Before setting sail onboard the Coho ferry to Greater Victoria from Port Angeles, Washington, American Kathy Iredale had an important decision to make 香蕉视频直播� what to wear?

Not because she was concerned about her appearance, but because she wanted to make a statement. One that made it clear to any Canadians she encountered en route that she was in no way a supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump and his tariffs against his neighbours north of the 49th parallel.

香蕉视频直播淚 was nervous,香蕉视频直播� said Iredale, who lives in Port Angeles.

With strong ties to Vancouver Island, Iredale has been making regular trips across the water for decades 香蕉视频直播� she has a deep fondness for Canada and its culture, she says, especially the people, even though they can be a bit too nice and apologize too often.

But this time, it香蕉视频直播檚 Iredale who can香蕉视频直播檛 apologize enough 香蕉视频直播� an irony not lost her on.

香蕉视频直播淚t's kind of flipped,香蕉视频直播� she says.

Her way of apologizing is a long-sleeved pale blue shirt, emblazoned across it 香蕉视频直播楬arris Walz 香蕉视频直播� Unity over division香蕉视频直播�, which she wore for her Coho trip.

香蕉视频直播淚 wanted everybody to know this is who I voted for, this is who I'm all about,香蕉视频直播� she said.

The only problem with her choice 香蕉视频直播� it shows the American flag flying proudly, she says. 香蕉视频直播淚t should be upside down 香蕉视频直播� it would be perfect if it was in distress, because that's when the American flag is upside down 香蕉视频直播� and our country is, it certainly isn't 'united'.香蕉视频直播�

To her surprise, Iredale says she experienced no animosity on her trip across the border. But then again, she says, Canadians are nice people.

香蕉视频直播淚 don't know that the Canadians have any ill will towards us as people,香蕉视频直播� she says.

Waiting to welcome Iredale to Vancouver Island was her Langford pal Sandy Sifert.

Friends for over 30 years, the pair have stuck together through thick and thin, enduring two husbands, fire, flood and a global pandemic. 

But now their Canada-U.S. union faces a new challenge: Trump's trade war.

香蕉视频直播淚 won't go to the States, I won't step foot in that country, I don't feel safe,香蕉视频直播� says Sifert.

Luckily for Sifert, Iredale is happy to make the trip 香蕉视频直播� any excuse to escape to the country she describes as her 香蕉视频直播渟afe haven.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚 can kind of feel the difference when I'm coming across, even on the ferry, all of a sudden I'll just kind of [breath a sigh of relief] 香蕉视频直播� and it's because I'm in Canadian waters,香蕉视频直播� Iredale says.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 just very relaxing, even though there香蕉视频直播檚 craziness up here [in Langford] too 香蕉视频直播� but it香蕉视频直播檚 not my crazy, it香蕉视频直播檚 Sandy's. I香蕉视频直播檝e got my own, obviously, in regards to all kinds of stuff in the States, but here it's just different.香蕉视频直播�

And her 香蕉视频直播渟afe haven香蕉视频直播� has been just that, with no hostility shown towards Iredale on her travels around the city, says Sifert. 香蕉视频直播淲hen Kathy revealed she was American, [people] were all so kind and engaged,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淰ery supportive of the people of America, not the president.香蕉视频直播�

But while the warm Canadian welcome has remained the same, a change in Sifert香蕉视频直播檚 shopping habits has meant Iredale has had to go without some creature comforts 香蕉视频直播� most notably her favourite cream soda.

香蕉视频直播淚 saw it was made by Pepsi and I'm like, 香蕉视频直播楴ope,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� says Sifert, a staunch 香蕉视频直播楤uy Canadian香蕉视频直播� supporter, who very reluctantly accepted Iredale香蕉视频直播檚 gift of a bottle of hair conditioner, made in California.

香蕉视频直播淚t's from a 香蕉视频直播榖lue state香蕉视频直播�, so I told her I'll keep it,香蕉视频直播� says Sifert with a laugh.

As well as understanding of why Canadians are taking a stand at grocery stores across the country, Iredale says she also has huge admiration for how quick people took action. 

香蕉视频直播淚t was just a united thing and if nothing else, wow, it's made Canada way more united as a people, that's pretty impressive 香蕉视频直播� when a whole country comes together just like that [clicks her finger].香蕉视频直播�

Members of a Canadian-U.S. softball league, the pair met in the early 香蕉视频直播�90s. When Sifert met her now ex-husband on the opposing American side, she moved to Port Angeles, where she stayed for 10 years.

With their husbands best friends, Iredale found herself in charge of organizing Sifert香蕉视频直播檚 wedding reception 香蕉视频直播� the ceremony took place during the spring opener of the men's league on a baseball field in Port Angeles.

香蕉视频直播淲e just hit it off,香蕉视频直播� said Iredale.

香蕉视频直播淭he best part of my marriage was my friends,香蕉视频直播� adds Sifert, who moved back to Langford a single woman in 2003. 香蕉视频直播淓specially Kathy, she comes up here about every three months.香蕉视频直播�

But while their friendship has remained strong as Canada-U.S relations fracture, others have not weathered the storm.

香蕉视频直播淚 have friends there that I will not speak to anymore,香蕉视频直播� says Sifert. 香蕉视频直播淭his is tearing apart families and friendships 香蕉视频直播� 32 years of solid friendship with my friends in Port Angeles and Sequim 香蕉视频直播� our relationships are fractured.香蕉视频直播�

While Sifert has clashed with friends online, Iredale experiences conflict offline too. As while the majority of voters in Clallam County picked Kamala Harris for president, Trump supporters are marking their mark in the area, says Iredale.

香蕉视频直播淗aving worked in the bar industry, I have a lot of acquaintances that are on that that 香蕉视频直播楾rump level香蕉视频直播�,香蕉视频直播� she says. 香蕉视频直播淎ll that gets talked about in the bars and stuff, so I don't even go there. It's just so exhausting to go out in public and just hear this.香蕉视频直播�

Similar to her democratic-supporting shirt, Iredale tries to make her feelings known by displaying a 香蕉视频直播榁ote Harris-Walz香蕉视频直播� sign in her yard. She even raised the maple leaf outside her home for National Flag of Canada Day 香蕉视频直播� a move that raised some eyebrows in her neighbourhood. 

It香蕉视频直播檚 a reality that Iredale is not looking forward to return to 香蕉视频直播� she would prefer to stay in Langford, away from the 香蕉视频直播淭wilight Zone香蕉视频直播� with her pal Sifert.

"It kills me that this is killing her," says Sifert.

But thankfully for the American, she does have many allies around her, including her son, who was one of the many Port Angeles residents who welcomed the Coho in February, with the first Victoria visitors of the year onboard.

Although Iredale has come to Langford to visit her long-term friend, could there be another reason for her trip? 

With the price of eggs soaring in the U.S., some Americans have attempted to source their eggs from Mexico and Canada. In fact, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized more than double the amount of egg products in January and February this year, compared to the first two months of 2024.

香蕉视频直播淥h I don香蕉视频直播檛 need to do that,香蕉视频直播� laughs Iredale. 香蕉视频直播淚 have an in-law that has chickens, so I have a source for my eggs, I don香蕉视频直播檛 need to smuggle any.香蕉视频直播�

The only thing Iredale admits she will be taking back across the border are her birthday presents from Sifert.

香蕉视频直播淓verything was made in Canada,香蕉视频直播� says an emphatic Sifert.