Tourists! DO NOT Visit the USA. We are a Dangerous Third World Country... If you're thinking about a lovely vacation... Try Canada!

LINK: ALL MY TRAVEL RELATED BLING AT ZAZZLE  GREGVAN 

Virtual Journey: Canada Tour Guide & Autobiography. Excellent Places to Visit... Or maybe you want to go live there permanently... Get out of the USA!

Every Place I've Been...
We Went on our Honeymoon to Vancouver, BC. We Rode a Bicycle built for Two in Stanley Park. Then We Had Formal Tea at the Hotel Vancouver.



https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/stanley-park.aspx

Then We took a Ride on a Roller Coaster at the Pacific National Exhibition. This One was the Scaiest Roller Coaster I Ever Rode... When they Say: "Keep Your Seats" that's an INSTRUCTION meaning It's Your Job to Hang ON! for Dear Life.



https://www.pne.ca/

Manning Park: Great Fishing. As a Child, my Family went Camping in Canada and I Caught Many Trout in a Creek... Sadly, My Brother Caught None... Early in the Day His Hook Fell Off of the Line but He Never Noticed... I just Kept on Catching 'em and Stufflng 'em in the Pocket of My Sweatshirt... Maybe a Dozen!



https://www.travel-british-columbia.com/vancouver-coast-mountains/fraser-country/manning-park/

Buchart Park on Vancouver Island. Near the City of Victoria.

My Family took a Ferry Boat from Seattle to Victoria and That Ride was the Very First Memory of My Entire Life. I was Sitting on My Father's Shoulders and The Steam Whistle was VERY LOUD and Scary...


https://www.clippervacations.com/seattle-victoria-ferry/

Banff/Lake Louise. Mom and I went to another of those Fancy Hotels and Ventured Out onto a Balcony to Admire the View. The Door Locked behind us and We were Trapped. Eventually We Were Able to Get the Attention of Someone that Opened the Door and Let us Back In... Brief Panic!



My Father and I Took a Hike at Lake Louis and We Saw the Mountain Goats with our Binoculars. For Some Unknown reason Dad was Really Thrilled by This... Could be his Zodiac Sign... The Old Goat... We also were looking for Canadian Bigfoot but did not see Him...

https://www.fairmont.com/lake-louise/

When I was working at System Industries (a High Tech Factory in Santa Clara, CA) some of the other employees went on Helicopter Skiing Vacations at Banff. A Helicopter takes you to the top of a mountain and you ski down thru UNTOUCHED Snow...



Yes, We Were Paid a Lot and Could Do Things Like That... I got Married and Moved to Washington DC. Where I was Instantly Hired because I Had One Year Work Experience in Silicon Valley...

Calgary Stampede: On one of our Family Camping Trips Dad Decided that We Should Drive to Calgary and Rent a Motel Room (as a break from Plain dirt Camping.) - When we Got There we found out that "The Stampede" was Happening and All Motel Rooms were Sold Out...

We had never heard of "The Stampede" and So were Totally Surprised... So We Just went on Down the Road until we found someplace to Stay... and NO, We Did Not Attend the Rodeo...

Quebec: Our Family Toured both Montreal and Quebec. Hotel Le Chateau Frontenac.

The Only thing I Remember is that Dad Made a Big Deal out of Ordering Dinner in the French Language. I hope the Waitress Was Delighted...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_Frontenac

Niagra Falls: I drove from My Home in Washington DC to Niagra Falls and Walked across the Rainbow Bridge to Canada. I was able to Walk Behind the Waterfall... and Have a LaBatts Beer... When I walked Back into the USA the Border Guard asked me "What was the purpose of my Journey to Canada?"and I replied: "To Get a Beer... They Only Sell the Good Quality Labatts in Canada." Well, the Border Guard was Not Pleased with that answer... No sense of Humor... and There was a Brief moment when I was wondering IF I was going to Get back into the USA...

Maid of the Mist Boatride at Niagra Falls... I took that Ride... Excellent! We Went Really Close to the Falls and Got Totally Drenched in the Spray... Everyone Gets to Wear a Super Thick Raincoat during the Voyage...

