Road Trippin' 2013 (Vancouver, BC and Washington State)

 

A Facebook memory popped up from eight years ago, one of those epic road trips that the kids and I took back in 2013 to Vancouver, BC. We searched out some wacky sights and had some fun over those two weeks that I want to share with you. Our first stop was three hours away in Zillah, Washington where we visited the Church of God Zillah.

I feel pretty pleased that we got these pictures, because the church’s cretaceous mascot was removed a couple of years ago. Jesus Saves but He also knows when to move along when the chicken wire gets too rusty.

Zillah is also home to the one-and-only Teapot Dome Gas Station. This is a former gas station shaped like a teapot. Because, DUH. What else would it be? Remember that this was way back in 2013 when my kids thought it was not entirely horrifying to act out “I’m a Little Teapot” in front of a public gas station. So cute.

On our way to Yakima, we stopped at Dinosaur Town in Granger, Washington. This is a park with large dinosaur sculptures and bathrooms that are encased in concrete volcanos.....so you can go there if you need to make an explosion, I guess? It was way too dark to see much by the time we got there. We were swarmed by about a million mosquitos the moment we hopped out of the car. I snapped this quick picture before we ran screaming and waving our arms back to the safety of our Suburban.

The next day we headed to Dick and Jane’s Spot in Ellensburg, Washington. These artists just went all out on their property and graciously share their art with the community. There was so much to look at and admire. It gave us all the feels.

That afternoon, we had reservations for a Chimposium at Central Washington University where chimpanzee sign language was studied. We met Tatu, Dar, and Louli, the three resident chimpanzees. We learned about the development and study of sign language in animals. We also learned that the weekend we visited was the very last time these Chimposiums would be offered at CWU.

In the next days, Tatu, Dar, and Louli would be moved to a sanctuary. The folks there clearly loved animals and believed in their work. In recent years it became clear that a study facility, no matter how stimulating and well-kept, was not an adequate accommodation for such intelligent and social creatures.

The docents gave us the news before we headed in to meet the chimps. We were instructed not to speak about the impending relocation, because the chimps had not been told yet. We were advised to mind our emotions and to try not to exude anxiety or sadness because the chimps are very perceptive. This is probably not unlike how our dogs always know before we're going on a vacation and shit all over the house the day before we leave. I feel really fortunate to have had this up-close experience and also really encouraged that some humans are humbly recognizing that many animals are never meant to be confined by us.

There is a sculpture of a chimp named Washoe in the city of Ellensburg. Washoe was the first chimp to learn sign language and spent most of her life at CWU. She learned over 350 words and taught sign language to Loulis, who we met at the Chimposium. On this day, Washoe taught my kids how to sign “friend.”

Heading back to the I-5 toward Vancouver, BC we stumbled upon a cute red barn called Cedardale Orchards in Mount Vernon, WA.

 

Since apple season hadn’t begun yet, the store was unmanned. (Is there a better way to say “unmanned” these days? Un-personed? Un-mxnned??) There was a fridge full of cold cider and a sign requesting that you to please pay for any cider you take. So refreshing on many levels!

 

I planned to stop in Bellingham, Washington before crossing the US/Canadian border. I wanted to bring the kids to the Spark Museum of Electrical Invention where they might have a chance to experience a Faraday Cage and see an old-timey switchboard. But alas, the museum was closed on Mondays, which I thought was a real bummer at the time. But looking back from 2020 and 2021, I suppose that a business having a planned closure one day a week ain’t no big thang compared to indefinite closures for over a year.

via GIPHY

It took us for-EH-verrrr to get across the Canadian border. Good thing we stopped for lunch and potty breaks in Bellingham! After finally arriving in Vancouver, we spent a few days with my parents, sister, brother, and their families. We celebrated Alex’s 16^th birthday and my little niece, Hayley’s 5^th birthday. It is pretty special that my sister’s and my firstborns share the same birthday.

Later that week, Albert took the Amtrak up to meet us for a couple of days in Vancouver and then a road trip home. Of course, one of our first goals is to eat our way through any town we visit. We experienced the Night Market where we enjoyed a Malaysian cendol, which is a coconutty shave ice with pandan-flavored grass jelly. Delish.

The kids also got their first taste of fried squid tentacles, which I just thought my children needed to try at least once in their lives.

 

These Hurricane Potatoes are classic US State Fair food, but they seemed to taste extra delicious in the wee hours of the night on the northern side of the border!

 

We took a super fancy afternoon tea. In classic Fu-Style dressed in t-shirts and shorts. The Queen would cringe, but who cares. She’s not the boss of me.

At Costco we learned a bit of Canadian culture: those Canucks love their Nutella! High Nutella consumption likely contributes to their generally sunny dispositions.

 

On our walk along the waterfront we encountered a fisherman who offered us a free taste of his fresh uni (sea urchin) and presented it to use like a gigantic bump of cocaine.

 

The Capilano Suspension Bridge felt like walking on treetops.

We visited Olympic Village where the 2010 Olympics were hosted. As we peered through the glass, a badged employee was kind enough to let us into the training facility which was our first up-close experience with a real rowing tank. We spent an afternoon touring the beautiful campus of the University of British Columbia. What a different frame of mind we all were in just eight short years ago!

Our stay in Vancouver ended with a Grouse Grind. This is a 2.9k (1.8mi) hike up the face of Grouse Mountain is also referred to as “Mother Nature’s Stairmaster.” With 2,830 steps we gained 2,800 feet of elevation in the short span of 45 (Alex) to 90 (Your guess) minutes. I feel really proud and grateful that our family is healthy and strong enough to “enjoy” these activities together.

On our way home, we tried to visit the Kangaroo Farm in Arlington, Washington, about two hours away from Vancouver. Apparently kangaroos go to bed early and we were too late after The Grind. One of these days, I’ll get back there.

In Mukilteo, Washington, we toured the Boeing factory and then stopped by Dillon Works to see the big paper airplane.

 

And the pterodactyl holding a pencil.

 

From there we he spent a couple of days in Seattle where we got our requisite fill of Theo chocolate. Theo offers fair-trade, organic, DELICIOUS chocolates in creative flavors as well as a great tour and all the free samples you can eat! I was excited to bring the fam to see the Giant Shoe Museum. While I have no regrets that we found it, I was expecting much more than a panel of wall with four peep holes from which you could spy some big-ass shoes.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation tour taught us lessons on compassion, hope, and a positive use of power. On our way out of Seattle, we stopped in the little town of Tukilwa where we did some iFly indoor sky diving. Man, that was FUN, and I highly recommend trying this at least once.

After that excitement, we stopped by Auburn, Washington to visit the Banana Museum, but it was closed on Sundays. What is one to to do on a Sunday when one needs to know more about the history of bananas??

via GIPHY

We stopped in Centralia, Washington where we saw the 24-foot pencil.

And then headed to Winlock where we were disappointed by the “World’s Largest Egg.” It wasn’t really an egg at all but a giant ellipsoid of fiberglass.

 

This giant rooster was not about to put up with any Fus dissing his big, fake egg and chased us out of town.

 

These adventures are always fun to look back on. I’m so grateful that my family is (mostly) willing to go along with my crazy shenanigans. And it’s always so good to be back home.

I wish you a week of wholesome delights! Thank you for reading!