Day 1 - Sunday, August 23, 2015 Seattle, Washington
I traveled from Vancouver, WA to Seattle via Amtrak. I sat on the left side so I could see the
rivers and Puget Sound. I arrived at noon. The restoration is finished on the King
Street Train Station. Quite
impressive! I rode the elevator (a new
feature) up to street level and walked over to the bus stop.
I caught bus #26 or #28 to 3rd and Virginia. It was a short walk to the Warwick
Hotel. My room was not ready so I sat on
a comfortable chair in the lobby reading a book.
I was given a room on the 5th Floor with a view of the Space Needle.
I went to the meeting room on the 2nd floor to register with the program staff, Carol and Nancy, and get my welcome packet after 3:00PM. My roommate, Lisa, and I went to the hotel bar for Happy Hour. I had a glass of Chardonnay. The Group Leader, Carol Barton, hosted a welcome reception beginning at 5:00PM. We had a plated dinner.
At evening Orientation, the Group Leader, Carol, greeted everyone and led introductions. She reviewed the program theme, the up-to-date daily schedule and any changes, discussed safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answered any questions. Afterwards my roommate, Lisa, and I walked south a few blocks to the City Center and Benaroya Hall to look at Art Glass.
Day 2 - Monday, August 24 Vashon Island, Robinson Point Lighthouse
We had breakfast in the hotel
restaurant. We traveled by chartered coach through West Seattle to the dock and
the Washington State ferry to Vashon-Maury Island. Our motorcoach traveled with
us on the ferry and transport us throughout day’s program. When we arrived on
Maury Island, we walked down a short paved road to the beach to hear from
Captain Joe, USCG, retired, about the Robinson Point Lighthouse and its
importance to Puget Sound navigation. Located on the westernmost point of Maury
Island, the lighthouse actually began with a steam whistle during foggy weather
in 1885; its light first shone in 1887. In 1913, locals built an isthmus to
connect the smaller Maury Island to the rest of Vashon Island; before that
time, the two islands were only connected at low tide. I climbed the stairs to
the top of the lighthouse where I took several photos of the view and the Fresnel
Lens. I took some photos for an
EarthCache and a Benchmark. Afterwards I
climbed the trail through the woods to the upper parking lot and the
motorcoach. The rest of the group walked
up the paved road.
We visited the Christine Beck's pottery studio and home. Lovely place. We had lunch at a favorite island restaurant - The Hardware Store. I walked a couple blocks to the tall metal giraffe to find the Geocache. It took me awhile but finally found it. We returned by ferry and motorcoach to the Warwick Hotel. After dinner, we had a presentation by Elinor DeWire, published expert on lighthouses, about these sentinels of Puget Sound.
Day 3 - Tuesday, August 25 Bainbridge Island
After breakfast at the hotel, we boarded our motorcoach, rode the Washington State ferry and crossed Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island. Once a center of logging and shipping industries, the island has become more of a suburb with the advent of fast ferry service.
Our first stop was the Bloedel Estate, where two docents split the group and led us through its beautiful gardens and grounds. This 150-acre private estate, built by timber barons in the 1930s, is now a public arboretum. We took a short ride to the Port Madison Indian Reservation and the Suquamish Museum, originally opened in 1983 and expanded in 2012. I was getting hungry so bought some Crab Eggs (chocolate covered berries) in the Museum Store. I was disappointed that we did not visit the grave of Chief Seattle, the 19th century leader of the Suquamish people for whom the city is named.
Our next stop was the town of Winslow. Winslow is a charming town with a variety of cafés. My roommate and I each bought a serving of quiche at the Blackbird Bakery. We sat at a table on the patio. We bought ice cream at Mora Iced Creamery. I took off on my own to find the Geocache.
