More Scenes from the Beach

These photos were taken by Mom's partner Cindy of Terra Dolce Photography. You can find other, more abstract photos of our trip on her website.

Scenes from the Beach

For the second summer in a row, Mom & Cindy have rented a beach house in Manzanita and all us kids descended upon it last week for some fun, food and family time. Being 7.5 months pregnant did curtail my activity level to the point that I did very little unless I could sit down often and have handy access to a bathroom but otherwise it was delightful. We had 4 nights down there and among the general highlights were:

• Meeting Austin's new lady friend
• A very successful crabbing expedition by all the guys plus Cindy & Kisha
• Going shopping with my mother & cousin
• Eating pie
• Frisbee throwing with Jamie, Angela & Ken
• Watching everyone get silly on very strongly mixed margaritas
• Celebrated Mom & Ken's birthdays
• Kite flying by Austin, Cindy & Ken
• Mountain hiking by Cindy & Ken
• Playing a rousing game of Catch Phrase
• Seeing the Seaside aquarium, reliving our childhood beach trips there and absorbing all the "humanity" that flooded Seaside on Saturday
• Plus lots of chatting and conversation

Cindy has a lot more pictures to illustrate these adventures but she literally took thousands of pictures so she's got to sort them out first. In the meantime, here are a few of mine...

Band of 4 Harley Motorcyle Trip 2009

It's been more than a week since Ken returned from his epic motorcycle trip with his 2 older brothers and cousin. Several years of talking about it finally culminated into some serious commitment late last year. Ken and his oldest brother, Ed, did a good deal of planning and created a very ambitious itinerary. In 4 days, they covered 1200 miles from Ocean City, Maryland to Point Pleasant, West Virginia and back.

From an outsider's perspective, it served as a tribute to Ken's father & family as their west-most destination of Point Pleasant was where Ken Moore Sr. grew up. It also seemed like a midlife crisis-averting, male bonding event involving big motorcycles, bar food and winding roads that they would all remember for a long time. And that's very important considering what's coming up for Ken & me in the near future. Ken will need to hold tight and savor those memories because it might be a little while before he can do that again. But I am glad for them that they pulled it off, there were no injuries or arguments and they had fun. There are lots of pictures and stories but I'm not sure if Ken intends to do a formal summary or slide show. In the meantime, here are a few images that give an idea of what it was about.

Their planned route

(Click to enlarge)

The Moore Boys stopped by their childhood home in Bowie, MD and luckily the current owners of the house were very understanding. A very faithful recreation of a photo taken in Aug 1969 (almost 40 yrs ago).

(Click to enlarge)

Band of 4 on Skyline Drive in Virginia: cousin Allen, brother Mike, Ken & brother Ed. That is Allen's Chopper in front by the way. The rest of them had Harleys which tend to be more reliable and comfortable on longer roadtrips. The guys rotated through the Chopper so Allen wouldn't have to spend so much time on it--I guess it was fatiguing but it certainly does have a look all it's own.

Ken on his rented Hog

The guys all wearing the shirts Ken designed to commemorate the trip while stopped in Luray, Virginia.

A very colorful and tattooed mechanic they met during their journey.

The Moore Boys molesting the Mothman statue in Point Pleasant, WV.

People asked me if I was nervous about Ken doing the ride and being away from me for a full week in our 7th month of pregnancy. Because I had my cousin up visiting in Seattle during that time (see next post), I wasn't so concerned for the day-to-day stuff but clearly his safety was on my mind. All 4 guys are very experienced riders and I knew they would look out for one another. Also Ken had strict instructions to check in everyday and he enabled his phone to be GPS locatable via a Google app called Latitude so I was able to track their progress. Ah technology.

Hand-picked crabs and pondering big issues

This picture was taken at a seafood distributor during our recent vacation in Virginia. While most crab meat removal can be done by machines, this establishment retains the hands-on approach of times gone by. It was a sight I'd never seen before and, as I am prone to do, I snapped a picture to remember and share the scene.

