Howdy there!
I just wanted to let you know that I am working on some projects that need my full focus and attention for the next little while.
As a result, this lil’ ol’ blog here will suffer some neglect. (Sorry, Mom).
For now, I’m unsure of a timeframe but will be back as soon as possible!
Until then, you might as well go reread some old posts with airplanes in them. Because airplanes are magical, after all…
It was a great two days exploring Seattle. If you don’t believe me, you can read all about it yourself.
After I arrived back in Bremerton from the Seattle ferry, I decided to hit up my favorite eatery for a delicious dinner.
I passed part of the Bremerton Navy Shipyard while walking the four blocks to Toro Lounge.
Spring has definitely sprung in this part of the world. After a beautiful seventy-one degrees today, this flower was showing its beauty for all the world to see.
Or, at least the people in Bremerton. And the four people who read my blog.
Ah, the Toro Lounge. I love this place!
The inside is cute and quaint and modern. I usually grab a table to stay for my dinner, but I decided to get it to-go tonight.
My hotel is a whole two blocks away, and I can eat dinner, rest my feet, and watch some Food Network. You can’t beat that!
While waiting for my meal to arrive, I enjoyed the frequently-rotated art on the walls.
These are done by local artists and are actually for sale. I really liked this ski lift one, though I don’t ski.
When back in my room, I could hardly wait to unwrap my favorite food in Bremerton…
Truffle Oil Papas Frites with Curried Ketchup.
Yep, they are all that and a bag of chips fries.
These are pure heaven. They didn’t exactly go along with my healthy goals, but I walked off quite a few calories today, too. So we’re good.
And it’s worth it, anyway. I would never miss out on these beauties!
To counteract the papas frites, I also got an order of edamame.
That makes everything equal, right?
I thought so.
The next morning, it was time to head to church, then grab a quick lunch, then head to the airport to prep Gladys for our trip home.
This is our view of Bremerton after finishing the three-hour block at church. Isn’t this gorgeous?!
As much as I hate eating out like this on Sundays, sometimes it can’t be helped on a work day. We grabbed a lunch at Olive Garden before our 2.4-hour flight home later this afternoon.
I think it’s wonderful that healthier options are now available. It seems like a lot of the big chain restaurants are offering things like this for people who had papas frites for dinner the night before are watching what they eat.
Of course, I am not a fan of the prices. When on earth did Olive Garden get so ridiculously expensive?
They know that they’re just selling noodles and sauce, right?
I got the minestrone soup for my appetizer option. This whole bowl, of which I could only eat half, was only about ninety calories. Not too shabby!
I got the Capellini Pomodoro from the healthier menu. Again, just noodles and sauce. For $12.50.
It was OK, but I only had a few bites. I boxed up the rest for Hubby to eat when I got home. He wasn’t a fan.
Luckily, Gladys’ nose baggage compartment is a flying refrigerator! Since it isn’t pressurized, anything placed in there before a flight stays nice and sometimes frozen cold.
My extra pasta and some breadsticks when home in this manner.
Then we hit the road again to head back to the Bremerton National Airport about seven miles south of town.
And here we are!
With such gorgeous weather and it being a Sunday, this airport was hopping! Everyone wants to fly on a beautiful weekend!
Even little Cessnas with original 1970s paint!
As always, Avian Flight Center was just wonderful to us. We feel so spoiled when we come here.
Real stairs!
Man, I love this airplane!
Isn’t this a cute little terminal? I don’t even know what’s inside, since the solitary airport FBO is next door. And there is a little restaurant on the other side.
Who knows what happens in this blue building!
After our passengers arrived and we had the airplane loaded, it was time to make a call on the CTAF frequency to announce to the world that we were taxiing to the runway for departure.
Bremerton doesn’t have a tower, so we get to do a lot of stuff manually. Including calling Seattle Center on the ground to get our IFR clearance and release.
Soon, we were waving goodbye to sweet little Bremerton.
Can you see the runway down there just behind the wing?
And then we had to suffer through some gorgeous views of downtown Seattle.
Man, I feel like I was just there!
And we flew right over the tiny Tacoma Narrows Airport. Can you see it down there just to the right of the bridge to Tacoma?
Yep, it’s tiny.
There are all sorts of pockets of water around these parts. The Puget Sound is huge!
Mount St. Helens used to be huge, too, until she blew her top.
It was nice and cool, so Gladys has no trouble climbing high and fast. We were pretty heavy today!
We flew high and fast all the way home, actually.
Which put us above some of these developing storm clouds.
These would be buuuuumpy, so I’m glad that we are way above them!
Before we knew it, the descent into our home town had commenced. It had been such a wonderful nine days on the road.
Like we usually do from this direction, we flew the JCOBS2 Arrival into Phoenix. Here we are headed Direct to SWIRL, since it is highlighted in pink.
The little green noodle line just in front of us represents where we will be level for our descent.
We started to see signs of civilization once again. It feels great to be home!
We turned a right base-to-final leg for our runway. Isn’t this pretty? Cleared to land, Runway 21!
