Burning Wood

Posted on June 20, 2013 by TheJessicaness
Trinidad Memorial Lighthouse

Trinidad Memorial Lighthouse

This will be my latest day yet – up at 7:13, and on the road by 7:30. Hotel rooms will do that to me – Caleb’s second reason for liking hotels, his first being able to take a shower. I stop at False Klamath Cove – first spot the road hits the beach driving south from Crescent City. The car’s thermometer says it’s 50 degrees. I’ve been in 42 degree water so my feet don’t mind some cold sand – they enjoy it while I enjoy the view.

I stop in Trinidad to use the bathroom and there is a line at the gas station. Only upon walking out do I remember parking here before and last time I left with a giant donut in my hands. Then we went across the street to the grocery store to get a few things – probably chocolate bars. I thought I would try that again, but the sign posted said no public restroom and I didn’t need to do any shopping. I would have to look elsewhere.

"You don't listen - You get the hose!"

“You don’t listen – You get the hose!”

I thought I might try another part of town. I might’ve succeeded at the café around the corner, but the lighthouse at the end of the street got voted more important. It’s actually just a memorial of some historic parts as the original got modernized. The fog bell next to it now tolls every day at noon for those lost and/or buried at sea. It’s beautiful, but not a place I can pee. I will make it to McKinleyville for that.

With my bladder empty, and the recent news that I’m in for two delays, possibly an hour each, I decide on a coffee. I traveled the 299 a month ago with my dad and we saw the CAT tractors moving dirt on the side of the hill. Now there are sections of road that are dirt and the pilot truck is not there to guide us around the construction, most of it is clearly off the road (that used to be there), but to keep cars from racing around the gravel corner and causing a mess of rocks and metal that would only delay the road improvement.

Waddle - partly torched

Waddle – partly torched

I get lucky. The first wait is maybe two minutes before the one car from the other side drives past. The second wait will be five minutes before we wait for the line of cars to pass. Both of these delays are within 40 miles of Redding. Driving through the Shasta State Historic Park I remember when Caleb and I stopped here eight months ago. I will get gas in Redding and continue on the 299 east. I had planned a different route, but I had a bear that was now dry and needed to be torched.

I could’ve done the torching myself. I could’ve paid another shop to do it. I could’ve stained him instead, but I wanted the original artist to finish the bear he signed. I pass another construction zone on the 44 east just outside of Old Station, but there is no wait before my arrival to the chainsaw carvings shop at 2:30pm. Jeff, the guy that made my bear was taking his after-lunch nap. The boss, Dan, was on break while Stacy and his dog, Chalay, were outside in the heat – one cutting wood and the other playing ball with me.

Dan and Stacy

Dan sectioning and Stacy de-branching

This job seems like a nice one. There is no real set schedule, but items sold must be replaced and the boss likes to have so many available. Jeff torches my bear and we all get to talking. Dan invites me to follow them into the woods – three guys and two chainsaws – to take some pictures of them working. It’s not every day that a girl shows up with a big camera that’s willing to hang out with this crowd – that’s probably what they tell all of us.

I agree to go, but end up in the truck with them. I’m glad I did. They turned rubble into road, and though I do have four-wheel drive, it was nice to not have to follow over branches and stumps near cliff edge. Instead I get to bounce around as we find our way to some decent cedars. I get out in my slip-on shoes with my Canon around my neck. Their safety gear consists of boots, t-shirts, and sunglasses.

Jeff working on the chainsaw

Jeff working on a chainsaw

Dan grabs the 18-inch MS 660 STIHL Magnum chainsaw. This tool costs over a $1,000 and it’s worth every penny according to the ease of felling these trees and other reviews of professional saw users. Growing up, my step-dad wanted a dream wood cabin. To get that we moved out to a farm where he cut down trees and my siblings and I drug them into piles. That instinct wanted to kick in when I saw branches, but we weren’t here for the small stuff. They wanted the trunk for substantial pieces – like a 100 pound owl.

