Marjorie Restaurant to Close September 6

I've just received word that my favorite restaurant in Seattle will close its doors on September 6, 2008. I want to offer my thanks to Ben and Donna at Marjorie in Belltown for their consistently kind hospitality. I encourage readers from Seattle to go visit Marjorie (2331 Second Avenue) before the doors close! The closure is due to a lost lease; Donna plans to reopen in a new location at some point, but until then Marjorie will just be a fond memory. Best of luck to Donna (and Ben) in your next venture!

A Good Long Day

Leaving Keyhole SP fairly early, we drove straight through Minnesota and most of Wisconsin to arrive in Milwaukee in time for a quick walk around the Milwaukee Art Museum and then join my mother for dinner. Still feeling fairly fresh somehow, we headed out around 9 PM with goal of reaching Indiana before stopping to sleep. This was our longest driving day by far, but still felt really good and had some meaningful stops. As with any new road trip companion, I think we just needed a few days to figure out a traveling pattern. Unfortunately this is also our final day of unstructured travel so we won't likely get another chance on this trip to get into a similar groove.

Sights along the way: hundreds of motorcyclists on their way to the Harley-Davidson 105th Anniversary celebration in Milwaukee, scheduled to begin the next day; the iconic Quadracci Pavillion at the Milwaukee Art Museum designed by Santiago Calatrava shaped like a boat, or bird, or dinosaur – depending on your point of view.

Stowaway #2

This morning when we were packing up camp, a strange scratchy sound came from the folds of the Eurovan's canopy tent. After popping up the van top again, we found this cute little bat under the "eaves" of the pop-top. We didn't want another stowaway, so encouraged him with a stick to find a new resting spot for the day.

Stowaway

“Yep. That looks like cat poo.” We're peering into the back of a U-Haul trailer full of everything Zach owns at the side of the road about 30 miles outside of Billings, Montana.

“He's gotta be in there somewhere.” Zach gingerly removes the dried cat turd with a paper towel and tosses it to the ground. Two days ago we were in Spokane, Washington visiting Zach's friend Kathy, who had been storing Zach's Subaru while he was climbing the highest peak in each state for a Coleman-sponsored project (www.coleman.com/50states) We had stopped in Spokane to pick up the Subaru our way to move all of Zach's stuff to Columbus, Ohio before he flies off to the Netherlands for his next project (more about that another time).

A call from Kathy this morning prompted us to pull off the road. “I can't find Stella. Can you see if he's in the U-Haul?” Stella is a cranky 13-year-old orange-and-white cat. It's been two hot days since the trailer was last opened. After searching for several minutes we found dried-out cat feces and urine, but no cat. Stella wasn't responding to our calls; it seemed clear that the cat was onboard but unable to respond. We'd have to unload the trailer to find the cat, dead or alive.

An hour later in the Wal-Mart parking lot, after partially unloading the trailer and crawling on top of the remaining furniture and boxes with a flashlight, we finally found him on top of a box under the dining table. He's alive, and hungry! A handful of kibble in the back of the Wal-Mart cat carrier is enough to encourage him into new captivity.


The plan: Kathy found a PetSmart/ Banfield about two miles away from our Wal-Mart. She arranged with Ramona (the vet) to check Stella over and keep him until Kathy could arrive later that day to pick him up. Kathy is a Banfield customer back in Spokane, and all her pet records could be transferred between vet centers. (This is one instance where national chains have an advantage over locally owned businesses.)

Seven hours later: Zach and I are well away down I-90, Kathy is reunited with Stella in Billings, and all is well.

Spokane, WA

Kathy Graebl has an adorable vintage house in Spokane and a busy yellow lab named Nisqually. “Nisser” is also the mascot for a mountain gear distribution company called Summit Dog that she owns with Mike (from the Coleman 50/50 challenge). Kathy put us up for the first night of our cross-country trek, and showed us a bit of the cow town of Spokane. We had such a nice time, we decided to stay a second night.

Spokane sights: a handful of nice parks, a steel sculpture of runners (by the same artist who did the Wild Horses monument near the Columbia River Valley), and at least a one really great restaurant (see below).

