Yesterday was my mom's 94th birthday, so we all bundled up and went on a road trip up the Mount Baker Highway.
Mom rode shotgun and our good friend Jeanne drove. We started at the junction of I-5 and Sunset Drive then headed east. In a few miles we left busy Bellingham behind and entered lush green fields dotted with farmhouses. Along the way there were lots of Christmas tree farms and u-pick berry fields. We'll have to come back this summer for sure. At about the 25 mile mark we entered the small village of Maple Falls.
We pulled into the Frosty Inn. It was just what we were looking for. Inside were two locals drinking coffee and talking about "the old days" and a cheery fire was burning in the dining room. Just the place to get a leisurely late breakfast fit for hungry travelers. The friendly waitress took our order and made us feel right at home. If you are headed up to Mt. Baker for skiing or sightseeing, I highly recommend stopping at the Frosty Inn for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It also appears to be a night spot, too.
After a hearty breakfast we continued up the road towards the ski area. In Glacier, there were several ski and snowboard rental shops, more restaurants and a few places for lodging. Just before the road started the final climb to the Mount Baker Ski Area we decided to turn around. The snow along the side of the road was building up and we didn't have chains with us today.
We reversed course and followed the Nooksack River back down to the coastal plain. It was a gorgeous day for a drive in the mountains. Puffy white clouds stood out against the clear blue sky. Before we returned to town we stopped briefly at the Deming Homestead Eagle Park. It's a great place to view Bald Eagles in winter months, but today the robins were heralding spring instead.
To plan our trip, we used an excellent guidebook, the Insiders' Guide to Bellingham and Mount Baker by Mike McQuaid. He is a Bellingham local that really knows the area. It is available at Amazon.com by clicking here. If you are coming to Bellingham it's a must.
Mount Baker Highway Road Trip
Back in Time at Boomer's Drive-In
If you asked me, "What's your favourite movie?" my answer would instantly be American Graffiti. "Why American Graffiti," you ask? The "short" answer is I learned to drive in the early 60's, I did my share of cruising and I spent my summers near Modesto, California, the location for the movie. Every time I see it I think of swimming in canals, cruising 10th Street, dragging on country roads and parking in peach orchards. Several movie scenes were at Mel's Drive-In, the quintessential 1950's fast food restaurant and teenage hangout. The real Mel's was in San Francisco, but almost every town had a similar drive-in with car service (with or without roller skates).
This brings me to Boomer's Drive-In in Bellingham, Washington. It truly is a step back in time. You can still pull up to covered parking, read the carside menu, turn on your lights and the waitress comes to take your order. She returns with a window tray of delights that will really take you back. Boomer's signature dish is the Boomer Burger (really big and juicy) in a combo with one of their scrumptious hard ice cream shakes (try peanut butter) and crisp waffle fries. It's enough for even the hungriest guy. They have other items, but I haven't made it past the Boomer Burger. When the weather's too cold for car dining, Boomer's has indoor seating next to a roaring fire. Maybe not like Mel's, but a good addition for the Pacific Northwest.
You'll find Boomer's at 310 N. Samish Way (360-647-2666). Heading south, take the Samish Way exit from I-5 and turn right. Boomer's is about half a mile on the right. It's a little hard to see until you are right on top of it, so go slow. Want to make it a date? Take in a movie at the Sehome Regal Theater. It's at 3300 Fielding Avenue. At the same Samish Way exit go straight on 36th Street past the Sehome Village shopping center. When 36th turns to the right (left is an I-5 onramp) it becomes Fielding. Make an immediate left and you're in the theater parking lot. Make it a real date, we did. -- MargyShopping in Historic Fairhaven
Today I met my good friend Betty for a day of shopping (mostly window style) and camaraderie. Betty and I met through my blog. In fact, she is my most faithful reader! We discovered we lived in the same town, so decided to get together in real life. It has been great fun. If you want to meet Betty too, she is known as Mud Creek Mama here on Blogger.
One of our favourite places to meet is Historic Fairhaven. In 1889, the railroad was coming, and Fairhaven grew rapidly, hoping to become the west coast terminus. The railroad connection never worked out, so the new town turned to the sea and fishing for its economic base. In its heyday, Fairhaven was a bustling town of hotels, shops, saloons and brothels. Today, the brothels are gone, but the rich heritage of hotels, shops, restaurants and nightlife remains. And Fairhaven has achieved its original goal of becoming a tranportation center with its Alaska Ferry, Amtrak and bus terminal.
