[Dick B]

I used to go with a girl from Ballard when I was at the U. I remember lots of fishing boats moored in Salmon Bay during the winter. We had many Norskies and Swedes on Whidbey when I was growing up there in the 40s. A many were fishermen. We lived at the extreme south end of Whidbey, and the distance to the GN tracks along the sound was not that far. In the winter, on a calm cold night you could hear the steam whistle across the water. If this condition existed plus a ring around the moon, snow was expected. I had a cousin that lived in Leavenworth, and he would occasionally take the train across the pass. We would pick him up at the train stop in Mukilteo. Those old steamers were certainly impressive. Anybody out there remember Stan Boreson?

[Schroder]

[Bowregard]

North Dakota was another spot Scandinavians landed before moving to the coast. My great grandfather came from Norway to New York then tried his hand wheat farming in North Dakota before settling down in what became Bothell. For me I always thought the train would be a pleasant way to travel but my experience tells me it is all relative. It was probably a great way to travel when the alternative was horse and buggy but these days you would have to be comfortable with that motion to really enjoy it.

[Brian Curtis]