Some Misc. pictures from Seattle

Some Misc. pictures from Portland

September 25th-Our day on the research boat for The Center for Whale Research

Craig and I got to go out on the research boat with Erin and Dave. This was a very special trip because we got to be in the boat for the final day of aerial photogrammetry studies in collaboration with the National Marine Fisheries Service. Meaning there were two scientist above us in a helicopter photographing the whales from above with very specially calibrated lasers on their cameras. It was an amazing and surreal experience.

The scientists will be able to use laser points in the photos to calculate the actual length and width of each animal for the first time. It's such an exciting time for the Center and all who love this endangered population of orcas.


It was a cold, wet and very bumpy ride but worth every minute! It was Craig's first time up close and personal with the whales. We saw J's, K's and L87.


Here's the write-up on the Center's website.

September 24-Karaoke Night with CWR Folks

Went into Friday Harbor for dinner at Bella Luna and Karaoke at Herb's-much fun had by all!

Craig and I stayed in Ken's RV for the three nights we stayed at the Center. I'm so happy the whales were still in the area and most especially that I got to hang out with Erin before she headed out to Mexico. Craig did some great work on the webcam.

September 23-Waterskiing Day

Pretty quickly after we arrived at The Center for Whale Research, Erin let us know they were going waterskiing and we were welcome to join.

As you can see, Craig and I are in hats, coats, etc. and Erin, MacKenzie and Tim were in 48 degree water!

It was a crazy blast.

September 22-Heading up to San Juan Island

We had a beautiful drive up to Anacortes, got to see Deception Pass (amazing!) and were lucky enough to see Mt. Baker leaving on the ferry out to the island.

When we got to Friday Harbor, we had lunch at Downrigger's watching the boats come in and out. I was right at home.

September 22-Ballard Locks

The Ballard Locks were really cool. Craig got to photo a large barge getting lowered to the salt water level. The local bar were big fans of the show Deadliest Catch since most of the crew on the show live in Ballard. A couple of the boats stopped in there on there way out. Seattle is a stock up point before heading to Alaska.

September 21-Cornelius Pass Roadhouse

Yet another McMenamins masterpiece.

This was a cool find after checking out the tech area of Portland.

September 21- Voodoo Doughnuts

World Famous Voodoo Doughnuts. Doughnuts as only Portland can deliver.

September 20-Tim "Herb" Alexander Drum Clinic at Portland State University

When Craig and I were driving out the the beach leaving Portland, we were listening to a really great station out of Portland State University. They announced that they were giving away tickets to see Tim Alexander (formerly of Primus and more recently A Perfect Circle). He is in Craig's top 5 favorite drummers, so as Craig drove I called.

I won tickets as fate would have it, we would return from the beach two days later and go back to Portland rather than drive up the coast back to Seattle.

Craig LOVED it! I had never been to a drum clinic before but I have to admit that even as a non-musician, it was a BLAST!

September 19-Cannon Beach

We never knew that the Oregon coast was this beautiful. The beach has been protected so there is 326 miles of public beach along the entire coast of Oregon. There is even an Oregon Coastal Trail. We caught a beautiful sunset over the water near Haystack Rock.

This area of Oregon was very beautiful. The coast was pristine, the trees were tall, and the air was fresh. We ate dinner in a local restaurant in Cannon Beach looking out over the coast through huge windows. After dinner, Craig made us a great bonfire on the beach before sunset. We camped at Nehalem Bay so we were also able to take our coffee down to the beach and catch the sunrise.

September 18-Rogue Brewery

No trip to Portland would be complete without a brewery stop or two-or was that three?

Rogue
Widmere
and
Deschutes


Throughout our trip in the northwest the food was excellent! Veggy options were everywhere. We even visited some vegan restaurants and a raw food place. The food was fresh, flavorful, and never heavy with oils. Every meal was interesting, and we rarely ate corporate; mostly local businesses, or businesses started in the area.

September 17-Byways Cafe and Powell's Books

We had a great time touring the Pearl District in Portland.

Byways Cafe was a funky hip little diner right in the Pearl with fantastic food.

We walked all around the area and were shocked at the public transportation. It felt as close to a European City I've yet to see on this side of the pond.

Our next trip will definitely have a LOT more time to veg out in Powell's Books. That place is a city unto itself. So large that the technical books are housed in a completely separate facility.

September 15-White Eagle Saloon in Portland

Portland is famous for its tough zoning regulations which lead to interesting re-use of buildings no longer serving their original purpose. I read about The Kennedy School in Portland which used to be a grade school and is now a great, unique hotel where your room is an old classroom complete with chalkboard.


We called them as we were leaving Mt. Rainier to head down to Portland. No rooms. Huge bummer, but-"if you are interested in something unique" says the guy. "Look at White Eagle Saloon, we have a room left for tonight".

Sold. Off we went from Mt. Rainier to sleep atop the White Eagle Saloon in a former brothel. This saloon was also part of the famous Portland Shanghai Tunnels where drunken patrons would be drugged and would disappear through a trap door to later awake on a ship. Such scandal, we could not resist.

The White Eagle also has live bands every night. When we stayed, it was Alpaca! with Roof Access. They were both fantastic! We danced our butts off to Alpaca and then stumbled up to our room. Craig was diggin Roof Access's trombone player!

September 14-Rainier

We are both positively smitten with Mt. Rainier.

Like Craig said, "It's Denali without the commute." We had perfectly clear weather and a 100% visibility.

We camped at the White River and had an unforgettable vision of the mountain lit only by the light of the full moon.

Like I said, positively smitten. Googly eyed and all.

September 13-"The Center of the Universe" or Fremont

In 1991 the Center of the Universe was discovered in Fremont, a quirky, eclectic area of Seattle. Complete with the Fremont Rocket, a statue of Lenin, a bridge troll, and other funky sculptures, Fremont is a don't miss while visiting Seattle. Of course, as with the rest of the Northwest, the food & beer are great too!

September 13-Gas Works Park in Seattle

We spent a lovely, warm Saturday afternoon watching locals at Gas Works Park. The park is right on Lake Union with a perfect view of the downtown skyline and the Space Needle.

I just adore how Seattle turned this site into this fantastic park. We laid back on the grass and watched locals taking off in float planes, flying kites, kayaking, biking, drumming-even a couple getting wedding photos.

Craig watched the daredevil on the scooter roll down the hill for quite some time. Finally, after much protest, he had to leave with his mother. That little guy rocked! Because the scooter had no brakes, if he got going too fast, he had to ditch it in the grass.