Kidless in Seattle - Part 1

It didn't seem right to wait until December to see Seattle and nearby family, so I booked a flight with Southwest and headed for Seatac, leaving Gina alone to fend for dinners and errant homework assignments. The winds were gusty and from the north, so the plane landed after flying low and close to Mt. Rainier (always a nice homecoming sight). It was great seeing Mom and Dad (thanks guys!) and perhaps my greatest trip highlights were driving into Seattle to do the SAM, Great Wheel and eat lunch at the Pink Door. The Wheel is so tall and stretched out over the water, it seems impossible, but the ride itself glides smoothly and serenely up towards the skyline before dropping back down again. The Seattle Art Museum is even better than before, seemingly larger than before and yet more intimate with the uncrowded displays.

First day of school

Safari West - the drive

Safari West - the birds

Sea Ranch beaches

Sea Ranch Activities

We spent a good portion of the vacation reading our books in the house, and each day we spiced things up with an outing or activity:

• Tennis at the courts (including the great sea-side court near the Big Barn)
• Hiking Fisk Mill Cove, one of my favorites
• Biking, and catching a couple of red racer snakes.
• Looking for tadpoles and frogs and whatever you call it when it's between a frog & a tadpole in the "Hot Spot" river.
• Eating, eating, eating. Mainly at Bones (Nate's & my favorite BBQ spot of all time) and the Two Fish Bakery.
• Walking along the bluff trail.
• Ping-pong, hot tubbing, but no swimming...it was foggy & cold most of the time!

Sea Ranch Vacation

The drive to Sea Ranch is always long, winding, and slightly nausea inducing. (Nate and Julie would say more than slightly.) But it's always worth it, especially when we could get in a semi-sunny day and sunset before the fog settled in for good. We stayed at one of our favorite houses, Endless View, which would never be confused with fancy but it does have a great deck overlooking the ocean, nice bedrooms, and a ping-pong table in the detached garage.

Gina's Birthday!

Exploratorium in SF with Uncle Len

Camp Galilieo

Nate and Julie finished their Camp Galileo camps on Friday -- Julie did "Decadent Dessert" and Nate did "Advanced Video Game Design," with both being held at Stanley Middle School.  On the final day, we were able to taste the dessert creations (Julie's being a lemon tart) and Nate showed us his jumping and castle storming video games. I asked Nate if he enjoyed Camp Galileo again this year, and he said, "I more than enjoyed it!"