Today I fired up the BMW 2002 and left Tacoma in the early morning light, heading north over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. And just before noon, I motored carefully onto the "Coho" (see www.cohoferry.com) for the 90 minute sailing across the Strait of Juan de Fuca from Port Angeles, WA to Victoria, British Columbia.
But surprise, surprise: the car I drove onto the ferry was NOT the '02. What???
'Tis true. Long story shortened: 15 miles north of Tacoma, the engine temperature on the '02 began to creep unexpectedly to the 'red' zone... so I doubled back to retrieve another ancient Euro-sedan, my '92 Volvo 240 -- the quintessential Swedish "brick". I managed to arrive at the Port Angeles ferry docks in time to drive aboard, itinerary intact... 'tho with fewer automotive adventures ahead. Probably a good thing.
It was a glorious day to depart Washington by ferry. Northwest writer Ivan Doig talks about this coastal stretch, this "national extremity, the coastal sill where the land mass has wrested itself from the sea. Out here is the American shore at its most remote, dangling like a coarse fringe from the huge cape where the Strait of Juan de Fucca angles into the continent." And on the other side: Canada, and my Monday night destination, a campsite at Cowichan River Provincial Park, about 40 miles northwest of Victoria.
This message was posted at Hillary's Fine Cheeses, a charming deli in the little waterfront hamlet of Cowichan Bay (see photo.) Owner Hillary (1st male I've met with this name) provided bread, cheese, and a blogging spot. And now on to Cowichan River Provincial Park for the next 2 days, 2 nights.
