So, landed around 1515 yesterday in Seattle to low clouds and soft rain. Stepped off the curb at the rental car lot to cold wind and puddles. Which the latter are apparently a phenomenon that exhibits itself after a prolonged period of precipitation. After a bit of head-scratching, I had to admit a previous acquaintance with this anomaly.
In my pre-Sandy Eggo days, of course.
There are two ways to get from Seattle to Oak Harbor; the scenic route takes you across the ferry, and I – pressed for time – took the 5, a far more gritty route that could almost have been depressing, what with all the gray falling down on the windscreen. Turns out they have these devices called “windshield wipers” that largely, if not entirely, mitigate this effect. I’m going back the other way.
One of the advantages of blogging – this thing of ours – apart from getting to choose the topic of conversation, engaging in scintillating conversation, banning the occasional troll and meeting people who already know far more about you than you do about them, is getting the occasional recommendation. So thanks, Oyster: The pound of mussels at Toby’s Tavern, in Coupeville, WA, which is a delightful place, if rather sleepy at 7PM on a Monday night. Any sleepier and I’d have called EMS on the entire town. The bivalves went down swimmingly with the Parrot red ale, a buttery mixture well suited to the outside rigors. I will not, for now, mention the garlic bread, served in three unctuous pieces and totally out of the Zone. For then there were none.
A little time afterward spent preparing for my meetings today, which I believe went quite well, thanga. I even got the chance to spend 30 minutes in the EA-18G “Growler” tactical flight simulator. Which was pretty darned slick, I have to tell you – a great platform, and a wonderful opportunity for a new generation of naval aviators to grow and learn. And, oh, how I miss my air-to-air radar, HUD and yes, I admit it: Nosewheel steering.
It’s the little things.
Had lunch with a pleasant young officer who was something of my escort while on base. I told him how great it was to be working with naval aviation again, how it had long ago stolen my heart. I told him to treasure these moments, for they do run out. We got to chatting about his career, which had been up to this point a little non-traditional. He admitted that he would almost be concerned about his ultimate eligibility for command, the pinnacle of achievement for any line officer. Except, he admitted, for “all these firings.” Which had taken some of the bloom off the rose.
I don’t think that’s the message Navy is sending, although it may be the message some folks are receiving.
The sky was still weeping as I went outside, the rains falling ceaselessly from low, depressing clouds. At least, I think it was the clouds that were depressing.
Lex, what did you think of the ACS in the backseat…3 ECMOs to 1, can’t be a bad thing I reckon! Have fun, fly safe!
Lex, welcome to our world. Gray days and lazy rain, October through April or May. Many credit our special weather with being the reason so many ideas and corporations spring from our wetness and gloom: Microsoft, Boeing, UPS, Grunge, Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Lee, REI, Starbucks Coffee, et. al. Our long weepy days provide the time for creativity some would claim; others remind that Seattle is the suicide capital of the USA.
Summer is the reason we’re a million plus and growing, for there are no greener greens, nor bluer blues. Cascades to the sea, the sea to the Olympics… all in less than a day. Outdoors in the summer is where you’ll find most of us, taking advantage of the long (6am ’til 9pm) sunlit hours.
Alas, you have once again chosen to visit us in a season not of our local Chamber of Commerce publicity. Do yourself the favor of driving south on Whidbey to the village of Langley and have chili in the Red Dog while watching the gray water and sky. Take advantage of the Washington State Highway Dept’s. ferry system and travel from Clinton at the southern-most tip to Mukilteo. If you’re in a hurry, you can take I-5 back to Sea-Tac… or you may wish to partake of the local flavor and drive on Highway 99 to Seattle.
Well said, Peter! I write these words on a slow (ferry) boat to Bremerton. The scenery, if grey, is peaceful. I do look forward to spring, with the onshore breeze at Ocean Shores inviting me to put my kite in the air once again. The wet is the price we pay for the greenery. The many bicycle-friendly cities in the area make a bicycle commute possible in the winter and a pleasure in the summer.