One stop in Fairhaven that we love to make is the Eclipse Bookstore at 1104 11th Street. The Eclipse Bookstore is amazing with its vast variety of books covering the two floors of the establishment. Because it's a used book store, the prices are also amazingly low. Today, I got three books by R.D. Lawrence, a renowned Canadian author.
To fortify ourselves before wandering the shelves, we stopped in at Avenue Bread at 1135 11th Street. Avenue Bread is across the street and within easy walking distance. In addition to their wonderful fresh breads (I chose the sourdough with rosemary - YUM), they have a small cafe. We could have chosen soup, salad or sandwiches to go with our coffee, but opted for some of the fresh baked treats. Betty had the ham and cheese croissant and I got the cinnamon twist (double YUM).
A trip to Fairhaven wouldn't be complete without a visit to Village Books at 1200 11th Street. They have mostly new books, but you will also find good used books among the collection. They even handle books on consignment. If you are looking for a place to purchase books from Wayne's Coastal BC Stories series you can find them at Village Books. They currently carry Up the Lake, Up the Strait, Up the Airway and Up the Winter Trail. Stop by and check them out while you are shopping in Historic Fairhaven. -- Margy
Where the Cottonwoods Blow
Ever since I got back to Bellingham, there's been puffy white seeds floating everywhere. When I saw my good friend Betty (Mud Creek Mama), I asked if it was cattails. She said no, it's Cottonwood Trees.
Cottonwoods are a type of poplar, with the same quivering leaves. They grow in moist areas, so the wetlands behind our Bellingham condo is a prime spot. Male and female flowers are in separate catkins (long, slim clusters) that appear before the leaves each spring. The female catkin produces the cottony seeds that are blown long distances. It's these fluffy white masses that give the tree its name.
The seeds are very small (1X4 mm) which is remarkable considering they can grow into one of the largest trees in North America, up to 100 feet (30+ metres) high.
Not only are Cottonwoods large, but fast growing, reaching maturity in 10-30 years. As a commercial product, their course wood is best suited for making pallets and shipping crates. As summer changes to fall, the leaves of turn bright yellow and orange, making a warm contrast to the cooling blue skies. -- Margy
Stellar's Jay
If you're a frequent reader, you know we have a cityfolk condo in Bellingham. It's near my mom, 93-years young, so we can visit and help. It's also near busy Bellis Fair Mall, but outside our window is a protected wetlands. It's large enough for evergreens, blackberry brambles and even two ancient apple trees from an old homestead. It must have looked a lot different around here in those days.
Birds love this little spot of nature in the city. We see and hear woodpeckers, gulls, ravens, robins and lots of songbirds. It doesn't totally mask the sounds and sights of city living, but it helps. One of the visitors this month was a Stellar's Jay. Actually a pair. Stellar's Jays form a bonded pair and stay together from season to season.
It's a bit tough to see the distinctive crest of feathers on the crown, but I'm pretty sure it's a jay. They live in and near forests from low to high elevations. They have also adapted to living near humans, scavenging and enjoying bird feeders. In their natural environment, their diet is 2/3 plants and seeds, and 1/3 eggs and tiny critters. Mmm, good eats.
Even if you live in the city, take some time to explore your surroundings. You will be surprised how much "wildlife" you can find. One of my favourite experiences with my innercity students back in LA was a nature walk on the playground. At least our's had grass with trees. But before I left, we got a grant from JPL to install a research pond and natural habitat to extend our nature studies. -- Margy
Best Chopsticks in Bellingham
Last night Wayne and I went to the Mt. Baker Theater to see the St. Petersburg String Quartet. Before the concert, we went to dinner at the nearby Best Chopsticks Chinese restaurant. Best Chopsticks is located at 121 Unity Street in downtown Bellingham.
Best Chopsticks serves lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm and dinner Sundays from 5:00 to 9:30. Lunch is until 3:30. That's important because that's when their lunch special is available. For $5.95 you get soup, rice, a fried wonton and one of 26 entree choices. It's hard to get a fast food burger for that. At dinner, specials start at $7.95. And they allow you to make substitutions for the entree. How good is that? Wayne got the Sweet and Sour Pork and I had the spicy Kung Pao Chicken. They also have an extensive menu of entrees and sides.
