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So here I am, way way behind on "updates of substance" for this blog because I'm always off the map at some campsite or busy editing photos or without wifi or just plain tired. But now that Kyle's driving us on the way back from Olympic National Park, we'll see if I can bring us up to date…

Soundtrack - Elliot Smith's Either/Or

After arriving to Bainbridge Island via bridge rather than ferry, Kyle and I got our stuff all pulled out of the car and into my aunt and uncle's garage apartment. Two huge beds and loads of comforters and pillows for us to sleep with… Awesome. Cynti returned home early from work to get some time to hang out with us and cook pasta for dinner. It was nice to see a family face again. It was also really awesome to finally be back to the Puget Sound again. I have some very fond memories of this area. Around here is where I had great times visiting cousins while growing up and where I had two awesome summers at Four Winds Camp up on Orcas Island.

After dinner, Steve and Cynti suggested we get our asses to the bar as it was getting late and Bainbridge bars don't stay open very late. Kyle and I then left for the mile-plus walk to the nearest one only to arrive twenty minutes past its closing. It wasn't even midnight yet and it was Friday… Anyways, the walk to/from was really nice regardless. I've enjoyed getting more activity on my feet and public transportation along the trip. It's something I wish I had done a bit more when I was in Silicon Valley.

Saturday was easily one of the best days of the trip so far. Finally we've gotten a good opportunity to utilize Couchsurfing.org for some quality socializing. Kelly Thompson, a Texan graphic designer our age who has traveled much of the world and for a series of reasons is now settled very happily in the city of Seattle, was our guinea pig as Couchsurfing.org + Drop and Roll is concerned.

And Kelly is awesome. With Kyle and myself usually not having an agenda of any kind, it was good to follow Kelly's lead and get in some good Seattle sights and great conversation. We really hit it off right from the start as she is very creative (and skilled) and personable and enjoys just taking it easy in cool places just as much as we do.

First up for our Seattle tour was Gas Works, a park on Lake Union that surrounds an old rusted gasification plant. We all got some good time throwing the frisbee, juggling, and taking photos. Kelly did a photo shoot for a lot of the time. Guest post of photos forthcoming...

Kelly said she thought I was a mix of Emile Hirsch and Paul Newman. "Awesome", I said.

Gas Works with downtown visible in the distance.

After Gas Works, we headed downtown to grab some mochas and chat for a while. Kelly told us loads of stories about her travels through Europe, Asia, and Australia and what places I should stop by when I head through the south. Sounds like I should hit San Marcos... After that, we headed to her place to meet a roommate and ready ourselves for some noodle dishes for dinner. Smith, a bar not too far from her place, ended the night right with a short meeting with two of her friends. Talk of books, coffee, religion, Seattle, and travel filled the rest of the night until we finally settled for bed on her futons.

Sunday, on her way out Kelly took us over to see the Experience Music Project since it was on the way to her church. The new exhibit on punk and Nirvana was really sweet. Kyle and I jotted down the names of bands we hadn't heard of since they're all sure to be to our liking... Lots of Nirvana instruments, original photos, Kurt Cobain drawings and letters, videos, and all that good stuff was there to view. After that and a little bit of a tour through the Jimi Hendrix section, Kyle and I went upstairs to play in one of the jam rooms so I could get my fix of the drums.

Experience Music Project and Space Needle, Seattle, WA

After this, Kelly picked us up and we headed out to lay in the sun by the cherry blossoms at University of Washington. There we had more time to toss the frisbee and perfect our juggling skills. LOTS of juggling went down and it was some serious excitement for other park goers. I was probably stopped four different times by little toddlers who planted themselves close by so they could watch. Finally, we'd gotten enough sun and Kelly took us back to the ferry terminal.

University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Juggle everywhere.

Back on Bainbridge, we got a bit more time to enjoy with Cynti and Steve and decided we would head out to camp in Olympic National Park for Monday. We chose the Sol Duc campground out past Port Angeles where 101 turns from your standard freeway into a crazy windy forest road lining the edge of Lake Crescent. The bluest water I've ever seen, although Kyle says he saw bluer in Switzerland...

Wow. Lack Crescent, WA

Camping at Sol Duc was great, as we had come fully prepared this time to make our fire with charcoal rather than moist wood surrounding the site like we'd tried while unprepared at Cape Blanco. This morning we opted for a long hike through the woods towards Deer Lake, but decided to turn around about 2.5 miles in since we were having to wade through snow a little more than we were willing.

Got some fun long exposures in the forest...

Another...


Left my camera out of sight so I could get this time lapse of the clouds while we were out hiking.

At the moment, we are back on Bainbridge and in time to see the Mariners game tomorrow. It's been really awesome weather since we've gotten up here (weird, as this IS Washington State), so we've opted for a day game to chill out at. Hot dogs, popcorn, garlic fries, ice cream, and beer -- perfect spot for Kyle as he eats very little else. Who knows, maybe the Mariners will actually win.

Next (major) stop, Vancouver.