While on that turn, this is the view out the right-side of the window. Lots of green this time of year!
Since we’re already 103 degrees today, I think that some of this Spring green will wear off.
Hi, Tower! Thanks for welcoming us home!
There is the airport fire station, too.
I even wore my new shoes today! How fun!
Cute and comfortable…what more could you possibly need on your feet?
It was a gorgeous eighty degrees when we landed. We unloaded the airplane and loaded the car to get our passengers on their way home.
I’d say this airplane has earned her keep these past few months. What do you think?
One last shot to complete this looooong trip. We’ve done New York City and Seattle in less than two weeks. What more could a girl possibly want?
A week at Disneyland with her Mama and brother? Well, OK. There’s always that. And it’s next!
Any time spent in my favorite city is just heaven in my book…
…but throw a giant chicken into the equation, and I feel even more blessed to visit Seattle today!
In case you need a recap of all the fun during this two-day visit, here you go.
The Entire First Day
Back to Seattle and the Bang Bang Café
Shiskaberries and Top Pot Doughnuts
To finish today, I wandered through the shopping district of downtown Seattle, then bought some wonderful shoes at Ross, then passed through Pike Place Market one last time on my way to the ferry terminal.
Not too far from this Nordstrom was a Nordstrom Rack. Much more affordable! I went inside to explore but came up empty-handed.
Just a few buildings away was a Ross, which I normally don’t like because they always feel like a clothes bomb went off inside. I figured that this was Seattle, though, so maybe their stores were different than mine.
I am happy that I checked, because I found these cute shoes!
You’re welcome for the wonky hand picture.
I think that it would be fun sometime to take an official tour of the city, like in one of the Ducks. The drivers seem to make the entire ride quite enjoyable, and these particular passengers were singing a loud song as they rode along.
Awesome! Maybe someday.
The crowds got thicker and thicker as I headed towards the Washington State Convention Center. Later, when I checked the schedule online, I realized that a huge gathering was taking place.
I had never heard of Sakura-Con, but it’s an anime/Asian version of Comic Con.
And I saw the strangest get-ups for this event! It made me wander the other direction!
You should have seen what some of these people were wearing! hahahaha!
After leaving them in my dust as quickly as I could, I decided to head towards the ferry terminal by way of Pike Place Market.
I just wanted to walk through it one last time as I left town.
It was late Saturday afternoon, and the place was appropriately packed.
Don’t you just love Pike Place Market?
I know that I do!
I walked through the Victor Steinbrueck Park again and decided to take a picture of this guy selling art. I had seen him the day before, too.
And he was wearing the exact same thing then. I bet he smells great!
The park was full of happy sunbathers enjoying the gorgeous weather. This is the Seattle that I know, by the way. I would say it looks like this about 80% of the time that I’m here!
Rain? Seattle? Really?
Shipping ports, stadiums, ferris wheels, and freeways.
Can you see the pier below? And the Seattle Aquarium?
The market shops spill out onto the street with these vendors. I didn’t even go inside the Market hallways today because the crowds were so bad.
Been there, done that. I prefer it when there are less people so that I can actually look around!
More tulip boxes line the street. I am already missing this place!
The brick road just makes it even better. I love that they still haven’t paved down here.
Leave it old and bricky!
I passed the famous Gum Wall on my way back towards the ferries tonight. Doesn’t this make you want some gum?
No?
Look towards the top, though. Some guy proposed by spelling it out in gum! It that awesome or what?!
After leaving the crowds behind, it was a nice, quiet walk back towards the water.
The tour boats were getting ready to depart with a dinner cruise at sunset.
Wouldn’t that be fun?!
I waited at the entrance to the ferry boarding area until it was time for me to get on the boat.
You just swipe the card through this electronic reader, and it let’s you through.
Then it’s time to wait for the gate to lift after the other passengers have disembarked.
Let’s go back to Bremerton!
Check out that guy carrying flowers. I would love to get some flowers at Pike Place Market sometime!
That giant arrangement was just $5, by the way.
The Puget Sound is one of my favorite bodies of water.
Can I say that?
I love everything about this place.
The ferry boarded its last few passengers, and soon we were on our way back to Bremerton! It will be a lovely hour on the water.
I rode inside, because the wind is a little chilly when this boat really gets going!
Goodbye, Space Needle!
Goodbye, ferris wheel!
Goodbye, Walla Walla!
I really love you, Seattle.
Truly, I do.
Sailboats in the harbor.
As the ferry pulled away from the terminal, I literally waved goodbye to this place.
Isn’t it pretty, though?
I think that the sailboat gave some good effort in trying to catch the ferry that left a few minutes before us. I wonder if he realizes that he will never catch them?
I love the misty mountains in the background.
And just an hour later, we were pulling back into the Bremerton Ferry Terminal!
I can’t get over how blessed I am to have trips like these. I love getting to explore some of my favorite cities. While I work.
But I haven’t been home in nine days, so it might be nice to head back there tomorrow!