Our first night in Spokane, Kathy introduced us to a restaurant called Scratch (or at least the bar affiliated with it). All the food is “made from scratch” and is reasonably priced and tasty. If you get to Spokane, check 'em out.

Wild Horses Monument near George, WA

On the way to Spokane we pulled off the interstate briefly to stretch our legs and see the Wild Horses Monument. About ten miles east of George, WA on I-90, a short scramble up a bluff from the parking lot let us get up close to the steel installation by Spokane artist David Govedare. The wind blew uphill with enough force to make the steep climb seem quite easy, and the view of the Columbia River Valley was impressive.

On the Road at Last

After returning from Sinclair Island Zach was eager to finish packing and get on the road to Columbus. On Thursday August 21 we were finally on our way. My VW Eurovan was pretty loaded down by a 5x8 U-Haul trailer with all of Zach's belongings, but we were finally on our way. First stop: Spokane, to pick up Zach's Subaru wagon from friend Kathy.

Plants Away

Steve and friends at the Seattle Firefighters International Union Local 27 are now caretakers for my collection of houseplants, since I won't be able to look after them while traveling until next May. Though I know my lovely ficus, spider, philodendron (etc.) are in good hands, it feels strange to come back to an apartment devoid of greenery. This is the most tangible sign so far that I'm going away for awhile. It is slowly sinking in that I'm really going away.

Dan and Melissa's Wedding in Laguna Beach

Zach was the best man in his friend Dan's wedding in Laguna Beach, CA on August 18, and I was fortunate enough to join as his guest. The wedding was somewhat nontraditional, but beautiful and elegant nonetheless. We were kept pretty busy with the wedding activities (rehearsal dinner, ceremony, reception, brunch the next morning.) The ceremony was held at sunset on a terrace overlooking the water at the Surf and Sand Resort. Zach gave a wonderfully heartfelt speech at the reception. Dan's sister Gabby was an adorable flower girl.

Photos: Dan and Melissa's Wedding in Laguna Beach

Sinclair Island and the Stoner House

Mark Stoner hosted a short holiday at his family vacation home on Sinclair Island in Washington's San Juans. Eleven friends gathered to comfortably enjoy food, drink and board games on a cool, rainy weekend.

Photos: Sinclair Island Weekend 2008


View Larger Map

Wrapping up the Coleman 50/50 Adventure: Mauna Kea, HI

We flew to Hawai'i on July 24 to nab the final peak of the Coleman 50 States/50 Days Challenge. Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano near the center of the Big Island of Hawai'i. Though the mountain is nearly as tall as Mt Rainier, it has a well-groomed road nearly to the top to service the many astronomical observatories on the mountain. From the observatory parking lot the summit is quick 100 yard scramble through loose scree.

The rental car companies generally dissuade use of their cars to reach Mauna Kea, and with good reason. Loaded down with five people, our 2WD car struggled mightily to make it up the steep roads through ever-thinning air. Any transition from sea level to 14,000 feet is going to be a struggle (I could certainly feel it and had to fight for breath at the top). The car did no better. At one point three of us (Zach, Jordan and I) got out to lighten the load. I thought we'd end up hiking to the top! Fortunately, the road leveled out half mile or so and we were able to drive the rest of the way to the observatory parking lot..

Zach was surprised to find his brothers Matt and Jon waiting at the summit, and his Mom and Dad waiting back in the parking lot when we came back down. With a tiny bit of logistical support from me, Zach's Dad had arranged for the whole family to meet Zach in Hawai'i to celebrate his accomplishment. This would be the first time his whole family would be together in the dozen years since his parents divorced. Zach's Dad rented rooms at the condo resort where Zach, Jordan and I were staying, and we spent the whole week in Hawai'i with Zach's family. We even met up with one of Zach's cousins who lives in Hilo. (Man, he knows people everywhere!)