At first glance, this picture doesn't seem all that extraordinary. It does not seem very controversial, provocative or a catalyst of serious introspection, but it was...

I like to think of myself as a citizen journalist sometimes. Through my life-long interest in photography to my college education in broadcast news & reporting to travel journals to my sporadically maintained blog, I've had vehicles of documenting the world around me and evaluating it's deeper meaning. Part of this comes from not wanting to forget events, people or places and part of it is the same compulsion to "collect inherently unique things" as you would stamps, baby teeth, Depeche Mode bootleg CDs or sea glass.

This scene at the seafood distributor is striking because if you flashed back 50 years, this would be the same scene you'd find: rows of people skillfully separating lump crab meat from the shells and nasty entrails all day long. What that means on one level is that the skill to hand pick crabs is still as relevant today as it was years ago. On another level (one that people don't like to dwell on) is looking at who was doing the work then and who is still doing the work now. It's a reminder that things change slowly in the South.

It's also apparent when we visit that part of the country that despite it being 2009, there is still a palpable separation between Blacks and Whites but with a thin veneer of tolerance from both sides. What results is the creation of 2 different worlds and on occasion they touch. So as Ken and I strolled into this room to purchase the crab meat, there was a definite feeling in the space that we were outsiders. But that is true on many levels: we're from the West Coast, our socio-economic situation is different and honestly, our exposure to minorities is quite limited. (Despite being partially a minority, I don't have that much exposure to very many non-Caucasians in my life.)

When I asked the male black foreman if I could take a picture, he was cheerful and turned to ask the room full of ladies if I could do it. There was muttering but no real disapproval. Ken is quick to note that there was no overt approval either. So I snapped the picture before anything else could happen. Part of my zeal for doing this was that in times past, I have hesitated or waited too long and a moment in time (that would never happen again) passed me by. I took a risk and determined this scene would be worth capturing.

As we got into the car, Ken expressed his concern that I had not been sensitive to the situation. To these women, I must have looked like a yuppie tourist who saw them as nothing more than a spectacle, he surmised. And--he continued--my actions would further reinforce their disdain for all we represented. I of course, did not see it this way or at least had not intended it this way. I thought (maybe naively) that they would be pleased that another person recognized their work as something worthy of capturing.

I was bothered by a lack of consensus between the two of us and pondered during the 15 minute car ride to the house and for awhile once we got there: what these women could have been thinking, what my actions said about me and what this situation said about our society. I played scenarios in my head to test if I would have acted the same way if I were black, if the ladies had been all Asian, if the ladies had been college students, if the ladies had been men... And oddly enough my perspective changed in the different scenarios in so much as being able to relate or not relate to the different groups and thus my comfort level and cavalier attitude about taking the picture changed.

But I didn't regret taking the picture. It was worthy of capturing and I wanted these ladies to know that somehow. Not figuring them to be evidentlyblog readers, I printed the picture and wrote a thank you note, letting them know how much I appreciated their skill for delivering an excellent product (which went into some delicious crab cakes Ken's mom made, by the way) and that seeing them at work was a highlight of our trip--unique and worthy of respect. Ultimately, I can't control what these women think of me but at least I let them know that I recognize their hard work and meant no harm.

East Coast Recap: Late June to Early July

Our last East Coast trip prior to the baby's arrival was packed with visiting and a good amount of driving. But we made the most of our time and enjoyed the our relative freedom as a couple. Hitting my 7th month of pregnancy while we were there, my stamina, tolerance for warmer, more humid temperatures and the ability to stay on my feet for long stretches notably decreased. Luckily we had no health issues or concerns during our trip.

