Tag Archives: Travel WA
Paved Away and Gone From Sight
One of my childhood homes was down in an old funky boatyard, nestled away below an old railroad track. The boatyard was home to many folk working on boats and dreams of returning to the water.
Up a short slope there was the old track and down an embankment on the far side was a beach, partly stones and partly sand. At low tide you could walk all the way to the ruins of an trestle bridge.
Many a meal included shellfish gathered from the beach or fresh vegetables grown in a little garden beside our home. We lived in a small 12 foot trailer parked beside an old step van. The van in turn had been expanded using scrap wood and construction materials to include a workshop alongside it.
Now years later I stand atop the spot where our roof would have been. The entire old funky boat yard is gone. All that remains is a sandy paved driveway and parking area with a lavatory nearby.
I had seen it once before after returning from school in Oregon. I think seeing now has had more of an impact on me. Being older now I feel a greater void when recalling the past and from my memories the life I once lived.
Also gone is the trestle bridge, that at least was still there 18 years ago. Now the beach is uncluttered excepting of course the driftwood, a staple sight in the PNW.
After the trestle beach we drove through downtown and on to the other harbor. I saw connsiderably more buildings around there than we had in the past. The whole town has seen much development.
Other parts seemed the same. The food co-op hadn’t changed a great deal other than some interior remodeling. The public library and uptown businesses still stood. Although, Aldrich’s had been rebuilt. I think I heard it had burned down while I was away at school.
In the harbor I got a good look at another boat my father shares with a delightful lady who lives in the flat below his home.
The beach here was also littered with driftwood and seaweed. The pungent aroma of salt and seaweed could not be avoided.
Prolific Photography
After reviewing my phone I see I took over 300 photos the other day. This included a nostalgic drive past old homes of mine, two beaches, and a walking tour of the housing community my father has retired to.
There is a large community garden with a green house and hefty compost piles. The trees are covered in apples and pears. Truly a vibrant garden with the markings of care and diligence readily apparent.
I start to realize now that my writings cannot keep up with the speed of my photo taking. Its also a bit rude to have my nose in my phone typing away in the presence of company.
What I mean to be saying is that future blog entries for this trip will have to be made after the days activity has ceased. So, if I perhaps begin to refer to actions and thoughts in the past tense, it is only because I am writing post-action.
So, starting the first post for today; I awoke at 2:30 AM. I got around five hours of sleep before I awoke. I think my body has not yet shook off the early hour rigors from the prior days flight.
I managed to fall back asleep after some time before reawakening at 5:40AM, at which time I driven to relieve myself. Afterwards, I layed about in bed till 7AM having heard some movement beyond my bedroom.
To start my day, I had a nice cup of mint tea to chase away the cobwebs and wet my appetite.
My father had also awoken around five and was preparing for breakfast.
In a cast iron pot he placed diced apples from the orchard, dried raisins, cashew nuts, and pumpkin seeds. Today’s morning meal is porridge.
With some rolled oats added to the pot and set to simmer. A hearty repast. Porridge sticks to the ribs and lends energy to muck through the day.
The next post will come sometime this evening and will likely relate to Tuesdays activities.
Driving Across Bainbridge Island
After the ferry boat ride we stopped in at Town & Country Market for some lunch and coffee.
I purchased the Maka Special which was a sushi dish of Yellowfin Tuna and Sockeye Salmon with some rice rolls topped with flavorful sauce and some crunchy bits.
I also grabbed a Power Green Salad; edamame, chick peas, quinoa, rainbow kale, and bulgar. A tasty assortment I must say.
Prices are certainly higher on the west coast. I spent $26.04 on my lunch. Back home that would be enough for dinner for a family of three.
Although, you’d never get such premium fish at such a price in NC. The sushi at Publix is half the size and often you’d be given the cheaper cuts and variety of fish or it would just be topped with Indonesian shrimp.
For coffee, I ordered an 8oz Mocha with a single shot of espresso. I was surprised how fast the drinks were ready. I must have gotten used to long lines at the Starbucks drive thru back home.
After lunch we had a slow drive up north through Bainbridge and along wooded roads off the main drag.
I didn’t realize it initially, but I later heard from my father that we had crossed a bridge to the Kitsap peninsula and then crossed the Hood Canal bridge.
I had been expecting a ferry ride across to Port Townsend, but that turned out to be unnecessary with the rout we took. The detour also allowed my father to show me the slip where his sailboat Cornelia is moored.
After visiting the slip we drove through Hadlock and into Irondale an then we took a more scenic route into Port Townsend.
I got to see the old spots where I and my mother used to live back in the woods in a trailer. I also saw homes and properties where schoolmates once lived.
We passed by Discovery Bay and Cape George. I had friend from Cub Scouts who lived in the private community at Cape George. I recall his mom was our Den mother before we graduated to Boy Scouts.
Thanks for reading!
Gallery: Down by the Water
After my father picked me up from the airport, we drove in his little electric-blue Prius to the Seattle ferry boat. We took the Bainbridge ferry “Tacoma” to Bainbridge Island. It was maybe a 20 minute crossing.
We had a 45 minute wait before the boat arrived which we spent walking down the waterfront in Seattle. The overpass was gone and the waterfront had gone through a lot of beautification improvements.
Landed, looking for Parking Space
The pilot let us know it’s a busy morning, their just waiting to be assigned a parking space. It shouldn’t take terribly long though.
