My Summer Road-trip - part 1 

(it gets more exciting as days go on, trust me)

note: pictures are taken with mom's phone, my little camera, and mom's camera... 

Do you think I love road-trips during my summer vacation? Well, I will let you be the judge.. :) 

Missing any school though is out of the question, so it must take place during my days off. :) 

Mom planned this trip months out, of course, with my help. For days, we planned the trip, talked about it, I was so excited. Opps, almost forgot to tell you that I had to apply for my passport. I loved helping mom filling out my application. Then I took my application to the USPS (Mom said I acted like a mature, big girl) and they took my photo. Mom really should of figured out how to do the photo. My photo didn't turn out very good, but it will do for now. (Mom can't find the photo of me with my application and going to USPS. :( Sorry about that.

Then things calmed down, and the excitement disappeared, but that was okay because I was so busy with school and other life stuff. I am mentioning this because once again my body expressed the level of excitement through tremors, confirming again what Dr. Goldie mentioned last fall. Mom knows that this is just me expressing myself, and doesn't need medical attention. Speaking of health, seizures, etc - I am doing GREAT! Mom keeps figuring things out for me to keep me from getting sick - I love it! I do have to say though that sometimes she is just a little too overprotective. 

Well, it was a week in a half before it was time for us to leave on our trip when we had car trouble, so it went into the shop. Mom mentioned how important it was to have our car back by closing time on July 29th as we were wanting to leave on July 30th (a day earlier than planned to help break up the drive). So mom was uptight, worried the whole week because our first half of the trip couldn't be changed. (I was not going to miss the fireworks show on Aug 3rd, so we had to stay on schedule) The Friday before the Monday we needed it back, we were told the car would be ready to pick up by closing time on Monday. :) YAY! 

Monday evening, mom got a call from my TCRC case worker letting mom know she needed to come out and do the yearly home visit by the end of the week. I guess it didn't surprise mom that once again, the case worker waited til the last minute to schedule (two days before her report was due). So, the morning we were wanting to leave on our trip, we had to meet with my case worker. It turned out to be a three hour meeting instead of just 30 minutes, which delayed us. 

Mom has difficulty crossing the border making her nervous especially this time with all my medical stuff. It has been over ten years since I have been to Canada, and it was easier then, plus we flew. So she decided to re-do a lot of the packing to make sure it was per guidelines, and to make it as easy as possible for patrols to go through, and maybe even help prevent them from thinking they needed to search everything thoroughly. Despite this delaying us even more, it gave me plenty of time to watch a lot of my programs on TV since I knew I wouldn't be watching much on our trip. I was having fun, but so ready to get on the road. 

We had to run a few errands before leaving town. We finally got on the road at 4:30p.m., so we drove to Soledad, California for the night staying in a place we just found earlier this year that we like. Much better than staying in Salinas. And both places are super windy no matter when you visit the towns, or drive through.  

This photo was not taken this evening, but on another day during the road trip. Mom didn't have one from this drive. 

After a good nights sleep, mom felt so much better, more relaxed. Of course, I was up early (rooster time) as I was so excited, high as a kite to finally be on the road again. :) I love listening to my CD's. Yep, I picked out my CD's, and listen to them all the time. Just don't ask mom how she likes them. :) I also have a list of CD's I want. :) 

We drove to San Francisco, stopping at the zoo for a long break. It was cold, breezy, high fog that it made for a shorter break (2 hours) than we planned. 

I couldn't believe how big Jillian; the tiger cub is already, and not even a year old yet, just barely 6 months old. I love her name though. Mom didn't get any photos of her as her and her mom were sound asleep in the far back area. 

Mom was really hoping to see the baby Gorilla, but they were staying inside, choosing not to come outside. I don't blame them, it was cold! See how I was all bundled up. Mom just took my gloves off as we were back at the car. 

I was so happy to be back on the road (why the break, who knows),

there is a smudge I just put on my glasses so... 

 but now in traffic! Ugh. Mom forgot about SF downtown traffic and going over the Bay bridge into Oakland.

 Slow traffic over a huge bridge in California (earthquake state), just not a good idea! However, the sun was out, and the temps started to rise again. We drove to Redding, California, staying there for the night where it was 100 degrees. We went from 72 to 57 to 100 degrees in one day.  

The next morning we were up early hoping to, well mom was hoping to get some nice morning photos of Mt Shasta, not knowing there was going to be thick haze from the fires in Oregon (didn't know about the fires either). The haze was so thick you could just barely see the outline of Mt Shasta. Mom just thought it was haze, but in less than 20 minutes, mom realized it was smoke. 

