rebeccmeister | Travel installment 1: driving to Seattle, baked goods, lox @ the locks

There are pictures at the bottom for those who would rather look than read; you can click on them to see larger versions.

At last I have a brief moment of quiet when I should be working on a presentation for an upcoming conference, so it's time to write about my recent adventures. I don't have a whole lot to add to my descriptions of the drive up, except to say that it was much more eventful than anticipated. The rain and tall trees and green things are a welcome relief after the blast furnace of Arizona (although I'm hearing monsoon rumors, which suggests that the Arizona weather is getting more exciting).

When we arrived at my parents' house, M, K, and I all marveled at their bountiful garden: grapes, kiwis, multiple zucchini varieties, patty-pan squashes, kale, peas, beans, blueberries, garlic, onions... I really miss being able to run outside and pick fresh raspberries off of the bushes, so I'm making up for lost time these days.

On Friday, we went on several important expeditions: first to REI to pick up our riding packets for the Seattle to Portland, then out to Ballard for some crucial Seattle cultural experiences (K and her mom have never been to Seattle before). I was hoping to drive out to Ballard along Westlake, but my knowledge of Seattle geography has grown fuzzy [my street navigation was never good because it didn't need to be], so we ended up going along Eastlake instead. Thus I mentioned that we would be passing by Le Fournil, and everyone insisted that we stop (I was helpless, I tell you), so we had some delicious French pastries. Yum.

In Ballard, we went to Archie McPhee, so the usual hilarity ensued. They actually have some neato plastic ant models these days, so I picked one of those up, as well as a small Jolly Roger to fly from my bike. Then we went to Great Harvest Bread for some lunch, followed by a stroll along the Ballard Locks. I haven't been to the Locks since I was a very young child--I have vague memories of that event. This visit has convinced me that I'll have to incorporate pilgrimages to the Locks in all of my future Seattle visits. We watched one of my arch-nemeses, an Argosy cruise boat, float up to the level of the lake, and then went over to watch salmon jump up the fish ladder. I could have watched the salmon for hours--what amazing animals.

If you thought the adventures ended there, well, you're almost right. By then we had digested sufficiently to merit a trip over to Cupcake Royale, where we enjoyed the requisite cupcakes (K was insistent that we go, and she was duly impressed). And then we came home and enjoyed a delicious dinner with