During our drive north, we kept pointing out things that were “so Pacific Northwest”: the smell of the air, a fresh, wooded, rainy fragrance, like an old cedar chest or a morning rainfall; the greyish-blue cloud coverage with just a hint of rain in the atmosphere; the pine trees and evergreen trees thick with spiny needles; the signs warning us of moose crossings and bear crossings; the increasing number of Tim Horton’s restaurants; and the coastal views flanked by snow-capped mountains.