Toyota with a side of Ford, Subaru, and Jaguar.
My hometown of Bellingham, Wash. was recently voted one of the 50 best travel destinations in the world. (But please don’t come here). We’ve made some best-of lists before. (But never like this). Travel Lemming called Bellingham “a quirky and youthful city,” and was “enchanted by the breadth of outdoor activities nearby.” (But it rains a lot). I kid of course, but like this Toyota, we have a serious identity crisis. If I Subaru Share the Love, will visitors want to move here? If I’m Built Ford Tough, will they finally go home? Here’s a little car trip around Bellingham to help you decide.
Sunrise at Squalicum Harbor, home to many beautiful boats and a surprising number of classic daily drivers. Lucky boaters can tie off near the Bellwether Hotel or other nearby restaurants. Scenic walking trails snake around the waterfront and harbor.
Whenever we’re walking our dog Freddie there, I’m on the lookout for rigs like the Nissan pictured above. This neat little D21 showed no rust, and also a great ’90s paint scheme.
This boat dock is a favorite resting spot for blue herons. Another dock nearby hosted a very vocal sea lion for a few weeks during the holidays.
At the store on the way home from the harbor, I saw this tough looking Camaro. Lugging an 8-pack of Grapefruit LaCroix, I snapped this shot before the owner could come out and beat me up.
Sunset over our neighbor’s Toyota SR-5, just another day in paradise.
Finally, back at the harbor, my wife got this beautiful heron with her new phone. (But the reception here is really bad).
Actually it’s great. (Please visit soon).
Nice finds, my several times per day truck route takes me past a similar Camaro in orange it hasnt moved since I started this job, a 60 El Camino in brush paint orange is a daily drive, same street,
That model Nissan Navara/Terrano just keep going if they dont rust beyond WOF standard, but in that condition quite rare, most have big mud rubber and a coating of various kinds of dirt over a matt paint job, the 2.7 diesels are indestructible, they put them in London taxis, gutless? sure, but that rattle gets the sun up each day. Toyota utes and their offshoots are everywhere still
Thanks Bryce!
Funny you should reference the old Toyota utes. We just saw this little guy at the harbor this very morning.
“I saw this tough looking Camaro lugging an 8-pack of Grapefruit LaCroix” so a bit like a sheep in wolves clothing😀. While I have not been to Bellingham I am very fond of Washington State as a whole. All the diverse geological scenery has something for everyone to enjoy along with the Ocean, the Puget Sound and Salish Sea. Typing this as envious Midwesterner who’s car right now more closely resembles a salt lick for animals then a mode of transportation.
Great pics by the way and we would all enjoy seeing more of them from your neck of the woods if possible.
Congrats, on living in an idyllic region. It is wonderful for the soul.
Three iconic badges. Took me a long time, to warm up to Toyota’s corporate logo. I found it highly generic, when introduced. But the product is so strong, it lifted this brand design.
Yeah, I think I need to take a trip up to Bellingham ASAP. It’s only an hour and a half away for me, and I have a couple of friends who live there. Just a beautiful place.
It’s been some years since I’ve been in your corner of the country, and I even have friends out there who keep urging me to visit. Well, they’re south of you, and I think I’d prefer Bellingham. If nothing else, it’s closer to Canada. That’s always a good thing.
So maybe I’ll come visit. I’ll be quiet about it and try not to bother anyone.
Your reaction to the Camaro is mine exactly. It looks very much like something that someone in high school would have been driving…while they weren’t plotting to beat me up.