Hawai'i sights: Mauna Kea, lava flowing after dusk near Hilo, a luau at the Royal Kona Resort, the Painted Church, the Place of Refuge NHP, a Kona coffee plantation, a wonderful ukulele shop, snorkeling with sea turtles, and fruity drinks at beach-side cantinas.

Review for Kenichi Pacific Restaurant
Zach's Dad took us all out for a wonderful sushi dinner at one of best restaurants on the Kona side of the island. If you get to the island, check out Kenichi Pacific. For our party of nine, we asked the server to simply bring us several platters of assorted sushi of the chef's choice. We were delighted with beautiful, creative presentation and high quality for both cooked and raw options, and the quantity of food was perfect for our table. The owner/chef even came out for a pleasant visit. The restaurant is a bit out of the way in a little shopping mall a bit south of town, but it is well worth a visit.

Photos: Hawaii 2008

Wrapping up the Coleman 50/50 Adventure: Mt Rainier WA

I had been closely following Zach's 50 States / 50 Days Challenge , and joined in the fun when the guys arrived in Washington state. I had been planning to meet then in Oregon when my WaMu job wrapped up, but the guys were crazy far ahead of schedule. On July 19 I left to hang out with Zach, Mike, Lindsey and Jordan (the rest of Coleman challenge crew) at Casey & Melissa's cabin in Ashford WA, near the entrance to Mt Rainier National Park. After borrowing some climbing gear, on July 21 I accompanied the crew on a five-hour hike up to Camp Muir (10,000 ft). Jordan, Lindsey and I rested briefly and turned back to the parking lot as the guys suited up for the summit ascent. Most climbers take 2-3 days to reach the top, but not our guys. They roped up and headed for the top and made it back down to the parking lot just a few hours after the rest of us.

The Mt Rainier climb gave me just a tiny taste of what Zach had been living through since his departure for Alaska in late May. Though the mountain was really beautiful and I enjoyed being outdoors exercising, the experience confirmed that I'm not meant for mountaineering. I felt absolutely no compulsion to reach the top, to face the dark and driving cold, to prove that I could endure the mental challenge, etc. I was perfectly content to rest in the heated guide tent with a mug of cocoa, use the enclosed privy, and head back down while it was still light enough to see. The guys headed for the summit would have no such luxury. More power to 'em.

Photos: Mt Rainier July 2008

A Rough Outline of the Next Year

Yesterday was my last day at WaMu. Following is a rough outline of what I expect to do for the next year or so. This blog will provide updates throughout the year.

July 2008

• Meet Zach and friends in Ashford, WA then climb to Camp Muir on Mt. Rainier
• Fly to Hawai'i's Big Island to summit Mauna Kea and then hang out for a week

August 2008

• Spend a long weekend with friends on Sinclair Island in Washington's San Juan Islands
• Fly to Laguna Beach, CA for a wedding
• Pack up a U-Haul with all of Zach's possessions and drive it to his Dad's place in Columbus, OH

September 2008

• Hang out for a few days at Zach's family cottage in South Bristol, Maine
• Visit with Zach's Mom in Winsted, Connecticut until Zach departs for Holland
• Explore New England a bit then head back cross country to Seattle

October-November 2008

• Chill out in Seattle for a bit and catch up with friends
• Fly to Holland to visit Zach and his brother Matt for a week
• Pack up my apartment in Seattle

Mid-November 2008 – Mid-May 2009

• A six-month volunteer trip to Latin America, starting with seven weeks in Guatemala
• Volunteer and travel in Honduras
• Volunteer and travel in Nicaragua
• Volunteer and travel in Ecuador
• Volunteer and travel in Peru

June 2009

• Find a home (location TBD)
• Look for a job (profession TBD)
  

A new beginning

On June 19, I was notified by WaMu (WM) that they no longer need my services. My last day working for WaMu was July 18, 2008.

Fortunately, I was not surprised by the announcement. I've been able to simplify and save enough to take a decent sabbatical before looking for another "real" job. I intend to spend the summer relaxing and traveling in the U.S., and will depart for a six-month volunteer mission in Latin America though Global Vision International beginning November 15.

This blog is intended to capture and share my experiences during this life transition.