Trip Report
A group of 38 enthusiastic Obsidians and friends left South Eugene High School parking lot on Monday, September 15, at 8 a.m. by O'Connell Enterprises bus bound for Expo '86 in Vancouver, B.C. Leader Bette Hack was to be assisted by Lillian Johnson but late Saturday night Lillian was admitted to the hospital. (She has since recovered). We stopped at Aurora for R and R and continued on to Tumwater Falls Park for lunch, all the while expecting rain but the farther north we went the nicer the weather became. The leader kept everyone busy with maps of Expo and lists of exhibits and restaurants in the colored zones as well as guide books and other material describing Expo. We had another rest stop close to Bellingham where everyone had a sample of the leader's zucchini bread. We arrived at the Delta River Inn on the Fraser River in Richmond, our lying for 3 nights, which was indeed a delightful spot and everyone was pleased to have such luxurious accommodations. Many had rooms overlooking the Fraser and the marina.
The next day we left at 8 a.m. and our driver, Richard Terry, gave us a short tour of Vancouver including Queen Elizabeth Park where we walked through the paths and enjoyed the colorful summer flowers. We drove on to Expo and the bus loading and unloading zone several blocks from the East or Main gate which opened at 10 a.m. Our group scattered to do their own thing during the day and it was a real coincidence if we ran into a familiar face among the crowds. The bus picked us up at 2 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday for those wanting to stay for the fireworks and at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Wednesday. In the evening there was much soaking of feet and groaning over tired muscles but everyone seemed to recover after dinner at the Inn and were ready to go again the next day.
We left at 8:30 a.m. and were driven to the 29th Street Station of the Sky Train where most rode over to the Canadian Pavilion where there were crowds of people already and tickets being given out for shows at 3:30 p.m., but we enjoyed seeing the beautiful Canadian Pavilion and all its futuristic gadgets.
Some people saw most of the Pavilions and shows and some just a few depending on energy and lines, but everyone had a good time. The theme of Expo was Transportation and there was the opportunity to ride the Monorail through the colored zones, the Gondola cars, launches and a sternwheeler from one end to the other along False Creek and the Sky Train which is permanent. We took advantage of all of these. There were many interesting places to eat and many foreign foods, some good and some not so good.
On Wednesday evening the airport van transported those who wanted to go shopping to Lansdowne, a new shopping center in Richmond, where we ate dinner and Beulah Barker won $10 on a lottery ticket.
We left for home on Thursday at 9 a.m. stopping at the duty free station and for a delicious lunch at the Purple Rhino in South Tacoma and arrived home at 7:45 p.m. Many thanks were given to our excellent driver, Richard Terry, who took care of many details, knew exactly where to go, and was friendly and cooperative through all the trip. We had traveled 982 miles.
Expo-ers were Annette Aylworth, Blanche Bailey, Dorinda Bankston, Beulah Barker, Elwanda Barnett, Rita Baxter, Wendy Botteril, Teresa Brown, Euphemea Culp, Ingrid Carmichael, Viola Fisher, Minnie Foskett, Doris Frese, Dorothy Glover, Gladys Grancorvitz, Betty Hendricksmeier, Lois Hammond, Beatrice Hill, Jane Hilt, Katie Hodges, Helen Howard, Mae Jackson, Ainsley Jorgenson, Violet Lewis, "Mac" McWilliams, Elwina Meacham, Natalie Morn, Betty O'Leary, Hazel Peck, Bonnie Rickard, Myrtle Sagan, Mignon Sankey, Lila Smith, John, Bess and Tina Tweedt, Frances Witzel and leader Bette Hack.
