Seattle Bound!
Setting out from Whistler on Thursday morning, there was a feeling of euphoria all round. The only disturbing part was that we were missing our back-left hind leg. Toaster wasn’t able to join this leg of the tour. Effectively, we were somewhat limping.
This meant the Bermuda Triangle was raging fiercely out of control, and that I, Cat, was staying well and truly on my side of Gus’s back seat – desperately hoping I didn’t get sucked in. To humour myself, I threw a piece of candy into it’s vortex, in order to test Toaster’s insistent theory that it wasn’t his fault that everything on that side of the truck went missing – and that the seat was really victim to some strange swallowing force. Alas, the candy stayed put, and I was able to deem that side of the seat safe.
We pulled into Vancouver for a brief interlude, to show off Dola on a Breakfast Television spot with CityTV, and also to collect an addition to the USA tour – Kevin. Although firmly warned of our crazy antics and potential torture, for some reason Kevin was standing there waiting for us, ready to join the ride… Who would have thunk it?
Kev was also good enough to play along in a little game – convincing 20-odd company employees that if they came down dressed up in their ski gear, to meet Dola and be a part of her TV spot, that we would be blessed with an epic ski season. Cheers to the team who made the trek down… Any huge pow dumps will now be solely attributed to your dedication! J
Later, as we made our way to the US border, we all sensed Kev’s anxiety and second-thoughts as to what in the world he had gotten himself into. Didn’t take long. We’re just to Abbotsford and Kev is practically hanging out of Gus. Pool soul. He tried to convince Dave that he forgot something and we needed to go back and pick it up, but Dave is wiser than to fall for that and we were soon pulling into the Pacific Crossing at the US/Canadian border.
None of us believed that – regardless of how organized we might have been – pulling a giant gondola across the border would be in any way, shape, or form a walk in the park… And it wasn’t. But we did learn that if you exit your vehicle, walk confidently and like you know what you are doing, you can - literally – walk across the border. And back again. Ok – so there was a slight confrontation on the Canadian side, but we were able to literally walk right into the US of A – albeit inadvertently – whilst fruitlessly searching for our brokerage. We cannot, of course, condone such behaviour, and firmly assure you it was unintentional on our part.
That evening we were setting up at Haggen Foods in Bellingham to showcase Dola alongside her fav beverage, Vitamin Water (she does love Redbull, but is cutting back following severe binging on our last trip). She had a blast, making lots of new friends. We even caught her flirting with Ben from Vitamin Water a couple of times. We had to let her know it was a little inappropriate… She told us she was just doing it for us, so that we could get lots of Vitamin Water for the tour. But we explained that this was not necessary, as the lovely Ben had already ensured that we were well stocked for the remainder of our WA tour leg. It proved to be an excellent counterpart to the flats of Red Bull that Michelle’s friend Jaimeson hooked up for us in Seattle.
Joining us in Bellingham were two additional Whistlerites – Brooke and Chantal from Tourism Whistler. They were huge Dola fans, having following her on the Canadian Tour, and were stoked to be along to assist with our inaugural introduction of Dola to our southern brothers and sisters. Instrumental in setting up our stops in the US was another friend, Chris Dickerson, an employee of Whistler Blackcomb based in Seattle. Dola was SO excited to meet Chris. She had heard so much about him and his infectious laugh. Oh boy – I think she has ANOTHER crush developing…
Heading into Seattle following the Haggen stint, Dola was mesmerized by the incredible beauty of the Space Needle and Seattle’s sparkling city lights. When we explained to her that when she was eventually traveling along her PEAK 2 PEAK line this winter that at her highest point she would be elevated more than two times higher than the top of the Space Needle she went a little green at the gills. With green not being an approved corporate colour for Whistler Blackcomb we had to quickly change the topic in an effort to get her back to full regulation Pantone 46 Red in anticipation of her morning news spots the next morning.
With some quick thinking, Michy got Toaster on the phone to have a chat, and upon hearing his voice, Dola was soon back to her rosy self… But then she got sad Toast was not along for our Seattle tour and we spent the next hour explaining it was because he was busy doing other things this weekend. We then had to get him back on the phone to promise her that he would come and visit her the following week in Whistler… She loves her big brother Toast.
We rolled into Seattle that night knowing we didn’t have any confirmed over-size parking confirmed for Dola, but Kevin had assured us he would work it out for us. Heading into Seattle ahead of us with Chris, we sent him jeers and mocks pertaining to him ditching the team but we ate our words when he called to say he had secured us prime parking at the front of the Westin Hotel downtown. Where we weren’t staying, mind you. And after thanking our lovely, lovely and extremely helpful doorman, John, we made our way over to where we were staying – the Mayflower Park Hotel. The staff here were equally as friendly and the rooms were absolutely stunning! So far, from us, Seattle is getting the big thumbs-up!
