Back to Edmonds & Q - #52-06

June 10, 2005 (Fri)
Bell Harbor Marina, Seattle, WA (2)

Our state room in the bow of Friend Ship is very tight - one thin bunk on each side with a space about as wide and half as long between for standing, dressing, etc. It also includes a small head and a closet. Q is going to seem roomy when we get back. The beds were comfortable though. We both slept well and soundly. This morning, as we sat in the main cabin with Seattle out the port windows and Mount Rainier in the distance off the bow, the huge cruise ship Mercury of Celebrity Cruises out of Nassau glided silently in. It was 10 decks high, excluding the lower service decks without ports, and a good big city block long. A couple on the dock watching it with us, who seemed to have some experience with cruise ships, said it was one of the biggest they'd seen.

After breakfast we did Pike Street Market which has hundreds of small businesses ranging in size from single table "booths" to small stores selling everything from crafts to odd and rare musical instruments - with food vendors far outnumbering the rest combined. This is the home of the famous Pike Street Fish Market there the mongers shout to and with each other and their customers and throw fish around. Fascinating! There is also a quilt shop! The hustle and hassle of the crowded market was accompanied by a variety of Street musicians with open instrument cases at their feet.

This afternoon we took a trolley up the Seattle Public Library, world renowned for its architectural design, then walked back through Pioneer Square, (the "original" Seattle). Back aboard Friend Ship, we gathered on the rear upper deck for drinks (soda) and watched the cruise ship depart and, later, two sea gulls argue over a starfish one had brought up from under the dock.
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June 11, 2005 (Sat)
Arabellas Landing Marina slip C20.
Seattle, WA to Gig Harbor, WA (aboard Friend Ship)

Joy woke to an odd noise and finally realized that it was another cruise ship coming in. She watched through the porthole. By the time we had our showers another one had come in.

We were off for Tacoma at 8:30 and crossed the sound in wind driven choppy water. We docked there at a public pier being readied for the arrival of some tall ships at the end of the month. Tacoma is struggling to build a waterfront walk and park. They've succeeded beautifully at one end - the other end! We walked down to the Museum of Glass. The museum's focus is art glass. There are displays of contemporary artists (fabulous!) and a large room with glass furnaces where we watched artists at work. The museum also includes a permanent exhibit of works by glass sculptor Dale Chihuly along a foot bridge spanning I-705. We got some great pictures of his naturally back-lit ceiling panels - great inspiration for quilts.

Back aboard Friend Ship we crossed another finger of Puget Sound and threaded our way through a narrow channel into Gig Harbor. This is a pretty little town with lots of small "touristy" shops. Mark and Joy walked a half mile up (literally) into town to a grocery store for supplies while Gail and Phil prepared supper. In the evening, another game of dominos. Phil won again.
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June 12, 2005 (Sun)
Gail and Phil's driveway. (5)
Gig Harbor, WA to Edmonds, WA (aboard Friend Ship)

At about 9:00 we hauled in the ropes and made our way out the narrow channel. The tide was up so it wasn't the challenge it was yesterday. We set a course almost due North and headed for home in a "sea" almost as smooth as glass. We made good time so we decided to put into Eagle Harbor for a lunch break - wraps and soda on the aft deck. We chugged into Friend Ship's home port at about 4:30 - the end of a wonderful voyage and experience.
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June 13, 2005 (Mon)
Gail and Phil's driveway, Edmonds, WA (6)

Q went back into the hospital today. The leak in the toilet that the Chinook factory was supposed to have fixed, wasn't. There is a Chinook dealer right around the corner here in Edmonds and they agreed to squeeze us in. We're hoping it's fixed now. Other than a trip to Costco (business) it has been a feet-up kind of day.
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June 14, 2005 (Tue)
Gail and Phil's driveway, Edmonds, WA (7)

This has been a day for errands and relaxation. We did another area Costco (Warehouse, a third store is designated "Home"). It is similar to ours at home but laid out completely differently. It was very confusing! We went to a Mexican Restaurant with Phil and Gail's good friends and co-boat owners, Mitch and Carol for supper. We had a good time and the tortilla soup that Joy had was delicious.
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June 15, 2005 (Wed)
Gail and Phil's driveway, Edmonds, WA (8)

Mark's birthday. Today has been devoted to preparation for travel - shopping, packing, filling, repairing, etc. We will be going into Canada tomorrow. Until we get to Alaska communication will be spotty at best. So if you don't hear from us for a while, that's why.