ferry/ castle

Hi everyone, Junior here on a beautiful day in Canada. Didn't realize how hot it was going to be. It is like being home. Got up early yesterday and caught the ferry in Sidney. We had to give the border GUARDS 2 beautiful peaches and the rest of our eggs. I bet those guards just use a shopping list from their wives! We rode thru the San Juan Islands for 2 1/2 hours. Fun on the boat. Then on to the Butchart Gardens. Didn't realize it was built by family that owned Portland Cement. It was as beautiful as Donna's Mother said it would be. Almost too much beauty to appreciate. Very hot and lots of people. Wonderful Carousel with animals I hadn't seen before. I found a fire horse for Danny B. Next went into Victoria to visit the Craigdarroch Castle. Home of the richest man in the Provence. Cannot imagine actually living in such an immense house. The woodwork was incredible. Looking up from first floor to fourth was like looking at a carved puzzle. Looking dowm just as fascinating. I liked seeing thr gold radiator that was used as a lamp. The families name was Dunsmuir and Donna kept saying, must be related to the Oakland Dunsmuirs. She gets a point for being right. New tour to go on when we get home. had to write today because wifi service is not always very good here. After walking around the guardens and 87 stairs up and four floors to explore in the castle, my people were exhausted and made me go to bed early. Mature people just have no stamina. I might have to find some young Canadian monkeys to hang out with. hugs from Jr.

Boeing tour

Not a lot to write about tonight because there are just too many facts for this poor monkey to remember. I took my people on the Boeing factory tour. huge building. The largest in the world, by volume. The entire world of Disneyland, California would fit in it with 12 acres left over for covered parking. We saw a movie at the visitors center and then boarded large buses to go to the actual factory. Again, leave everything in Cmor including the camera. Then downstairs into the tunnels under the buildings for a 1/3 mile walk. The width of the building. Into an elevator that held all 53 of us from the bus and up to the viewing area. After that reverse the trip back to the bus. Then the bus took us to the other end of the building. Same procedure, stairs, tunnel, elevator and jaw dropping info as we watched them build airplanes. Afterwards we went back to the visitors center and got the camera from Cmor.  I was invited to sit in the cockpit. Note  to Rudi. It wasn't that hard. Just pick out the switches and knobs you like and ignore the rest. Lunch in the parking lot. Knock on the door. More tourist wanting to see Cmor. I am trying to talk my people into charging for tours, we can then buy Cmor's diesel. The tourist were from Eldorado Hills in Cal, but they didn't know the Nemis. Went to Mukilteo to see ferry and lighthouse. On to our final destination, Sumish Indian Reservation to spend night. right on the water at Anacortes. While on the reservation, we made reservations for the ferry. That was a little Monkey humor. Taking my people out of the country tomorrow. hugs from Jr.

Grand Coulee Dam

Hi from Junior, Started out the day with an early morning walk to the Soap Lake to see the teepees once more. I love the way they are painted. Then on the road to Dry Falls. Donna had read about them and was anxious to actually see where they were. The campground was down by the lake with playgrounds, golf course, boating and lots of very green lawns. Then up to the visitors center to see a movie and an explanation of the Dry Falls. Too much amazing history to go into here, but another great story to look up. It made me realize, it's not a good idea to get mother nature upset. We went out on a narrow walkway to look down into the valley where the 3 1/2 mile wide waterfall had been. When i looked over the edge, I realized the tower we were standing on was not connected to the "mainland.' Cmor stopped a bit down the road so we could take pictures of it.

