Seattle: Touristy Things

Smith Tower

Seattle, WA

You live in a town long enough and you begin to think you've seen it all. I naively thought that of my former city. Then, as life would have it, Ellen and I found ourselves 38 floors above South downtown Seattle looking at a view 9 tourists out of 10 would gladly say rivals that of the Space Needle. For less than half the price! If you've been to Seattle you've probably been up to the top of the Space Needle. You enjoyed yourself and said, "what a nice thing that was". You figured that was the best you could do in the view department and decided to never again look for an observation deck in the Emerald City. You've made a huge mistake. Get down to Seattle, go to Pioneer Square, ride up the last man-operated elevator this fine city has to offer and take in the wonderful views of the Smith Tower observation deck. You owe it to yourself and the hard working people of Seattle to experience this satisfying view you've so selfishly neglected. 

Seattle: Book Learnin

Seattle Central Library

Seattle, WA

When we were in Iowa, Ellen and I partook in a visit to the historic library of the State Capitol building. When we were in Seattle, Ellen and I partook in a visit to the modern library of downtown Seattle. As it turns out, we are scholarly folk. Who knew an afternoon in a library could be so fun?

Seattle: Ferry Boat

Washington State Ferries

Seattle to Bainbridge

I can't count the exact number of times I've been to Bainbridge Island. Too many to know for sure. The best I can do is figure more than 25 and less than 100. What I can count though is the number of times I have been to Bainbridge Island for Thanksgiving. A week ago that number was zero. Now it is one. Guess what I did for Thanksgiving.  

Northwest: Orcas Sunset

Camp Orkila

Orcas Island

Sunsets are great wherever you are. But the best sunsets happen when you're on an island. 

Northwest: Camp Orkila

Camp Orkila

Orcas Island, WA

The pictures that follow do a horrible job of showing what transpired while I retreated at the YMCA camp named Orkila. These were digitally created up at a large field where the camp owned zip line exists. Fun fact; this camp claims it is the state of Washingtons longest zip line. Though I saw no substantial facts to back this up, I believed them. I'm a trustworthy guy. The zip line in question was not a part of our weekend events however. No one but me went up to the field. I went up there for about an hour just because I could. It was beautiful. It was scenically wonderful. But it really had nothing to do with what our weekend entailed. Also, these pictures make it seem like it was warm. Don't they look more warm than they do cold? It was cold. These pictures are lies, nothing but lies. 

Wedding: T&A

Tyler & Amanda

MoonDance Inn

Bellingham: Mt Baker

Picture Lake, Artist Point & Chain Lakes Trail

Mt Baker

It had been a long time since I last ventured East up to Mt Baker in the Fall. I'm not exactly sure when my last autumn visit was, but my gut tells me my dad may have taken me and Joel up on a daycation one autumn afternoon when we were but young little children. I assume my father hiked around, took in the wonderful views and enjoyed all that our well elevated National Park has to offer. I also assume Joel and I whined about tired legs and cried out for sustenance while generally not appreciating where we were and what we were witnessing. I think we can all agree that kids are annoying, right? Right. Thankfully I am now a fully formed, somewhat mature, mid twenties man who can look around at beautiful mountainous scenery and appreciate that he is in fact looking at beautiful mountainous scenery. Let me be the first to tell you, Mt Baker is the definition of beautiful mountainous scenery.