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A couple more oyster run pictures, thanks to Richard~
The month is winding to a close but yesterday afforded us an opportunity for one more motorcycle ride -- 'Lunch in Winthrop'. Just under 200 miles across the mountains into Eastern Washington for a bite to eat. Once more riding with Ann's friends from work except getting up even earlier then we did for breakfast at Tom's, we met at a coffee shop and got underway - about 10 other riders on as many motorcycles.
A very scenic ride at any time of year but especially so in the fall. We stopped often and the pace was unhurried. A bite to eat in scenic Winthrop followed by ice cream and a bit of shopping before gassing up and heading back. It was a sunny and delightful day -- enough so that a bit of light rain coming into the home stretch couldn't detract from our enjoyment. Although there will be nice riding days throughout the winter, this may have been the last group endeavor until spring.
Ann took many pictures - here are a few~
Backing out of the drive - temps still in the forties. Well, high forties. It wasn't bad at all -
we were in many layers - which we peeled off, once on the eastern slopes.
Ann shot this brief video while riding East
The year is 1970 -- Ann is 14. She and her friends enter a photo booth. This is the same group
that she still
gets together with whenever possible...
September 27, 2009 Sun
Oyster Run - 2009 edition. Up early and ride to Stanwood - breakfast at Tom and Melanie's. Thank you!
Ride back into town with the massed bikers. Park and walk about. See the Seattle Cossacks precision
drill team, amongst other sights - mostly a few thousands of motorcycles and folks. Maybe upwards
of 15,000 bikes this year - which doubles the town's population for the day. Great Cheeseburgers!
September 26, 2009 Sat
Began the day at the Saturday market, getting there a tad late -- it was pushing noon.
The usual suspects were in attendance and I did attempt some pictures with Ann's old recently
gained new life Casio -- none of which were in focus -- totally operator error. But, I've been
snapping with it like crazy since I don't know when or which picture will be the last...
This fellow lives on top of the cabinet by Ann's chair. I'll have to get back to you on his name...
September 25, 2009 Fri
Ann makes good on her threat to take the day off - we celebrate! By riding!
Of course, we must still swing by her office to do a 'fish check' - make sure that 'Brad' the giant
angel fish is doing fine - he is. It is at this point that we discover I can no longer get her trusty
six megapixel Casio to fire up. Actually, it was a few minutes earlier, when we were across the street
at the Police Department and I was attempting to take a few pictures of their new training room for
the police website.
Sticking the no longer functioning camera back in my pocket, we headed for our next stop - YES! Krispy Kreme doughnuts. I mean, we were almost right there...
Where the magic happens - the doughnut production line. We got there just after they had turned it off,
after a run of pumpkin spicy donuts - we did get a free sample. Then I consumed several of my
favorite: glazed cream filled. Ann showed remarkable restraint and merely got a couple originals.
Then, placing my coffee in my new cupholder -- we headed back to Anacortes. There are more pictures,
but they are on Ann's phone and downloading them will have to wait a bit.
EDIT: ten minutes later - fooled with the Casio and - IT LIVES!
Although we usually try and watch the late-night news, I had missed this - serious flooding
in Georgia...
and parts of Tennessee.
September 24, 2009 Thu
A good turnout for the weekly ukulele practise, as usual. This group
is called S.U.E. and here
they are as seen this day... I blurred the individual pix so badly, that this composite must be seen
pretty small~
September 22, 2009 Tue
Howdy! In fact, Howdy Doody ~~ which you may or may not recall...
Tuesday, third week of the month. Finds us waiting for the Roto-Rooter guy. The good news is that it is still awesomely beautiful here in the great Pacific Northwest. In fact, they are predicting record heat for the next few days -- mid to high 80s. Impressive.
PM edit: Times are changing and I'm not keeping up. The last time I had to have the Roto-Rooter guy come out it costs 75 bucks. Out here, today -- it ran 350 -- man, that seems like a lot of money to run the snake out 50 feet and drag it back in! I think next time I'll try to rent the darn thing!
Let us start right out with some signage, of the 'Try this for a challenge' variety.
Anyone recognize this fellow? Clue - Korea, early 70's~
Thanks to sister Mardi - capturing a sunset from her dining room - they have a really fine view. Three
bodies of water are visible from that window - the big lake, Michigan - Grand Traverse Bay, and
Lake leelanau... One might be able to add Sutton's Bay to that list?
September 20, 2009 Sun
The weekend draws to a close. Lovely weather held throughout - and the prediction is for 80's the next few days. Amazing.
We managed (with Evelyn's help) to get her old Ipod loaded with some songs from Ann's favorite CD's, and hooked up in the truck, via one of those cassette thingys that go right in the cassette player from the ipod. We were loading them on her Blackberry, which would have worked the same - but the Ipod holds more tunes, and this way she can just use the phone normally - bluetooth, etc. while driving.
Also this day, son Jacob announces his engagement to longtime girlfriend, Sylvia! Congratulations!
September 19, 2009 Sat
Light rail in Anacortes! This from the Old Time Engine Show last weekend. Ann and Laura spectate~
September 18, 2009 Fri
Since the weather continues to hold at near 80 degrees, why not make a run to the dump? Some of our
junk plus some from Dick and Laura made a load. Shiny truck is still a work horse...
