Oh, that guy. The one who ate my cyclinder head gasket at the Canadian border! Well, now I’m in Blaine, WA, parked at the RiteAid. Hopefully I can stay here all night w/o problem. Since tomorrow is Easter, I’ll probably have to wait until Monday to order parts. Then, I need to find a place to fix it. What does this do to my schedule? I believe I’m in need of a new one. It’s unlikely that I can make it to Valdez in time to catch my ferry if I stay here and wait for parts. I’m thinking of possibilities:

1. If parts are available in Bellingham or Seattle, rent a car and go get them
2. Sell this thing to the first person that makes an offer, and buy another vehicle
3. Buy another vehicle and park this
4. Park this and catch a plane

Any ideas from the audience? I’m open to suggestions.

On the positive side, I’m very happy, there’s a rainbow overhead, and the small town I’m stranded in has a really neat looking harbor that I’m about to go explore! Things are good! Maybe I’ll even find some good eats.

So, I’ve had the most amazing past few days in Portland, OR with my new friend Laura, who I met at the most unexpected time in my journey. Isn’t it funny how things work out? This morning, after a coffee and a walk, I loaded the van back up and continued north. I should be crossing into Canada within the next couple of hours. I found Portland to be a very welcomed distraction, but now it’s time to boogey so I can make the ferry on the 24th.

It was so much easier to leave Portland than I expected it would be. Maybe I’m finally focused enough to know where I’m going, and that I really need this time in Alaska.
Once I cross the border I’ll likely be incommunicado until I reach Valdez on the 24th. For sure I won’t be using the cell phone in Canada due to huge roaming charges. The long, last stretch begins!