August 05, 2019

Thursday, August 1st we packed a suitcase and headed south to Rainier, WA to visit our good friends Rich and Tina. It goes without saying, we had a wonderful time! It was a long drive (about 10 hours) to get down there, thanks to backed up traffic on both the the Interstate 5 and the 405. The trip home only took 8. But we did arrive safe and only a bit frazzled. Nothing that a G & T with good friends didn't fix. 








Above is a picture of their house. Yes it is a tree house and they both designed and built it. Pictured left is Rich and Tina on the large deck out back that overlooks the Creek. 

She has a wonderful flair for decor; their place is warm and inviting. We stayed in their Southwind (motorhome) parked out back on their acre or so of land. They have 4 or 5 hookups, so there is lots of room if they get a lot of motorhomers come to visit. 









So this is their summer holiday home ... a 34 Foot Bayliner which they bought a year ago. We left with them Friday afternoon for the coast, as this was the plan, to spend a couple of nights on the water in their new boat. 

Captain Rich backing the boat out of their boathouse at the marina in Tacoma, WA














Here we go, under the Narrows Bridge and out to sea! 
The Tacoma Narrows Bridge is a pair of twin suspension bridges that span the Tacoma Narrows strait of Puget Sound in Pierce County, Washington. The bridges connect the city of Tacoma with the Kitsap Peninsula.

 

We spent the first night anchored at Gig Harbor, which only took a couple of hours to get there.

Our first happy hour aboard the Forty Forty Nine.











The next morning we motored for a few hours to Poulsbo Marina where we hooked up to the pier and enjoyed the town amenities. What a lovely little community. This is where Tina was born and raised. She still has family living in the area.  This picture to the right  is of the restaurant and bar (there are actually three of them in there) right on the malecon. 








The town is very touristy now with shops and art galleries that line the streets and we spent a good part of the day wandering in and out  and around. 

Even found an excellent Mexican Restaurant for dinner down an alley and out of the way.  









This photo to the left is the marina. You can't see Rich and Tina's boat from this angle, they are over more to the left....









Sunday late morning we motored out and began our journey back. We stopped along the way to cast a couple of fishing lines, but we didn't catch anything. We had a really good time. But as is said, all good things must come to an end.... and we had to get back so Michel and I could begin our trip back home this morning. 

Thank you so much Rich and Tina for the fun filled weekend, and for giving us permission to "come aboard" Any time my friends, we would do this again any time!!