Glacier National Park: We were Camping in a Tent when a Bear Picked up the Coleman (all metal) Ice Chest We Had Left on the Picnic Table... He Kept on Throwing it on the Ground Until it Busted Open. Then He Ate the Bacon and Butter but NOT the Honey... The Park Rangers Chased the Bear off... My Parents were Worried but I was unconcerned... The Rangers Were Unconcerned as well because they Knew The Bear Well. Glacier, BC is Right Across the Border From Glacier, Montana.

https://national-parks.org/canada/glacier-canada

That's what I remember about Traveling in Canada... A Totally Fabulous Country that I Ought to Tour More...

Virtual Journey: From Washington DC to EPCOT, Key West, the Pennsylvania Rainbow Gathering and Niagara Falls. Photos and Stories...

One Time When I got Laid Off, I Got in my Car and Toured the East Coast of the USA for 5 Months... 

The High Points of this Trip was Disney World, The Rainbow Gathering in Pennsylvania and The Maid of the Mist Boat Ride at Niagara Falls... I was on a Quest to Find the Best Beach on the Atlantic Ocean... It Was Fernandina at the Northern End of Florida. 

Starting at My Condo Outside of Washington DC... 

I drove North on Indian Head Highway, Took a Left onto the Washington Beltway, Crossed the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and Entered Virginia... 

Map of Oxon Hill, Maryland

On the Woodrow Wilson Bridge over the Potomac looking at Alexandria VA. The Tall Building is The Masonic Lodge.

I Spent a Lot of Time Delivering Pizza for on Ft Belvoir and in Mount Vernon... Including Delivering to George Washington's Home... Yes, Park Rangers get Hungry and they Call for Pizza... Ft Belvoir has a LOT of Top Secret Engineering Sites that I was Not Allowed to Visit... so I'd Sell the Pizza to the Marine at the Guard Box... Unless the Weather was Raining or Snowing and then They Let Me Wander all over the Base... Security was Very Lax in Bad Weather!

Then I Left the Beltway and Took a Turn onto Highway 95 Heading South towards Florida... 

It's Boring Freeway Driving for Hundreds of Miles... 

The Next Interesting Place is the "South of the Border" Fire Cracker Store... Many People Drive across the South Carolina State Line to Purchase Legal Fire Crackers that Fly Up into the Air and Explode... and M-80s... I Remember that in Washington DC Those Fireworks were Popular... and The Fans of the Grateful Dead Shot a Lot Off after the Concert in Columbia, Maryland... So Much that the City BANNED the Grateful Dead from Ever Playing Merriweather Post Pavilion Again... They Were Worried that Symphony Woods Would Catch on Fire... 

This is a Classic "Tourist Trap" - There are Many Strange Exhibits... Like the Reptile Lagoon... and Gift Shops with Bizarro Products... Like these CAT Sculptures... 

Coffee Cups with the Image of Pedro... The Patron Saint! 

Day of the Dead - Dolls - South of the Border Giftshop

The Next Place of Interest Was EPCOT at Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida. I Camped Out for FIVE Days and Went to the Park... I went Early in the Morning and then took a Break at the Campsite and Went Back at Night... The Campsite was Packed With Mosquitoes! 

The High Point was the Space Mountain Ride... A Roller Coaster in a Dark Building with Animated Movies all over the Place to Simulate a Journey thru Outer Space... 

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_cQz7nPaV4

The Giant Sphere next to the Lake was Lit Up at Night with Lasers so it Looked Like Planet Earth...

The Laser Beams Drew the Outlines of the Continents... and then they re-drew the Map to make the whole thing appear to be spinning! Excellent! at the same time there was Fireworks, Fountains with Colored Lights and Loud Beethoven Music. 5th and 9th Symphonies... 1812 Oveture... 

another Great Ride was the Kraft Dancing Food Show... Kinda Strange that They Appear Like a Robert Crumb ZAP COMIX... 

I also rode the Monorail to the Famous Disney Hotel. Went out on the Roof to Admire the View.