This gives me a chance to photograph some planes on the flat and steady earth. I realized as I was shooting planes, I don’t know what my own plane looks like. It was still dark when we boarded.
I am at the back of the plane, and this time, I won’t get to skip ahead. So I’ll just relax till the line peters out.
My father is waiting at the Cell Parking lot while I disembark. After I get my bag from the claim area, we can rendezvous somewhere nearby.
Gallery: Flight from Carolinas to the PNW
The trip has been smooth for the most part. I got some nice shots of the flatlands and hilly sections before we rolled over the Rockies.
It looks like I’ve got just an hour and twenty minutes left in the flight. Time for another snack!
I decided to open the packet of Biscoff wafer and Ghirardelli chocolate from the earlier snack cart. I still have most of the vodka left over. It was too strong for me.
I think that body of water is Warm Springs, but it’s difficult to tell from the flight map. When I zoom in I don’t see any lakes, only rivers.
The refreshments came by again and I asked for more Biscoff, I happily received two packets. I also got a second cup of the Pike Place coffee. Two creams no sugar, just right for my tummy.
Maybe the coffee is free because they didn’t ask for my card the second time. Or maybe the last call on snacks is free. I don’t know. My receipts have not arrived yet.
Usually digital receipts are instantaneous so I am a little confused. I spent $14 on the chicken sandwich and the first round of drinks was $11 (coffee, tonic, and spirits).
I should be getting a 20% statement credit on the in-flight purchases. That’s one of the perks available with the Delta Blue card.
I should mention, since I booked the cheapest airfare with Delta Air, my flight did not qualify for earning Miles. It is a bummer that I spaced out applying my saved points to this trip. I could saved $200 on my $300 tickets.
Next post Landed, Looking for Parking Space
Previous post Gallery: Up in the Air
Gallery: Up In the Air
Well we did the taxiing down the runway and then with a roar we took off. I recorded the ascent but it’s too big a file to upload on this slow in-flight wifi. The connection says 200 mbps, but the upload was crawling by.
The above video is a trimmed 30-second clip.
The Seatback “experience” Delta offers does not include any international titles or content. I’ll be sticking to my phone for the remainder of the flight.
Unfortunately, my charging cable is in my pack, which got checked earlier at the gate. I remembered to grab my headphones but I forgot the charge cable.
For snacks, I’ll be getting the Biscoff wafers. The little screen is telling me they also have pink lemonade for breast cancer, which is the same event they were running on my last flight in 2019. I suspect it isn’t really a special but a standard offer.
I might try the Du Nord Foundation vodka and Fever-Tree tonic water. I like quinine and it says it has bitter orange in it too. Might as well get everything since I rarely travel.
I’m not sure if my bladder could handle also ordering a cup of Starbucks Pike Place. That’s the other item on offer in the menu. I am supposed to get double stars on flight days but I’m not sure if I have it set up properly to get credit.
Next post Flight from the Carolinas to PNW
Previous post Up in the Air
At Airport Awaiting Boarding
The drive to the terminal was pleasantly quick despite the early morning commuter traffic. Going through the airport queues took considerably longer.
I am now sitting outside Gate D1 awaiting the pre-flight boarding announcement heading to the Seattle-Tacoma Airport (SeaTac).
Apparently something I hit at the checking kiosk meant that I was volunteering to check my one free carry on bag. Because I had a white tag on my pack, I got to go to the head of the line for boarding.
So, I am now sitting at the very back of the plane in seat 31F near the bathrooms and the staff area. We still have about 20 minutes before the flight occurs.
There is background music playing in the plane. It’s like classic elevator muzak. Not my taste, but I’ve really only listened to kpop since 2009. I’m not exactly open to new experiences.
Thankfully, flight is not a new experience. I quite enjoy flying actually. Like many children, I wanted to be an astronaut. Plane rides are about as close as I can get to space.
Next post Gallery: Up in the Air
Previous post A short trip to Washington
Going on a short vacation to WA
I am getting ready to fly out tomorrow morning for a trip to visit my father in Washington state. I will be flying out from RDU in the wee hours of the morning and touching down around second breakfast (10AM).
I’ll be flying on Delta Airlines. I booked the flight on my American Express Delta Blue. Unfortunately, I forgot to use my accrued miles for the booking. I tried asking a phone rep if they could apply a credit using my points, but they wouldn’t allow it. I’ll just have to keep saving my miles for now.
It’s about a 6 hour flight, so I will be needing to grab a bite to eat before I ship out. I am thinking I’ll swing by the Starbucks in the terminal for something to nosh on before boarding. The last time I flew, they gave us crackers and liquor. I probably can’t count on similar amenities.
I’ll just be packing my phone, watch, and their chargers for electronics. I had planned on bringing my DSLR, but my mother needs it for recording, so I’ll stick to the phone for my photography.
That should actually be easier for uploading, I won’t need to fumble around with memory cards. I can only imagine losing a MicroSD card in-between the seats mid-flight. It might be something like that one time I lost an SD card down the A/C vent in my Nissan LEAF.
I expect to be away for about a week, so I won’t be playing games much. Sadly I think the first Landmark contesting period for the second season of Rome will be while I am airborne.
I have paused all of my eBay shops and this afternoon I swung by the post to ship the out the last few parcels. I am looking forward to finishing out this 4th quarters sales on a high note and beating last years totals.
Thanks for reading!
The next in this series is At Airport Awaiting Boarding
Fat Wallet Refugee 