Towson, MD
Our first stop on our whirlwind East Coast Trip was Towson, MD, a suburb of Baltimore and an hour & a half NE from the Capitol. The weather was pleasant and humidity bearable during our visit. It was the first time we'd seen our friends the Dan & Jill in their new home since they moved there last year. We also got a chance to spend time with their delightful 19-month old daughter Hannah. Unfortunately, we did not capture any pics of Jill but enjoyed spending time with her on Sunday and in the evenings after work. Dan is a stay-at-home dad who seemingly has endless energy to entertain Ms. Hannah. Ken and I struggled to keep up with the twosome who showed us their favorite playground and toured us through the quaint and windy roads of Towson. Dan also pointed out the swim center where Michael Phelps trains, the area where the Pimlico Race Course (home of the Preakness Stakes) is and took us to my favorite store, Whole Foods.



Naturally it's great for Ken and I to have exposure to children at different stages of development and to see the variety of temperaments in our friends' children. Hannah is a very compassionate and curious individual who fearlessly embraces the world. She also has 2 of the coolest parents who provide reassurance and foster an inclusive environment but don't fret or fuss about inconsequential things. It's really a joy to witness.

We also took a day trip to Philadelphia to visit two artist friends who recently moved there. I did not eat a Phily cheese steak because for me, one per lifetime is enough. It was great to see Krim & Maria who live in a transitional part of town in a 3-story walk up. It must have been built back at the beginning of the 1900's because there were painted over spigots sticking out of the walls for gas lamps. The character and Bohemian vibe seems perfect for a pair of artists. Naturally the economy isn't very forgiving right now to people who live for their art so it is a challenge to make a living. But we have confidence, that between the two of them, they will find opportunities to get them through this tough time so that they can get back to bringing beautiful creations into the world.

That night during the drive back to Towson, Ken and I endured the most severe torrential rainstorm plus lightning and thunder show that I have ever seen. The wiper blades on high could not handle all the water while semis on the highway still roared past us at 60 mph. The lightning display put the fireworks we'd see for 4th of July to shame and we managed to keep the car from hydroplaning despite all the water. My understanding is that this is not uncommon for the East Coast. It simply reinforces how tame the Western PNW weather really is--there is nothing extreme about it. And that is fine with me.

Eastern Shore, VA

After a few days in Towson, we made our way south to Ken's folks' place. This is always quite a change of pace and scenery compared to the DC area--leaving behind the tangle of highways, modern buildings and fast-paced life for the more rural and small town Americana surrounds. After a few stops to visit old friends of Ken's, we arrived at my in-laws house in Onancock, VA. Ken's brothers, step-brothers and families would all be converging there for the 4th of July weekend also.

It's been a long time since I've celebrated a 4th of July outside of Seattle. We usually watch professional fireworks at Lake Union but this year we went back in time. It was as if we stepped into the 1950's, starting on July 3rd with an ice cream social and the community band which played patriotic songs to a packed park full of townsfolk.

Later that night, we had some indoor fun as Ken had created a scavenger hunt for our 8 & 11-year-old step-nephews. This activity had been quite a hit last year when Ken had run a similar activity while the boys were down staying with Ken's mom & step-dad. This time he went to great lengths to make puzzles, riddles, word scrambles and other neato clues (such as writing in lemon juice and requiring the boys to hold it over the toaster to make the letters appear.) He really gets into it and the boys have a lot of fun trying to figure it out. Their final prize was $5 each. I'm so excited because my folks did that kind of stuff for us when we were growing up so I know we'll be carrying that on for our kids.

On the 4th, we took a cruise around the local waterway on Ken's step-brother's deluxe boat, creating wakes for Ken's step-nephews to innertube over. Ken and his 2 brothers were together again for the first time in 2 or 3 years and you could tell they were all excited about their upcoming motorcycle roadtrip. But what small town on 4th of July would be complete without a parade? Members of the family decorated a truck & flatbed and pulled together some instruments to make it more festive. I opted out of riding on it due to my incessant need to use the bathroom and my growing lack of coordination & balance that might be needed ride on the "float." Ken's friend Dave showed up right before the parade as did Dave's lady friend and her daughter so we all got to enjoy it together from the sidewalk. I think there were more people in the parade than watching it but it was delightful nonetheless.

