Finally, we're home from this incredible journey, just blessed to overflowing with all the savored miles--somewhere in the neighborhood of 7,500 of them actually. I've got so much to tell you over the next few posts, and beaucoup pictures to share. This one is from the rainforest in Olympic National Park-- a truly divine place. The Quinault and Hoh rainforests are so full of life, and a million shades of green, and tiny plants and huge trees, and a lot of just plain magic. There is much to savor, but now I want to bring the focus down to one place--the Quinault Mercantile and Cafe, where we ate several delicious meals.
The Mercantile Cafe is a bit of heaven, deep in the rain forest. First of all, it's an internet cafe and boy did we need it. I'm almost ashamed to admit I'm addicted to email, and internet news and blogs-but it's the truth. Back to the Cafe. Owned and operated by Michael and Tracy and their children, this place is big on very good food. The motto is, "not fast food, but good food made as quickly as possible." And they deliver just that, with a select menu big enough and good enough to keep you coming back meal after meal.
Every meal we ate there was good, very good--but their biscuits and gravy put them on the map, as far as I'm concerned. Made from Michael's dad's recipe, these are no less than sublime. As a Southerner, I'm consider myself a connoisseur of biscuits and gravy. Michael's, along with my own, and the ones made for us in Greeley, CO by our friend and pastor Jack, were right up there in the top five renditions of biscuits and gravy I've ever eaten. Just the best--simply the best!
No snooty place with white tablecloths and inflated prices, the Cafe is just a clean place with great food, and fair prices--in a warm and comfortable atmosphere. The Quinault rainforest is an incredible place that I'll tell you more about in posts to come. But this Cafe is simply the cherry on top. Don't miss it if you get through there.
Sorry, I've been lax in posting due to traveling and spotty WiFi service. But I'm back!!!!! We just left the Seattle area and all I can say is "wow". Not all good though. The traffic is horrible. But the reason is because lots of people live in Seattle. Why? Because it's a very charming city. A big city, but full of little enclaves which were a delight to the senses.
I'll start with Ballard, a town founded by Scandinavian settlers. It's the University of Washington area--U Dub, and is literally filled to brimming with quaint little shops and among them a million coffee shops. After all, this is the land of Starbucks. I often wondered if Seattleites are aggressive drivers because the blood in the veins has been replaced by coffee. There is just about a coffee shop on every block. No kidding! The Museum of Nordic Heritage is in Ballard and worth a visit. It tells Seattle's history and is a very well-done museum. It has, among other goodies, a room for each of the countries; Denmark, Norway, Sweden, etc. Very interesting.
Puget Sound. Water, water water--everywhere and Puget sound is only one body of water in this area. The downtown area of Seattle borders on it. Now that is a place to people-watch and enjoy. Pike Place Market is there, with the flying fish. No, not fish with wings. Just fish (big fish) being thrown across the room by the guys working there. Quite a show. And the whole complex there is just full of cute shops, and good places to eat. We ate at the Athena Grill. Good food, and a great view of the water and all it's marine traffic.
Another museum of note was the Museum of Flight, near the airport. It is one big place. We had only blocked out a couple of hours and realized when we got there it would not be enough. It is a HUGE place, just chock-full of planes, and stories of pilots, and stories about the use of aircraft in war and peacetime. I'd say don't go unless you had about four hours. And that would be tight. If you're an airplane nut you would be in heaven.
And the ferries. I adore a boat ride. Seattle area is a large expanse of water surrounding and dividing a large mass of land. The Washington Ferry system is very efficient at moving people and cars. While I'm thinking of water, I want to mention Whidbey Island. It was one of the most beautiful places we saw. Rolling hills, pretty ocean views, lovely little towns--it was a package of delight. I saw it as a place to pass through on the way to... Not so, it was delightful in its own right, and one of my favorite places to remember. We ate at a wonderful little restaurant in Coupeville called Captain Jack's Hideaway. Wonderful seafood, a great view of the bay, and very good service. It was a sublime experience.
Seattle is a city just brimming with things to do, places to go and great food to eat. This post won't be the only one for Seattle. Because after all, how can you fit such greatness into a few paragraphs? Go and see and taste. You'll love it.
Finally, we're home from this incredible journey, just blessed to overflowing with all the savored miles--somewhere in the neighborhood of 7,500 of them actually. I've got so much to tell you over the next few posts, and beaucoup pictures to share. This one is from the rainforest in Olympic National Park-- a truly divine place. The Quinault and Hoh rainforests are so full of life, and a million shades of green, and tiny plants and huge trees, and a lot of just plain magic. There is much to savor, but now I want to bring the focus down to one place--the Quinault Mercantile and Cafe, where we ate several delicious meals.