Even so, I took some pictures and was going to help load the logs into the truck, but when Stacy picked one up and it stood as tall as him, I figured I’d let them do their job and I would do what had been asked of me. Soon they are covered in sweat, saw dust, and ash. All these trees have seen a fire which is good for drying out the wood for quicker use. It was neat to see them all work together and make it look easy. There was smiling, smoking, and a bit of blood clearing a clean patch in a dirty arm.

Dan cutting tree into sections

Dan cutting tree into sections

The return trip to the shop gives us an amazing view of Lassen Peak. They have a permit on the truck of when and where they can get wood, but I know there are other trails out here, though they may need a park pass, they would be worth it. This is beautiful country out here and though the men are working they enjoy the scenery too. They also take the time to learn about the different plants they are working near – good to know which ones will give you a rash.

Upon our return, Chalay has found a stick twice his length and carries it away with pride. They don’t have to unload the truck as Dan will be taking it, and the owl, to Oroville. Across the street a truck hauling a trailer full of bees pulls up. Stacy used to be a beekeeper and tells me and Jeff to follow him in hopes that we can get some fresh honey. I love bees and I put my face real close to look at them. Jeff asks if we will get bit and Stacy assures us WE wont as he gets attacked near his eye.

Stacy posing with chainsaw

Stacy posing with chainsaw

The bee drivers come back and there will be no honey for us. Back across the street and it’s closing time. They move all the carved wood inside to keep it safe over night, but they didn’t lock it up while on the road. Not looking forward to all the highway driving I have ahead of me, I decide to stay the night at Hat Creek Resort where for $20 I get a tent site, hot shower, and flush toilet. Jeff is not ready to go home yet, so him and Stacy invite me and Tasha, a local girl, over for drinks around the campfire.

Jeff passes out and Tasha goes home. I go back to my tent and though it may not be next to the creek I can still hear the water running. The stars are out and the RVs dim and quiet. The campground has hotel rooms, cottages, yurts, extended stay trailers, and a day-use clubhouse that can be rented for $50. It’s also close to the Pacific Crest Trail and sometimes thru-hikers can be seen calling this spot home for the night.

Lassen Peak

Lassen Peak

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Fried Sandwood

Posted on June 19, 2013 by TheJessicaness
Miss Andrea

Miss Andrea

Up a few hours later from our late night conversation and we are nothing short of things to talk about. Wendy makes eggs, sausage, and toast for breakfast. I will have an egg sandwich with mustard. Today’s background-noise film is Shrek and Andi eats breakfast and gets dressed with her eyes glued to the TV – it’s not everyday you get to see a flying, talking donkey. The princess will get rescued, but not returned before it’s time to go. Wendy gives me some snacks for the road and a tray each for me and Caleb – I wanted the pink one and he got green.

It had started to sprinkle while we were getting in our cars, but it cleared up by the time I stopped at the beach in Nehalem to get some sand in my toes – a great addition to any time of day. Crossing the bridge over the Nehalem River I pick up a hitchhiker. He has walked all morning and I’m looking forward to hearing his stories for the next 30 minutes or so on my way to Tillamook, but he is a traveling clinician and his next stop is Wheeler – less than two miles away. Well, I saved him some time walking with his heavy bag.

Neahkahnie Lake

Neahkahnie Lake

Next stop, Lake Lytle – funny though because it’s bigger than Crescent Lake nearby that is appropriately named. I walk out to the end of the public fishing dock and while still on land there is a cupboard with children’s life vests in it. Maybe I should’ve put one on, but I doubt I would have gotten a good picture of me in it. I may not eat fish, but I’m happy that the community helps support the habits of its citizens that they deem healthy – and spending time with family and/or friends is very healthy – if you’re happy.

I plan to stop in Garibaldi with the intent of finding a bathroom, but the Myrtlewood Factory Outlet catches my eye and I pull over to a business with no public restroom instead. Inside is beautiful wood any way you can imagine it, besides paper, and today that’s all it will remain to me – an imagination of wooden bowls, ceramic cups, metal plates, iron cookware, and weaved baskets with fresh fruit I pick from my garden.

