At the Highway 15 border crossing, from Blaine to Surrey. The guy directing traffic sent me to the empty “pass holder” lane, past the long lines of cars and trucks. Instead of parking and walking in, I rode up to a window.

RCMP border crossing agent [strong jaw, red hair]: Where are you from?
Me: Chicago, Illinois.
RCMP: Did you bicycle all the way from Chicago?
Me: No, I came from Seattle…
RCMP: And what do you do in Chicago?
Me: I’m an urban planner.
RCMP: Is that why you’ve cycled from Seattle instead of driving?

Photos of Seattle, Bellingham, Vancouver, and Victoria (and some of the countryside in between) coming when I get back.