Friday, August 17, 2007

Back To Chicago

Glacier
Absolutely beautiful!
Navy Destroyer
Olympic Mountain range over the Sound

Mississippi River
Steam Engine
Upper Rocky Mountain range


We made it back to Chicago and spent the night with Don & Denise and have been sharing our stories and pictures. Marni is probably banned from the train station after her altercation with the luggage czar...another "marni" story!


Monday, August 13, 2007

Seattle / Vishon Island

The Space Needle was a part of the 19?? World's Fair.
This picture of Bob and Rainer was taken outside our cottage. It is unbelievable to see the mountain. It looks as if someone superimposed the mountain on a picture of the Seattle skyline. We feel very fortunate to have been able to see this....the locals say it is only visible about 10 days a year!
Sandy is shell hunting near the Pt. Robinson lighthouse....her girls will really enjoy
the shells she has found!

The only people on the beach dressed in their Sunday duds.

Yes, they have been married 30 years and haven't killed each other on this trip.....YET! :-)

The deer on the island are ridiculously tame. On our first night as we tried to find the cottages, at approximately 2:00 a.m. we followed a doe which would not run into the woods but waited and retreated down the first driveway. I think it was annoyed that we were bothering it! Last night, a doe and fawn stood outside the back window and patiently waited for us to take pictures....unfortunately, it was too dark for the digital to deal with....have to wait for Bob's pictures.

Totem Pole in Pioneer Square in Seattle. The story has it that the original was stolen from the Tinglits by the Seattle Welcoming Committee. It later burnt to the ground and was replaced by an exact replica .... made and donated to Seattle by the Tinglits.
The Pergola which was rebuilt after a truck 'accidentally did not make it's turn"....they're so nice here. In Michigan, we would have said "some *#($ fool couldn't drive".
Doc Maynard, a founder of Seattle, offered Chief Seattle $500 a year to use his name. Since the Chief was 65 and ill, Maynard expected to get off cheap.
Fortunately for the Chief, he lived for an additional 17 years.
The rooms in Seattle in 1969 were only 75 cents a night because the downtown had been allowed to deteriorate so much. This location (picture) is one block from Skid Row.
Beautiful skyline picture taken from the ferry back to Vashon Island.

Tomorrow, we depart Seattle for Chicago so this will be the last blog until we hit Chicago or Michigan or Mt. Pleasant. We've had a great time and are looking forward to coming home!

Sunday, August 12, 2007

SF to Vashon Island


Bad time to try to catch a cab to the other side of the bay! We waited hours (well, maybe 40 minutes) and contemplated cab-jacking but finally were able to secure a ride!
Sandy covered herself from the sunlight, having not recognized it after several foggy days in San Francisco. Bob on the other hand, is gloating after winning yet another hand of S*** on Your Neighbor!!!
High in the Cascade Mountains is this beautiful turquoise reservoir. We saw hordes of Oregonians carrying their buckets (only kidding ... Marni has had a Mojito).
We thought we needed a picture of at least one train bridge for the railroad buffs, even if it is 3 miles away.

After an hour and half drive to go TWO miles and violating several Homeland Security Rules, the captain of the ferry announced that our trip had been cancelled and we would be leaving 45 minutes later (2:10 AM). Paul, the navigator, was decomissioned because of his blurry eyes and also for refusing to believe there was a street named Fauntleroy! Surprisingly, we are all still talking to each other. Marni saved the day by taking the map and navigating which is truly amazing since she has no sense of direction!
Paul and Sandy's cottage is to the right and Bob and Marni's is hidden.








Dinner was a smorgasbord of deli delights! Followed by more sh#&@ on your neighbor. Paul learned that August is National Goatcheese month....God help us!

View from our cottages on Vashon Island

Yes, this was Mt. Rainier which is visible from our cotttages! Beautiful!