food, classes, shopping and more food

We checked out of the hotel around 8:30 am, drove to the Rick Steves Travel Center and found a parking spot right by the front door.  We were glad about that since it was raining.  Then we walked to Chanterelle for breakfast.  Sharon and I split the Eggs Benedict and Kris had the cornmeal waffle.  Yummy breakfast.

We returned to the Rick Steves Travel Center.  We had signed up for 2 classes.  Travelers' Spanish and Barcelona and Madrid. We had time to look though the store.  We each had $100 to spend for signing up for the tour.  The condition was that it all had to be spent at one time.  So we had time to think.  We wanted to wait until after the classes.  Both classes were very enjoyable. Good presenters.  I did learn that you can't say por favor to much.  We heard some good suggestions for things to do when we are not scheduled with the tour.

After the classes we bought our items.  My total was $122 until they calculated all the sale discounts - It was $95.99!! pretty good.  It was 2 pm before we headed out for lunch.

We had a nice Mexican lunch before driving back to Portland. Most of the drive went smoothly except when it decided to rain vigorously.  I am glad it was Sharon driving and not me.  Thank you Sharon. It was a fun, though quick trip.

Edmonds WA Nov 18

Sharon picked up Kris and then picked me up about 10 am on Friday.  We drove to Edmonds, WA.  with a stop at Jeremy's for lunch.  It was very good.  It is one of those farm to table type restaurants so it was pretty healthy.  We each had the half sandwich and soup.

Then we continued on the drive.  The purpose of this trip is to take 2 of the Rick Steves classes tomorrow.  This will help us to prepare us for our Rick Steves trip to Barcelona-Madrid next June.  Also we have money to burn in the Rick Steves store.  We got to the hotel a little before check in time, but they let us check in anyway.  We have 2 rooms.  Sharon & Kris in one and I was in the other.  Then we took a walk around downtown Edmonds and dinked in all the cute shops.  We did not buy anything but looking was fun.  There were a lot of cool murals.  

We headed back to the hotel to have a glass of wine while we tried to figure out which place we wanted to go for dinner.  We picked the Cafe de Paris. 

 It was fabulous.  Very relaxed, with delicious food.  We each had the same thing: avocado salad with bay shrimp, filet mignon, with green beans, carrots, potatoes, creamed spinach and we shared a bottle of wine.

 The people at the table next to us had cherries jubilee for dessert.  It was fun watching them prepare it.  

On the way back to the hotel we saw a distillery which was still open so we went in for some vodka and gin tasting.  We tried berry flavored vodka, orange flavored vodka, gin, one from beer.  I liked the orange vodka the best.  That was fun.

 Then we headed back to the hotel.  It is nice to be so close to downtown.  We hung out in my room since I had more chairs in my room.

What a full day.

Saturday - Last Day!

A little summary We arrived and set up camp. Great 2 camp sites for 7 adults and 4 kids (5, 3, 2 and 1 years old). 4 tents.  Hike to waterfall on day 2, hurricane ridge for a fabulous view of the mountains on day 3, ocean beach with tide pools on day 4, beach for wave play on day 5, we left on day 6. Fun time, gorgeous scenery, delicious dutch oven meals. 14 bottles of wine, 1 champagne, 3 Bailey's, 1 fireball whisky, 12 Smirnoff, 5 beers, 3 gallons of milk, and one 1/2 gallon of Lactaid!!

Our tents are gone.  

The car is packed and we are off.  We wanted to be off by 8:45 am but we were good.  We headed out at 8:30 am.  Are goal was to meet Kathleen and Lloyd in Chehalis by 1 pm for lunch.  We just made it.   We left at 2 pm.  

Next stop was Fort Vancouver to pick up 2 senior passes for the National Parks for Jeanne and Jay.  After I bought mine they got to thinking about it.  Then all week we kept trying to buy them.  Each park was either closed or they did not carry the passes or they were out of them.  But finally, success.  Then home.  We had time to unload the car, to get the perishable put away, then shower before our dinner reservations.  

Debbie and Joe arrived in the afternoon.  We all headed out to meet Sharon and Glenn at Curry and Crust for an Indian dinner.

