Day 42 - Everett, WA to Vancouver, BC

Days on the road: 42.
Miles today: 128.
Miles to date: 8379.

Everett, WA is home to the Boeing company, makers of really big planes. At their facility (Guiness World Record for largest building by volume), they assemble the aluminum and composite tubes that fly those out there that choose to travel great distances NOT by road trip-going little Blue Audi. They build the 747-8, 777, and new 787 airplanes in this massive facility from parts flown, shipped, and truck in from all over the world. I spent the morning of Day 42 touring the facility and listening to bad jokes delivered by yet another overly enthusiastic tour guide. No cameras or cellphones allowed on the tour, so no pictures of the biggest assembly lines I've ever seen. For those keeping score at home, I've now seen BMWs assembled in South Carolina, Corvettes in Kentucky, and now planes in Washington.


Many of the fuselage sections and wings are flown in on a heavily customized 747 called the Dreamlifter, seen here at rest:


The Boeing folks have quite the operation. Even their visitor's centre is big:


And seeing since it was Victoria Day, I thought it appropriate to head back to Canada to celebrate:

Day 41 - Portland, OR to Everett, WA. The Long Way

Days on the road: 41.
Miles today: 384.
Miles to date: 8251.


Oh joy, more rain. I know this is the Northwest, but 3 days of rain in a convertible blows. I had hoped to avoid some of the inclement weather by heading inland, so I pointed the little blue Audi East and rolled the dice. Much like in Las Vegas, I crapped out. The clouds were heavy and low, obscuring the mountains that I had hoped to see. I went inland via the Columbia River gorge, weaving along the river's bends and climbing all the while. It was again verdant and lush, and those well-draining roads continued. My trip took me past the Cascade Locks, a place called Starvation Creek (I wonder what happened there), and through The Dalles, home of a honking big power dam.

I then cut North into the Tekama reservation which turns out to be apple and pear country. Up, high on a plateau, were orchards and ranches and vineyards too. Passing through the Rattlesnake Hills, I went through Yakima, Selah, and Ellensburg. Then it was a massive downhill run back through the Cascades Range, through Bellevue and settling in Everett, WA. If you know what is here, you'll know tomorrow morning's big activity.