Manhattan Beach

Manhattan Beach

Out of fantasy and back to reality finds me at the Munson Creek Falls State Park about seven miles south of Tillamook. There will be no fresh cheese in my future, but the bushes have something else in mind. There are plenty of tasty orange salmonberries for me to munch on; once they become red they tend to lose flavor. Caleb was able to call and join me auditorily while I’m out walking, eating, and photographing nature. And visiting the tallest falls in the Coast Range with 319 feet of tumbling water.

There will be no stops for me on the 22 East that will take me into Salem, wrong one for witch hunting, and I didn’t know if I would stop or get directly on Hwy 5. It’s a big city on the map and I’m sure I can find something to take a picture of so I decide I will drive around a few blocks and see. I pass the Salem Center where there is a farmer’s market going on. I turn left at the light and park on the street in front of Rite Aid.

Lake Lytle

Lake Lytle

I pondered buying some berries – red, blue, black, and yellow. Those I could eat out of their little baskets, but the colorful potatoes and onions wouldn’t so do well to be eaten raw and I didn’t need any flowers. Then a stand blew over when the wind picked up. I knew a storm was coming, but I was hungry. I was making my way to the car when I saw a sign for Vietnam Restaurant – the Fresh Elements sign is not yet up.

As soon as I place my order for a Thai tea and a dish with vermicelli noodle, tofu, and onion to go it begins to pour down rain. A man invites me to stay and enjoy the ambience, but pulls out his workload instead of inviting me to his table. I take my dish and skip to the car on the other side of the street. I hop into my seat and notice my bag is full of brown juice. I will have to dump out most of the flavor to avoid a mess in the car. I will be eating my lunch on the road – with chopsticks.

Munson Creek Falls

Munson Creek Falls

An hour on the highway would have me in need of a coffee. I stop at the Coburg Crossing Café and get a medium cup this time in hopes that my cup holder wont swallow it (make me have to pick it up by the lid rim) and risk making a hot mess. I had planned on spending the night in Grant’s Pass at the Shilo Inn and enjoying their sauna and heated pool, but when I inquired inside and discovered the rate increase I decided 5 pm was too early to call the day quits.

Somewhere near Phoenix, OR is a place of wooden tree houses, and swings, and cars, and decorations too. I climbed to the top of the stairs and then went back down to relax in the hammock – I should get one. Now would be the perfect time to fill up my backseat with a $400-700 wooden swing as there are no dogs back there to mess it up or get hurt by it and I could hang it from my hammock stand in the backyard.

doll in Vietnamese Restaurant - Fresh Elements

doll in Vietnamese Restaurant – Fresh Elements

In a town near Gasquet, CA there are more wooden treasures – plenty of bears and trees, but one large face that is taller than me, his eyes the size of cantaloupes. I would need a U-Haul and probably a whole paycheck to tow this one home. Instead I pet him for a while and continue on. And I’m glad I did. I will have some time for a short hike into the Redwoods where I will come to a small cliff with a river at the bottom. I might have gone for a swim, but I was headed to Crescent City that is also known to have water.

Tonight’s stay will be at the Front Street Inn. All the hotels are within walking distance of each other, the harbor, and the lighthouse. I’m fine with sleeping in the cheapest one that I could find. I put some more air in my bicycle tire that is going flat and then Caleb calls. We talk on my way to the lighthouse and I was excited that I was going to be able to touch/see inside this visit, but I would be met with disappointment unless I left my electronics behind and jumped into the ocean. The tide was high.

Mr. Face

Mr. Face

Well, at least I know there is another thing I have to look forward to in this town. I ride my bike across the small section that I have come to know (on the map the city looks bigger) to Good Harvest Café to enjoy an Earth Thirst from Eel River Brewing just to be told by Karen that it’s a seasonal brew – and the season is over. She recognizes me from a month ago. I sample the other IPAs and settle on a dark beer that’s light. That will be it for me so that I can make it back to my room with the remaining sunshine.

