Saturday Sights

A day off from the NCAA Tournament action in Seattle provided an opportunity for some sight seeing around the general Seattle area yesterday. 

It had been more than 30 years since Bill, Willie or I had been to Port Townsend, so the artsy community north of Seattle turned out to be our ultimate destination.  

On our ferry ride from Seattle to Bainbridge Island, a local TV crew was on board to interview some Iowans, also in town for the tournament.  It was difficult for me to keep my mouth shut when the TV reporter suggested that the Iowa Hawkeyes (ZAGS' opponent today) were within sight of the Sweet Sixteen, but I restrained myself and just took a few photos. 

Once off the ferry, we stopped at a Tribal gas station, loading up on fuel and more food to go with the big box of goodies we had in the back of the Suburu. 

After a quick drive through Port Townsend, we visited Fort Worden, one of four facilities built in the 19th Century to protect the Bremerton Naval base.  

The maze of concrete provides a photographer's dream with funky backgrounds and phenomenal lighting opportunities.  And, photographers had a field day, snapping photos inside the seemingly haunted dwellings near the shoreline.  

A dance troupe even showed up for a photo shoot, as did a cooperative eagle which perched in a tree long enough for me to snap some photos. 

In addition, to hiking around the grounds, Bill and Annie also did some geocaching.  During our time there, Bill found a nice Buck knife in a Buck sheath.  We assumed that maybe one of the many Boy Scouts camped out at the state park may have lost it, but that was not the case.

Eventually he turned it over to the campground hosts who said they'd take it to Lost and Found.  

While there, I met a mother-daughter pair who had pink bikes, exactly the color of mine.  Turns out the mom knows my classmate Barb from nearby Poulsbo. Barb and her hubby Dick, volunteer for the Poulsbo Police Dept. and often dine out at the restaurant where Mom Pink Biker works. 

After walking as many as 12,000 steps (Annie was keeping track) we were ready for dinner.  So, we returned to Port Townsend and dined at the Public House.  Great meal and great table where we could watch the Utah-Georgetown game. 

We also surmised that some major activity involving vintage clothing was happening in town.  Saw some great ensembles during our stay in Port Townsend.

Later, Bill wanted to visit the Celtic store, Wandering Angus (www.wanderingangus.com) down the street.  While visiting with the owner, we mentioned Sandpoint and learned once again about small worlds. 

The owner, Debbie Sonandre, lived off the grid near Cocolalla Lake for three years and even taught at Southside School. 

One of the winters a few years back convinced her extended family members that it was time to head off to some place similar where winters weren't so bad.  So, they relocated in Port Townsend and have done well with their store.  Bill bought some Connemara socks, and off we went to catch the Kingston Ferry.

Back here at the condo which gives us a great view of Elliott Bay, we walked in just in time to see the Butler-Notre Dame game go into overtime. Notre Dame eventually won in a thrilling game.

It seemed as if there could have been an powerful influence guiding that Fighting Irish victory as we learned later that the Notre Dame coach's mother died suddenly from heart attack earlier in the day. So poignant, to say the least.

So, here we are this morning, all busy at our laptops.  Soon we'll be meeting some cousins for breakfast.  Later, I'll be visiting with a high school classmate before we all gather again at Key Arena.  

And, as nice as those Iowans on the ferry seemed, I'm hoping that another Catholic school gets to be a Dance Partner with Notre Dame in the Sweet Sixteen.  GO ZAGS!

For our daughter-in-law Debbie and all other devoted Squatchers!