Lumpy-Alaska Highway-2004 Thumbnails

Boarding the M/V Columbia: Aug 13

Comments: I met up with my friends John, Johnny and Mary (Johnny's Mom) at the KOA in Burlington, WA this morning, where I had spent the night. From there, I rode Chuckanut Drive to Bellingham with my friends following in their rented mini-van. (John was to have been on his 98 Heritage riding along with me on this trip, but the bike was stolen outside his motel room while he slept in CO, on his way to Sturgis).
At Bellingham the four of us had a nice Italian lunch and espressos at a sidewalk cafe, and then we headed for the Ferry Terminal just a few blocks away. John and I got our boarding papers and I put my bike in line to be inspected by the customs fellows (they use dogs to check for drugs, explosives and guns). After being cleared, the vehicles started being called into the hull of the ship one at a time. My bike was one of the last in, and once I got the bike tied down, John and I climbed the steps to the purser's office and got our cabin assignment and keys. After settling in, I went for a walk around the ship and took a few pictures before departure at 6:00pm.

The flower arrangement that appears to be on top of Johnny's head is an illusion and I promise it was unintentional...(snicker snicker)