Seattle, 090909

[furtech]

Here's the full Flickr set

"090909" is an auspicious day for numerology geeks. The news media keeps saying that "9" is a lucky number for the Chinese, but I've never heard that. "8" yes, but not "9".

Still, it was neat that we spent our first full day Seattle-geeking at Dash point and Tacoma, re-visiting calicougar's two favorite spots. (Tracy can also brag that her dental appointment earlier that day went flawlessly, which is a good thing.)

Dash Point is a large beach park outside of Kent, Washington. The beach is very flat, so the tides are somewhat dramatic. This is also the famous (in our group's lore) squirting clam beach: when the tide goes out, you can stomp on the sand and a forest of small geysers erupts as the clams retreat into their shell, squirting water into the air. Lots of sand dollars, too (from large, furry ones to teeny pin-sized shells).

I love Dash Point because it's relatively dog-friendly. Lots of off-leash time and, in R0ndo's case, Frisbee time. Apache wasn't too happy here (not afraid, just not happy)-- so I spent some time creating a sun-dot that she could chase and her anxiety was forgotten.


The already dramatic view was enhanced by a large tanker going by and by a pair of ospreys hunting over the water. Tracy also spotted a mountain beaver foraging right in front of our cars (I wasn't fast enough to get a good shot before it scuttled to brush). It looked like a large, grey guinea pig.

We had time to kill before dinner at "The Rock"-- Tracy's favorite pizza&beer place. Point Defiance Park is a large park and zoo neat Tacoma and killing some time at the park with the dogs sounded good to me (plus, it would give Apache some chill-time).



As you can see from the pic, Apache was back to her old, annoying self. They are like football players running passing scrimmages: R0ndo the wide-receiver and Apache running defensive interference. It's great to see them both so full of themselves. Much thanks to kvogel for tossing the disk so that I could get these great shots!

We also distracted ourselves with horse-chestnut hoops and (for the dogs) rolling in some mysterious substance (from an herbivore, thank Ghod).

Off to The Rock (which doesn't show up on my GPS for some reason). Rootbeer for me, some pale cider-y thing for Tracy and something dark and evil for Steve.


After that, it was back home and a wonderful Seward Park dogwalk. The lake was glass-still and the air still warm. The more I'm re-encountering Seattle, the more I miss it already.

Puyallup Fair tomorrow!

Comments

[sailortweek.livejournal.com]

I LOVE The Rock. ^_^ I haven't been to Point Defiance in years. You would think a local like myself would take more time to enjoy it. My husband and I have thought about actually going to the Fair this year on account of the Weird Al's Brain 3D movie...but Everett to Puyallup is a bit of a ways for fair food and a 3D movie *LOL* I miss the old wooden roller coaster...be sure to go on that!

[iisaw.livejournal.com]

Ah... it's a great town. Plus, it's got a bay named after me! ;)

[vulpesrex.livejournal.com]

From the Flickr set - because of how high the ship sits in the water, and the fact that there are no intermodal containers on her deck, I'm guessing that this is a Roll-On, Roll-Off (ROLO) automobile carrier, either delivering or having just delivered a cargo of Toyotas or Hondas.

Gouieducks! When I was _very_ young, my family was at first Olympia, and then at Ft. Lewis, from 1961 to 1963 - during the '62 World's Fair. I remember hearing on TV a folksong about the famous clams of Puget Sound, with the mantle which extended three times the length of the shell, and how hard it was to dig for them, as they were very sensitive to vibration; I've often wondered if they were tasty enough to be worth the effort.

[ruggels.livejournal.com]

I used to live in Seattle. and left in 1971. I still have dreams about it. and the fact it never got hot there, and all the fun was indoors usually. I still miss Seattle , but it's gone pinko commie hippie since, which is a bummer.

Scott

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

Awesome! That looks like a great spot. If I'm ever in WA, I will check it out. I love the frisbee pic...I am trying to teach my wee collie seedling about frisbees now. :)

Congratulations on the mountain beaver sighting...that is a very rare, shy animal. How wonderful to see one.

[millencolinf0x.livejournal.com]

Mmmmm I love The Rock! I always get the "can't stop rockin" pizza and the daytrippers =) Oh, and I used to live two minutes away from Dash Point. I go back there every time I go home. Sounds like you had a fun trip.

[nicodemusrat.livejournal.com]

Fun stuff. Seattle is nice; I'm really glad we moved up here.

Sadly, I won't make it out to the Fair as I'm trying to finish things up for RainFurrest next weekend, otherwise I'd offer to get together. Have fun out there!

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Their pizza is really good-- better hot and fresh than cold I'm finding, tho'. The ones pictures are a pepperoni+almonds; Wild Child and (by itself in the back is the Crazy Train (in honor of Ozzy).

We mostly went for the rodeo and to pet chickens (the latter being Tracy's passion). I love the hobby exhibits: I feel less broken seeing what other crap people collect...

[furtech.livejournal.com]

They have a bay called, "Tricksterstinkydog"??? I must find this place! Probably a focus of *pure evil*!!

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Ship pic: that pretty much confirms it-- Steve suggested the same thing,too. We saw one moored in the bay on the way to Tacoma: they're very angular and narrow.

Apparently geoducks (sp?) are good "meat" clams-- chop 'em up for chowder and that kind of thing. Not as tasty as smaller clams, but lots of chewy flesh for soups and stuff.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

You would have loved the rodeo crowd: it's the first place I've been to where a (mediocre) Obama joke was met with resounding standing applause and foot-stomping that rumbled the grandstand.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Rondo has always preferred the soft-frisbees (the ones that look like a watermelon slice) because he can really grab onto them (plus, early on a hard frisbee caught him right between the eyes and thereafter he would let those land before he picked them up).

Tracy thought it was a feral guinea pig or something (it looks just like a guinea pic, actually). Steve was the first to propose "mountain beaver" as a possible candidate. After learning it was a mtn beaver, we were doubly impressed, as they're usually not out in the day.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

So far it's been wonderful-- oddly, the only anomaly is the lack of "Seattle weather"-- rain! Tracy says it feels too much like L.A.

Personally, I don't mind-- makes hiking and dog walks easier.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

That's all right- I'll see you both at Rainfurrest!

[desertcoyote.livejournal.com]

He oughta live here in Kingman. 9_9 Not much love for Obama here... (why am I here again?)...

[desertcoyote.livejournal.com]

Mountain beaver aka aplodonta (sp?)! Awesomeness!!!! They were always on my "want to see" list... every time I was in the redwoods I'd keep an eye out, but never did see one. Now I know where to go!
Fun trip! :)

[celedraug.livejournal.com]

*laughs*

I'll be at the Fair tomorrow evening, still offering to make dinner one night for y'all while you're up here.