I hope you don't mind some post-dated pics.Remember that boat I used to show the difference between high and low tide? I took this pic from the other side so you could see.... For reasons I can't begin to imagine they tied up the boat at the front end of the dock, knowing full well the tide would go out. It always does. Part of the ebb and flow of life. And when it does ebb, boats docked too close to the high tide mark end up beached. Does this look like a good way to treat a $20,000+ boat?
This is my older brother, Scott, aka Mr. Sudoku. This pic doesn't do him justice; he's usually smiling.
This is his wife, Lora. She smiles a lot, too. Unless she's with Pam, in which case she's one half of a non-stop cackling session.
And this is the Olympic Bakery, my morning wi-fi enabled haunt. To the right of the entry is the seating area and bakery counter. To the left is the sandwich shop that also happens to have a freezer with tubs of some really good ice cream. Don't ask me how I know.Not because anybody cares, but here's my "travel writer's review" of the consumer portion of this trip:
Alaska Airlines is the BEST. They took excellent care of me last December when I had "the incident at 30,000 feet" and they are as pleasant a flight experience as is possible in today's air travel industry. They have all been taking their happy pills; you won't find a more cheerful and helpful bunch of employees. The planes are very nice too - leather seats, special adjustable headrests, much roomier rows, AND you get a little bag of mixed nuts with your free drink! If you have a choice, even if it costs a few bucks more, fly Alaska.
Enterprise ranks 14 steps above Thrifty. Turns out I got the same car as last time, a Dodge Caliber. Chrysler should be embarrassed. The top of the windshield was below my forehead (scrunch over to see a stop light) and the side windows were even lower, which made me feel like I was driving in a cave. But for the same price as Thrifty would have charged me, Enterprise gave me an R/T (spunky V8), electric everything, remote mirrors and even Sirius satellite radio. They don't provide any channel directory so I spend the first 1/2 hour surfing until I found a decent station and then left it there for the week rather than go exploring again for an alternative. Also, no fluid in the widnshield washer tank. Park under pine trees and you'll want to wash the windshield. But I count that an anomaly and would definitely rent from Enterprise again.
The Olympic Bakery is excellent! The giant cinnamon roll is worth the guilt and the coffee is good.
If you ever have the opportunity to get a taste of UnaJean MacDonald's goulash or her Dolly Bars, do NOT pass it up!
In the miscellaneous category:
Any trip to the Olympic Peninsula should be done on a motorcycle! The twisty roads winding through forests and along the waterfront were made for two wheels.
Kayaking should also be required. Inland waterways with islands on every side and salmon and seals breaking the surface would make a nearly ideal kayaking experience.
OK, enough of that. Although this makes me think that getting paid to take vacations and then write about it sounds like an excellent gig! Anybody know how I could get that one?
Yesterday morning I did my run along the road in front of the cabin. It was in the mid-50's and, obviously, at sea level. This afternoon I ran along the street in front of our house. It was 105 degrees and we're at 1,000 feet elevation. I don't know which factor made the difference but today's run wasn't nearly as much fun. Not that the word fun accurately describes yesterday's run, but...you get the idea.
Sundays now include both church and football. Does it get any better?
1 comment:
Glad you enjoyed your trip and you are home safely! See ya tomorrow!
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