I walked to the Bainbridge Historical Museum. The Museum highlights the forced evacuation of its Japanese-American residents at the beginning of World War II. In March, 1942, all 276 Japanese-Americans living here were relocated to camps in California and Idaho. These residents were the first of more than 120,000 people to experience this fate. We returned to Seattle by ferry and motorcoach and ferry. I logged the Alki Point Lighthouse Benchmark.
In our meeting room after dinner, Dr. Lorraine McConaghy, a local historian and author, discussed Seattle’s rich history.
Day 4 - Wednesday, August 26 Bremerton
We visited the Christine Beck's pottery studio and home. Lovely place. We had lunch at a favorite island restaurant - The Hardware Store. I walked a couple blocks to the tall metal giraffe to find the Geocache. It took me awhile but finally found it. We returned by ferry and motorcoach to the Warwick Hotel. After dinner, we had a presentation by Elinor DeWire, published expert on lighthouses, about these sentinels of Puget Sound.
Day 3 - Tuesday, August 25 Bainbridge Island
After breakfast at the hotel, we boarded our motorcoach, rode the Washington State ferry and crossed Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island. Once a center of logging and shipping industries, the island has become more of a suburb with the advent of fast ferry service.
Our first stop was the Bloedel Estate, where two docents split the group and led us through its beautiful gardens and grounds. This 150-acre private estate, built by timber barons in the 1930s, is now a public arboretum. We took a short ride to the Port Madison Indian Reservation and the Suquamish Museum, originally opened in 1983 and expanded in 2012. I was getting hungry so bought some Crab Eggs (chocolate covered berries) in the Museum Store. I was disappointed that we did not visit the grave of Chief Seattle, the 19th century leader of the Suquamish people for whom the city is named.
Our next stop was the town of Winslow. Winslow is a charming town with a variety of cafés. My roommate and I each bought a serving of quiche at the Blackbird Bakery. We sat at a table on the patio. We bought ice cream at Mora Iced Creamery. I took off on my own to find the Geocache.
I walked to the Bainbridge Historical Museum. The Museum highlights the forced evacuation of its Japanese-American residents at the beginning of World War II. In March, 1942, all 276 Japanese-Americans living here were relocated to camps in California and Idaho. These residents were the first of more than 120,000 people to experience this fate. We returned to Seattle by ferry and motorcoach and ferry. I logged the Alki Point Lighthouse Benchmark.
In our meeting room after dinner, Dr. Lorraine McConaghy, a local historian and author, discussed Seattle’s rich history.
Day 4 - Wednesday, August 26 Bremerton
We had breakfast at the hotel. We walked seven blocks from the hotel to the Pike Place Market and about five blocks from the Market to the ferry dock. The 15-mile ferry ride to Bremerton, on the Kitsap Peninsula, was approximately one hour long. Their first stop was the USS Turner Joy, a Vietnam-era destroyer. I had an ice-cream bar. I took off to find a Virtual which I did not find.
Lunch was at Anthony's restaurant on the shores of Bremerton,. Afterwards I went back to the Virtual location and found it.. I walked down to the Puget Sound Naval Museum, where I purchased some things for my collection. I photographed the fountains in the nearby park. We returned to Seattle via ferry after lunch.
Some of us walked through Pike Place Market with our
Group Leader. Pike Place Market opened
in 1907 and is the country’s longest continuously-operating farmers
market. The market is a hub of bustling
activity from morning to night.
My roommate, Lisa, and I decided to ride the Monorail to Seattle Center. While she visited the Chihuly Museum I ate a Cherry Yogurt Parfait and Vanilla Shortbread at Starbucks in the Armory and then walked down to the International Fountain to enjoy the water fountain and music. Lisa joined me later. We both sat awhile enjoying the scene. We rode the monorail back and walked the few blocks to the hotel. I watched "Master Chef" on television.
