Speechless! I was downright speechless when I saw my beloved Blue Angels power across the Seattle sky in this formation.
I had a such great afternoon during the Thursday practice show on August 3rd. Someone had suggested I check out Proctor Landing as a possible vantage point. When I arrived, the police told me that it was one of their temporary headquarters and sent me down the way to Slater Park. Boy am I glad they did!
As I was looking for a parking spot, I started talking to an older gentleman who was leaving his car. We talked about the Blue Angels for a minute and then I started walking toward the beach with my chair and camera. "You're going the wrong way!" he called after me. Huh? "The good beach is that way...put your stuff down next to the U of W chair, that's us."
And there you have it. Another example of kindness from the strangers I have experienced in Seattle. For the rest of the afternoon, I chatted with Bob, Sue and Vincent. They were all Washington natives and had found this new spot after their old Seafair haunt became inaccessible. We all agreed that Slater Park was perfect. It's a patch of green tucked among the beautiful homes and has a perfect place to let your kids play in Lake Washington. I couldn't have invented a better photo (below) if I tried. Happy days are here again.
Sue asked if I liked living in Washington, as she handed me her sunscreen. Vincent tried to relate by telling me a harrowing story of the time he drove thru Michigan in the winter. And when the air show was over, Bob insisted that I tuck my camping chair into his rolling cart so that I didn't have to haul it up the hill. Kindness, and dare I say a familial warmth, that I find over and over again "out here."
Yes, living 2,000 miles away is a big adjustment, but the citizens of Seattle have been rewarding me for my effort.
*And the Blue Angels fly over Lake Washington EVERY year! I count myself lucky.
We finally got out on the water in Lake Washington...in a canoe! The whole trip was inspired by my love of water lilies. Whenever I drove over the 520 bridge near the University of Washington, I could see them!
This is my favorite bridge because on a clear day you can see the Olympic Mountains this clearly. As you drive closer to shore, on the right, you can see the University of Washington football stadium. You can rent canoes close by.
Yes, we were having a good time on a beautiful Saturday morning. Renting a canoe at the University of Washington requires no reservation, costs $12/hr and the only requirement is that you can swim. They provide nice life jackets, paddles and help you in and out of the canoe from the dock. It was great.
What a day! We saw lots of ducks and birds. I was hoping for a turtle, but no luck.
There were water lilies everywhere and it was beautiful. The overall feeling was peaceful. No noise. No talking. Just paddling in a natural area just minutes from downtown Seattle. Isn't that wonderful?
We did see lots of ducks and this one Blue Heron (below) trying to look inconspicuous.
When I told someone I know that we went canoeing on Lake Washington, he seemed almost annoyed. After a minute he said that he had lived here for years and never done anything like that. He felt that his days were routine. I told him all he needed was $12 and some ink on the calendar. As my grandmother used to say, "You've got to make your own fun."
I am doing my very best to study maps of Seattle, make friends and throw myself into my new life. All with the caveat that I have to fly back to Michigan this Spring to settle some things. So I am now a permanent resident of east Seattle, sort of.
I wanted to include this post to show the spectacular view that I was able to enjoy when I attended my sorority Holiday Luncheon in December. The event was lovely and was hosted at a country club that is poised over Lake Washington. I had to pinch myself...a 47 degree day in early December?
Everyone talks about the rain in Seattle and believe me, we've had it. But when the sunny days look like this, I know I can cope. When you think of Seattle, keep days like this in mind.
Seattle, Washington has more spectacular views than I can count. I've been telling people that the area is like a national park with a city inside, but even that description pales in comparison. The photo above is a view of Lake Washington from one of the hilltops near Capitol Hill.
This photo is from the same vista, just focusing a little to a left so that you can see the University of Washington ("U-Dub" - "u" for university and "dub" for the sound of the letter "w") Huskies' football stadium. It is one of the few stadiums in the country where you can boat gate. Picnic on your boat and then ride a shuttle boat over to the campus to watch the game in person. So neat! You can read an article about the stadiums where this is possible here.
I was driving around town exploring on this particular Saturday and was listening to the Huskies' football game on the radio. When I stopped to take this picture, it was fun to see the boats on Lake Washington near the stadium and realize that they were boatgating!
I can't think of a gesture more kind than inviting someone from out of town, over for dinner. You can find every type of restaurant under the sun in the Seattle area, but none can rival a casual dinner on someone's deck. When the deck overlooks Lake Washington, even better.
Hotel living is fine in doses, but the square footage you have access to is "small x small." Going to a home for dinner and moving in and out onto the deck felt wonderful.
We could really breathe here. Fresh air. No hurry. A delicious meal of grilled teriyaki beef, asparagus with lemon and a big bowl of fresh fruit. An Angel Food cake was the perfect ending to a very peaceful meal.
Bill Gates lives on Lake Washington, so I gave a little wave when this large boat when by, just in case. I owe a lot to Bill in terms of technology and I am interested and proud of the work he and Melinda are doing at The Gates Foundation.
Look at the tip of Mount Rainier (above) glowing from the sun. It turned colors as the sun set and we stayed until the last bit of light was gone. We are so thankful for the generous spirits in Seattle. I will always remember this lovely evening on Lake Washington.
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