Any Ideas or Help?

[judyo]

I haven't responded because I was on the fence about this. I really want to go but I procrastinated and didn't get my passport because my granddaugher, who lives with us, is now in school and I'm the one who gets her up and ready in the morning (and wake my daughter up to take her), so that's why I procrastinated. I realize I created that monster although I'm not sure my granddaughter would make it to school on time every morning if I didn't step in.

Just got off the phone with Dennis Pease who suggested I fly to Seattle and then drive across the border with a certified birth certificate. I hate driving, especially in areas I'm not familiar with, but with GPS it should work.

Any suggestions of a closer airport for me to fly in to (I'm coming from Chicago)? Anyone in the same boat (no passport) that wants to join up somehow? Now I've got to catch up on reading all these posts!

UPDATE - I finally read through all of the posts and see a few people are flying to Seattle and drivng into Nanaimo. Even if I "might" be able to get my passport in time I couldn't take the chance of booking a flight directly to Canada and not having my passport so I'm just going to do the Seattle flight and drive.

I've pm'd 3 people that seem to be doing the same thing so hopefully will be able to pair up on the drive. Seems like most of my "peeps" from the Greatest Real Estate Agent in the World are staying at the Ramada.

I'm holding off on everything until I find out if anyone is interested in pairing up and when their flight is arrivng. Also, I know some are making it a mini-vacation & I'd do the same is hubby was coming but are most people leaving the day after?

[Eric Blackwell]

JudyO-

a) AWESOME to hang out with you! I am thrilled that you are coming!
b) Yeah, I am flying out on Thursday. (flying from Vancouver)
c) Will be at the Ramada.

Malok and I are pairing up on a car (from Vancouver) as well.

I am soooo stoked...(grin)

Eric

[metaylor9]

Judy-

If you cannot find someone to pair up with on the car and don't want to drive, Amtrak offers a train and several buses from Seattle to Vancouver. It might be a little like "Plane, Trains, and Automobiles" but it is an option.

[Malok]

It would certainly be great to see you.

You should have enough time to get your passport IMO. Mine had expired, and was a renewal, and I got my new one back in 8 days [I didn't pay for express renewal, just standard.]

Also, I know some are making it a mini-vacation & I'd do the same is hubby was coming but are most people leaving the day after?

Eric and I are arriving a day early. And leaving the following day after the conference.

[judyo]

I just don't want to take the chance with the passport. Mine would be new and as I read deeper into it it sounds like I have to have a marriage certificate and/or a divorce decree because of my name change and I can't find any of those records since moving 5 years ago. I use my ex-husband's last name because I've used it in real estate for 25 years. If I had changed to my current husband's last name I'd just have to show that marriage cert. which I do have.

I think Mike (Coastal) is doing the same Seattle thing so I'm going to call him today. If he isn't going to make it the next best thing sounded like the Amtrak buses to Vancouver but I doubt I'd be able to meet you guys at the right time since the trip from Seattle to Vancouver will be a few hours. Even if I took the earliest flight I'm sure your straight flight to Vancouver will have long since arrived.

I was up 'til the wee hours trying to figure this entire day of travel out. Best thing would just be trying to meet up with someone in Seattle and drive. But I made the decision to do the buses if I can't do that.

Whew! I almost want to extend the stay for all the hours of travel involved. And I'm more worried getting back to Seattle and having to depend on the different modes of travel and the timing. If I can't find someone to pair up with I might just come out Monday too and meet 'ya when I get there. I might need a lift when I arrive in Nanaimo. I'll give Eric a call if I decide to do that.

[Malok]

I might need a lift when I arrive in Nanaimo. I'll give Eric a call if I decide to do that.

Sure thing. Eric & I are arriving around lunch time in Vancouver, picking up our rental car, and ferrying across - so we should be over in Nanaimo sometime in the early afternoon.

[Dennis Pease]

I just don't want to take the chance with the passport. Mine would be new and as I read deeper into it it sounds like I have to have a marriage certificate and/or a divorce decree because of my name change

Judy, I am so happy you did decide to come To drive or ferry into Canada the certified birth certificate and drivers license is all you need and the last name on those two do not have to match and you do not have to verify how the two are related. I was concerned about that with my wife too. All they care is that you have those 2 items.

We would pick you up but as I mentioned we are ferrying across at Port Angeles and we are going early and making a little vacation out of it. See you there.

[judyo]

I think I have it down. Coastal (Michael Brown) and I will arrive in Seattle around the same time and take the Clipper ferry to Victoria. We'll get a rental car in Victoria. This was suggested to me by Brian Mc who so kindly offered to let me ride with them.

Dennis-Thanks for the push. I'm really excited now. I better register for the event! I just got a certified birth certificate (I'm tired of searching) and that and my driver's license will get me through by land and sea. Gotta work on a passport so I don't have to deal with this in the future. Married (and divorced) women that took their husband's names have more paperwork needed. And I don't know what a woman does when she dyes her hair a different color! Until recently, my driver's license showed me as a blonde and people always did a double take.

See you all in Nanaimo and some of you on the Clipper!

[coastal]

Clipper Schedule

OUTBOUND Mon Sep 15, 2008
Departure / Arrival

Dep. SEA: 7:30 AM
Arr. VIC: 10:30 AM

Dep. SEA: 3:15 PM
Arr. VIC: 6:00 PM


RETURN Thu Sep 18, 2008
Departure / Arrival

Dep. VIC: 11:30 AM
Arr. SEA: 2:15 PM

Dep. VIC: 7:00 PM
Arr. SEA: 9:45 PM

Dep. VIC: 11:30 AM
Arr. SEA: 2:15 PM

Dep. VIC: 7:00 PM
Arr. SEA: 9:45 PM

And here's a link:
http://www.clippervacations.com/vict..._ferry_service

[coastal]

Finally Booked My flight this morning. The last two days I could not find an early arrival into Seattle on the 15th and late departure on the 18th. I think someone canceled yesterday or this morning because I now have the last available seat on a jet leaving Seattle (18th) at 10:00 PM. I'll be arriving at the airport for departure around 4:00pm so if anybody else would like to spend some time in the airport drinking and SEO'ing I'll have six hours to kill.