The parade ended in a park by the water where many folks including our family had pre-placed BBQs and chairs. We dined on the quintessential 4th of July BBQ food as well as some pasta salads, shish kebabs and cold beverages. I was definitely a little paranoid about the bugs especially mosquitoes and ticks so I kept my insect repelling clothes on (which is why I look a little over dressed in the pictures) and applied a layer of DEET. The night ended with an amateur fireworks show which hearkened me back to when dad would buy fireworks and shoot them off in the front yard at our farmhouse back in Ridgefield when I was a kid.

Everyone returned to the house and many of the adults kept the party going by singing karaoke to songs of the 60's & 70's. Not really being my decades of choice, I focused on a piece of homemade cake that one of the gals had made and enjoyed that very much. Ken and I retired early to bed, missing an element of drama that occurred after midnight involving a missed step, a double sprained ankle and a trip to the emergency room by one of the extended family members. She ended up having to get a brace and be on crutches for awhile, but luckily she didn't break anything.

The following day, we enjoyed a smaller lunch/dinner gathering with Ken's folks, brothers & uncle/aunt where we had homemade crab cakes plus lots of other yummy sides. We then decided to drive to Mike's (Ken's middle brother) house in Salisbury to see their newly remodeled home and spend the evening up there. The 3 brothers were eager to watch Wild Hogs to get them in the spirit of the mid-life motorcycle trip that they were about to embark on. Needless to say, that movie is a little ridiculous but they all enjoyed figuring out which of the 4 characters they were most like--kind of what gals do with the Sex and the City cast. Each of the brothers and Ken's friend Dave took turns riding Mike's new Harley around the block.

During the hour-long car ride back to Onancock, Eddie the oldest of the brothers (and a stanch Republican) started a conversation/debate regarding alternative energy, deregulation and Obama policies. Ken and I did pretty well making our side of the case while remaining respectful and calm. Eddie is smart and a great debater so it's a fun challenge to see how well I can articulate and defend my point of view. But with such a range of views and political philosophies in this family, it is prudent to be mindful not to step too heavily when politics come up. I forget sometimes how in Seattle/Western PNW we are surrounded by many liberally like-minded people and that is not how the rest of the country necessarily thinks or operates.

Last Monday, I returned to Seattle and Ken stayed as his motorcycle trip would commence the next day. Though he just completed the trip, I've only spoken to him for a few minutes each day he was on the road. I expect a full story when he gets back tomorrow and will post some pics--if he'll let me. The only one I've seen thus far is this one:

The Wetus goes to Washington (DC)

Yesterday we had a lovely visit to Downtown Washington DC. We had lunch with Aunt Mary and then decided to go down by the White House to see if we could spot an Obama. Instead we came up against some awful traffic where we literally moved 4 blocks in 45 minutes. But right when we were going to give up, we found a parking spot within a block and a half of the White House. Very picturesque.




As an added bonus we found out what was stopping traffic: a protest against human rights violations aimed at the visiting Columbian President. We had seen some limos & blacked out SUVs go by us when we were trying to get around and then lo & behold just a block away from the White House there was this rally...




It was very exciting. And then as we went back toward the White House, I noticed men in black watching from the roof. It must be the snipers! It doesn't get much better than that. After we got our fill of presidential grandeur, we went on a quest for ice cream and found some frozen custard.




As always, it was a fabulous visit with Aunt Mary who has lived in DC for over 50 years. She and her family have worked in various parts of the government in DC and she narated which building was what as we drove through town. You can tell the city is getting ready for the 4th of July festivities. Though we will be down in Virginia by then, it looks to be one major party.