We started the day at the Toyota dealer - the last pre winter repair - a new speedometer cable. The last two years on cold winter mornings the old one made such a screeching noise that you couldn't hear yourself think. Along with re painting the truck to get another year or two out of it, and getting it ready for winter (tires, etc) this, too, had to be attended. It's a gamble, in that the noise doesn't occur except on those cold mornings - so we won't really know if the new cable solved the problem for a few months.
Thanks to Anna -
Four generations of Schwulsts in a single picture - priceless~
September 17, 2009 Thu
Another great turnout for the S.U.E. The number of folks showing up each week is nothing short of amazing. These guys are serious about their music!
Also another lovely day - the clouds burned off quickly and it's in the 70's. Ditto yesterday, when I managed to continue my marathon loafing without undo interruption.
Ann has taken the plunge, well, figuratively speaking - and is using her new giant aquarium. More
to the point, after waiting patiently for so long - she has put her prize angel fish, Brad,
into his new home. We'll know more later this day how Brad is doing... (edit: doing fine!)
Brad, in the old tank. He is as large as he can grow in this size tank.
September 15, 2009 Tue
We love this sort of day - simply beautiful, near 80 degrees - and few commitments aside from the usual assortment of chores and responsibilities. Retirement at its finest...
Ann must have pulled out all the stops to persuade Evelyn to pose for the 'traditional' (I'm betting
that was the argument used)
first day of school picture. Well, this completes the set -- the beginning of her senior year.
September 14, 2009 Mon
Ran across this page of pictures -
Tizzy as a pup - now almost four years ago.
We get a kick out of the look on her face as Chico yawns~
September 13, 2009 Sun
We mentioned that Ann was canning peaches - this all started at the Saturday Market, which was -
natch - yesterday. It continued until after ten of the clock, last evening. Much of this time
was devoted to peeling the durn things. Ann likes to do this with a small paring knife.
OK - one more truck 'new tires' picture!
September 12, 2009 Sat
Missed posting yesterday - but we had this ready to go, in the 'That's almost too disgusting'
category...
September 10, 2009 Thu
Flash - edit!
Saw this swell wreck on the way to the Library...
Car A turns in front of fast moving car B, with result BLAM!
Car B narrowly misses crashing into light pole... ends up near a tree in the KFC parking lot.
Dang - missed posting on 090909...
Oh, well.
A few more of Evie's pix - that are not
on Flickr. These are of her host family.
Just another beautiful day in the Great Pacific N'west. Mid 70's and sunny. Top down all day.
September 08, 2009 Tue
To Ann's 'new/but used/like new' truck experience you may add: tires and shocks. She says the difference in the ride and handling is amazing. Those were the original factory shocks that were replaced - after 150,000 miles - so, I imagine there is quite a difference...
While the work was being done we scootered over the bridge to buy guitar strings and test out my
swell new cup holder. It works - hot coffee on the road, no spills~~
September 07, 2009 Mon
Labor Day.
We labored up to Burlington so I could savage Krispy Creme for a half dozen. Yes.
Stopped and fed Ann's fishies. The PH is still off in the new tank - so her very large Angelfish
(Brad, by name) is still waiting to move into his new home.
September 06, 2009 Sun
Here's hoping that you are enjoying a long holiday weekend.
We are wondering why our long range plans never really allowed for being mid sixties and 25 pounds overweight? Let alone, broke...
Younger folks - take note. Right. My Dad said the same thing to me - and we see how much good THAT did...
Still no rain. This is becoming a theme, of sorts. Oh, it tried to sprinkle today - for about two minutes. But, basically, this four month drought continues unabated.
Here are a few more of Evelyn's pix from her summer in The land of Fins.
She spent some time with a friend of Ann's, who had been an exchange student at Dick and Laura's
as a teenager, Elina. This is her family~
September 05, 2009 Sat
We keep hearing, big rain's coming! It keeps not raining. Although it must have sprinkled during the night - the rain barrels got half full. In a hard rain they fill (over 100 gallons) in less than ten minutes.
So, we were able to attend the Saturday Market in only partly cloudy conditions - though very windy.
September 04, 2009 Fri
Let's get this signage out of the way - 'Could be worded better' department~
September 02, 2009 Wed
PM edit -
Did make it back up to Bellingham and pick up Ann's truck. Whoa - they did a fine job! Here's the before
and after~~
Welcome to the September Blog.
No pictures -- fast loading. For the next week or so the blog will load pretty fast -- until the number of pictures begins to mount. Over the years the content has migrated to mostly pictures. Although we are sure that you find my comments fascinating...
It seems that folks want to scroll through the pictures, read the captions and move on. To come upon a page of text can be offputting -- who has time to plow through all that? I may be in danger of pushing the limit even as we speak -- so, let's find some pictures.
I'll keep my ecological comments to myself with regard to the worlds dwindling rain forest resources~
Word is that we may be getting Ann's truck back later this day - oh boy -- shiny!
John and Linda are due back from their travels in the next day or so.
