Washington state is gorgeous! Lush, green, and trees everywhere. As I said in yesterdays post, I am back from a vacation with friends. My friends were moving back to their home state and I offered to help. Help with driving not packing. Loren was driving a 1-ton truck pulling a fifth wheel, a 38 foot trailer. I might sound like I know the lingo....NOT....but you get the idea. Trailers, fifth wheels, campers, RV's, mobile homes, it's not all the same. But on to the fun stuff. Julie and I were in her Nissan Juke.
We planned on two days driving, but Loren discovered a bubble in one of the tires. In 100 degree weather, the possibility of that tire blowing is very likely. We were in Yreka and 25 miles from the Oregon border, when he saw the bubble. No tire stores open after 4:00pm on Saturday. We got stuck there Sunday when we were hoping to drive the whole day to Seattle. But honestly, we had a nice motel with air conditioning, cable, and great linens on the beds. Loren is very cautious and an excellent driver. Though I will have to admit there were times Julie and I complained. All in all we were blessed that Loren is cautious and we arrived at our destination alive and well. We arrived Monday night at 9:30pm, after driving 480 miles for 11 hours.
In retrospect, we had a great time. Loren drove the truck, alone, and Julie and I had each other, to talk about important stuff. Girl stuff, you know all that fun, private talk when you are really good friends and everything is quiet. And then when we were really bored, we would make calls to friends and put them on the Blue Tooth, so we could have a three-way conversation, and be entertained. The longer the day, the sillier we got. Giggling at anything.
Julie and I never sat around, once we arrived at their friends property. Everyday we went somewhere. I had 1 week to see Seattle and surrounding cities. Visiting friends and family, BBQ's, hiking, lunch out, grocery shopping and getting acquainted with her new town. Loren was busy getting their fifth wheel ready for the property, and helping his mother. His new job started Monday, the day before I left.
The highlight was going to the San Juan Islands, in Puget Sound. I had never been on a ferry that cars drive onto. It fascinated me. We did not plan very well, having the departure times, but no reservations (something new) for Friday Harbor. We were directed to the 'stand-by' lane, and waited about 1 1/2 hours. Everyone gets into a lane, turns off the car, and is able to go for a walk, or just simply leave the car and come back at a designated time. We met some nice people, and were given wine, and ideas for places to visit. We began to worry - the 3-4 hours of driving, and now waiting in the stand-by lane, it wasn't looking good. But, in the end, we were one of the last 4 cars to be allowed onto the ferry! And it also happened leaving the island the following day. We were ecstatic!
We stayed in a wonderful B&B in Friday Harbor, with a delicious breakfast, meeting a half dozen nice people from all over America.
Pikes Place Market, in Seattle, was also a wonderful place we visited. It's like a farmer's market, with fresh fish, gorgeous flowers, artist's hand made things, and it went on for blocks. We only saw a small part of it, it was fascinating. I missed the very first Starbuck's coffee shop, apparently right across the street. But I didn't know this until after we visited Pike's Place. I don't like standing in long lines, just to say "I did". I mentioned this to a few Seattle people, and they weren't even sure where the first Starbuck's was! Washington state is well worth a visit with it's water and green, lush woods.
Good night and God Bless! Aleta
"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." Marcel Proust - French novelist and critic
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