition? Lol or when does a "routine become a "tradition"?) We end up in some familiar territory set off to ensure Karon is able to have her hair done.
We walk in and immediately she is recognised by both hairdressers "oh it is the Australian Lady" Karon must have made an impression, but then again why wouldn't she?
Yes they can fit her in, in half an hour, great time for a coffee, we found an "interesting" coffee shop incorporated in a Co- Op food shop.
When we say "interesting" to be served our coffee by a guy that is dressed in jeans that have dirt and grease marks makes it "interesting" to say the least.
Never mind it used up the time and Karon headed for her hair appointment, the boys set off to have some photo copying done and then to the post office. Who ever heard of a post office not opening until 11am, well we guess if you live in Bellingham you have!
Ok let us go to the info centre to obtain info about the area, oh gee the info centre in "downtown" is closed, but a sign and map directing us to the "other info centre"
Off the boys go, whoops wrong direction, back to verify (this time they both put their glasses on to enable them to read the map a little better). Off we go again and we walk and walk and walk and walk, after 1 mile we found the centre, gee manned by volunteers that really didn't even know there was another info centre "downtown" and one pushed a bunch of Lavender under Rick's nose "Do you have this in Australia, smell it isn't it beautiful?"
Have we travelled to another planet is the question in the boys mind!
Well at least they had rest rooms, they started the mile hike back and simultaneously agreed "at least it is down hill most of this way!
We called into check on Karon to be told "go away and come back in half an hour"
Oh boy, well at least the PO would be open this time.
We head to the PO and again it is the little fun things that happen that make this journey enjoyable.
A trip to the PO should be easy one would think, Well no!
Firstly Rick had to check the "type of envelope required to send to Aus priority post, no problem he was handed a priority envelope and told "blah, blah, blah" in rapid fire American language, He asked for an interpretation and was told, (as best as he could interpret)" fill in the too and from on the front and bring it back" Ok got that!
Now the envelope with its sealed contents is filled in with the "to and From bits on the front" Rick returns to the counter to find the woman has closed her counter (gee we opened at 11 am and it is now 11:30am must have been a busy half hour) but was directed to the guy next to her "He will have to serve you now"
Ok line up "he" finishes serving the guy in front of Rick, Rick fronts up, the guy turns sidways and proceeds to disassemble a machine. MMMM! Patiently waiting and observing, another person fronts up and the woman asks" is a question you want answered or what?" "I need a stamp" "That will be 42c and he will have to serve you"
Then she asks "have you the right change?" "I have .50c" she hands him the stamp takes the 2 qtrs and proceeds away from her counter to the guy in front of Rick. (meanwhile he is still wrestling with the machine in bits) opens the guys till, registers the stamp sale and hands the guy his change, THEN picks up Ricks envelope, looks at it and states" he will have to serve you when he has finished with the machine" and proceeds to walk back to her counter to play with a cardboard box!
Life is such a joy when you observe the little things J
Anyway the deal was done and the mail sent and the boys decided the half hour is up and head back to pick up Karon.
This time Earnie takes the option of sitting outside on the garden siding and Rick braves the hairdressing salon. Nope Karon is "out the back" oh well I will wait, eventually she turns up and the hairdresser also turns up and immediately asks Rick for some "insights" ( someone has been talking about him behind his back he "Thinks") anyway the job done and we head for some lunch, gee they serve big servings here when a simple thing like a hamburger comes with fries and stuff.
Grab a cab and head back to the Castle, that had been serviced and also a complimentary wash outside. Thank you to Vacationland RV service Bellingham and Jeff in particular, your service for us has been a wonderful experience, they had done the engine service, fixed the top hatch (a few loose pop rivets required putting in, and one guy suggested it might be better to replace the whole thing, UNTIL Earnie "explained" the procedure) as well as a good clean shining Castle. We are happy Travellers.
We set Mandy and away we went to travel around 50 miles to the next stop, being Grumpy creek RV park, a LONG walk (2.5 football fields at least unlit) to the washrooms (well appointed and clean at least) but a place to relax and recharge and decide where we might head. We had previously looked at the map and knew we wanted to head east and we chose the highway 20 over the Cascades, this park is a small dot on the map in a town called Concrete, along the 20.
