A quiet couple of days in Whidbey after Maggi’s surprise false birthday celebrations.
The two highlights of Thursday came after lunch.
All except Greg drove to Deer Lake where we could swim. We all enjoyed splashing about in the water, even Islay who was eventually enticed into the lake.
When we arrived at Deer Lake we had lots of parking choices, by the time we left people begged for our freed up places. The grass where we placed our things had very little spare room.
The water wasn’t too cold and there was a jetty for the kids to run and jump off. All in all good fun for everyone.
I returned to the house with Sarah and 4 kids while the others explored the forest of Putney County Park. Later in the afternoon I received a note from Alex asking us to meet the rest in Langley at the Pizza parlour. We all sat around in the open air eating slices of pizza on paper plates with plastic knives and forks while we drank out of plastic cups.
Yesterday we met someone on Double Bluff Beach using a sieve to filter a tiny patch of sand for plastic bits. Chase the retailers I say.
Friday 7th goodbye to Whidbey
We all agreed we had a great time on the island, the weather, the house and actual Whidbey island had all made this a magical week.
We spent the first part of the morning cleaning up the house. When you took away the kids stuff and filled up the dishwasher the place looked remarkably good. Maggi and I left just after 11 am and managed to catch the 11:30 ferry from Clinton back to the mainland. The others missed it.
Before we joined the I-5 back to Seattle we found a Japanese restaurant where we enjoyed vegetable tempura, green tea, and miso soup. A real contrast with the starchy food we have been eating and a pleasant change. We checked into our University Inn Pineapple and read for awhile. We then headed over to Alex’s house and joined the others to Lake Union where we hired an Electric Boat for a trip around the lake.
The kids jumped and shouted to the music from Adam’s phone while Adam and the kids in turn had a chance to steer the boat. We floated around and then went past Dan and GG Green’s house. Sadie called Dan who came flying out of his house waving his arms insisting we come over to the house.
Dan quickly jumped onto his paddle board, promptly fell off, we all laughed. Soon he remounted the board and paddled out to us. He took over driving the boat back to his jetty, while Adam gingerly paddled back.
The kids all used the next few minutes to run and jump off the jetty. It was all good fun.
We headed back to port and disembarked then drove up to Queen Anne Ave where Alex had booked a table for 12 in the Thai restaurant called Isarn Soul Kitchen
Greg had arrived earlier that the rest of the party. When we had all joined him he started ordering starters for the whole table, which I thought really inappropriate as Maggi and I were paying. He didn’t ask if that was a good idea and he didn’t spare the expense. On the basis of good long time family relationships I didn’t say a word. I just paid the bill.
We headed back to the house and then back to our hotel.
Saturday 8th July
A very quiet day. We had a coffee on our way to the house. I watched England U-21 team win the European Championship. Later we drove up to Queen Anne where Alex bought a frame for Sadie’s graduation certificate.
Next stop Cafe Hagen for lunch. The usual plastic story for drinks etc but the food was OK. Maggi and I went for a walk down to Highland Drive where we found the end of fake Pamplona Bill run. The bulls came as shopping trolleys with cardboard bull’s heads.
Apparently they have had this fun event for 13 years. All the participants dressed in white trousers and shirts with short red scarves stood around at the Highland Drive viewing point chatting. A real community get together for all to enjoy.
We walked back passed the Alaskan Cruise ships on 7th Avenue. A lovely day, both cool and sunny ideal for a bull run.
After lunch we hung around and then drove to the airport. All went smoothly and we took off on time. Food pretty poor, but probably better than in economy.