Lex, if you *really* want to take the long way home, take the ferry to Port Townsend, come down 104 across the Hood Canal Bridge. Turn south on Highway 3, south to Port Orchard, then take the Southworth ferry to Seattle. Short hop to the airport from there. You may get a better look at why some of us call the PNW home.
I spent some time in Oak Harbor visiting SNO who was then doing his DH tour. What a great little town! And I found the locals to be really friendly. My proof of that statement was about 0215 one morning when my wife and I were making the drive from SEATAC up the I-5. Absolutely no one else on the highway at that hour until I saw flashing lights behind me.
Very nice Washington State trooper who had me dead to rights, and well over the speed limit. He spotted my military ID when I got out my driver’s license and asked where I was headed in such a hurry. I explained that we had one of those trips with a cancelled connection, and a jury rigged final flight connection that had gotten us to SEATAC after eleven hours out of Washington Dulles. He handed me back my license, suggested that I slow down because the grandchildren would like to see us arrive safe, and thanked me for my service. What can you say to a man like that other than “Thank you, sir!”
There is a reason they drink so much coffee in that part of the world. I betcha they do lotsa meth and coke there, too.
I hear that if you get east of the Olympic Rain Shadow, it is not so rainy. I do hope to move to the Palouse before I die.
Jtg: Don’t know anything about the meth and the only Coke I know of comes in a can, mostly of the Diet variety.
Having lived east of the Cascades for a coupla’ years in Moses Lake, yes… it is different there. Hot and dry in the summer, brown dirt and gold wheat are in the majority, with the sometime exception of the dinosaur bones locked in the rocks. The east side of the state is a different world, extra hot in summer and freezing cold in winter. \
You’ll find Cougars in the Palouse, literally, in juxtaposition with the Huskies of the “wet side”. Rolling hills, small towns, agriculture and the state ag and land school. Hell’s Canyon along the Snake River provides one geological point of interest… a float trip down these waters can be a reward in itself.
Yes, we have drugs… predominately via the I-5 pipeline from California. Our natural wonders are already here, providing those of us who live here much more of a natural high!
Spent four years in SE Washington, long before my sojourn at the A-6 RAG as a Geezer-Conehead. Two-thirds of Washington, a.k.a. “The Sane Part of the State” is predominantly semi-arid and even desert, hence the reason, back in 1942, the government decided to start some very quiet projects on the west bank of the Columbia River at Hanford. Three years later parts of their research found its way onto a B-29 named “Enola Gay.”
Central and Eastern Washington are quite lovely in their own right, from the Blue Mountains and Palouse to the Snake River gorge. And the wines coming up from the Columbia River and Walla Walla are pretty darn good, too. Oh, and the Moon Bat influence is pretty low, too!
They have Hobo Spiders up there nowadays. They aren’t as bad as the Brown Recluse in the lowlands around these parts, but can still unpleasant things to you.
You mean, grumpy person, you. What a buzz-killer!
Well, if you do make it out to the Palouse, let me recommend the sprint boat races at St. John as a diversion. Lots of noise, motors, speed and comestibles. Plenty to like!
Which reminds me: My ex-sister-in-law grew up in Arizona. Before she moved to FL to go to school, she did not know about mildew. Soon after she got here, she tossed a damp towel into the laundry hamper. A few days later, she pulled it out and asked my ex-brother, “What is this green stuff?”
Lex,
Did you get any updates on CDR Jackson while at NUW?
Just askin’
MikeyB
Asked around casually. Felt a bit like I was in North Korea. Everybody checking six, speaking in hushed tones.
Consensus was that he is a good man. For what that’s worth, these days.
Lex, apparently, you didn’t get the memo explaining that the “short story” format is just…so…over. I don’t think Mr. Hemingway got the memo either when he used the short story format to write about the rain,,,and a cat.
As Comjam states,
Much of the state has an ‘interesting’ history, and is quite scenic.
Produces some interesting wines, some beautiful vistas, great skiing(watch the avalanche warnings),
and a volcano, or two.
