Across the Bridge

Today we ventured over the bridge into Vancouver, Washington. A big green steel bridge connected the two river banks. Its tall green structure looked like a pile of Pick Up Sticks with so many beams crossing over each other.

At around this time we had to find somewhere to eat so we decided to try this place we had both heard of, Burgerville. I have to say this is the best burger I have ever had. I tried the Tillamook Cheeseburger. If you have never had Tillamook Cheese before than you haven't had cheese. This is sent down directly from the gods. This is "Fast Food" but the exit strategy...not so much. Let me explain. Here, tucked in the northwest corner of this mighty country sits these people that live among big lush green forests. They don't see much sun because of the almost daily dose of clouds mixed in with rain in many months of the year. They take to other indoor activities one of which is called recycling. Now, don't get me wrong, everyone recycles but they have taken it to the next level.

They have the usual bins in the restaurant for Plastic bottles but I had to take a picture of this! Once the line of people left, who waited patiently in line to discard there leftover "Fast Food" meal, I managed to take this picture with out too much attention. Now listen carefully, the Blue Bin is for your plastic and paper, Black Bin is for waste and the Green Bin is for leftover food only. Amazing to see people patiently picking their bundles of waste apart to put into the appropriate bins. The Bin Nazi was hovering nearby to ensure that one didn't throw a french fry into the wrong color bin. Like children we were rewarded with a "Good Job" upon exit. It's a good thing that they are doing here, don't get me wrong, but where is this going to end?

After a big meal like that, one usually has to, how should I put this, make room! Hey where's my privacy around here!

No, stop it. We visited Fort Vancouver which was a prominent Fort along the river and was a major hub in the fur business and of Oregon. The Hudson Bay Company was headquartered here around the 1830's. I was checking out their restroom facilities of their time. Not very good. A bucket of ash to "flush" the waste into the hole. The bad thing, I didn't see a toilet paper holder in there. I don't want to know what was used, if anything.

Today the buildings have been rebuilt to replicate the busy center and give us an insight into the way life used to be. A trading post stands filled with furs, blankets, baskets, gun powder and so many other items that would be used in everyday life. Indians and trappers would trade their hunted furs for necessary supplies. The furs were bundled up and shipped back to England for the growing interest in fur. In the picture above I am holding a wolf. If it had fur it was trapped and sold.

After a great experience at the Fort we headed into town to find a Sports Bar. It is after all the first game of the new NFL season. The best part the game started here at 4 in the afternoon. In time for Happy Hour specials. To make it better, my team, The Washington Redskins were playing.

With a huge screen surrounded by 8 smaller ones around it we sat and watched the Skins lose their opener. It's a long season so I'm not too worried about it.