Day 2 of RSVP took us from Bellingham to Vancouver. Photos do better than words in describing our journey. But these words, inscribed on a marker along the way, work pretty well.

“This stone stands to mark the Earth, where a Norwegian youth, named Knute B. Aker, established his homestead, April 14, 1886, and struck with axe, strength and vision to turn a wilderness into productive soil. Through the years, with the help of God, sturdy energy, and determination, he realized his dream: produced a life marked by abundance and happiness as he marched forward with America. In 1950, Knute Aker retired, and leaves this memorial to remind the youth of today that the future is bright, and the Earth a willing ally, for those with the will to do.”

Fascinating skies heading out of Bellingham on Day 2

Hard to get the exposure right while riding

But you get the idea

More fun skies and fields

And trees and skies and fields

And wide open roads and skies and fields

Inspiration along the way

Words to live by

One of many appealing farm buildings

We pacelined with this guy for a great stretch on Day 1. Would have again on Day 2. But a photo stop beckoned …

Gave up pacelining to stop for these shots

And this

First one side …

… and then the other

More junk art

And more

You guessed it

Finally, we left the farm …

… and headed closer to …

Canada!

Picking Canadian berries, while waiting for Customs

More Canadian berries

We had a half-hour wait. For some, it was 90 minutes.

Still waiting.

Made it onto Canadian roads …

… only to gash a tire while racing up a roller.

Timothy went to work …

patching the tire (we later stopped in Fort Langley for a new one) …

while Paula shot what turned out to be Bob’s group!

More of Bob’s group.

And more.

This guy was not in Bob’s group. Skateboarding from Seattle to Vancouver!

Actual Canadian Cyclists coming at us

The Golden Ears Bridge in metro Vancouver

Obvoiusly, it has great lines

Heading into downtown Vancouver!