Yeehah! Booked again.. an impulse thing.

[cornishfrogboy]

Well, so much for the relaxing, lazy, do nothing much Mexico all inclusive next year.

So much for sitting back and giving it long consideration after our return from Boston, New York, Dayton OH, Orlando, Naples that we only returned from on 10 August. (Trippie in WDW section, Planes, trains and Automobiles).

So much for being ‘America’d out’.

I was at Home yesterday and chatting on text with an Army mate in Vancouver (haven’t seen him since I left 30 years ago). Sounded interesting.
My mistake was to go to work and start fiddling on the internet. A bit of research, a phone call to a sleeping Mandie and that was it... I booked before I could stop myself.

British Airways, direct flights into San Francisco on 30 March and home from Vancouver on 10 April. Economy basic (which has meals and drinks whilst being hand baggage only). 2 adults and boys of 16 and 13... £395pp.

Plan. (Subject to vast revision), and bearing mind my 2018 visit (California N to South at Easter trip report), this is my plan.

3 Nights San Francisco to include Alcatraz at night and a day of serious cycling.Then pick up car.

2 nights in Monterey area to explore and then head down the PCH (closed last time) to...

3 nights in the Madonna Inn in order to enjoy the area (booked this morning). Then...

3 nights Vancouver after driving back up to SFO, flying to Seattle and then train over the border into Vancouver. Haven’t a clue what we will do there, but want to see Orcas.

Excited, excited, excited!

[TinkerBabe]

Sounds fab! I loved the Madonna Inn. We happened to stay there on a Thursday and found that every week they hold a farmers market on the Main Street in San Luis Obispo, which included street vendors selling the most delicious ribs, steak, etc along with various beers. It had a real party atmosphere and I’d love to visit on a Thursday again! Alcatraz at night was also a great experience, if you get the last boat back to the mainland whilst you are waiting you will see the searchlights light up the sky-very eerie and atmospheric!

[MichelleB]

Easily done!

I have always wanted to visit Vancouver, I fancy combining it with an Alaskan cruise.

[LOU LOU DISNEY]

Ah brilliant! Sounds amazing & just as good as all your other trips too! I loved your Easter trip report of the west I hope you do another one! I look forward to reading your new one over on the WDW page!

PS Vancouver & Seattle are next on my list! WDW next year as we haven’t been in 4 years & then back west!

[snowbelle]

Ooh I have just binge read your last trippie on a train back home, excited for another one .
Too be honest I would do more days in Vancouver if you could , I loved it there ( despite being s*** on by an albatross like seagull on the wharf &#128515 Vancouver island is beautiful .

[cornishfrogboy]

Originally Posted by LOU LOU DISNEY

Ah brilliant! Sounds amazing & just as good as all your other trips too! I loved your Easter trip report of the west I hope you do another one! I look forward to reading your new one over on the WDW page!

PS Vancouver & Seattle are next on my list! WDW next year as we haven’t been in 4 years & then back west!

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Thanks for your kind words.

My friend in Vancouver discussed my original plan and was rather against Seattle, describing it as very concrete, run down and rather unpleasant. He talked me out of it, commenting that Portland was nicer, but just a photo op.
He lives just over a 2 hour drive away, but avoids it. He has lived in Canada for 30 yrs and Vancouver for around 20. I took his word for it .

[LOU LOU DISNEY]

Originally Posted by cornishfrogboy

Thanks for your kind words.

My friend in Vancouver discussed my original plan and was rather against Seattle, describing it as very concrete, run down and rather unpleasant. He talked me out of it, commenting that Portland was nicer, but just a photo op.
He lives just over a 2 hour drive away, but avoids it. He has lived in Canada for 30 yrs and Vancouver for around 20. I took his word for it .

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Ah really?
Sorry he feels that way about Seattle, there’s a lot of music history there for us as we are big fans of the Seattle/grunge music scene of the early 90s so that’s what’s drawing us there as I’ve always wanted to go since I was 16! I hope I’m not disappointed with the city itself, there’s a few dibbers that have been & loved it! Fingers crossed 🤞🏻

[cornishfrogboy]

Originally Posted by snowbelle

Ooh I have just binge read your last trippie on a train back home, excited for another one .
Too be honest I would do more days in Vancouver if you could , I loved it there ( despite being s*** on by an albatross like seagull on the wharf &#128515 Vancouver island is beautiful .

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Vancouver is a bit of an unknown for me and I have not researched it (yet). I am in Bill and Jenny’s hands.
Having not seen Bill for over 30 and Jenny nearly 31 (he met her while we were serving out there together). I was very, very conscious of not overstaying such a welcome (and also tied to school hols).
If it goes great, then I will be looking to a return at a later date after the boys have flown and using it as a start of a much longer vacation ending in gorgeous San Diego.
I am simply glad of the invite and opportunity. 3 nights will give me 3 full days as our flight out is at 2045 in the evening.

[cornishfrogboy]

Originally Posted by LOU LOU DISNEY

Ah really?
Sorry he feels that way about Seattle, there’s a lot of music history there for us as we are big fans of the Seattle/grunge music scene of the early 90s so that’s what’s drawing us there as I’ve always wanted to go since I was 16! I hope I’m not disappointed with the city itself, there’s a few dibbers that have been & loved it! Fingers crossed 🤞🏻

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It was the grunge scene that also made me interested. It follows on nicely from the Punk sojourn that I recently had in NY at CBGB.
I really like the whole Nirvana, Soungarden scene. A bit like NY punk, it changed the direction of Music.

[LOU LOU DISNEY]

Originally Posted by cornishfrogboy

It was the grunge scene that also made me interested. It follows on nicely from the Punk sojourn that I recently had in NY at CBGB.
I really like the whole Nirvana, Soungarden scene. A bit like NY punk, it changed the direction of Music.

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It sure did.
I’ve even found a tour ‘stalking seattle’ a die hard super local fan that does tours in her mini van that brings you everywhere related to the scene, even hidden gems! Super reviews on TA.