The rest of the evening will be spent taking a hot shower with their yummy smelling cool cucumber and green tea infused conditioning shampoo. It may be more environmentally friendly to bring your own bottle, but this time I’m taking the three they have to offer. I will watch Just Go With It – a film released in 2011 with Adam Sandler where he lies about being married to get a girl and ends up falling for another one – while I paint my nails with polish that changes color in the sun from silver to ruby.

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Fate Had Its Own Plans

Posted on June 18, 2013 by TheJessicaness
fairy puzzle on the ferry

fairy puzzle on the ferry

Ed and Lorraine went to bed so quickly and quietly last night that I fell asleep on the couch. I had slept for most of the movie and I liked the silence and lighting of the room. I woke up at 3am, went to bed, and was up at 4:30 – we all were. For one reason or another we couldn’t sleep anymore. I get anxious on trips and I knew today would be a long day – I just didn’t know it would work out so well.

Ed makes steel-cut oats with apricots for breakfast and we all heat up a cinnamon roll too. Then Ed and I set out to the garage to inspect (and replace because of all the work to inspect) the timing belt. It felt good to get a little grease on my hands – it reminded me of looking pretty and feeling important when helping Caleb. I had a wrench in one hand and the manual in the other. We would have to disassemble the front of the bike.

view from the mezzanine level

view from the mezzanine level

Ed thought he was forgetting something and called a friend for help, but upon scrutinizing the manual he realized he had to do more work than he had planned. I would have loved to stay longer – he did have the next three days off, but Lorraine came out to deliver fruit for the road and let me know that he was hers for the next few days as soon as the bike was fixed. With that, I packed up my strawberries and cherries, read the map some, and drove away at 11:45 knowing I should’ve left sooner.

This time I will take the ferry in Coupeville to Port Townsend. This will allow me to take a part of Hwy 101 that I have yet to do. There are still other parts undriven – Port Angeles to Discovery Bay and maybe parts in Los Angeles. I bought my ticket, $12.70, and loading started ten minutes later. This ride was so much fun – no coat needed. I had 30 minutes to explore the ferry decks – from the floor filled with cars, to the mezzanine level, to the sun deck in all its wet and non-skid painted glory.

kids enjoying the view from the sun deck

kids enjoying the view from the sun deck

Port Townsend’s architecture seen from the water was enough, and sadly there was only one couple dressed in time period appropriate attire, but I wanted to see it up close. While driving through town, looking for parking, I see stairs. I park in a shopping center nearby and make my way over. This place is literal or maybe just more drastic, but you can take the Terrace Steps to get from Uptown to Downtown and thanks to Steve Corra’s spirit it is now a place where people can read, workout, rest, and travel from sea to bluff.

In New York there is the parking lane, the delivery lane, and the cab lane with room in-between for moving cars to pass. Here the cars park on the side, there are no cabs, and the delivery trucks park in the middle of the road so that cars may pass on either side of them – I like it. I make my way to Uptown and to the Bell Tower built in 1890 to call volunteer firefighters to their posts. It was used for more than 50 years, is the only known tower of its kind, and the view is still great overlooking the bay.

mouse-eye view from the car level

mouse-eye view from the car level

Past the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (oldest Episcopal building in WA and oldest church bldg. in the port – organized in 1860), and past the Bet Shira parish offering soup and bread on Wednesdays from noon to two, and I find myself in Uptown Port Townsend at 1:30 pm on a Tuesday. There is plenty to do, but a market with my last name, only spelled differently – Aldrich, draws my attention.

