Yesterday we successfully entered the United States of America, through the incredibly small border crossing of Nelway and Metaline Falls at the north east corner of Washington. As with the airport in Fort St. John, which is also incredibly small, the significance and importance of the guards' jobs is not to be trifled with! We are used to some delays because of our multi-citizenship family, however, this time it took close to three hours AND we were sent back to Canada because our guard was - shall we say - unquestionably thorough!

We would like to thank the Salmo RCMP for their time and generous assistance in additional paperwork that was civilly refused at our first crossing attempt. (They were concerned that we might not return to Canada - Seriously?) Tim mumbled as we approached the border for a second time (to be searched yet again) "I haven't even left the country and I can't wait to return."

We are truly CANADIAN.

We made it to Spokane, Washington, by suppertime and had a good night's sleep thanx to the wonders of modern day "camping" and air conditioning.

This morning we were blessed to share a delicious breakfast with fellow adventurers, Dave and Susan Smith and kids, in their new home in Spokane. Alison and Naomi were in the youth band together at Evangel and Dave and Susan have a remote construction camp /catering company in Fort St. John. We may be getting further from home but the world itself is getting smaller all the time.

Now we are following the Columbia River which has made almost as winding a trip as we have since we last saw it near its source in Canal Flats, B.C. The river looks more like a lake here, huge and majestic and rimmed with windmills! We are headed west to Salem, estimated arrival time: when we get there!

I am writing - on line - as we drive, hooked up to our new Verizon gadget WiFi modem widget thing that lets me do what I want to do when and where I want to do it! (Daddy you would love the little Tablet thingy Tim bought me so I can stay "connected" and Arthur, you would be so proud!)