16 – 19 February 2023
On Thursday 16th, Maggi and I decided to go out for lunch. We couldn’t really decide where we wanted to go, but ended up at Ray’s in Ballard. We had been to the restaurant before so I had no expectations of a glorious meal. However, the setting is excellent with views overlooking Puget Sound with the Olympics in the background.
Unfortunately the quality of the food doesn’t match the quality of the views. We both had clam chowder as a starter, I followed this with “True Fish & Chips”. The fish came encrusted in a thick layer of bread crumbs which is probably how it arrived at the restaurant, but frozen. The chips probably came from the same source. Maggi had tacos with unidentifiable white fish. We didn’t bother with a dessert.
Other than this excursion on Thursday our lives have followed a routine. For me that has meant rise about 7:30 make coffee and deliver for Maggi in bed. Empty the dishwasher and eat my breakfast. I follow this with yoga with Adrienne. I am still very stiff (not in a good way) due to taking a year off from yoga with my broken arm. I should have returned to the exercises earlier.
Next on the agenda is a short walk with Maggi to make sure she is not stuck in all day. We may or may not take the dog so he can poop somewhere en route. After lunch we may need to shop at one of the local stores. We are favouring QFC at the moment, but all the stores seem over-priced in comparison to the UK. Naturally there are lots of different products from which we are used to. However, I notice that there are many more, for example, milk products, not only non-dairy milks but also lots of milks with additive flavours. This proliferation of products applies to all sorts of basics. Another is beans, not only are there the different types of beans, but also they are available in a variety of different sauces.
The other aspect of the day is my longish walk. I have toured the neighbourhood with and without Bennett.
My walking tours have led me down to the Ship Canal Trail most days.
Fortunately the weather has been kind to us while we have been staying in Seattle with very little rain to keep me pinned in doors and unable to take a walk.
Walking in Seattle means climbing or descending hills, some of which are very steep and a real danger when there is snow and ice around. It is a struggle to find a route which doesn’t involve excessive climbing.
I crossed over the railway tracks on Dravus St and saw this line of coal trucks as far as the eye could see on both sides of the bridge. So much for the prevention of global warming.
Only in America do the rough sleepers not only have a tent, but also two generators to keep them comfortable.