Inside there is a Recipe for the Hulk: Flintstone vitamins, Pepsi blue, lemonade, Tabasco, onions, broccoli, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, green gelatin, chocolate milk, and Slim Fast. Please leave the link to your video in the comment section of your attempt at ingesting this meal. I think it would take a strong person to swallow this mess, but only a kid could be so creative – and I thought what my siblings mixed for me out of the fridge or the combos my friends put together in the school cafeteria growing up was bad – I was mistaken.

blue building on water street - Port Townsend

blue building on water street – Port Townsend

The market has a memorial wall from a time they burnt down – mostly poems from kids about missing the candy and smell of coffee. There are shelves of groceries and a deli downstairs. Upstairs is a sushi restaurant and store with wine, chocolate, t-shirts, and Asian food. I buy a medium-sized shirt and a fig bar. On my way to Downtown I will pass a dog rest stop. It’s a small house (size of a bird feeder) with treats in it and a bowl of water.

I stop in at the Spice & Tea Exchange. They have a wall dedicated to salts, sugars, and mixed-on-site spices. They also sell tea, mints, and salt blocks (kind of like the ones I’m used to cattle licking on the farm), but you can cook with this and salt your food at the same time. ‘Instead of salt on food – this is food on salt!’ Upstairs is an art gallery with paintings for sale from local artists.

tourist and a local - Port Townsend

tourist and a local – Port Townsend

My next visit would be to the Wine Seller where I would get to try some ice wine. It was too sweet, at least for the moment, but perhaps it’s like a light adult liquid fudge that I could enjoy another time when I have a sweet tooth. I take a look around at the different chocolates, cheeses, wines, and beers brewed in Washington. Upstairs is some art, corks, and CDs to drink to. I buy a bottle of Elysian Men’s Room red ale and a birthday cake chocolate bar made by Seattle Chocolates.

As much as I would love to stay and see more – this town has me buying things and I have a semi-schedule to keep. My next stop would be the private plot of sand known as Holiday Beach. I pulled over to get a picture of the dock on the water with the sun and wasn’t going to approach any further when I saw the posted sign, but then I saw the bald eagle too. I don’t see them often so I attempted a photo. He was at the other end of the dock and when I stepped foot on it he moved so I let him be and got back in the car.

in a field on the 101

in a field on the 101

Through the town of Hoodsport at 4pm and in need of some coffee. I stop at the Busy Bean and try their peanut butter mocha – 12 ounces of warm goodness. They have a list of 46 flavors for coffee, tea, cider, soda, and smoothies. I might have to grow a coffee addiction so that I may stop at more of these roadside stands and try more of what they have to offer. The hot beverage offered a nice contradiction to some of the cold rain, but nothing to damper my escapades. The rain didn’t last long.

I felt I had been on Hwy 5 too long – anytime is too long on a road trip, but sometimes highways are the only connection or a way to help you skip seeing a lot and get you closer to where you need to be in a shorter period of time. I got off in Chehalis with the intent of keeping to the road that runs parallel to the highway. I knew I was lost the second time I crossed the highway. I found the Claquato Church (oldest standing bldg. in WA built in 1857 with a louvered belfry and crown steeple) and its outhouse.

lumber yard in Longview

lumber yard in Longview

Port-a-potties are my fear – like others are scared of spiders and heights and the plague, but outhouses I find quaint and historical. I wondered back there and opened the men side and went to the women side. Something touched my leg, there was a spider nearby, and I was holding the door open to a hole in the ground – I freaked, jumped back, and concluded my visit to the church. There is a list of 22 homes, hotels, and shops to visit in the pioneer village. I will be saving them for next time.

On to the other side of the highway and through Napavine where I will pass a tractor graveyard. I turn around, pull over, and get out with my large camera around my neck. Then I notice the guy sitting amongst them staring at his phone screen and then looking up at me, ‘You’re not from around here, are ya?’ Nope, I’m from San Diego and I’ve seen cars and boats in a junkyard before, but not this many tractors. He lets me know that one side of the yard is just for parts.

trash can in Astoria

trash can in Astoria

He also tells me that he went to San Diego once. I tell him I’m heading back home from being on the road for 2 weeks and he says that he’s still young and wants to see places. When he tells me he is 18 it took a lot for me to not call him a baby. Now I better understand the perspective of my elders – I can see the youth and possibilities. When I tell my neighbor this story (he’s in his 60s), he tells me that people in their 50s are still babies to him – I suppose some things never change.

