Sammelsurium or simply "Stuff" volume 7

Canadians have far more in common with Europeans than Americans do. The Canadians are super dog friendly - today Nera was more than welcome at the Cowpucino in Prince Rupert while Joe & I had a latte this morning.

As of today I have embraced the fact that we have zero privacy & zero personal space as long as we are traveling in the Earth Roamer. The unsolicited helpful hints & unrequested advice is enough to kill both of us.

Not to offend anyone, but Canadian RV parks are so much better than the average US RV park. They are cleaner, the employees are more engaged etc.

While in Port Hardy, Joe and I killed some time at coffee shop. There were two older men sitting out in front while we were there. It was so cute to hear them discussing books, movies, travel plans etc. It was only when they started commenting on the nice looking women walking past that I felt uncomfortable. Here I was in my new look - un-ironed, travel clothing etc. - I was now officially invisible. Awful.

While in Sayward, BC Joe & I went grocery shopping. There we met a man that has been going to Fasnacht in Lucerne for the past 30 years!!!! And he isn't Swiss. Somewhere along the way he met a man who is the Zunftmeister there and visits with him each year. He couldn't stop raving about how great Switzerland is. We truly live in a global village.

Joe (& I have to admit me) & his / our technicolor dream coats

Life traveling in an RV is not easy. It is truly a learning experience - what do I need, what kind of clothes should I be wearing etc. As you can imagine, our wardrobes are ever evolving. I now have a red all weather jacket, a pink water resistant jacket, a black wind breaker jacket, a fuscia wind blocking fleece jacket and I'm sure this isn't the end. Joe has a black wind blocking jacket, a brown "dry as a bone jacket", a cheap grey windbreaker from Victoria BC, a green fleece vest AND a light tan golf jacket. Still we do not have all bases covered! Add to this the fact that normal clothes can't be cared for as required so we are constantly buying new pieces of easy care travel clothes. Pretty soon we will only be wearing safari pants and no iron clothes.......

German Engineering

During my ongoing struggle to determine just exactly how one conducts themselves at an RV site, I have gone to the showers fully clothed (not really an option) or in my pajamas covered by a fleece jacket (also a little weird). However, during our stay at the Crystal Cove in Tofino, British Columbia, I reached enlightenment. I met some fellow RV guests from Germany & they simply went to the showers in their bathrobes wearing shower shoes. Eureka! This is the way to do it. Joe & I went to the local Walmart pronto & now are the proud owners of bathrobes. Vielen Dank to our fellow travelers!!

Funny things observed along the way

I saw a woman wearing a t-shirt that said "Me. Just like you, only better". I have to admit I found this funny and have to give her credit for having the guts to wear it.

In Castle Rock,Washington I went into a gas station mini-mart where I was waited on by an extremely uninterested woman. There on the counter was a tip jar with a sign that said "Tip me a dollar and I'll pretend to care about what you have to say". What?!?! Where do you get the guts to put that out at your workplace? There was also money in the jar........ I probably should have paid the dollar.

Lastly, we went into a restaurant in Pacific Beach, Washington. There they had a sign that said "Parents, watch your own kids. We don't want them running around". I bet there is a more diplomatic way to get the intended message across.

Shuckers Seattle, unlike Schmuckers, doesn't have to be good

When we arrived in Seattle last Thursday Joe & I were looking forward to a nice evening. Just across the street from our hotel was the Shuckers restaurant in the Fairmont Hotel. After getting Nera settled in our hotel room, we went over to have dinner. After being seated our waiter brought over the menus. After what seemed like an eternity, our waiter came over & took Joe's appetizer order and then walked away leaving the menus on the table. When he didn't come back to take my order, I called him over. He seemed surprised that I also wanted to order something. Then, when we wanted to order wine, he launched into his own personal story. He said he doesn't drink much and tended only to drink when his wife was away. And boy does he drink when she away - during he duration of this story which he seemed to find hilariously funny he kept loudly laughing. Bizarre. After we had selected a bottle of wine, our waiter went on to say it wasn't a wine that "he would have selected". My first thought was "Who asked you?" We went on to order our meals and he suggested that I have my filet butterflied. I said okay & the orders were placed. Well imagine my surprise when our waiter brought my filet to me - not butterflied - and said "I guess the kitchen forgot to butterfly your steak". Really, no crap Sherlock. I decided not to complain - that is until the maitre d stopped by. He asked if everything was okay & I said not quite. I told him about the filet not being served butterflied even though this was what the waiter had suggested. Imagine my surprise when he indicated I could have sent it back. So I then told him that I don't work for the restaurant and that it was up to the waiter to make sure that my order was filled as requested - especially when he had made a specific suggestion. Bitching, complaining earned me the big hairy eyeball from all staff involved. My response you ask? Tough crap. In the end they silently comped my meal - zero style people.

Not trying to be a downer

During our recent visit to Seattle, I was struck by the large number of what appeared to be long-term homeless on the streets - they were simply everywhere. We had had a similar experience when we were in San Francisco a year ago but still it was shocking and depressing. Every morning when I took the dog out for a walk I was confronted by four or five people sleeping on each and every block. The helplessness I felt at not being able to do much for these people was deeply depressing and overwhelming. Plus I felt awful for having a comfortable life while they had nothing. I just wish that all politicians that are currently discussing cutting Medicare, reducing government programs could walk a mile in these people's shoes. They are at the bottom and can't go any lower - how will they survive? In a similar vein,it is sad that people like Jeff Bridges have to publicize a program that provides food for poor children during the summer months when they don't particate in school lunch programs. Where does the government think these children get fed? For such a wealthy country it's sad to see certain segments of the population be abandoned.

Here in the US, it's not a dog's life

The subject of dogs is a relatively schizophrenic one in the US. I have had multiple people tell me that they prefer four-legged "children" to the two-legged ones. I want to go on record and say that I do not consider my dog to be my child. However for a country that seems to be full of people who love dogs, the freedom of these animals is extremely limited. We don't need to go down the road of why dogs aren't allowed in restaurants or on restaurant patios again. However is it necessary to ban dogs from trails in the national parks and forests? As pets are allowed into these areas in vehicles, what do the individuals in charge expect one to do with their pet when visiting such places? The policy doesn't seem logical or humane to me. The problems encountered with dogs seem to originate at the other end of the leash.

Speaking of leashes, we had a problem at an RV park recently. While we were getting set up, Nera was off her leash sitting next to the picnic table. All of the sudden the park "host", a woman about 75, came out of her RV and yelled "Get that dog on a leash". No "Excuse me your dog needs to be on a leash"' or "I just want to remind you that our policy requires your dog to be on a leash" etc. We were wrong but how about a little civility or style? Plus if you want to be a host, you might want to try a little politeness. Goes a long way.