Seattle and Environs

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Originally uploaded by J Semenza

Raven and I left Seattle early in the morning on Saturday and headed out on a drive. A really long drive, we drove down past Olympia, and up to the beaches by Queets and Kalaloch. It was 70 degrees and gorgeous, the rainforest was thick and lush and green and the ocean was stunning. I got to see a few amazing birds: chestnut backed chickadee, northern fulmar, marbled godwit, and pacific crows. We drove around and into Olympic National Forest. I loved it. We continued on up and around to Port Angeles we stopped at a little restaurant called Cafe Garden. It was posh but not pretentious and the food was AMAZING. The road continued South to Bremerton and back to the hotel. We got in late but it was sooooo worth it.

Sunday morning started late and we decided to go to a great restaurant for breakfast. It's called Salty's and what we didn't know is that on Sundays they do an all you can eat buffet. Let me just say it was more than worth the 30 dollars per person. They served exquisite food, lots of variety and I may never try another eggs benedict in my life cause it just wouldn't compare. They also had all kinds of fresh sea food, fish, pastries, and anything you could possibly want.

After brunch we went into Seattle proper to visit the public library. Seattle public library is a marvel with a spiral walk between the upper floors. Very industrial in feel it is Definitely worth a visit. Gene joined us later for dinner, which was great cause it has been years since I've seen him.

I must go back and visit again soon.

Photos
Seattle Public Library: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604598950899/
Scenic Washington: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604525287458/

Stonehenge and The Road to Seattle

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Originally uploaded by J Semenza

I had heard about the Maryhill Stonehenge years ago. The British scholar Christopher Chippindale spoke at ISU and Nick, Jeff and I attended. He was fascinating and triggered a spate of reading. I was still reading Stonehenge books a year after he visited. Seahenge was uncovered in 1998, just a short time after Chippindale's visit. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/for more on Seahenge. There was no way I wasn't going to get to see this American version of Stonehenge so I plotted my route from Boise to Seattle via Maryhill.

The drive through the Columbia Gorge was stunning. I had recently read a book on the Glacial Lake Missoula Floods and could see the evidence left by it, just as the author had described. I had to take a detour because the bridge crossing the Columbia River by Maryhill was being repaired, but I persisted. I finally got to my destination and it was well worth it. The replica is to scale and you can get a sense of the grandeur if not the age in this place.

My next slight detour was to Mt Rainier National Park. Unfortunately, I was unable to go through the park - closed on account of snow - and had to circle around it. Still, I got to see a lot of it from the edges. I put on my mp3 player over the radio transmitter and listened to Loreena McKinnet and other new ageish music while driving through the mountains and snow. It was very surreal.

I got to Seattle later in the evening, checked into my hotel and called Raven. She came over and we hung out and plotted our next activities.

To Maryhill photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604520187555/
Maryhill Stonehenge photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604517410434/
Road to Seattle photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604526816157/