I found the Jackson Court House State Park off the 12 and at the next intersection must’ve seemed quite lost. I had my map up and was looking straight, left, right, and again to try to find my direction. A truck pulled up beside me – go straight and turn right at the stop sign. I’m sure I would’ve turned left somewhere and been lost even longer. I wish I could’ve thanked him more. I would drive through the town of Vader twice – small place, before stopping in a shop and asking if the road before town was the right one.

how they eat in Astoria

how they eat in Astoria

Back on the 5, past the lumber yard in Longview, and I’m soon in Astoria, OR. I stop somewhere along the water where there is a public and private dock. Down the public one (with the obstructed view) and I see two guys on the private side. I’m halfway over the rail when I get caught. I plead and he agrees to say that he knows me – awesome! I wouldn’t have done all that had I known there would be a special viewing tower further down the street, but now I’ve got the view from multiple angles – thanks random guy.

There are theaters, shops, and restaurants – like most small towns, but I notice that Oregon loves books, coffee, and bicycles too. I feel smarter and healthier and more energized just driving their streets knowing how happy the people are to live here near forests on the beach – one of the ideal spots on Earth. The daylight has given me a false sense of time and I call Wendy to let her know that I will be arriving tonight.

rainbow over Manzanita

rainbow over Manzanita

I’m met with sheets of rain while driving on the 30 and the 101. While stopped somewhere for a picture a local tells me they call it the Washington Mist (it missed WA and hit OR). I’m not going to complain. I was still able to enjoy my ride, the view, and the rainbow above Manzanita – the town I would be spending the night in. The sun was far from set when I got to Wendy’s house, but I had more fun reminiscing about our days as roommates and meeting her daughter, Andrea, who is 2.5 years old.

Rescuers Down Under was on the TV but quickly became background noise as Andi showed me her bucket hat, we did a floor puzzle, and then I bounced her in a mini lawn chair while sitting on the floor. She is tiny, smart, and full of curiosity. She is loved and spoiled and I’m happy to see Wendy so happy. I knew she would make a great mom seeing her with Kristina’s kids – another one of our roommates that had a boy and twin girls – that’s when we all started finding our own places.

golden flirtation

golden flirtation

We sit outside to chat some while we let Andi fall asleep at 10 pm with a nightlight that plays music and spins shapes on the ceiling. We will sit up on the couch and talk through the night, me drinking a root beer to keep me going, until I yawn for the last time. It is good to catch up and I don’t want the night to end, even though Wendy has to be up in the morning to go to work. I’m grateful that she’s just as excited as I am about our visit.

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Finding Balance between Happiness and Disappointment

Posted on June 17, 2013 by TheJessicaness
Grandma Kitty

Grandma Kitty

I woke up this morning with no set time to leave, but today would be the day I begin to head south – or so I thought. Grama and I spent the morning together waiting on Amanda, who didn’t feel well, to come downstairs. They started looking for houses in the area as Amanda currently lives in a duplex and I packed the car and then we said goodbye at 11:40 am. I will arrive in SeaTac an hour later and I am in for more than one surprise.

I go to the door expecting to wait on Grandma Kitty (Caleb’s mom’s mom) to open the door – not the young black women that invited me in when she wasn’t sure who I was looking for. Please come in and have a look around to see if you recognize one of these people. Luckily, Kitty was sitting at the table having lunch and though it took her a minute to remember me – it has been four years, I approach her with a smile.

Kitty is now living in a group home with at least four housemates, a caretaker, and a house boss. She tells me she is the oldest one there, and the healthiest. It has been two years since her husband, Sonny, was found dead in their home in Gold Beach, OR. She shows me her room and her tomato plants, then gets out some of the photo albums she has. Lots of her things are still in storage. I go to the car to get my camera to take pictures of photos and she lets me have some – of course I tear up when I see baby Caleb.