I have a Tendency to Pick Up Hitchhikers and a Couple of Fellows Offered me a Job Building Apartments... Oh How Different my Life Would Have Been if I'd Said YES... 

And then The Next Adventure Was John Pennecamp State Park on Key Largo. We took a Boat Ride out to a Great Place to Skin Dive and Swam with Hammerhead Sharks, Barracudas and a Million Other Tropical Fish... Since it's a Park, Removing Coral is a Crime. Therefore, The Reefs are Still There! Unlike Most of Florida... 

No... We didn't see this Sculpture of Jesus but had a Wonderful Time Snorkeling... 

THIS is What We Saw... and At Sunset we were on the Boat and I saw the "Green Flash" when the Sun set into the Ocean.

We went to a Bar and Asked the Guitar Player to Sing "Margaritaville" by Jimmy Buffet... He Grimaced because at least once a night he was asked to sing that song... But we made him sing it anyway... and we Drank Margaritas Too.

On to Key West and the Hemingway House. 

His writing Studio was above a Carriage House... I recall that the only way to get there was to cross a Rope Bridge... and that was a very difficult thing to do... so it made sure that he was not disturbed by visitors... or his wife... people could stand on the ground and shout to try and get his attention but if the door was closed... he would not be disturbed!  

My brother Went With me and He can Verify That This Story is true! 

