"A flying visit - but one that it etched on my memo" Province of British Columbia by GillianMcLaughlin

Province of British Columbia Travel Guide: 8,679 reviews and 19,679 photos

Hmmm - into the breach - Province of British Columbia

Oh Canada - I could drink a case of you

Well. I have to admit that Canada has featured on my list of possible destinations for quite a while, but my first visit came about thanks to the fact that a very good friend of mine moved to the States and settled in Portland, Oregon.

So I had to go and visit her.

And just at the time that visit became feasible, Bob Dylan was touring and would be in British Columbia.

"Hmmm" I thought, the way one does.

So, before I knew it really, Robert and His Darbiness had stepped into the breach and offered me unputdownable offers of good company and more.

"Hmmm" maybe

So I did.

Dylan was playing in one place I had heard of - Vancouver - and I had heard great things about this city.

"Hmmm" I thought, not for the first time.

He was also playing somewhere I had never heard of before: Kelowna. His Darnbiness reassured me that this would be a worthwhile detour...so off I set.

Border guards

Wonderful totem pole welcoming visitors to Canada

Well Having successfully crossed the full height of Washington State, including a completely-by-chance stop-off in a roadside coffee cabin staffed by someone who grew up 10 mile from where I grew up, I reached the frontier -Blaine.

In true VT-style, my conversation with Canadian immigration went something like this:

Him: Hi, where are you going?
Me: To Vancouver
Him: Business or pleasure?
Me: Hum... well to see a Bob Dylan show.
Him: (raised eyebrow) What hotel are you staying in?
Me: I'm not staying in a hotel, I'm staying with a friend
Him: OH, can you give me his name
Me: Er, Robert - RMDW
Him: and his family name
Me: Er, actually I don't know his family name, but I do have an e-mail from him here
Him: So how do you know him
Me: Er... from the internet
Him: What, a Bob Dylan website?
Me: From a travel website

Him: so how long are you staying?
Me: In Vancouver or in Canada?
Him: Both
Me: Vancouver 1 night, Canada 2 or three nights
Him: Where else are you going
Me: Kelowna [pretty small and not very well known town inland BC]
Him: (eyebrows raised again) Kelowna? What are you doing there?
Me: Going to see a Bob Dylan show
Him: Alone?
Me: No, with another friend
Him: (eyebrows shoot off top of head) You have a friend in Kelowna????
Me: No, he's coming from Alberta - His Darbiness
Him: Alberta!!!! [It's a long way away!] Another Bob Dylan fan?
Me: No - er another person I know from the travel website

I was waived through to the sound of much laughter. I wasn't too sure if he was more amused by the 2 Dylan shows or by the fact I was spending this time with 2 men I had clearly never met before but knew "from the internet"

Last visit to Province of British Columbia: Aug 2005
Intro Updated Mar 25, 2006
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Reviews (4)

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Comments (9)

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broadoak2006 May 24, 2006 at 10:36 AM

Really enjoyed your photos and tips- be VERY proud of your work, Best wishes Martin M
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Carmanah May 20, 2006 at 10:35 PM

Your stories are not only well-written, but hilarious!! Thanks for sharing! :D
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Gili_S Apr 16, 2006 at 4:26 PM

lol, the customs asked you even more questions then they asked me, I only answered I have no friends and I do not know :)
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Katmosphere Apr 14, 2006 at 9:41 AM

Thanks for stopping by St. A :) If you ever get in this area, you have a place to stay!!! This page is awesome, I have ALWAYS wanted to see this area....
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Jenniflower Apr 9, 2006 at 2:26 PM

Thanks for the chuckle, Jen x
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alucas Apr 9, 2006 at 11:29 AM

Wonderful writing, Gillian
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sourbugger Apr 8, 2006 at 4:03 PM

it is very rare that hotel tips are the most interesting - but these are real winners, great stuff
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Darby2 Mar 23, 2006 at 5:00 AM

Nice to see, your Gillyness!!! One little error, that street name is Pandosy, named after Father Pandosy, Jesuit missionary...not pine tree ;o))
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GillianMcLaughlin Mar 22, 2006 at 3:13 PM

More to come - Honest! Come back and visit again... please