B.C. to Eugene, OR

Mon, October 24th, drove to the Duke Point Ferry Terminal, arriving at 4 pm (after a two hour drive) and stayed at the side of the road until 10:40pm, after the last vehicle was

allowed through the gates.   Gates locked for the night until 5:15am when the first ferry leaves for Tsawwassen on the mainland and off we go to the border crossing, approximately 30 minutes south. 

Super tired, we parked at the repair shop we stop at when passing through, and headed out for dinner in Eugene (12 miles NW). 

8:15 pm and we are about a mile from our home base for the night and WHAM - someone rearended us!!!!   Got out, and an 18 yr old young male was sooooo apologetic, shook our hands and talked and talked.   He was turning left from the light at the exit from the overpass and said he was gawking at the smoke coming from the lumber yard, not paying attention, when his buddy said ' you're gonna hit them.' 

Fortunately, we have this kick-ass bike rack and with the low speeds from both vehicles and the fortune of his Toyota Corolla being low enough the bike rack put a nice square 'seal' into his bumper - everyone came out okay.   He gave us his #, his mom's insurance numbers etc... and wanted us to call him the next day to say everyone would be okay (or not).   He was very glad that no one was hurt and feels very stupid!  All turned out okay, no damage at all to our vehicle or the rack.

Above is a view from our front window at night ... the lumbermill across the way.   We stay in the parking lot of the repair shop smack dab in the middle of Eugene and Junction City (5,406 population).   Only part ordered this time was a ride-height valve, as a spare but was nice to see the owners again and "Stella" (their rescued pit), with "Buster" (the puppy pit rescued).   They are super friendly dogs - Stella decides to be a 'lap dog' whenever we come by - at about 90 lbs.

Found a fabulous spot to play with the dogs and practise some jumps; five fields (two track & field, one football/soccer field and two baseball fields and inbetween, large mowed fields on the sidelines where dogs run & play (no one around mid day).  This is the Junction City Secondary school yard!   Beautiful.

Banking issues:

So, a 29er Specialized bike purchase, some parts and a fork replacement (warranty recall issue- paid for) on my Bullet, Marc goes to the bike shop to pay on our U.S. visa. ... it gets locked out!   Prior to leaving each year, he spends over an hour talking with the visa representative to tell them the date we are leaving, that we ARE going to have some big purchases (fuel alone is a huge amount when driving the 45' bus south) . . . got through the truck stop this time but WHAM ... here he goes again.   An hour and a half at the bike shop, talking to Visa, trying to tell them it was US that made the purchases.   Even though we go through this and they PUT A NOTE on the computer stating we will be travelling and at first, spending big sums getting to where we are going (not to mention, buying huge amounts of groceries as we have to literally get rid of almost everything to cross the border from Canada (meat, rice, dog food with lamb or rice and no unopened dog food, fruits, veggies, eggs , etc)  .... the COMPUTER apparently can not pull up the notes and we are locked out.    

So, just a couple of our travel woes to start with but no major events at this point.   Junction City/Eugene has had much the same weather patterns as we have on Vancouver Island this spring & summer ...cool, WET and summer was mid Aug-mid Sept. 

Weather is getting warmer (15-18 c) and tomorrow, we leave Junction City to travel approx 6 hours to get to Corning, California.