Later We Ate Fried Plantains at a Cuban Restaurant in Miami... They Are Great... Similar to Bananas but very Tough in Texture... Can't Eat them Raw... only Fried!

~~~~~~ (~);-} ~~~~~~

Then I Drove Back Home... on the Way I Swam at Many Beaches... Including Fernandina... Near the Florida/Georgia State Line. I don't Remember WHY this was my Favorite Beach... Just THAT it was my Favorite... 

 I went home for a bit of a Rest and then on to the Rainbow Gathering in Pennsylvania and Niagara Falls... 

What IS the Rainbow Gathering? To me, it is Woodstock with amateur musicians and I’m in the band…

Thousands of people go backpacking for a couple of weeks… Every year during the end of June and the beginning of July… The location is different every year but it is always in a National Forest… It’s an intentional temporary village…

Pennsylvania Rainbow Gathering Memories:
I was driving around the East Coast of the USA on Vacation and... 

My hitchhikers said the Gathering was at the intersection of 6 and 666 in Pennsylvania.  I drove there by myself and was greeted by a man that said "Welcome Home, Brother".  I parked and walked in carrying a backpack and sleeping bag... no tent... so the entire time I was sleeping in random different locations... When I arrived at the main campfire circle I noticed that the Gathering was located on a creek and so I wandered downstream to find a nude swimming hole... There by the creek side was a sweat lodge and a group of  bathers. I went swimming and waited for the opportunity to go into the lodge. By this time I had been approached by someone's child who recommended that I not smoke tobacco during my time at the Gathering... I took that advice and soon was feeling the withdrawal symptoms from my addiction... A group left the sweat lodge and I went in... a person asked me to leave as there were two couples that wanted a private sweat and I was a fifth wheel... I got angry because I had no knowledge of a queue waiting for the sweat lodge... and I was freaking from the tobacco "JONES"... I left after arguing a bit and later got to sweat with many other men... The sweat was very therapeutic and helped with my nicotine anxiety. I wandered up to the main circle and met a fellow that manufactured plate glass xylophones and wooden marimbas. I borrowed one and played at the main circle. Then went over to a stage near the entrance and joined a group performing there. I was not wearing any clothes... It's the one time in my entire life that I have performed on stage nude... We mostly played songs like "JINGO" by Santana... that classic beat...
And the song "Infinite Sun"

Lyrics:
We are all one 'neath the Infinite Sun,
forever, forever, forever...
I will never forget you,
I will never forsake you,
forever, forever, forever...

Later that day I met some women and retired to their blanketed campsite for a back rub... One was named Terri and we became friends... Traded phone numbers... She decided to leave the Gathering Early because she wanted to go to the Bob Dylan and The Dead concert at RFK Stadium in Washington DC.
I selected to not go because the Gathering was a better event... In my opinion...

On July 4th at the main circle I found a bowl of Peyote unattended... It had a sign saying Sacrament, Help Yourself... and I did... For the entire day I ate small bits of Peyote... Just a small amount and then wait a half an hour, then another small amount and wait... after about 12 hours I had eaten a LOT and truly got the Mescaline High without barfing. The flavor of Peyote is quite bitter and many people find it to be so bad that they barf... I prefer the slow, steady approach.

I wandered over to a stage made out of hay bales and enjoyed the music. There was a cable slide built into a tree and I rode that often. How it worked: there was a steel cable leading from a platform about 15 feet up in a tree stretched tautly to a stake in the ground... A person sat in a leather seat that was attached to the cable by a freespinning wheel and chain... Jump off the platform and ride the cable to the ground... whee! swing the seat back up the cable for the next rider... That was an amazing ride, home made by Rainbow Gatherers just for our own amusement... Thanks!!!

Then I started dancing with a lady that had coarse brown hair... we became friends and were kissing on the ground when she suggested we go on stage and sing for the rest of the tribe. By this time I was very high on Peyote. She gave me a choice of three songs to perform... the names of the first two songs were incomprehensible so I selected Kumbayah, the third choice. We did go onto the stage and sang for the rest of the tribe... by that time she selected to go to her campsite and we parted ways... I located my sleeping bag and found that another lady was in it... I told her to not worry or leave and we slept together like spoons...

In my reading about the Native American Church, one of the things that happens is that a person high on peyote meets Mescalito and is taught their song... then they perform it for the tribe... My experience was similar... I felt as if the woman with the coarse brown hair was Mescalita and we did perform my song...


A couple of days later I drove home and went out on a date with Terry. We had a fine time and she and her girlfriend wanted a ride to an Ashram in rural Virginia. So the three of us went to visit Dar San Singh near an army base on the Potomac. We could hear the explosions of the warriors practicing with their weapons. The sound provided contrast for what was happening at the Ashram.
The Spiritual Study of Indian Religion.
I didn't quite grasp the message of this GURU (mainly because I could not understand a word he said-heavy accent, talked quietly) so I and the Terry's girlfriend came back to DC and I dropped her off at her house.

Maid of the Mist Boat Ride at Niagara Falls...

Since I Had a Bag of Marijuana in the Car, I didn't want to DRIVE into Canada. So I walked Across the Rainbow Bridge and Had a Labatts Beer in the Hotel. Walked to the Cave BEHIND The Waterfall and Returned to the USA. 

The Border Patrol Person asked me What was my REASON for Visiting Canada and I Said "To Get a Beer" and Started to Explain that Labatts Has Two Different Types of Beer... One for Export to the USA and a Different type for Canadians... 

She was not Amused or Interested and for a Moment there was Doubt IF I was Going to Get Back in the USA... Remember This, Kids: Always tell a Border Guard what they want to Hear! 

and that's how I spent My Summer Vacation!

• 
  

Virtual Journey: West Coast USA - A Drive North From San Francisco on Highway #1 and #101 - Photos and Maps of the Pacific Ocean, Redwood Trees... Plus Links to Many Other Virtual Journeys!

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco as Viewed From Marin County... 

Click on the Pictures to See Them Bigger!

The Lone Sailor sculpture Marin County, CA. 

Rest stop near the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County. We always Stop Here when Driving North because of the Great View of the Bridge and City... and We Can Finally Relax because WE ESCAPED THE CITY! and We're Going Home... 

 

https://goo.gl/maps/5JFtfWDxWTwMKSwf8

Map: H. Dana Bowers Rest Area & Vista Point 

Robin Williams Tunnel in Marin County on Highway 101 going North from San Francisco

Marin County Courthouse Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

The Highway #1 Exit from Highway #101... 

Muir Beach in Marin County, CA 

Map of Muir Beach and Muir Woods

Path in Muir Woods. Marin County, CA

Sign announcing Muir Woods

Slice of Redwood Tree showing Significant Dates in Human History.

View from the Top of Mount Tamalpais

Stinson Beach - Marin County, CA - Bolinas Bay

Hand Painted map of Marin County CA

Olema, California Crossroads... near Point Reyes...

Song: Hippie From Olema #5 -- Youngbloods 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OimAEdj7Qa0

Link to the Map of Olema...

https://goo.gl/maps/UhPGBr7ShNLyTRBGA