East Coast Bound and Thoughts about Michael Jackson

Clearly the Wetus is getting ready for our trip to the East Coast today and self-adjusting to the time difference because it woke up at 5 am with hiccups and has been active ever since. That's fine I guess because it's so bright outside anyway, so I may as well get up. We are off to the DC, Maryland, Virginia area to do, as I have been calling it, "The Farewell Tour." Farewell, to our transcontinental traveling twosome days. There is a lot of visiting packed in including a stay with the Vaslows who moved from Kirkland to Maryland last year, seeing many of Ken's childhood & school friends and a mini-reunion with Ken's family on the 4th of July.

I am looking forward to getting away and seeing all these fine people. I hope my energy level sustains so that it can be a truly enjoyable time. The weather is forecasted in the 80's with 40-50% humidity. We shall see how I do with that. I'm a little nervous about how many ticks they have over there. An alarming number of Ken's family have Lyme Disease from those little pests so I am coming prepared with some pretreated insect repelling clothing and DEET spray in a concentration safe for pregnancy. But being more of an indoor person myself, it might not be too hard to stay out of the ticks' way. At 27 weeks pregnant and still showing placenta previa, I have also been advised to travel with a copy of my medical records (check), know where all the Level III NICU Hospitals are (check) and not lift, strain or engage in any form of exercise (...) Poor Ken, he's going to be schlepping bags this whole vacation.

One very cool thing about this trip is that Ken, his brothers and cousin are going to rent Harleys and take a multi-day motorcycle road trip to revisit some of the significant places in their childhood. They have been talking about doing this for a few years and the timing is pretty good considering what's coming up. Ken has been helping plan the route and make accommodations.

As for this past week, we celebrated our 4th Anniversary which culminated with a lovely dinner at Waterfront Restaurant. Our booth table had a view of Elliott Bay where there were sailboat races going on. It was spectacular. Ken and I both agreed while we like the look of sailboats and they are a fun challenge, we are so glad we don't have to maintain one.

Ken also gave me a cute card in which he made a list which I will share...

Top 10 Reasons I Love my Prius-- I mean, Wife

1. Still Shiny
2. Environmentally Friendly
3. Unlocks as I Approach
4. Low Emissions
5. Sleek Lines/Aerodynamic
6. Roomy (good for carrying kids)
7. Great Safety Rating
8. Saves Me Money Everyday
9. Quiet "Ninja Mode" Feature
10. Makes Me Smug

Also on the day of our anniversary, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson died so that kicked off a little introspection. Particularly in Michael Jackson's situation as more information comes out that he had been allegedly addicted to pain killers and surrounded by people who enabled access to substances furthering his destructive spiraling. It reminded me of the Anna Nicole Smith train wreck and the nearly identical Britney Spears situation. Britney at least had her family to save her from that fate but it strikes me that these quite famous and seemingly rich & powerful people attract to them the most sinister associates and "yes-people" who separate them from reality and reason. When you add drugs into the mix, the celebrity at the center of it is no longer in control and their miserable lives become a spectacle that the masses consume as entertainment.

Along the same lines, I guess I don't understand the appeal of reality television. It seems worse in a way because it's more an "I want to be famous" motivation and less an "I want to be a professional entertainer". Because once famous, a reality star has to deal with the pitfalls of keeping fame, continual pressure to be outrageous and a misplaced narcissism that comes without ever having to be talented. I don't watch reality TV but just the amount of news coverage that Jon & Kate plus 8 show got--I worry about our culture and what message is conveyed about "what reality is."

So regarding Michael who was so impactful to my 80's childhood, my love of dance and music--I salute you. He became weirder and weirder as time went on so I chose to remember him as he was in the 80's and marvel at that era which seemed so magical. But like many geniuses and mega-celebrities, his early success was at the expense of a normal life & childhood which could have manifested some of the reprehensible behavior he was later accused of. I don't know, but as my dad says, "you can do anything you want if you're willing to pay the price." It seems that Michael paid that price many times over but can now leave it all behind.