Ed, Great Grandma, Jamie, Terri, Paul, Eddie, Jessi, Kris, Caleb

Ed, Great Grandma Mae, Jamie, Terri, Paul, Eddie, Jessi, Kris, Caleb

Next is the family tree album. I had been told about this years ago and she has done an excellent job of keeping track of marriages and kids. I fill out a sheet for her to add to the binder. I once friended a lot of people on Facebook (extended family – strangers to me) in hopes of meeting them one day, but after a couple of years I forgot and well faces and names have come and gone. I don’t know if people block me, close their account, or if there is a glitch that causes me to lose the one method I have for keeping in touch with some people.

We go on an outing – a trip to the store, after letting the caretaker know that we will be back in a bit. It felt great to have a grandma buy me a simple candy from the store. It takes me back 50 years and my dad has just reached that age, but I do remember a time when a pack of gum was less than a dollar and when I thought the octane level of gas was the price – that was at the turn of the millennium and those days are long gone.

I had plans to meet Aunt Jamie (Caleb’s mom’s sister), but she had to work late so she texted me, ‘safe travels home.’ I wouldn’t have been so upset had it not been for the conversation four days ago when she told me it would be great to see me. When the day arrives she acts as if she didn’t know I was going to be here, but I can’t give her a hard time since I haven’t even met her yet. This leaves me with three choices.

Seattle traffic with a great view

Seattle traffic with a great view

I could return to my aunt’s house in Everett – 45 min, return to my uncle’s house in Oak Harbor – 2 hours, or drive down to Manzanita, OR – 4 hours and my next stopping point. I would’ve gone south, but I didn’t want to arrive too late and miss the scenery along the way. I would’ve gone back to my aunt’s, but her husband is a bit awkward. So I chose to leave Grandma Kitty early so that I could drive back up to Whidbey Island.

I couldn’t have chosen a worse time (well, there probably is). A simple two-hour drive turned into four with Seattle traffic and a ferry that stopped running, but no worries. That’s why there are two ferries, so instead of waiting 30 minutes I only have an hour. I begin to walk over to Ivar’s where maybe I will have some loganberry liqueur, but meet two girls – Laurel and Valerie on their way to Diamond Knot Brewery.

I order an Industrial IPA from Chris – our server that I will have peanut wars with and include other strangers into our game. This gets us talking to the guys at the table behind us and helps time pass. Soon our hour is up and we are running to our cars, me with a water to go. As soon as I turn the key in the ignition the car in front of me is rolling forward. I paid another $9.75 to cross and will think about my decision of spending more money to avoid awkwardness – it is my vacation, but I made a new friend – balance.

Ed had asked if I would be joining them for dinner and I aptly replied that I would be drinking mine while waiting on the ferry. So as I neared I thought they may be at dinner as Ed wasn’t answering the cell or home phone. No need for me to worry as they were outside enjoying the weather while Ed was doing some maintenance on the Honda. We would go inside to watch Spawn, a 1997 action horror film with a dumb clown in it, then they would go to bed.

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A Maze of a Day

Posted on June 16, 2013 by TheJessicaness
NOTICE

NOTICE

Up to more than one noise this morning. There are birds preaching in the trees, alarms tending to the accident on the highway, and a dog barking in surprise that I’m here (Bella has a love/scared relationship with me). Grandma can’t sleep with all the racket either, but we also can’t figure out how to get the TV contraption to work with all the remotes. When Amanda comes downstairs she will grab one we didn’t try to catch me in a nap in one of her super comfy recliners.

Grama makes a Dutch baby pancake for breakfast with strawberries. Still feeling hungry, I will have the rest of my biscuit from Mr. T’s and a slice of olive bread from Macrina. Today’s goal would be to make it to the Whidbey Island Distillery via the 20 over and then south through the island with a return to the mainland via ferry. Our first stop would be at the Berry Barn in Mt. Vernon.

