Seattle Visit: Time with family and friends

This entry wraps up our visit to Seattle.  Here are some photos of the other fun stuff we did over the week.  

We went on a family bike ride to Burke Gilman Park.  Luckily my dad has a good sized bike inventory and we borrowed a few for our ride.  Ethan had a fancy folding bike, K had the Hummer, and I had a one with a really hard seat (or maybe my behind wasn't used to sitting on a bike seat).  

We met up with friends at King's Hardware in Ballard.  We hung out with the cousins, dear childhood friends, and a few of Ethan's old coworkers - people we really miss while we are living on the other coast.  

Danica, always animated, Meghan, shooting her own pic, Ethan, and Cara and Ben at the end

Elin with Erin and Chris

Steve, Dan, Phoebe and Zoe

Danica, Meghan, Abby and Elin

Elin and Cara 

Ethan, Elin, Cara and Ben 

There is a new statue in Fremont - JP Patches and Gertrude "Late for the Interurban".  For folks who aren't from the NW, these clowns were the stars of a Seattle based children's TV show from the 60's and 70's.  

Click below for the full Seattle album.  

Seattle 2008

Seattle Visit: Lopez Island

We went to the San Juans for 2 days to visit my uncle Paul and his girlfriend Angie at their new house. It's located on a nice piece of property on Lopez Island. Ethan and I love the San Juans and nothing in NYC compares to the beauty and peacefulness of these islands. We were so glad we made time for this trip. I took many photos but I am having problems with the blog layout and can't move the photos into the right order. So here is our jumbled group of pics.

Paul took us on a trail to a hidden cove - we were the only ones on the beach. We skipped some rocks and Paul found a nice spot to rest (see below).

Paul and Angie's new house and barn

View from above the Lopez ferry landing

Family hike out to Iceberg/Icicle Point

Back to the hidden beach, Paul relaxing in the sun.

Hanging one of the barn doors - for a free nights stay and yummy meals included, it was the least we could do.

Pretty sunrise.

at Spencer's Spit

view from the ferry

Iceberg/Icicle Point (I can't remember which name is right).

with Grandma

The Oracle - training for the America's Cup Race

Seattle Visit: Electric Boat Ride

My parents reserved an electric boat for the family on Labor Day evening.  There is a boat rental company on Lake Union that lets groups drive electric boats out around the lake.   No chaperone required - just follow the rules of the water and don't go past the Ballard Locks or the UW Montlake Bridge.  We set out with my dad at the wheel and took a tour of the lake.  Moira and Danica joined us for the ride - it was a fun time!  Some of us took turns being captain, although I was more comfortable taking the photos.  

Approaching the Fremont Bridge

Sailboats among us

Captain Stan

Helmsman Ethan

First Mate Danica

Second Mate Elin

Somthing you don't see everyday - people having a full course meal while afloat in the middle of the lake. 

E and E

Danica and Elin

Kathleen and Moira

Coming Next: Lopez Island 

Bye Bye Yankee Stadium

The last game is being played in Yankee Stadium tonight.  So long.....

Seattle Visit: Vashon Island

It was great to be back in Seattle. We had a busy week, full of visits with family and friends, side trips to Vashon and the San Juans, an electric boat ride, and good weather (no rain!). September is a perfect time to visit because it's usually sunny and warm.

The day after we arrived in Seattle, we headed over to the cabin on Vashon for the annual Thomas family and friends Labor Day picnic. Here are some photos from our day:

Vashon ferry landing

on the ferry

Visiting an organic farm on the island- my grandparents know the farmers/owners, who invited all us over for a tour. Here's Abby checking out the veggies, cheeses, and other goodies for sale at the farm stand. The green beans were a foot long!

Hazel, the milk cow who entertained us when she briefly escaped her pen.

Ethan and Grandpa enjoying the view at the beach.

Ready for the picnic
The 5 of us

Cousins on the ferry home

Sunset on the way home

Next up: Electric boat ride on Lake Union

Somber Day

Photo taken from NY Times website

There were several 9/11 memorial events today and the annual Tribute in Lights is going on right now. We can see the two beams of light from the WTC site from our apartment window. It was unusually quiet on the subway this morning as people seemed to hold their own moment of silence.

Today also marks the opening of the Service Nation Presidential Forum held at Columbia. Obama and McCain are taking the stage together in a non-partisan discussion about the importance of national service/volunteering. 100 lucky students won tickets through a campus lottery (15,000 students signed up). I entered, since I am technically part of the School of Continuing Ed, but no such luck for me. Instead, we are watching on CNN.

Stay tuned for Seattle montage

I've been a little slow readjusting to the East Coast after a nice trip back home.  We did lots while we were in Seattle and I have 100+ photos to prove it.  I'll pick and choose some of the best ones and show you later this week.  Maybe by this weekend?  :)