Next stop Steamboa Rock and anotherr beautiful lakeside campground. I think it was a bit more than a rock.  We went on down the road to Grand Coulee Dam. Wow!!! It was like the Grand Canyon, more than I could really comprehend. We took the tour and were amazed at the security. two days after 911, new strict security precautions were put into action. Because so much power is supplied to so many states, the dam is considered vital to national security. Before we could get on the shutle bus, we had to leave most extra stuff in Cmor. No purses, backpacks, bags, bananas, weapons, or camera cases. We were each given a yellow bin to put personal items in before we went one at a time through a security room. Donna's new knee did not ping. Don took a long time emptying his bin after he went through the check. Wallett, coins, keys, golf tees, belt, camera, water bottle and a partridge in a pear tree.
We waited on the bus for him. there were two guides. We were followed by an armed guard.One was always in frront of the grroup and one in the back. When we got to the dam, there was a car side ways in front of the gate. The driver and the guide on ourr bus had to show ID's. Tthen the gate opened. It is the same kind of gatte as at the White House. They said a fully loaded Semi could not gett through. Then down into the Dam.We also go to get out and sand on the dam. Don and Donna got lots of great comments on their shirts. They are the "Significant Otter " shirts frrom Tiff and Chris. HOWEVER they did cause my people to have another discussion. Donna noticed they were even wearing the same colorred shorts. She said, we really look alike, and Don said "yes, but you have hair." Donna got a little upset. She thought he meant her legs were too hairy. Boy she gets touchy somettimes. I
know what she will be doing in the shower tonight. On to a fruit stand for peaches and cherrries but no bananas.

As we continued driving, we realized the scenery quickly changed. No more desert. Beutiful green trees and rivers. Next stop was suggested by Joan. Leaveworth. A Bavarian town witth flowerrs everywhere you looked. I have never seen so many flowers. It was very hot, but we walked around anyway.  Lots of the outdoor restaurants had misters going. Every other building was either a restaurant or wine tasting. In beween were gift shops. We were going to go into the nutcraker museum but it was upstaairs and Donna was worn out. Anyway, no pictures were permitted. We then went to Thee Sleeping Lady resort to see the walk aaround art display. There was a piece by Chihuly called "Chihuly Icicles", fitting because the resort is on Icicle Creek. We saw an apple tree with apples growing and glass eyes on the branches. Called "tthe evil eye tree". Also bird, fish and other sculptures. Then across the state to Everett. And here we are. I am a tired monkey. Where shall I take my people tomorrow? I dont know. Let me dream about it. Good nightt.

more pendleton

forgot to say, I have at least 100 more pics of the underground and lots of stories if anyone is interested. Jr.

Pendleton Oregon

Anoher great day for me, Junior the sock monkey. We went to the town of Pendleton Oregon. We walked around town for a bit, great old buildings and then on to the Pendleton Underground. Started on the ground floor with a short movie. Then the tour began. our tour guide, Cindy was really funny. She gave us great stories and info about the history of the underground. Most of the pictures I am sending are actually rooms down under the buildings. The first picture is what it looks like on the street level. As we went down into the tunnels, we prety much followed a time line. Again, I was appalled at the living conditions of the Chineese workers or in some cases, slaves. Underground the tunnels contained a Chinese laundry, a bar, Gambling and speakeasy and Chinese housing. Also a jail. And this was just under one block. Then outside and up to the Cozy Rooms. Notice the red light over the door. The Madam took care of her girls and even have Church services for thm. She wanted them to save their money and move on to a betterr life.

I tried to cover my eyes when there was something inappropriate for a monkey. Cindy was really a gracious hostess. She let me sit on things and in one of the "soiled doves" rooms from the  fifties, she putt me on the bed and let me hold a nylon stocking. She asked if anyone knew how much the "ladies" charged their gentlemen, before and after wwII. Don knew exactly what after the war cost. $5.00. Everyone laughed except Donna. She said she has a few questions for him. We finished the tour back underground seeing where the Chinese laborers lived and the jail. Lots of people took pictures of me and some even asked for my blog address. I guess I am still a popular monkey.

After telling Cindy how much we enjoyed her tour, we headed to the Pendleton Woolen Mill for anotherr tour. Very disappointing. Loud and short. We had earplug/headphones but still couldn't hear or understand our guide. Hopefully if we make the tour in Washingon, it will beetter.

We are not at Soap Lake, Washington at a wonderful camp. Pool, golf a lake and a playground and teepees. Tired but happy, I am almost ready for bed. The park owner just came over and asked if he could see inside Cmor.  Don and Donna are playing rummicubes again but I am too tired after the playground. Good nigght to everyone from Junnior.