They sell aprons, fruit, wind chimes, pies, and vintage signs, but not their old radios – those are just for decoration, but I would’ve bought one – or two. Better that I didn’t; I already have some radios – one that plays records, one from my childhood, and another that I used to hang off my bike handlebars – now I have an iPod. As convenient as internet radio (and online song purchases) are, I still miss my seafoam green boombox and the one with removable speakers that my sis and I covered in stickers.

Hedge Maze

Hedge Maze

Grama buys a strawberry rhubarb pie that it seems only me and her will be eating – Amanda doesn’t like rhubarb and Scott doesn’t like strawberries. Then Amanda buys us tickets to their Hedge Maze – a first for all of us. Caleb calls and I get to talk to him while getting last in the tall bushes. There is a slide in the middle where we can see the nearby farms and the mountains in the distance. Grama knows better than to take the slide, but Amanda didn’t want to miss out on the fun, even though it would hurt her back.

That doesn’t slow her down though. Amanda drives us on to Deception Pass, the most visited park in Washington, where we walk to both sides of the bridge for some pictures while Grama waits by the car. It is nearing lunch time and we are planning on getting lunch in Oak Harbor. I text Uncle Ed for recommendations and he gives great directions to Seabolt’s Smokehouse so Grama can get more fish ‘n chips. I order fries, garlic bread, and a Stone IPA. Grama and Scott split a fish sampler and Amanda gets a burger.

Ed also offers to show us around his work and asks if we are going to Canada. I told him we are headed to the distillery and he says to try the loganberry liqueur on vanilla ice cream; Grama wants to try it on limoncello gelato. We pull into the driveway and wonder if we are trespassing on private property. There is a lady washing her car, but then we see signs for parking and distilling – Beverly assures us we have made it and takes us downstairs. On slow days, she figures it best to get some chores done – I agree.

Deception Pass

Deception Pass

Once inside we are greeted by Steve, the distiller with an engineering background. He tells us where the ingredients come from, what he does to them in his machine, and then a little about the bottling and selling process. Some states have heavy export fees, taxes, fines (money of yours that they want) making it harder for small businesses to share their products. They are working on growing, but us ladies agree that we enjoy the drive, the visit, and the personal interaction – and the free chocolate samples.

Once done with the distilling part of work, it’s on to the tasting side. We approach Beverly who tells us more about different flavors, and the glasses, jams, and candles they have for sale. She gives us each a small taste of the loganberry liqueur and when we buy a bottle we get another taste, and some more chocolate. Each bottle is $32.80 with a list of the taxes charged posted on the wall. It’s 23% ABV and 46 proof – too much science. It’s delicious.

We had planned on taking the ferry back. Amanda has never driven onto one before – and then we see the line with the sign that says, ‘Wait time from this point approximately 90 minutes.” Now we have a decision to make. We can drive the two hours back (and use gas) or sit in this line for 1.5 hours and experience the ferry for 15 minutes – we choose ferry. It’s a nice day out and warm enough that jackets come off to reveal that somehow we all wore purple shirts today – three representing GCU and one that got hers on sale.

Whidbey Island Distillery

Whidbey Island Distillery

My Grama works in the transportation business – escorting people to and from the airport, so she has learned a lot about planes in the years she has run her business with her co-manager Dan. This entices her enough to ask Amanda to stop at the Future of Flight: Aviation Center & Boeing Tour to take some pictures. Tours are better on weekdays, so we skip that to go home for a slice of pie.

We will watch an episode of King & Maxwell – a new TV drama about two private investigators and then four episodes of Goodwin Games – a show about a dad that dies and makes his kids play games so that one may win his fortune. Bedtime will come early and while I’m in the bathroom brushing my teeth I happened to notice a bruise – one I got from jumping into the back of Uncle Ed’s jeep on the way back from Leavenworth.

I remember yelping in pain so I text him to let him know that I did hurt it worse than I thought. I think I was getting a little stir crazy in the backseat. He texts me back that at least I will have another reminder of my adventure, even if only temporarily, but now it’s in my blog for permanence. I’m just glad I didn’t break my tailbone on his seatbelt buckle. Time to rinse and go to sleep.

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