Then we went to Sharon and Glenn's to look at our pictures from our India trip.  A fun ending to a great week. 

Friday - Beach Play Day

It was colder still this morning.  I really wish I had my space heater.  We sat with our morning coffee while Jay made blueberry muffins, scrambled eggs and bacon.

warming up my feet by the dutch oven

 I had time to fit in a shower before we headed out.  Mark and Missy left to head home. This time we were going to Ruby Beach. It was a little further away than Rialto Beach.  On the drive we had a very brief glimpse of Mt Olympus.  It went by too quickly to get a photo.  

We had lunch right away before heading down to the beach.  

Gorgeous beach

A family of cairns.  I guess a lot of people had fun stacking rocks.  We made our own little stacks as well. 

We found little soft marble type things on the beach.  At first I thought that they might be jellyfish.  They had that feel.  They were washed up with the tide.

They were all over

When I got home I looked them up.  I found out that they were called sea gooseberries.  Also called comb jellies (ctenophora) they swim using rows of pulsating comb-like hairs, which in the light can look like rainbow patterns.  I have never seen them before.  Fascinating.

Robbie

Sean and Erin, kicking the waves

someone left their foot prints.

When Jeanne was walking on the beach she found a key fob in water.  We did not know what to do with it.  Jay dried it off. Then what?? We forgot about it.

Jay and Jeanne

Sean, Erin, me, Jay, Jeanne, Ben & Robbie.  Once we got to the parking lot Jay thought he could test the alarm button on the fob on the slim chance that we could find the vehicle.  BEEP, BEEP. BEEP.  The funny thing was that the owners were in the car.  They had been searching for the key.  What are the chances?!.  They were so appreciative that they gave us a case of Session Lager from Hood River.  It was very good beer.     

On the way home from the beach, Jay made a point stopping the car when we had that brief view of Mt Olympus.  It was still there and visible.  Jeanne and I got out of the car to take some pictures.  Thanks Jay.

We had hot dogs, bratwurst, mac & cheese and baked beans for dinner.  We had a fire so that we could roast our own hot dogs or brats.  Last night, Jeanne, Jay, Ben and Erin could play their last games of Dominion.  We tried to get a little organized so that we would be able to pack up quickly in the morning.

Thursday at the Tide Pools

It was colder last night.  I guess because it was not cloudy. I am not sleeping very well.  I think I need a thicker pad.  I wish I had brought my little space heater for the mornings, but I don't think that we had room for one more thing.  Our plan this morning was to leave at 9 am.  It was 9:20.  Not bad.  The goal today was to go to Rialto Beach which was supposed to have tide pools.  Every time we drove somewhere I was charging every electronic gadget I had.  Tried to keep my phone on airplane mode since there was no connection anywhere.  It still lost its charge.  As we went through Forks I had a brief moment of connectivity. I sent one text and one email and that was it. 16 emails came in. Actually, the email I sent did not go until we came through Forks on our way home.

driftwood monster

Ben, Robbie and Erin

we had to cross the stream on a log.

The beach was pretty but  it was very rocky and pebbly.  It was hard to walk on.  We were all bundled up.  Walked about a mile and a half to some tide pools.  Fun. Kids climbed on the rocks for a long time.  

river otter with lunch.  

Missy and Rachel

snack time

Rachel

Robbie

Luke

Mark had fun doing the timer photos.  He had to be fast climbing the rock to get into position.  We kept making him do it again and again.

this is zoomed in

Started back and found a nice picnic table for lunch, it even had a fort.  The sun came out and it was nice and warm.  Perfect day. 

Drove into Forks for groceries like milk bread and ice.  Then of course we had to include more wine and Baileys.   

Ben and Erin's turn to cook.  They made a delicious dinner of chili and cornbread.  S'mores for dessert so we had a campfire .  That was nice.  I always like campfires. We have been eating very well.  I have not had to do any cooking.  So I mostly did dishes.  Seemed like a fair trade to me.  Actually I was the lucky one.

Mark roasting marshmallows.

They played Dominion again after the kids were in bed.  I went to bed.