Wenatchee

Ken and I took a fantastical journey to the center of our fine state. It was a welcome car trip, especially as we passed the top of Snoqualmie Pass and the area en route to Wenatchee called Hidden Valley. So picturesque and wide open. I do miss that--how the land opens up before you with no obstacles and the sky & clouds seem bigger than normal. In the hustle bustle of the big city, views like that can seem so foreign.

Our weekend getaway was spent with my elementary school chum Heather, her musical husband Daric and their 2-year-old, Ethan. I visited them down in Phoenix last Mother's Day and they have since relocated to Wenatchee, WA. We are so excited to have them so near. The temps were in the upper 80's/low 90's so this delicate, pregnant flower was wilting a little. But it's almost prime time cherry season and I was hoping to snag some of my favorite fruit from the source. I did come back with some Bings but will have to wait a few more weeks for the Rainiers.



Ken had only met Heather & Daric at our wedding (4 years ago) and of course it was a whirlwind so not much quality time. But on this visit, Daric and Ken got to jam on their guitars, Ken gave a Theremin demonstration, we played and read to their son Ethan who danced, sang & says the most earnest "no" I've ever seen and we got to see Daric play songs from his new CD at a local eatery. Heather & Daric also told us stories about parenthood which we intently absorbed.

Ken and I stayed at a very cute B&B called Huckleberry Haven. It is the most darling place and the hosts provide excellent hospitality and meals. True to it's name, huckleberries are featured in many of the breakfast dishes and beverages served. The huckleberry bread was our favorite and she gave me the recipe. Of course, I have a thing about 99.99999999999999999999% of the beds in this world: they are not mine and therefore I cannot have very restful sleep because I am so spoiled and unadaptable in my old age. But the private 2-person jacuzzi tub, sitting room and beautifully decorated suite were fabulous and the second night was an improvement.

We look forward to seeing them in Wenatchee again--probably post-wetus delivery.

Another Week in Review

Nursery prep continued this past week with the Wall Doctor folks installing a drywall ceiling and patching the lath & plaster walls. I expected it to be a lot messier but was pleasantly surprised. A week from now, we'll have the walls, ceiling and trim painted and primed. Crown and chair rail moulding will also be painted and installed. Looking forward to seeing the full transformation. Until then, Ken has been using the empty, echoy room as a Theremin practice space.



Ken left mid-week to go down to the Bay Area to do a training for work. On Friday I joined him and it was sort of a Babymoon trial run. Wetus reacted when the pressure changed around takeoff and landing but other than that not too bad. I definitely need to get a small pillow for lumbar support. The way they design those seats, it's like they want you to shrivel up into a little ball. I had a little issue with not feeling like I could get lung-fulls of air when we were at cruising altitude but I rolled up my sweater and placed it behind my upper back which opened my chest/shoulders--much better.

We had a delightful visit with Josh & Clover who are also expecting and are about 6 weeks behind us. Unfortunately Clover has not had an easy go of it and has been consistently nauseated thus far. We are all hoping that this will turn the corner now that she's out of the 1st trimester--any day now. Luckily for us, she was feeling well enough to help show us around.

Our first stop in Palo Alto was the historic home/garden of Elizabeth Gamble. Quite picturesque and Ken made the most of it.





We picked up food at this cool gourmet salad place called Sprout Cafe where everything is organic and you can make highly customized salads. For me, that was akin to walking into a Whole Foods. Like I had gone to my happy place. So awesome.

We took our gourmet salads to the Stanford University campus where we ate at picnic tables and watched a lot of bridal parties having their pictures taken. But I can see why they do have pics there. Very striking campus and you can feel the palpable air of high expectations. Josh & Clover met while attending school there and illuminated the many connections to the university and the uprising of Silicon Valley.






We passed by the birthplace of HP which is considered the catalyst of putting the Silicon Valley on the map. There is a plaque in the yard of a private residence but it's actually the garage that was "ground zero" for the company. I know, it's nerdy.