After a few cups of tea and fortune cookies we made our way over to the theater is a light drizzle. Good food and good music, a nice way to end the day. -- Margy
That's My World: Exploring Mt. Baker
From anywhere north of Seattle to southwestern British Columbia, the most prominent peak on the skyline is Mt. Baker. Around Bellingham, you will find many places and things named in it's honour: Bakerview Road, Mt. Baker Highway and the Mt. Baker Theatre to name a few. While we can see Mt. Baker right from our condo, the views from the air in our airplane 997 are the best.
Mt. Baker is one of the 27 major volcanoes in the Cascade Range. The largest eruption was 6,600 years ago. In 1843 there was a smaller eruption, and in 1975 plumes of steam rose from the same crater. It is still an active, but dormant, volcano and continuing studies are conducted through our local Western Washington University.
Mt. Baker is a well known ski and winter sports destination in the Pacific Northwest. A short drive into the hills from Bellingham will take you to a winter wonderland. The Mt. Baker Ski area offer excellent skiing at very reasonable prices. All day adult lift tickets for the 2008-09 season are $35,75 mid-week and weekends and holidays are $43.17. If needed, they have rental equipment as well.
Want to make it a mini-vacation? Information about lodging in the area can be found at the Mt. Baker Ski Area website and the Mt. Baker Lodging website. You can also stay in Bellingham and drive up to the ski area. It is about 30 miles east, but due to road conditions in winter I would say it takes hour or so to get there.
I have a suggestion for a place to eat on the way to or from the ski area. It's called the Frosty Inn in a small commuinity called Maple Falls. They have great breakfasts. We haven't been there in the evenings, but they also have live entertainment on weekends, especially during ski season.
Morrie's for Burgers
I'm spending some time in Bellingham this month, so I've been exploring new lunch spots. Today I went to one of my favourite used book stores, Cozy Corner Books & Coffee on Cedarwood Avenue. After finding a few books to keep me busy, I went across the street to Morrie's to get a bite to eat.
The menu is simple: burgers (several kinds), fries, rings and a few other fast food items. They also have nine flavours of thick shakes. I had the black raspberry and it was really tasty. Morrie's is a drive-in, but there's also indoor seating for rainy days, or if you want to relax and read a few pages of your new book.
The proprietors are really friendly. It's a family business with multi-generations taking part. So if you want a good burger and a tasty shake for a reasonable price, head on over to Morrie's. - Margy
The Eclipse Bookstore Overshadows All Others
Today I met my good friend Betty (better known as Mud Creek Mama) for coffee and shopping in Historic Fairhaven, just south of downtown Bellingham. There are lots of great restaurants, shops, book stores and, in the summer months, the farmer's market. Today our destination was the Eclipse Bookstore at 1104 11th Street (360-647-8165).
The Eclipse Bookstore has an amazing amount and variety of books covering the two floors of the establishment. Because it's a used book store, the prices are very reasonable. It takes tiptoes to see the volumes on the top shelves, but the easiest way to get to the bottom of things is to pull up a piece of carpet and settle yourself down on the floor.
David, the proprietor, has arranged the books neatly on shelves by topic. Just ask and he will lead you to the section you desire. You can't see all that the Eclipse Bookstore has to offer in one visit. Visit often and take your time to really enjoy the experience. Today I found two interesting books:
- Woman in the Bush by Jeanne Connolly Harbottle and Fern Grice Credeur about a young bride's journey into the Yukon wilderness in the 1940s.
- Bright's Crossing by Anne Cameron (a Powell Riverite) which is a collection of Coastal BC short stories told through the eyes of eleven women.
To fortify ourselves before wandering the shelves, we stopped across the street at Avenue Bread (1135 11th Street). In addition to their wonderful fresh breads (I chose the seed covered baguette - YUM), they have a small cafe. We could have chosen soup, salad or sandwiches to go with our coffee, but opted for some of the fresh baked treats. I got the cinnamon twist. It was so crisp and flaky (double YUM).Head on down to Historic Fairhaven for a good read and a good feed. -- Margy
Mt. Baker Theatre
Today Wayne and I went to the Mt. Baker Theatre to hear the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra. It was a double first for us. We have been by the theatre many times, but have never been inside. And, we were among a sellout crowd for the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra's Classical Concert called Winter Romance.