The drive got more intense before it was enjoyable again. The smoke was so thick, ashes everywhere plus fog. At one point, coming down the pass with narrow, windy lanes mom could hardly see in front of her all she wanted to do was come to a complete stop.  It was a super slow journey. Mom was concern about me, but I was fine! I was listening to my music (my CD's), laughing, smiling, looking all around and playing my toy, but she was concerned about my respiratory system. Mom turned the a/c on high, had the inside air moving, which she always has on, and she pulled over to start my treatment. It was time anyway. These conditions lasted a little more than two hours. The next pass; Grants pass wasn't as bad, but still.  Mom had to stop in Ashland for gas. The smoke was to the ground, thick, gray / reddish / orange color. Mom could hardly breathe outside getting gas (well paying for it as your not allowed to put gas in your car in Oregon), and she was really careful opening the door. We were suppose to stay in Springfield, OR, but didn't because of the smoke, so we kept driving. We finally got out of the smoke, drove 30 minutes to a small town where we took a 2 hour break, hanging out in the car. You couldn't really smell any smoke, but it was foggy, cold and windy. 

I was doing so good, that mom decided to get through Portland before we stopped for the night, which we did in Vancouver, Washington. 

Wow, we were in three states in one day. That is pretty cool! 

Our hotel room had a roll in shower, so mom grabbed my beach lounge chair out of the car and gave me a bath/shower. I loved it. 

After my nice bath, I was able to watch some of my favorite programs / movies on my iPad since the hotel didn't have many channels that I liked. I am so glad mom brought my iPad. Although, I do have my portable TV/DVD player, but its so much easier to just bring my iPad. Plus, who knows where it would of gone in the car for this trip. Our car is PACKED FULL! :) But, I definitely need more programs on my iPad. :) I am liking so many these days. :) (iCarly, Victorious, Shake It UP, Sponge Bob, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Teen Beach Movie, etc) I must be a teenager! 

We were able to sleep in since we were ahead of schedule. I wasn't crazy about that idea, but mom made me. Today we were driving to Port Angeles to stay there for the night since we had a ferry to catch the following morning. Today was not flexible - we had a hotel reservation that couldn't be canceled/changed, and a ferry reservation with same conditions the following morning. Plus I really needed to be in Victoria the following night to see the fireworks, so we had to make sure we stayed on track.  

The first hour of our drive was sunny with white fluffy clouds.. It was gorgeous, but then we hit rain and more rain and more rain.

Mom was hoping to see a rainbow, but that wasn't going to happen with gloomy, gray skies the whole way to Port Angeles. We took a couple of breaks, but had to stay in the car since it was so muddy, wet and rainy outside. 

The drive up the 101 along Puget Sound was lovely, even with the gloom. I can only imagine how pretty it is with sun.

On our way, we took a slight detour through the Dungeness wildlife refuge. We didn't get out of the car and walk the trail since it was so muddy and still raining, but mom did get a photo of these deer. 

We arrived in Port Angeles that evening. We drove to the ferry terminal to make sure we knew where we were going the following morning. That wasn't difficult to find with it being such a small town, plus the signs were decent. Mom re-packed some of the bags, made sure everything was in order for border crossing the next morning. While she did all that, I watched TV, the actual hotel TV with Mickey and Cubby. Yep, I forgot to mention that Mickey and Cubby are with me. Ya know, they go almost everywhere with me, well not school unless its a special day.

We had to be up early the next morning, which I ended up not being a morning person. I think the change in weather made me tired, plus the driving, but mostly I just needed some extra sleep that morning since I knew I would be out late that evening!

 Mom got us loaded, down to the dock to check-in for the ferry over to Victoria, B.C. It was a chilly, foggy morning. Mom was hoping it would be clear and sunny, but we can't always have beautiful weather. At least it wasn't windy and raining. 

Mom couldn't drive our car on to the ferry. The Coho ferry is smaller than the BC/WA ferries, so the employee had to drive it on, then off in Victoria. Mom and I got to walk on with everyone else. It was a smaller ferry than the ones I have been on before. Can you see how cold it is in the picture of me? 

This isn't the ferry, just another boat in the Port Angeles harbor. Looking behind us as we leave Port Angeles. 

The crossing was an hour in a half over to Victoria, B.C. 

Mom brought me outside a few minutes before we docked. 

We were escorted out to our car, got in our car and drove up to the border patrol gate. The lady was so nice. She asked mom some questions, mom introduced me, and the lady let us in. Thank goodness she didn't have a computer to scan our passports as I am sure that would of triggered a secondary screening. Our ferry left Port Angeles at 8:15a.m., and we were at our hotel in Victoria, B.C. at 10:30a.m. That was soooo COOL, and so easy! Mom said, "this is the way to do it". 

We checked in at our hotel, but we couldn't get our room until much later in the day. Darn. So, mom and I went for a walk along the waterfront which was only a block from our hotel. It was chilly, but not too bad. We got to the waterfront just in time to watch our ferry leave Victoria.  

Lots of sea planes (float planes), wildlife boat tours went by us too. 

We walked along the waterfront to Fisherman's Wharf where we had lunch. 

Fisherman's Wharf was a neat little wharf. There were businesses, but also homes (dock homes). Well, I am really not sure what they are called, but they were cute. 

We then walked back to the hotel. Still couldn't get our room, so we decided to head up to Buchart Gardens, taking the scenic route since we had some time. 

We read that we should be at the gardens by 4p.m. to get a parking spot, and reserve a spot to watch the fireworks that evening, so we got there about 3p.m. 

