At some point we (Cindy) decided that what was needed in the house was a new set of sheets so we (really we) went to Target and bought sheets, a blanket and some bottom skirt thingy that hides the box spring. Don't ask me what it's called, but we (Cindy) said it was necessary. That evening we went for Thai food and were in bed right after the sun set, about 10pm. I exaggerate, but not by much. Sunset was 9:05pm and it's not completely dark 'til about 9:45pm
On Tuesday, we got up early and started our tour of the Olympic Peninsula. We were in Poulsbo by 7:30am and had a nice breakfast. "Let's buy a house here" said Cindy. She wanted to wait until the shops opened on Main Street so we took a hike in a local natural park. All the city parks in the NW look like they can be the setting for Jurassic Park. They are beautiful. When the stores opened we walked up and down the streets and enjoyed the ambience. This town is the Norwegian version of Solvang.
Next we continued north to Port Townsend. "Let's buy a house here." said Cindy. Port Townsend was gearing up to be the major west coast seaport north of San Francisco in the 1890's. Lots of big, ornate buildings were put up in anticipation of that but the town went bust by 1896 when the railroad decided to stop at Seattle instead of continuing west. We had lunch in Port Townsend (I had Cioppino and Cindy had blackened salmon.)
We continued to Port Angeles and the gateway to Olympic National Park Hurricane Ridge area. Miraculously, there was no "Let's buy a house here." Maybe there was and I just had tuned it out by then. The 22 mile ride from Port Angeles to the top of Hurricane Ridge is similar in many ways to the ride up Mt. Lemmon, with the exception that towards the top there are steep drop offs and no side guard rails. We still had the navigation system on as we neared the top and as we were going around a particularly sharp hairpin turn, the GPS said to us "Turn left in 500 feet." Now turning left in 500 ft. would have sent us over the precipice so I was planning to ignore that direction. Cindy, who was having a hard time trying to maintain her composure through what I'm sure she considered a near death experience, lost it completely and started yelling at the GPS: "What the fuck do you mean turn left? Are you fucking crazy?" There's no way we're turning left you fucking idiot."
The views from the top were spectacular. Here are a few.
On the way back to Olympia we took a different route, this time along the western shore of the Hood Canal on 101. This is an awesome drive. Every curve a more beautiful vista of the water. Every three miles during this 50 mile section Cindy said "Let's buy a house here." We also stopped at a great water fall. We only stopped at one, though Jordyn's notes say there are at least 7 along this stretch highway. We got back to town by about 10pm.
(pictures of the ride home)
Wednesday: On Wednesday I was planning to take a bike ride and Cindy was going to read all day and then cook up a nice cioppino and some fruit pies with the 90 pounds of fruit we had picked over the weekend (maybe not that much but I am learning from Cindy how exaggeration makes a story much more interesting.) I was really looking forward to this meal but noticed Tony and Jordyn had no kitchen table or chairs. We would have to eat on the couches in the living room. Unacceptable, so we (actually I ) suggested we go out and buy them a dining room set. It was a nice gesture but it also obligated me to spending 6 hours assembling a table and 4 chairs. Everything came in Ikea like boxes that fit into the back seat of our car so you can imagine how many pieces it was. It was at this point we (I) decided we needed to stay another day so I could 1: take the bike ride I had been looking forward to and 2: eat the leftover cioppino.
I also love yelling at that GPS lady. Nice panorama shot! Great story - you guys are both wonderful writers! (Lucky Tony & Jordyn)
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