The theatre is an historic building in downtown Bellingham (104 N. Commercial Street). It first opened in 1927 as one of the palatial Fox West Coast Theatres. It is still a wonderful venue for plays, concerts and much more. The exterior is very distinctive. The red capped bell tower can be seen from blocks away. Inside, it is a classic, ornate theatre with a large overhanging balcony, floor to ceiling drapes and scrollwork mouldings. Up above, there is a beautiful dome and chandelier.
The Whatcom Symphony Orchestra began in 1975. It's current Artistic Director and Conductor is Dr. Roger Briggs. Each year there are seven concerts from October through May. I especially enjoyed today's presentation because it included a portion of the Peer Gynt Suite by Edvard Grieg. He was a Norwegian composer in the late 1800s. I can remember my grandmother (born in Norway) playing some of his works on the piano. In addition, we got to hear Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg play as the guest violinist. Her talent is amazing and the sounds from her violin are captivating. If you ever get a chance to hear her play, do attend. -- Margy
That's My World: Getting to Powell River, BC
Our last trip to Powell River was an example how easy it is to get here. We left our condo in Bellingham, WA, using the Quick Shuttle bus that connects Seattle and Vancouver airports. It has several stops, one of which is Bellingham Airport.
The bus uses the Pacific Highway Crossing in Blaine. You get off at a special building and take your bags inside to clear Canadian immigration and customs. A passport is not yet required for land travel for US and Canadian citizens in either 
direction, but you will need a government issued picture ID and proof of citizenship. Rules may change, so check before you go with the Canadian Border Service Agency and US Customs and Border Protection.
The amount of time necessary depends on the number of passengers and buses in line. Plan on at least 30 minutes. By the way, the Quick Shuttle has free WiFi so you can surf the web the whole trip (or work if you must). The cost is very reasonable, about $52.50 one way from airport to airport, or $25.65 from Bellingham to YVR. They will also stop at the train station, downtown Vancouver and most major hotels. Along the way you will see forests, farmlands, small towns, glimpses of the ocean, and finally the big city.
Whether you arrive at Vancouver Airport by bus or plane, Pacific Coastal Airlines has a free shuttle every half hour outside the lower level to take you to the South Terminal. Pacific Coastal has connections to many Vancouver Island and BC destinations. From Vancouver, it is only a 25 minute flight to Powell River.
If you are lucky, you just might get a ride on the Shorts 360. It's a unique plane that looks like a flying boxcar to me. The one-way cost is about $176.40. The Quik Pass includes discount fares for frequent fliers.
Transportation is easy in Powell River. Your Pacific Coastal flight crew can call ahead for a Powell River Taxi to be waiting to whisk you away to your first adventure. If you are on the ground, you can call them at (604) 483-3666. You might be lucky enough to get one of our good friend John's brothers, Rick or Rob. They both have new Prius cars to be environmentally friendly and economical.
If you want a car, Budget car rental is in the terminal. There is also a stop for the Powell River Regional Transit District bus outside. This bus can take you all around town or, with a co
nnection, to the community of Lund at the end (or beginning depending on your point of view) of Highway 101.
No matter how you get here, Powell River is the place to visit and live. Join us here someday soon. If you want to see more exciting places from around the world, go to the "That's My World" website. -- Margy
Bellingham Heritage Flight Museum
Saturday was the monthly open house for the Heritage Flight Museum. The Museum opens its doors from noon to 4:00 p.m. every third Saturday at their Bellingham International Airport (BLI) hanger at 2000 W. Bakerview Road.
The Museum has both a static display and a flying program. It was established by the Anders family in 1996 to help people learn about and appreciate the role of aviation in history. The Museum is a rare treasure, but it is undergoing some hard times. They have just lost their hanger space and have been forced into smaller quarters. Even so, they put on a great show for the public today. Several warbirds were on display, and then the pilots took them up for an aerial show.
I encourage you to visit the Heritage Flight Museum next month. Check the Bellingham Herald "Take Five" section or visit the Museum's website for more details. Entrance is by donation and your dollars go to support efforts to find a permanent home at the airport.
While Wayne and I were there (997's hanger faces the flight line), we opened our doors for business. It felt good for Powell River Books to support such a worthy cause, and we got to meet some really great pilots and future pilots. -- Margy
