Vancouver->Seattle

Today was my last in Vancouver.  I took my morning run and breakfast, then did some work on my computer in my hotel room.  At 11:15 AM, I boarded a bus for Seattle.  The bus was nice, and was fully equipped with a good WiFi, so I got some more chores done on the three hour ride.  We had to fully unload at the US border and go through customs.  Once in Seattle, around 4:00 PM, I took a cab to the ferry pier, where the view below was to be had.

View from ferry pier in Seattle

 Following a nice snack of very tasty spring rolls, I boarded the ferry for nearby Bainbridge Island

View of Seattle from the Bainbridge ferry

I was met at the terminus by Chris and Lucy Hanacek, who drove me to their nearby home, where cousin Margaret had prepared a cookout dinner in the backyard of their beautiful house.  We were joined by Chris's uncle, "Cowboy Jack". Following dinner, we recessed to nearby Bloedel Reserve, a park focused around an English-style country home with manicured gardens.  Here is Team Hanacek in the Reserve.

Lucy, Charlie, Margaret, Chris, and Cowboy Jack 

Here are some manicured lawns.

Manicured lawn and manor house at Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Island

Here is your correspondent with the Puget Sound in the background.

The author at Bloedel Reserve

The Reserve featured lively entertainment from the "Dusty 45s" a local band who will be touring nationally with the singer "Adele" soon.  They craft a Buddy Holly/Ventures sound with some original material, mainly highlighted by an aggressive trumpet sound from their lead singer, who hails from an Illinois farm in Carlyle, IL, attended Illinois State University, and is well acquainted with your correspondent's home town of Wapella, Illinois.  Here, the Dusty 45s are in action with a flaming trumpet.

Dusty 45s on fire on Bainbridge Island