~~~~~~ (~);-} ~~~~~~

many more photographs to upload

but I'm Done for today!

~~~~~~ (~);-} ~~~~~~

OTHER Virtual Journeys!

LINK: Set of Photographs of a Drive from San Francisco to Santa Cruz on Highway #1... 

Sutro Tower... Located In San Francisco: High on a Hill in the Center of the City, It Broadcasts ALL forms of Wireless Signals... TV, AM Radio, FM Radio, Police Radio, Military and Cell Phones... It has a Line of Sight Visibility from My Father's House in Los Gatos, CA - 50 Miles Away.

Another View of Sutro Tower... Taken from the Beach at the End of Judah Street.

LINK: Set of Photos of Our Journey From Arcata, CA to a Cabin in the Woods of Mendocino... Hand Built by a Friend... Whole Lotta Hippies Live in those Woods!

Pacific Ocean Near FT Bragg

Back Deck on a Mendocino Cabin

LINK: Photos of the Yurok Loop Trail - Wetland near the Klamath River in Northern California - and Photos of the Golden Bear on the Klamath River Bridge on Highway 101 (near Oregon)

LINK: Virtual Journey: Eureka, Arcata, Trinidad - Visit Northern California's Coast. We Have Our Own Little World Here Behind The Redwood Curtain!

Duane Flaymo Mural showing The Pink Lady House and other Victorian Mansions in Eureka.

St. Francis of the Redwoods Mural in Willits.

On Highway 101 Half Way Between 

Santa Rosa and Eureka.

~~~~~~ (~);-} ~~~~~~

PBS had a TV Show Called "Great Drives" - Actress Teri Garr Drove the Pacific Coast Highway from The Start South of San Diego all the Way North to Fort Bragg... Worth Watching! a Beautiful Woman in a Convertible Sports Car on the Most Beautiful Road EVER! That's Entertainment!

I Can't Find a Free Copy Online... Sorry! 

But Here is a Drone Video of Highway 101... 

~~~~~~ (~);-} ~~~~~~

Other Journeys

~~~~~~ (~);-} ~~~~~~

Virtual Journey: Canada Tourist Guide & Autobiography. We Went on our Honeymoon to Vancouver, BC. We Rode a Bicycle built for Two in Stanley Park... and Many More Wonderful Places to Visit.

https://gvan42.blogspot.com/2022/05/canada-tourist-guide.html

Virtual Journey: Trinity Alps, CA, USA - Drive the Bigfoot Highway (299) From Arcata on the Coast to Redding in the Central Valley. White Water Rafting! Gold Rush Ghost Towns!

https://gvan42.blogspot.com/2022/04/highway-299-virtual-journey.html

Virtual Journey: to the Star Wars Flying Motorcycles Redwood Forest on Hwy 36 in Remote Humboldt County, CA, USA - and the Bridgeville UFO Festival, The Town of Mad River. 

https://gvan42.blogspot.com/2022/03/virtual-journey-hwy-36-remote-humboldt.html

Virtual Journey: Lost Coast, CA, USA on Highway 211 - From Victorian Ferndale to The Beach, the Mountains of Mateel to the Avenue of the Giants. Humboldt County. 

https://gvan42.blogspot.com/2022/03/a-virtual-drive-thru-remote-humboldt.html

Virtual Journey to San Francisco - Boat Ride on the Red and White Fleet. Under the Golden Gate Bridge and Around Alcatraz Island... and MORE!

https://gvan42.blogspot.com/2022/04/journey-to-san-francisco.html

Virtual Journey: The Smithsonian and Washington DC. Instead of Buying Gasoline and Driving There, Take this Magic Trip Instead! A Guided Tour to the Places My Family Wanted to See... 

https://gvan42.blogspot.com/2022/05/virtual-journey-smithsonian.html