And now for the lighter side

PACKWOOD, WA - - Sometimes you just got to let your inner feline aspirations take over.  This is also known as the feelings you will get when confronted with another 8 days in a camp ground near Packwood.  Labor Day Weekend is fast approaching and in order not to "find no room at the (camp ground / motel / etc.) signs we've luckily gotten into another campground until next Tuesday.  So, we're celebrating...as seen above: happy, happy, happy.  Celebrating is defined as TWO cups of coffee instead of one at Mountain Goat Coffee.
 

Java message

 Packwood, Wa - - After reading my previous missive, you're  probably wondering:  How did he post the blog??  As with a lot of blog posts it involved coffee.  The Mountain Goat, a local coffee stop in Packwood, just 35 twisty mountain road miles away from Cougar Rock campground is the answer.  Today's blog is also courtesy of 'The Goat.'  It was nearly 90 when we were here on Thursday; now it's 60 with low clouds and a nice, cold breeze.

The view

Mt.Ranier; 8am at our campsite

COUGAR ROCK CAMPGROUND, MT. RANIER NP, WA - - Having our own channel marker just about at our camp site in Port Townsend was neat. Seeing Mt. Ranier from where we are camped now seems even better.  OK, so we had to walk about 20 yards for a better view in a break between the very tall fir trees.  Yesterday (Wed) we took off for a lodge up the very winding road and the views got better.

     Once at the lodge we hiked up to a nearby meadow (with waterfalls) for a different view.  At 14,410' Mt. Ranier is imposing.

     We're staying in our camp ground through Sunday ... at $10 per night you can't beat the price.  Of course, there are no showers; no wifi; no cell service...but the views aren't too bad.

 

Market time in Poulsbo

 POULSBO, WA - - If the Scandinavian flags, shops selling all sorts of viking articles and general atmosphere don't clue you in then maybe this wall mural will start you thinking.  'Uff da' can be translated into many meanings but the one I think seems most appropriate is:  "Oh crap!"  So,here we are back again for a few days as the camp grounds are full.

     And what better way to spend part of a Saturday than to wander around the local farmers' market.

Some random photos

Foggy morning, Anacortes

Sunrise, Port Townsend

Archie says: Hi, Port Townsend

Poulsbo pleasure boat harbor

 

Channel marker

It's not often you get a campsite with its own channel marker...and guardian eagle

 

The 'new' kid in town

Washington State Ferry MV Kennewick

 ANACORTES, WA - - Yesterday morning(Mon) the main repair site at Dakota Creek Industries shipyard was empty.  This morning when I checked it was hard to miss that there was something different.  A couple of days ago a shipyard worker had told us a ferry was due in for maintenance, but wasn't sure when.  Now we knew.  And it was hard to miss. In past times visiting Anacortes we've been transported by the MV Kennewick at least once out of / or to Port Townsend. **Update:  we had a reservation Wed. morning on the ferry to Port Townsend; sometime after midnight Washington State Fewrries notified us the MV Puyallup was out of service for repairs.**

     Yesterday  (Tue) our attention had turned to the loading of petroleum 'grain'. a byproduct of the nearby refinery into the Kodiak Island bulk carrier vessel.  The 5-year-old cargo carrier, flying the flag of Hong Kong,  was docked at a special loading station near the repair yards.  The practically non-stop transports (far left in photo below) serviced the loading apparatus...two days and counting

    

Crab time

 Boiling your catch is step one; then...

moving the Dungeness  to a 5 gallon bucket before icing

 ANACORTES, WA - - Dungeness crab, it's what's for dinner or lunch or even breakfast.  Over the weekend, there's been quite a crab-fest as the short Dungeness crab season was in full swing.  It's been that way in past years over the beginning of August.  But this year it was different as the crabs were out in full force meaning a lot of anticipated long days for a good haul were over in a couple of hours having reached the daily quota.

     I approached one rather young guy hard at work preparing the day's catch.  He was almost down to the bottom of his cooker ... and filling up the top of a 5-gallon bucket.  His rhythm never slowed while we talked:  Into the cooker with his tongs; grab a bunch of claws and then shake the excess water off; and finally deposit the goodies in the bucket.

     As I stood there trying not to drool too obviously he asked if I'd like some as he never anticipated meeting quota early on the three days his group was out.  I ended up with at least two pounds of yesterday's catch...fresh off the ice where it was stored.  I should have taken a photo of my Dungeness delight.  Unfortunately, by the time I thought about photographic evidence all that was left was a large pile of smashed shells.

A man with a paint brush and a can of paint

ANACORTES, WA - - -Look closely at the end of the high-reach arm about where the orangeish rust protector starts and you'll see a worker doing touch-up.  The Northern Glacier is a re-porposed nordic tug now working as a (head and guts) fish processing factory ship.  The Anacortes dry dock is a stop over to do maintenance, etc. on the 38 year old vessel.
 

Whimsical yard decorations

ANACORTES, WA - - You never know what you may come across while strolling the back streets of Anacortes.  Some home owners go out of their way to make things distinctive...such as the colorful scarecrow on the walkway wall or the  clown?? who missed its landing in the evergreen bush out front.  Wonder what the inside decorations in this homeowner's domicile look like??
 

Sailboats and gulls

 ANACORDES, WA - - The early sun reflects on the bay at Port Townsend while we wait for the ferry 'Salish' to head out across the bay to the Whidbey and Fidalgo islands.  Meanwhile, gulls, gulls and more gulls swoop by. And then there was this solitary gull just out for a spin.

Artistic flow