We stayed the first night in Seattle with my younger brother Chad and his wife Nathalie. They've got a great condo right in downtown. Though I didn't get any pictures of them this time, I did manage to get one of their very friendly cat, Milo (pronounced /mee' - low/).
View of downtown Seattle from the ferry. We took the ferry across the sound to Bremerton, and then rode to Fort Flagler with Sean and Loren, who had driven around the Sound instead of ferrying across.
Map of the Puget Sound so you can see where Fort Flagler is in relation to Seattle. The fort is now a state park and the area is beautiful. We did a lot of biking around the park as well as just visiting, playing and singing around the campfire!
At our campsite, my niece, Lily thought the outside spigots were really cool. Shortly after I took these pictures of her - Sean and Lauren gave up trying to keep her dry and just let her take her bath!
Fascinating water! Can you see the droplet in midair?
Mom and Dad brought the boat with them, and we had a couple of nice rides around Marrowstone Island where we were camped. Here are some sailboats in nearby Port Hadlock
Kearson enjoys the boat ride on the leeward side of the island. Once we got to the windward side it was not quite so enjoyable - he got soaked by the big waves!
Nice example of a typical coastal home in Port Townsend, where we stopped for gas and to buy some fresh oysters for dinner. See the "Widow's Walk" on the roof? This railed rooftop porch allowed the wives of seamen to gaze expectantly over the waves for their loved one's boats - out seeking the day's catch of fish.
Sean and Lily brave the wind in the bow of the boat. It took a bit of convincing to get Lily to wear her life jacket since no one else was wearing one!
On the fourth of July, we ate dinner at a great restaurant called Ajax just across the bridge to Marrowstone Island. The restaurant is decorated with hundreds of hats of various styles and patrons are encouraged to pick out one (or several!) to wear as they dine. Here's the ladies room packed with hats!
Dad wears a Tricorn and Mom picks out a wide brimmed straw bonnet.
Kearson was resistant to the silly hats, so we picked out a dignified headband for him to wear. :) I of course, had no problem picking out a hat I liked. This felt chapeau was decorated with long pheasant feathers.
A pensive Sean in bunny ears.
After dinner, Kearson and I headed back to Seattle to meet up with his brother Matt and his wife Margaret. We had a nice view of the fireworks from several of the communities along the Sound from the ferry. Margaret, Marion (Kearson's Mom) and Kearson catch up.
Matt and Margaret graciously hosted a BBQ at their house and allowed us to invite some of our friends who live in Seattle. My friend Kirby and her husband Matt stopped by. I hadn't seen them in a couple of years - it was so nice to catch up with them.
When we flew in to Seattle, our friend Mike picked us up from the airport and we had a fantastic time with him over a Sushi dinner near the wharf. Since Mike apparently didn't want his photo taken - I've included an "artist's rendition" of him here. Amazingly realistic, don't you think? ;)
Nice picture of the whole McNulty family! Matt/Margaret, Me and Kearson, Mike and Marion, and Breaen and Mike. Matt and Margaret are expecting the first McNulty grandbaby in October!