No visit to California would be complete without a stop at In N Out Burger. It is my second favorite fast food place to Burgerville.

Sunday before we left, Josh took us to the local farmer's market that (especially being in California) had the most delicious and exquisite organic strawberries, cherries & peaches I've ever seen. We loaded up and hoped that most of it would make it back to Seattle with us on the plane. It did, though Ken kept wanting to eat the strawberries as we drove home from the airport but even though they were organic, I wanted him to wait until we could get home to wash them.

For most people, that might not have been the most exciting trip but it was just my speed, the food, weather & company were great. I do get tired more easily and in warmer weather, I seem to have less energy reserve which is going to be a challenge when we hit the East Coast in 4 weeks. Overall, I was grateful to have some time with my husband, away from our household responsibilities while it it still just the 2 of us. There is more traveling ahead of course but I'm glad we eased into it with this first trip.

San Juan Islands Trip: Video

This is a short video of our trip featuring a sea lion, alpacas, Mona the camel, Mt. Baker and a Ken Moore original song about eating carrots.

San Juan Islands Trip, Part 2: Orcas Island

Our favorite gas station.

The latter 3 nights of our vacation were spent on Orcas Island. The day we arrived the weather instantly improved from the fog & overcast.

We stayed at the Resort at Deer Harbor which is now run by a travel club my dad belongs to. It is only through him and some quick thinking by Ken that we secured this fantastic little bungalow, situated on the water. With a gas fireplace, king bed, Jacuzzi tub and private outdoor hot tub, cable tv & VCR/DVD player—we were set.

The night we arrived, we could not think of anything more enriching to do than watch the classic and much praised Citizen Kane. I’m still not quite sure why this movie is regarded as so revolutionary except that Orson Wells directed, produced, wrote and starred in it under a contract with exceptional creative control in a time that studios did not give that up. His negative parody of newspaper magnate W.R. Hearst caused an all out media blackout of anything regarding the film in the many national media outlets controlled by Hearst. Clearly Orson Wells and the studio took a huge risk with this film and probably didn’t make very much at the time of its release. But now it’s very highly regarded. Check out this song by The White Stripes called “The Union Forever”—recognize those lyrics?

First order of business on our first full day there was charging up Mt. Constitution. Normally you can drive all the way to the top but because of winter, they closed the road 1.5 miles from the top. We parked and trudged through melting slush and compact snow. The sun came out in late morning and there were odd warm breezes that came over us. They say the islands have a micro-climate all their own and I would agree. Ken and I were the only ones up there as we reached the lookout--the exclusive taking-in-nature party that no one else was invited to.







We called Dad and told him we made it to the top, he couldn’t believe that I had voluntarily agreed to go on a three mile round trip hike. Little did I know that we would be doing another hike the next day too but it was welcome physical activity. The next day’s hike had a steeper ascent, no magical viewpoint payoff and took us longer. But there were a few cool things along the way.



The restaurants on Orcas are plentiful and, unlike San Juan, tend to function year-round. We didn’t have a bad meal out the whole time. However, our complimentary continental breakfast at the resort left quite a bit to be desired due to the spoiled OJ and lack of options. But it was free and not heavy so we were fine with it. Shopping is better in Friday Harbor (San Juan Island) but that wasn’t really our focus. I think we only ended up buying a book of sudoku puzzles, a cat toy for Oliver and some postcards/stamps on Orcas.

Friday night was a banner evening because Ken got to have his favorite thing for dinner (crab) and I got to watch my most favorite show (Battlestar Galactica) which aired a new jaw-dropping episode.

We’ve decided this vacation was a total success. While it didn’t start out exactly like we thought it would, good fortune and the “spirit of vacation” took over. We were surprised too because neither of us had even looked a computer in a week and yet the world did not end...

But it came to our attention via concerned emails and voice mails that many of our friends and family didn’t know that we were away. Oops.