A $40 Cup Of Joe!

Yesterday was a mixed bag for Larry and me~ great pleasure and modest discomfort. Our day started early but fun filled because we drove to Seattle to breakfast with some wonderful long-time friends from St. Louis who had just returned from an Alaskan Cruise. We had about an hour and a half to reacquaint before their flight home. I don't think we had seen them in 4 years and that too was a brief visit. Any time spent with old friends is quality time.  So a big thank you to Steve, Mary and their son Eric for the rendezvous.

The uncomfortable part of yesterday was my appointment with a gastric specialist but that was at 4 PM. So after breakfast and goodbyes to our friends we needed to think of something to fill our wait time. I had the great idea to take a ferry to Bainbridge Island. Bainbridge is a place I have really wanted to visit since reading about it in Coastal Living magazine some time ago. Larry was not really excited about the idea but since it was MY doctor day and not his he tried to muster some enthusiasm for my plan. We easily found the ferry terminal and had a very short amount of time in line before boarding. Ferry rides are always wonderful regardless of how short and this was no exception. We sat in the car with the dogs on our laps looking out the window and we simply relaxed.

Here's a picture I found on Google of the Bainbridge Ferry. Gorgeous, eh?

{Do I sound Canadian?}

We departed the ferry and headed off to find the little village I had seen pictured. It was cute as cute villages go but not out of the ordinary. I don't mean to impugn Bainbridge but it just didn't strike me to the degree I thought it would. Larry asked me what I wanted to see or do next. I really had no answer so we just drove around and admired the dense evergreen population and the cool beach houses (many of which were more like palaces).  I think Larry was exercising great self control in not saying anything grouchy because to be honest we could have driven around our own island and had a parallel experience. And we can always walk-on to the San Juan Island ferry for a fraction of the cost.

In the village there were a couple of coffee houses and I decided an Americano was in order. For those non-espresso drinkers among us, Americano is espresso with hot water. Really and truly, if you like drip coffee you would love an Americano. I chose a small cafe called Roosters. Inside there was a gathering of men engaged in spirited discussion. I always think such an assembly bodes well for the quality of the coffee as well as the overall ambiance of a coffee house. Roosters gets 2-thumbs-up. The barista was friendly and the coffee was first-rate.

This is the only image I could find on Google of the cafe. This guy was actually sitting out in front yesterday keeping an eye out.

Well we tried next to go to the Bloedel Reserve. Again, I had read so much about this multi-acre public garden on Bainbridge. But guess what? Closed on Monday {of course}. Here is a photo of what we missed~

This is the main house. Oh it looks dreamy! If you want to see more, here is the link (which includes a virtual tour): http://www.bloedelreserve.org I would say we'll see it next time but I'm not sure there will be a next time.

So we made a quick loop through a state park and I used the ladies(?) room.  At this point, greatly relieved but bereft of additional ideas, we drove onto the ferry and returned to Seattle.

And now for the grand total for this excursion... $2 for the Americano and $38 for the ferry. 

An outing with my dear, sweet husband? Priceless. For everything else (including a $40 cup of coffee) there's MasterCard!

Maybe later this week I'll tell you about lunch at Pike Place Market. I found for us the best Greek gyros ever served West of Athens. I scored big points with Larry; very big!

Enjoy your day and come back soon~

     Dana