By late afternoon, blue skies and 80-degree temperatures would bathe Whidbey Island from tip to tail.
But this was morning.
An uneasy fog bank lay low over the Strait of Juan de Fuca where it opens into Admiralty Inlet. Urged by a steady breeze, it pushed against the island's western shore, rubbed damp fingers against the white barrel of the Admiralty Head Lighthouse and slipped into the hills above Crocket's Lake where seagulls were sleeping in.
August 31, 2006
FAIRHAVEN -- Whether you are packing the littlest traveler in a car seat, or have ol' grandpa wrapped in a blanket, first things first: You will find public restrooms in the Amtrak/Greyhound and Alaska Ferry terminals at the foot of Harris Avenue, the main drag for Bellingham's southernmost commercial neighborhood.
August 10, 2006
Short Trips
WALLA WALLA -- First came the Cayuse, the Yakamas and the Nez Perce, then Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, and then the Presbyterians.
The farmers with their wheat and peas and sweet onions were next, then came three colleges and a state prison.
But you ought to see Walla Walla now. It has caught more than lightning in a bottle.
It's the wine.
Safe to say, though, that if it's Three-Buck-Chuck that lights your wick, the closest Trader Joe's is four hours west.
June 15, 2006
Short Trips
BELLEVUE -- Seattleites who suffer from limnogephyrophobia (that's the fear of lakes and the bridges that cross them) could be missing something.
Bellevue, for example.
Bellevue is that place on the east side of Lake Washington that just about everyone on the west side of Lake Washington likes to poke fun at. You know who you are -- Blahvue, Blandville.
But, hold on a minute. You might be surprised.
June 1, 2006
Short Trips
SNOQUALMIE -- A real engineer in overalls and a real engineer's cap ...
A conductor with a watch in his pocket ...
A brakeman who waves ...
And a whistle that goes TOOOOT-toot-toot ...
Vern Scott pulled slowly on the lever that engaged a thingamajig that, in turn, urged his diesel-powered locomotive to get going, and it did.
Once again the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad would be on schedule, this time to host a Northwest Railway Museum outing for kids.
May 18, 2006
Short Trips
ROSLYN -- This place has risen from the economic ashes so many times that you might be tempted to call it Phoenix.
Don't.
Especially as a visitor to a local saloon late on a Saturday night.
But, like the phoenix bird of Greek mythology, Roslyn has risen from its ashes repeatedly since its incorporation 120 years ago.
May 11, 2006
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