Southern Roots And Snow Boots

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Bainbridge island

This is going to be a short post. We had a wonderful day creating memories. The weather was perfect, our adventures were awesome and we spent time with friends.

Bainbridge Island is a quick 30 minute ferry ride from Seattle. We brought the car and parked downtown. Downtown has great little shops and restaurants. We shopped and had lunch at the marina.

We then met our friends at the local beach. The kids push logs into the sound and then float on them. Andy got in on the action, too. The water was cold but clear. The kids hit it off well.

We then had a fantastic dinner of dungenous crabs! Yummy. Easy to eat with a great texture and flavor. We are on the late ferry back now but I will post pictures in the morning. The coast guard has blessed us with lifelong friends. Thank you Henry family and we will see you again soon!

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Pikes Place Market and Seattle Aquarium

Today was supposed to be a day of rest. It started out restful with a few errands and then turned touristy, but who can resist being a tourist in a city like Seattle?! I seemed to be the only one in the family really dragging today; the three others picked me up with their enthusiasm and constant smiles!

First, we shopped a lovely local Carpet store. We are trying to order carpet via, Kodiak Flooring, by picking something out here in Seattle and having them order it in time to install before our house hold goods are delivered. Have I also mentioned that I haven't seen the house yet?! Its tough. This carpet store was really helpful even though they knew up front we weren't going to buy from them. I think the quote of the carpet trip was "Did you know that display the girls are twirling on costs $1800"

Next, the US Postal Service. I have now been to post offices in several states and the range of services and postal employees is VAST. Today was pretty successful.

Pikes Place Market -- I want to say its like every other large city market (i.e Philadelphia Reading Market, Boston Faneuil Hall) with flowers, food, crafts etc.. but this one had its own energy with more market vendors and less food stalls. It was lovely and crowded. We had fun picking out dinner and listening to the fish mongers. We didn't see anyone throw a fish but we did see them throw two Dungeonous Crabs (Cost 50.00), and a bunch of t-shirts. We did not buy the crabs, but I feel like some other unsuspecting person did....

It was decision time, more sightseeing or head home. We went to lunch at Elliot's Oyster House on the Pier and then Seattle Aquarium. The Aquarium was a great size and we saw fish we hadn't seen in any other aquarium, and I've been to a bunch of them... A huge halibut, giant sturgeon, napoleon wrasse, and a group of sea otters. We were lucky to see the Otters have dinner. It was amazing how many little mussels they could put on their bellies and crack open. I wouldn't want to race them in a shucking contest!

We met a gentleman who had visited Kodiak Island to hunt and an ex-football player who started out in the European leagues and had played for Frankfort Galaxy, Patriots and the Seahawks. Of course, we didn't get his name :(.

It was cloudy and very cool today. Only 65! Tomorrow promises a trip out to Bainbridge Island and some beach time.

Totem Pole at the Park

Flowers

Golden Pig

Famous Fish Throwers...can you see the Crab?

First Starbucks

Touch tank

A very Large Clam

Sea Otter

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Final Road Trip to Seattle

Its hard to believe that we started the road trip on July 5th and now 11 days later have arrived in Seattle, WA. Today was our last long drive. It was about 8 hours from Boise to Seattle. We are renting a little Craftsman Style house in Phinney Ridge. Its just outside of downtown and near Green Lake.

Green Lake has lots of neighborhood charm. We went to the local market, checked out the little swim area and park, and had dinner on the patio in the backyard. We also met two of the neighbors. Its almost as if we've moved in here to make our lives for the next couple of years, but alas no.

The drive today was a good one. The landscape changed with each turn of the road. We started out in the dry plains, moved into farmlands, moved into the coniferous forest of Oregon, moved into Wine Country and apple country of Washington state, crossed the spectacular Cascade Mountains and then finished in the city. Today was also the first day we sat in traffic. Welcome to City life.

We did make one interesting detour. We stopped and explored part of the Oregon Trail. It was the Blue Mountain Oregon Trail. We drove into the National Forest, got out and took part in a short 3/4 mile walk where you could see trails from the wagons. It was very interesting.

Tomorrow we head into Pikes Market, catch up on laundry and just have a slow day. There is much repacking and organizing to be done. One great piece of news, is that we called the Alaska Ferry System and by chance they had a four berth room with facilities become available. We got it! Awesome news, no more two room bunk beds for us!

Western Idaho

Example of a family that did not make it.

We added our story to the Oregon Trail

Grapes

Apples and Grapes

Hops

Cascade Mountains

Stuck in Traffic

Seattle

Monday, July 15, 2013

High Plains Drifters...

We woke up late in Salt Lake City, thinking we had the morning to explore a little bit more...but Southwest Airlines had other ideas and we whisked Nana back to the airport early. After at the airport we hit I85 to Boise. In our minds we thought, we'll arrive early enough to explore. Famous Last Words.

On the road, we saw a sign that read "Rocket Display and Golden Spike". We knew the Golden Spike was the sight of the meeting of the Transcontinental Railroad. Rocket Display was an unknown. We couldn't pass up the chance to see history. We took the exit and were immediately in the middle of nowhere.

On our left looked like bunkers, is that a missile area...

On our right was the Great Fill, where the Union Railroad built a trestle and filled a ravine to help complete the railroad. The National Park service has done a great job in preserving history. I love a good detour (http://www.nps.gov/gosp/index.htm) On May 10th, 1869 at Noon time, both Lead Engineers met and drove the last spikes. Both missed on the 1st try. :) The enormity of the effort, the massive scale, of muscle power, sweat and human danger that went into building the railroad was felt at the site. We will never forget.

On our way back to the main road, we looked at the Rocket Display. The rocket display belongs to ATK (http://www.atk.com/) The leading manufacturer of missiles and rockets for the United States.

Back on the road in the middle of nowhere we found ourselves in Snowville. Named, not for the amount of snowfall, but for a Leader of the Latter Day Saints. We had lunch at the Ranch Diner. They do have an elementary school up to 5th grade. 6th grade and up get bused 38 minutes to the next town. Most people either farm or work for ATK and drive up to 40 to 70 minutes. The middle of nowhere.

Idaho is known for its wheat, cattle, and potatoes. A random notation: the hay bales west of the continental divide are square and the east they are rolled up. Hmmm...I wonder why.

So, we arrived much later into Boise. Honestly, this city is amazing. It's 100 degrees at 7pm and a lovely little town with character and culture. Wish we had planned to stay here longer. We stopped at the grocery to picnic in our hotel room. The hotel pool was amazing. It was a mini water park and swim area. Perfect for us! As Andy and I have said it gives us an excuse to return. Idaho has so much going for it...wineries, breweries, skiing, rivers, fly fishing, hiking, exploring and so much more. I think this will make a great get away from the rain and cold of Alaska.

Here are our pictures for today. Miss you all!