Day 5 - Thursday, August 27 Whidbey Island
My roommate, Lisa, and I decided to ride the Monorail to Seattle Center. While she visited the Chihuly Museum I ate a Cherry Yogurt Parfait and Vanilla Shortbread at Starbucks in the Armory and then walked down to the International Fountain to enjoy the water fountain and music. Lisa joined me later. We both sat awhile enjoying the scene. We rode the monorail back and walked the few blocks to the hotel. I watched "Master Chef" on television.
Day 5 - Thursday, August 27 Whidbey Island
After breakfast, we rode the motorcoach
and then the ferry to Whidbey Island, the largest island in Washington’s Puget
Sound. We began our day there exploring
Fort Casey with our guide, who explained the fort's place in the "Triangle
of Death," a late 19th century military strategy designed to defend
against invasion by sea. The invention of the airplane made the fort obsolete,
I gazed across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Canada. I did the EarthCache. We also visited Admiralty Head lighthouse.
The lighthouse first began operations just before the Civil War, was moved in
1890 to make room for Fort Casey, and was decommissioned in 1922. I was fascinated by the small Lighthouse Traveling
Library and the Fresnel Lens.
We rode the coach to the picturesque town of Langley on the shores of Puget Sound. We did not do the planned visit of Langley Whale Center, where museum staff would have told us about the gray whales and orcas that frequent these waters. We had lunch at the Knead & Feed that I really wish that I had eaten the berry pie a la mode, skipped lunch and explored the town. I found the Geocache near the library where the bus was parked. Rounding out the afternoon, we rode to nearby Whidbey Island Winery to hear from the winemakers and taste their products. It was lovely to sit outside in the shade, sipping various wine samples
We sailed back across Puget Sound and dined out together this evening at a waterside seafood restaurant - Arnie's in Edmonds. I was trapped with three men at the end of the long dining table, bored to death with the talk of sports and physical mayhem. I watched the ferries come and go and wished I was someplace else. We arrived back at the Warwick Hotel about 9:00PM.
Day 6 - Friday, August 28 Seattle Center/Fremont District
In our meeting room after breakfast, we viewed a video of the landmark Space Needle’s construction as the official symbol of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. We rode the Monorail to Seattle Center and the Space Needle. I pointed out points of interest to my roommate, Lisa. We went down to the Gift Shop where we looked around for a bit. We went to Starbucks in the Armory where we had a light lunch and then said our goodbyes.
We rode the coach to the picturesque town of Langley on the shores of Puget Sound. We did not do the planned visit of Langley Whale Center, where museum staff would have told us about the gray whales and orcas that frequent these waters. We had lunch at the Knead & Feed that I really wish that I had eaten the berry pie a la mode, skipped lunch and explored the town. I found the Geocache near the library where the bus was parked. Rounding out the afternoon, we rode to nearby Whidbey Island Winery to hear from the winemakers and taste their products. It was lovely to sit outside in the shade, sipping various wine samples
We sailed back across Puget Sound and dined out together this evening at a waterside seafood restaurant - Arnie's in Edmonds. I was trapped with three men at the end of the long dining table, bored to death with the talk of sports and physical mayhem. I watched the ferries come and go and wished I was someplace else. We arrived back at the Warwick Hotel about 9:00PM.
Day 6 - Friday, August 28 Seattle Center/Fremont District
In our meeting room after breakfast, we viewed a video of the landmark Space Needle’s construction as the official symbol of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. We rode the Monorail to Seattle Center and the Space Needle. I pointed out points of interest to my roommate, Lisa. We went down to the Gift Shop where we looked around for a bit. We went to Starbucks in the Armory where we had a light lunch and then said our goodbyes.
I walked several blocks to the bus stop where I caught
the bus to the Fremont District. I
visited Groundspeak HQ where Holly, the receptionist, gave a brief talk. She probably would have talked more but for
the chatterbox newby. I caught a bus back
to the hotel, got my luggage, took another bus to King Street Station, got my
seat assignment in Business Class, checked my suitcase and walked to the nearby
Starbucks where I had an enjoyable lunch.
Great train trip back to Vancouver.
