Wowser, Wowser, Wowser, What a Blast. I imagine that it
possible that there were some people in Seattle who had more fun than we did yesterday, but if there were, why didn't we hear them laughing?
From morning to night, it was a perfect day. As I drove down the hill to pick up Catman and auh20 at the "W", the sun was shining so brightly that I had to get out my Hawaii sun glasses in order to see. I found the guys at the same table in the "W" bar where I had left them the night before. I can only assume that they had moved during the night because they were wearing different clothing and their beer had been magically replaced with fruit plates.
We met the "bright and early" mweiss and Joe at the boat at Elliott Bay Marina and were joined shortly thereafter by DTTB and newself who graciously contributed morning munchies and the fixins for mimosas. mweiss, our official cork popper, opened the champagne, and the fun began.
Very early on, mweiss, won the "Quick Quip of the Day" award. As Joe readied the boat to sail, he noticed a loose fitting. When First Mate Punki said, "Do you want a screw driver?" mweiss immediately responded, "Shouldn't you call him Captain while we are on the boat?" Oh, you have to watch those "Softies" no matter how sweet and innocent they look the night before.
We were quickly underway on a beautiful, bright and sunny sail around Puget Sound. Although this was our good buddy Catman's first sail, Captain Joe and a bit of "mimosa courage", soon had the Cat masterfully manning the helm while auh2o lolled in the single first class seat. What a kick--pics to follow.
As we pulled into the harbor at we saw shadow and the indomitable Jackie (I am soooo glad they will join us at the PIP) waving from the dock. We didn't have a docking reservation so we had to sweet-talk the adorable Cody (who wisely weasled his way into my heart by accusing me of being 35) into letting us tie up for the rest of the day on the Charter Dock. We bribed him with orange juice and muffins and actually got him to give us the day for a four hour rate--no miles or points, however.
shadow searched Anthony's for TravelWear and Michael. When they were located, we retired to the boat for a few Kodak moments and more misosas. We had a most enjoyable lunch at Anthony's at Pier 56, after which we basked over drinks in the semi-tropical sunshine while the Cat attempted to beguile TravelWeary's lovely cat-loving young (22) daughter with pictures of Yaz and Eddie. I think she had come down to make sure her mom hadn't hooked up with a bunch of internet weirdos, but was so enamored with the cats (all 3 of them) that she decided TravelWeary and Michael could join us for dinner at Tillicum Village. These Olympia girls are all quite similar in their attempts to protect their wayward moms.
(All of you who decide quickly to come to the PIP can review the whole pictorial record.)
After sufficient lollygagging in the sun, we bid a temporary goodbye to shadow and Jackie and took a leisurely stroll down the waterfront to the Argosy/Tillicum Village dock. Along the way the tourists among us (and those residents among us who wore Seattle clothes instead of Miami clothes) stopped at the street vendors along the way to buy Tropical Wear to get us through the bright and sunny day.
At 4:30 p.m. we boarded the boat to Blake Island and dinner/theater at Tillicum Village. After 45 minute crossing, we were greeted with clam nectar. You drink the nectar, eat the clams and then throw the shells on the shell pathways and stomp on them. It is an old Indian ritual, somewhat reminiscient of a Jewish wedding. We were surprised at dinner with a VIP table. Dinner consisted of wonderful NorthWest broiled salmon, salad, new potatoes, rice, and Indian bread. As MattWald had previously pointed out, Tillicum Village is usually "dry" but the management had kindly placed complimentary bottles of Chardonnary at the two VIP tables (ours and the one next to ours).
Now, just to show you what a truly sensitive and considerate kind of guy auh20 is, read this story...... We drank all of our wine during the most interesting and entertaining "Dance on the Wind" story/show of the indigenous inhabitants of Washington State. Near the end of the show auh20 noticed that our VIP neighbors had not touched their wine. Not wanting them to feel embarrassed by not drinking all of the wine that our hosts had so generously provided, he actually offered to trade them our empty bottles for their full bottles and drink all of the contents therein. Now who says that kids these days aren't polite and sensitive. It really was good wine and and a fabulous adventure. We thank you Roberta!
After dinner we returned to the Argosy boat where we all drank funny smelling coffee and laughed our heads off throughout the trip back to Seattle. There was one point where auh20 tried to drag his feet in the water, but fortunately DTTB and newself saved him from himself when they started making emergency announcements over the PA system.
After our return to Seattle we enjoyed a moonlight walk back to Bell Harbor. During this adventure, DTTB and auh20 found some old cardboard and made signs that said "Will Work for Miles!" They wasted a bit of time and embarrassed us only slightly by sitting on the waterfront sidewalk holding their tin cups and signs begging for free miles and points. We all thought this was pretty weird until this guy came by and gave them free confirmable, first class upgrades--anywhere, any fare, anytime!!!!!!!!! You never, never know!
Yes, we really are a sick bunch.
Aren't we Michael W?????
We finally got back to Bell Harbor where we boarded Shibumi and headed back to Elliott Bay. auh20 once agian reclaimed the one and only first class seat, while newself, DTTB and the Cat quietly and horizontally rested/napped on the foredeck during our moonlight trip to the home slip.
After returning to the beautiful Elliott (named after Marty) Bay and securing Shibumi, we discovered that our all time favorite Cat had never enjoyed a martini. We naturally initiated an immediate "Cat Loses His Martini Virginity" party and retired to the gorgeous Palisades Restaurant to quickly resolve this issue. The Cat went for my favorite, Dirty Absolute Vodka Martini straight up, which of course was highly offensive to our Vodka expert buddy auh20 who is a firm believer that Vodka should never be defiled with any ANY substance whatsoever (including ambient oxygen).
The last time I saw them, DTTB was giving auh20 a piggy-back ride across the parking lot at the Palisades.
Cat has posted, so I know he is alive and TravelWeary and Michael are, I know for sure hiking on Mount Ranier. Joe, Dominic, newself and DTTB are sailing again on Puget Sound, and I am hoping that mweiss (who is too responsible to go too far astray) and my dear, dear and crazy, crazy friend auh20 are alive and well somewhere and collecting lots of miles and points.
I believe it is safe to say that a GOOD TIME was had by all.
[This message has been edited by Punki (edited 09-27-1999).]