Why The Beaver is Julie's Spirit Animal (and why she might actually be Canadian)

As you may recall from a previous video, Julie believes that her spirit animal is the beaver. This charming roadside attraction helps to explicate more specifically the whys of that long-standing adoration and kinship.



(Filmed at The Beaver Project monument in Beaverlodge, Alberta, just before we got on the Alcan.)

Video greeting from Banff

Greetings from the Yukon and the Alaskan Highway! Despite extended periods of cold and rain, we are enjoying the adventure and expect to be in Fairbanks sometime later this week . . .

In the meantime, here is a video we recorded in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. We discuss grizzly encounters, foam-green water, and a few major milestones. It includes Julie's report on how "we" are enjoying the camping more, thanks in part to Mike Biershenk's poetic advice.

Portland, the opposite of an armpit

Belatedly, here's a video we made during our magical stay in Portland. Thanks to so much local hospitality, especially Erika's unbelievable generosity with her home and her time, throwing open her doors for us for an extended stay, it was difficult to leave!



Julie adds the following (since our video cut us off right about the time we were circling back to the lovely Erika):

How many days would you impose on the hospitality of someone you just met? One day - maybe two?

We stayed not two, not three, but FIVE nights at Erika's house - thereby eschewing all notions of houseguest etiquette and any claims we have to social graces. We simply couldn't help ourselves, folks. Aside from having such a beautiful home, not to mention being Hollywood-beautiful herself - I said to Eric, "You don't see people that stunning just walking around in the general public" - Erika is my favorite new foodie friend.

She introduced me to many new delectable tastes - which is, of course, my favorite way to spend my time (when I'm not riding my motorbike). Here are a few: Stumptown Coffee, the best coffee I've sampled thus far on the planet; Iberico ham, which unfolds in your mouth long after you've eaten it; Ken's Artisan Pizza; and have I mentioned her blueberry muffins?

Here's a tip, folks: If you want your houseguests to (ever) leave, don't arouse them from slumber with wafts of sugary-blueberry loveliness and French-press coffee. They will stay forever.

(And we did.)

Thanks again to Erika, and to her equally lovely mom, Cathy, for making the introduction.

On the (itty bitty) nitty gritty

Hello from the Ocean Island Backpackers Inn in Victoria, British Columbia!

Slumber Party in the Yurt!

When we visited our friends on Vashon Island, we were treated to dinner and a show (!), followed by a peaceful overnight in a yurt they designed and built themselves. We made dinner from their well-tended garden, passed around the storytelling baton, and spent hours reading under a walnut tree while listening to the gentle clucking of the chickens.

The song performed in the video was written by Shane, who plays the mandolin (and about a bajillion other instruments - many of which he's fabricated himself). Oh - in addition to using their bicycles to commute and travel, Shane & Emily have a pedal-powered washing machine, which was quite a revelation for Eric; I've never seen him get so excited about doing a load of laundry.



For more pictures & narrative about our time in the Seattle area, visit Eric's blog.