The “moonbat” part is King county, or, as the rest of the state would call it;
“The State Of King”.
Leftist liberal bullshite that the rest of the state has to pay for through taxes and “Fees”.
Welcome to our world, Lex. Even if just for a bit…
Prior to enlisting my may have been SWW Washington but I lived in rain gear.
ach, edit: ‘my home may have been…”
“I told him to treasure these moments, for they do run out.”
Indeed they do eventually, “run out.” But they still may be and likely will be, remembered and treasured for a lifetime!
(Not only by oneself but also by one’s wingmen, and all those close to the one who has performed well during his time in the arena.)
To paraphrase: It is better to have done – albeit no longer – than to have never done at all!
A treasure forever!
Figure you’d like these pics from my 14 Feb. Whidbey NAS tour then… feel free to let me know if you’d like the full resolution pictures for your blog banner. More pics soon to drop too… including once a decal maker is done with many of TWO EA-18G Growlers from the Zappers!
Love your blog. Please keep blogging.
Josef, a PROUD Oak Harbor Navy Leaguer Brat
Glad you made it to Toby’s Lex. I love that place. Not sure how much longer you’re in town but if you’re looking for more culinary awesomeness, try Seabolt’s and order the Salmon Burger. Yes, I said Salmon Burger. Seabolt’s is on Hwy 20 in town. And while you’re there, grab a pound of smoked chum to bring home to the missus.
Those gentle readers of yours who haven’t had the pleasure of heading to Oakie Harbor, or Whidbey in general may still have seen Coupeville. Parts of The War of the Roses and Practical Magic were shot there, and several other films have been shot in the area.
Oh, and you might consider dropping in to the OHT and putting up a “zap” on the wall. They’ve got just about everything else, but I don’t recall seeing one for the F-21.
God how I love Whidbey Island. So many adventures there, some I can even talk about . . . One involves my 15 year old girlfriend (who had never driven before; I’d just gotten a license the week prior) driving me to the hospital after I put a machete into my shin while trying to clear brush for my grandma. Good times.
Wow – I find this in our Regional PAO daily update and wonder if it’s the “Lex” I know…sure enough as soon as you mentioned Oystah and I saw the squadron logos I knew I was in the right place.
Then I read your blog and had to pull out a dictionary…geeze!
I wish I could have had a shot in a Growler, all I’ve seen is good so far.
Bobo
Hiya Bobo. Long time no comms.
The lack of HUD in your Kfir baffles me a bit. The Izzys were early and enthusiastic adopters of the idea and the C2 was one of the first planes they applied the tech to.
Was the thing maintenance intensive and required parts unobtanium? Was it non exportable?
Great to see you Lex yesterday at the O’Club. Tuesdays, best spot for Chili on the West Coast. Come back when you can stay longer. VR, jug
Lex, you would have to be up here on the few days that we had downpours….at least it is sunny today ( although a little on the breezy side )
Hope you enjoyed the visit, and I second the Pt Townsend crossing
Really enjoyed Whidbey, spent 6 years in Seattle during the ’90s making that commute one or two weekends a month, almost always on a motorcycle. The ferry ride was a nice break before that last 38-mile stretch.
Me and my DCA stepped away from the pier there in Oak Harbor. We there on time at O’darkthirty, as ordered but ending up having the chore of just being there for handling the docklines of the ship we came to meet very early in morning as it came back to land in Oak Harbor. After some rather abusive vilification and screaming we both said screw it and walked away. With screams of abuse behind us.
Showed up a couple of hours later and thanked the dark. Nobody recognized us.
We used to nuzzle up to the pier, put our own line handlers over the side and carry on. These pissants had no idea.
Probably isn’t there anymore. The one in front of Admiral Kidd Club is long gone. What a fun pier. Little ships at one end and 2 bars at the other end.
Welcome to the Fungus Corner Lex…I’m having trouble with your apparent appreciation of flying a nosedragger, but then our world takes all kinds.