May 27th, 1980, was the day of Mt. St. Helens (Washington, USA) first eruption in modern times. Hector was then volunteering on Kibbutz Ashdot Ya’akov – Me’uhad (Emek Hayarden, Israel). Neither the Jerusalem Post or Jordan TV could have covered this news in depth. Hector knew nothing of this major event until taking up his teaching post at Lomond School (Helensburgh, Scotland) the following year. The minimal collection of VHS videos in the blossoming Geography department, contained a programme made by the BBC – Horizon series. By retirement in 2015, Hector knew this programme by heart.
The programme was an excellent account of plate tectonics and the events leading up to the May eruption and its aftermath. No movie recording of the eruption exists. So good was this programme, the BBC made a second version with actors reciting the words verbatim by those interviewed for the original programme.
Portland OR and Vancouver were both shown smothered in volcanic ash. Portland (Oregon) may have been heard of, however, Vancouver is surely in Canada. Seattle (Washington) lies between, so why no mention of the latter?
Vancouver? There’s two of them!
Once the 2018 trip to the West Coast was conceived, Vancouver (Washington) was included in the itinerary, albeit just a day trip by bus across the Columbia River from Portland (Oregon). What an excellent day it turned out to be.
There had to be a return, in 2026 this was achieved, so many places gone, three new venues unveiled.
The following brewpubs, bars and restaurants have been visited:
Trap Door Brewing – 2315 Main Street, Vancouver WA 98660
Irrelevant Beer – 1703 Main Street, Vancouver WA 98663
Loowit Brewing – Downtown Pub – 507 Columbia Street, Vancouver WA 98660
Tap Union Freehouse – 1300 Washington St STE 200, Vancouver, WA 98660
Chutneys Indian Restaurant and Grocery Store (3000 SE 164th Ave #100, Vancouver, WA 98683
Trusty Brewing Co. (closed) – 114 E Evergreen Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98660
Old Ivy Taproom (closed) – 108 W Evergreen Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98660
Heathen Brewing Feral Public House (closed) – 1109 Washington St, Vancouver, WA 98660
Hopworks Urban Brewery (closed) – 17707 SE Mill Plain Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98683
still to be visited:
Breakside Brewery- Vancouver – 700 Washington Street, Suite 103, Vancouver WA 98660
A Little Vice – 701 Main Street, Vancouver WA 98660
Pour Choices Pub – 1919 Main Street, Vancouver WA 98660
