Trip Out West Part 1 - Washington State

Olympia & Tacoma Washington

We had a wonderful trip out West this past summer! After flying into Seattle, WA, Brad's sister Vicki drove us to her home in Olympia, WA. While there, we visited with Aunt Vicki and her family (the Newmakers) and our old friends the Moffit's and Wunch's. Brad and I also had fun taking a jog around the State Capitol building in Olympia, WA.

Brad and Andrea: mission friends (or something like that).

I had to take a picture of the Tacoma Dome out my car window. I have bitter-sweet memories of this place after taking my nursing boards there over twenty years ago. In those days we sat every-other seat, on long tables, covering the Tacoma Dome floor. The tests were taken on bubble sheets and lasted two or three days. And if that wasn't excruciating enough, we then had to wait about six weeks before finding out if we passed or not. Potential nurses have it so much easier now days!

The "floating" mountain in the distance is Mt. Rainier. I took pictures that were closer but they turned out fuzzy which was disappointing because this picture does not do the mountain justice - it is so much more majestic in real life.

Whidbey Island, Washington

For our next adventure we took a ferry boat from Mukiteo to Clinton, WA where my Aunt Johnna and Uncle Doug live (we actually bumped into my uncle Doug as he was coming home from work on the ferry). 

We stayed at a breathtaking B&B with amazing amenities,

and incredible views (this is the view right across from the B&B). That evening we enjoyed a wonderful homemade dinner of Baked Linguine with Peanut Butter Cake and Ice Cream for dessert, and just had a blast visiting with Doug, Johnna, and Katie. 

The next morning at sunrise and low tide, we took a stroll with Johnna and Katie along beautiful "Double-Bluff Beach" in Clinton.

Breck had fun scaling the sandy cliff walls. . .

harassing baby crabs, attempting to skim-board, and 

trying with all his (and his Dad's) might to "catch" a Gooey Duck.

Unfortunately, he was not successful (these are merely small pieces of the sea animal).

Merinda had fun collecting pretty rocks, shells, and sand dollars.

And I had fun taking pictures of the amazing water front animal and plant-life. Oh, how I love the Ocean!

Later that day we did a little shopping in Langley, WA, a quaint coastal artisan town. We also ate the most delicious pizza at this little restaurant right on the water. We had a wonderful time with the Holt family and want to thank Johnna for being the best hostess ever! 

We then headed North to the mainland where we drove over the strait of "Deception Pass", where two bridges (976 feet long and 180 feet high) connect Whidbey Island to Fidalgo Island and the mainland.

The view from up top is breathtaking, I mean it literally takes your breath away because it is so high up. Merinda's expression kind-of says it all.

Bellingham, Washington

Our next stop was Bellingham, WA, or home for us during our first few years of marriage. We had fun staying with our good friends, the Slesk family. Even with their very busy schedule they still took time out to feed us, play, visit, and even run with us (Jill led the way on an amazing jog along the coast of  iconic Fairhaven, WA).

After visiting the Slesk's, we took a drive down memory lane. Our fist stop was Western Washington University, Brad's Alma Matter.

I personally think that WWU has the most beautiful campus I have ever seen. Every old building and garden is a "Kodak moment", not to mention the incredible views of Puget Sound. 

Maybe not so beautiful was our next stop, Brad's High School. I wish I could say that its looks are deceiving (but they're not), or that its academics are better than its appearance (not true either). But I do know that Brad has good memories of his old school: playing basketball, taking his cooking classes, and  being apart of the year-book staff (oh, if only high school could be like that again).

This place I have very fond memories of, Saint Joseph Hospital, where I began my Nursing career over twenty years ago. At this little hospital I worked the Medical, Surgical, Orthopedic, Pediatric, Labor and Delivery, and Mother-baby floors. I also love this hospital because it is where Brittney was born.

This is our second home (Brittney's first home) on Hoff Road in the Bellingham "wilderness". It looks much newer than it used to look, and is much nicer than its surroundings (the kids wanted to know if we lived in the "ghetto" of Bellingham). Other sites we visited were Ferndale, WA, right next to Bellingham, where Brad lived his teenage years; our old mall where I used to work at "Payless Shoe Source"; and "Billy McHales", my favorite restaurant where I would order the Chicken Teriyaki  Burger every time (and it was still just as delicious as I remember!).

Next, we traveled down the Washington Coast to the meadows of Skagit Vally and onto Seattle, along "Chuckanut" drive, a picturesque highway where every look-out point is like ten Kodak moments!

Here I am taking a picture of the kids taking pictures of the amazing views.

Seattle, Washington

Our fist stop in Seattle was the headquarters of REI, where we bought Breck's birthday present, a hammock, at his request. He couldn't wait to "try it out" but we informed him that wouldn't be possible in our hotel room, on the eighth floor, in downtown, Seattle.

But I guess where there's a will there's a way. And even with a view of the Seattle Harbor no less. 

Speaking of our hotel, it was pretty posh! In this picture Merinda is modeling the foyer,

and here is the view from the eighth floor looking down on the breakfast area. I am just glad that we didn't have to pay for this hotel (thank goodness for Marriott Reward points!). 

Brad could not make it to the Farmers Market fast enough to eat the Clam Chowder from "Ivars". I have to admit that it was pretty darn good, and made me (who doesn't like sea food) even miss the taste of fresh seafood. Aubrey however, ordered the "chicken" and chips (we told her that was pretty sacrilegious).

The Farmer's Market was just as amazing as we remembered with its. . .

incredibly cheep, beautiful, fresh flowers;

incredibly fresh sea-food and fish;

incredibly fresh veggies

and fresh fruit (I almost forgot what real vegetables and fruits are supposed to taste like); 

and the most amazing chocolates and desserts!

Not to mention all of the fun touristy shops and unusual displays and people (I am not sure who is the more unusual, the one on the right or the one on the left?).

And who knew that you could roll your piano out on the curb to play for money. I thought only guitars or smaller instruments were allowed. You see, that's the great thing about down-town Seattle, anything goes!

A trip to Seattle would not be complete without a visit to the "Space Needle".

After walking miles to the attraction, the kids were a little disappointed when we told them we didn't have the money nor reservation needed to go to the top. That was the end of our sight-seeing in Seattle.

Ephrata, Washington

The next morning we woke up bright and early and headed to the Oregon Coast, but in the interest of this blog I will discuss our visit to Ephrata, WA first, in keeping with the Washington theme.

We had a wonderful visit with our friends the Pughs, who live in Ephrata, WA. It just so happens they also had other company visiting, but we knew them too, so it was all good (unless you are Roger and Leanne and you have to house, cook, and entertain two large families all the same weekend). But in typical Pugh fashion they did it with fun and flare! Roger decided to ware us out early by taking us on a hike at six in the morning. The view of Ephrata atop the little mountain was well worth it though.

Our next Ephrata outing was Jet Skiing. 

We spent the rest of the day jet-skiing and swimming at "Billy Clap Lake", a beautiful little lake that just springs up out of no-where a midst the red rocks and cliffs (Ephrata has many of these types of lakes). Washington never ceases to amaze me with its diverse climates and terrain. One day we're freezing on the beach, and the next, we're getting fried in the water.

The kids had a great time, and then enjoyed some serious R&R after a long day of fun in the sun. And my favorite part was sleeping outside, under the stars each night!

We can not thank Roger and Leanne and their family enough for taking such good care of us that weekend, and over the years!

It is good to have a bosom friend your exact age, which time and space cannot separate. Love You Leanne!