Well, the parking lot was practically empty - lots of parking spaces left. Their disabled parking spots are definitely different than ours. The spots to park in are larger, but there is no room next to any of the spots for ramps, so that was a challenge. 

I have the tickets, information and map. 

Buchart Gardens started as a tea garden in 1907, growing from there reaching 55 acres. It is a gorgeous setting with so many colors from flowers and trees blooming. There are several cafe's, carousel, stage for entertainment, and the lake for light shows including the fireworks. 

The weather was gorgeous. Sunny and warm. Much warmer than in Victoria. We spent a few hours walking around one area of the gardens before finding a spot to watch the fireworks. 

Once we found our spot, we put a blanket down to let others know that was our spot.  Our friends put their chairs down next to us. We then hung out on our blanket to rest and just chill for a while. 

Then we walked around some more in the areas we had yet to explore. Before heading back to our fireworks spot, we listened to the entertainment. I was having such a great time, and the weather continued to be perfect. 

 

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The fireworks started at 9:30p.m.. for 30 minutes. I think I was overwhelmed from the noise and so many fireworks, light shows going off, but it really was cool. The best I have ever seen!

There were so many going off up high, middle, and on the water
that it was hard to get it all in the scene. 

Okay.. you will have to forgive mom, but she made the mistake of not refreshing herself with taking photos of fireworks, so they didn't come out all that great. 

You will just have to take my word on how GREAT the show is, 

and I highly recommend it if your ever in Victoria during the summer months! 

When it was over, it was so hard to believe it was 30 minutes long. It was so good, it went by so fast. People that live on the island go

to the show all the time because its that good. I want to go back. It was LATE when we got back to the hotel. We had to unpack the car and get settled in. I think it was about midnight when we went to bed. It didn't take me long to go to sleep.

We had to get up early the next morning for a whale watch trip out of Victoria, just a 1/2 mile down the waterfront from our hotel. Well, we thought it was at Fisherman's Wharf, a little over a mile or so from our hotel, but since we couldn't find it there, we asked someone and they told us its in the inner harbor across from the Empress, which was about a 1/2 mile from our hotel in the opposite direction. Mom definitely got her exercise that morning. It was so humid that 60 degrees felt like 90. We finally arrived at the boat, which then we spoke with Trev before we headed up to the office to speak with Andrew. We decided not to go out whale watching that morning since it was going to be more of a "finding wildlife" trip as no reports were in yet. The Southern Resident Orcas hadn't been in the area for almost two weeks (extremely rare for this time of year). The Transients hadn't been in the area for several days, so they were seeing Humpbacks and Minke's, which mom could see back here at home. Due to the complex of getting me on the boat, we all decided we would just wait to hear if Orcas were around for the trip later in the day and go out then. Well, we ended up not going out at all with Five Star Whale Watching. That was okay because I was so tired, that I just needed a slow day.

A small corner of the inner harbour near downtown Victoria.

You can't expect mom to just walk by and not take a picture of these Orcas.. 

 Mom and I walked around downtown to do some shopping, sightseeing and have lunch. There were so many people everywhere. Apparently, some events were going on that weekend. Mom was hoping to get some photos of the Parliament Building at dusk, but there was entertainment and fireworks show over the harbor that evening that everyone was camping out on the grass in front of the building, so that didn't work out. That just means we will have to go back. :) 

We went back to the hotel early to relax and hang out for a while. Then we decided to take a drive, possibly out to Fisguard lighthouse that was about 15 minutes outside of Victoria. We found an area across from it that mom could take some photos. I loved all the birds as they were being silly making all these noises that made me giggle. Since sunset was so late, we only stayed an hour or so before heading back to our hotel. 

Fisguard Lighthouse

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That night, we were laying in bed and could see and hear the fireworks going off over the harbor. It was cool (I was wishing the weather was cooler as it was still very hot, and hotels on Vancouver Island don't believe in air conditioners or fans). Mom took a picture through the window with my camera. She realized she should of used my camera the night before at the firework show. :)

We slept in, had a good breakfast at the hotels restaurant and walked down to the Parliament Building area before checking out of our hotel. Mom wanted to get a horse carriage in front of the parliament building, which she kind of got this morning. It isn't the best photo, but it will show you what she was after.

Today we were heading up to Campbell River, several hours north of Victoria, B.C.. 

Taken along our drive from Victoria to Campbell River. Mt Rainier is in the far distance. 

The weather was great in Campbell River; 70's, sunny, no wind. And it was so nice to be out of the big city. :) We checked in to our hotel that was right on the water before going for a walk. How could you not go for a walk with this kind of weather??

We found this small park along the path that had all these wood carvings. Apparently, it was a town contest, but didn't realize it til days later when we saw a few of them in town at businesses. We got there just in time. :) 

While walking we had this gorgeous view of Discovery Passage, a passage that is off of Campbell River with Quadra Island on the other side of it. 

Just before sunset, mom took this photo from the parking lot just below our room. We watched the sunset, Harbour Seals playing, and Dalls Porpoises pass by that evening. 

This is just the beginning of our trip.. Lots of GREAT stuff coming, so keep your eye out for them. :) 

Love,
Kayla