Up, up and away and other fears

I went on my first hot air balloon ride four years ago while visiting Sonoma Valley, California.

I was admittedly nervous about it.

The only other time I went ballooning was in the Seattle area for our anniversary. I was relieved when it was canceled due to bad weather.

So how did I fare during my Sonoma balloon debut?

"Are you OK?" asked the Aerostat pilot, Dave Kinsella.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I said unconvincingly.

"If you want to change places with somebody, go ahead," he said.

I gingerly switched positions with another one of the 16 balloon riders on board, putting me closer to the pilot and farther away from the outer edge of the mammoth basket we were riding in.

So when I read in today's papers that two people died in a hot air balloon crash, I wondered if that would prevent me from going up, up and away again.

Right now, I'm not sure.

But I hope not.

I still recall the acres of vineyards awash in autumnal colors that spread out below us like a carpet.

Three other balloons dotted the pale blue sky as the cars and houses and people grew smaller below.

It was magical.

A hot air balloon in Sonoma. Sue Frause photo.

Crossing the border can be a nightmare

Something better be done at the US-Canadian border between Washington and British Columbia before the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

Even though the requirement of having a passport has been delayed by the U.S. House of Representatives until June 2009 at the earliest, they need to ramp up the process of getting people across the border in a timely fashion.

I had a pretty hellish experience traveling from Vancouver to Seattle recently.

Usually, I take Amtrak between Vancouver and Everett, Washington. But on this particular occasion, the train was sold out.

Note: Amtrak has two trains a day between Seattle and Vancouver. It leaves Seattle at 7:40 AM and Vancouver, BC at 6 PM.

My only options were to fly to Seattle for around $250 one way -- or take the bus.

Long story short: I got on the inappropriately named Quick Shuttle in Vancouver at 8 AM. I was in downtown Seattle at 2:45 PM.

That's almost seven hours!

My journey began at the main train/bus station in Vancouver; continued on to Canada Place for the cruise ship passengers; the downtown Holiday Inn; Vancouver International Airport; Campbell River Store (not to be confused with Campbell River on Vancouver Island) and the border crossing at Sumas where we spent nearly two hours.

There were a slough of buses lined up to go through US Customs and Border Protection. After all, it's cruise ship season, and many people were headed to SeaTac for their flights home.

When we finally were instructed to get off the bus, there were only two agents on duty. All our bags had to be removed along with our carry-on items.

Why are passengers on buses scrutinized more than those traveling by train or personal vehicles?

With bus friends Adrian and Lucca.

The only plus-side of this very long day was sitting next to a charming fellow by the name of Adrian Ostropolsky. He and his partner Lucca were on holiday in Canada and the US from their home in Barcelona.

We had a good laugh about our hellish trip.

I've read that tourism by Americans to Canada is down -- I'm not surprised.

But I don't think it's as much about the weak dollar as it is about the long border lines.

Our government needs to figure out a better way of keeping us "secure."

Right now, many "children of a common mother" are finding it easier to travel on their own side of the border.

I love Canada -- it's my second home.

Long lines and all.


Sumas border crossing. Sue Frause photo.