So here we are in Tacoma, all settled in our RV park. Too bad I can't say we're settled in the RV itself yet. Converting this from a bachelor rig to a couple's rig is taking some work. I've been going through each storage area (at Larry's invitation and with his full blessing) from bedroom to living room and deciding what is valuable enough to store, what should be tossed, what needs to be shipped home and which space makes the most sense for the keeper stuff. I'm glad to have a little time off to do that.
Before starting that project though, we took a couple "vacation days" before Larry started work on Monday. Saturday we went to Vancouver, BC. We had fond memories of the historic Gas Town area and wanted to go back. We were sorely disappointed. The street vendors were gone and the homeless had moved in. The alleys stunk, the place was generally dirty and that greatly distracted from the architecture, shops and restaurants. We left there and went to a wharf type area that was an improvement so the day ended on a positive note. Overall there wasn't enough appeal to keep up overnight so we headed home - only 3 hours away.
Sunday, we decided to see what we could find in the way of a beach. We went to Alki Beach which isn't far from Pike's Place as a crow flies, and really not far by car, but you can't see one place from the other. The beach was almost as much gravel and rock as sand and the surf was full of pieces of seaweed which collected on the sand at high tide and swirled around our feet when we walked on the edge of the surf. It was nice to get our feet wet and get well grounded in the wet earth. If you want to sit through this nearly two minute YouTube video (that I found online) it's a very good synopsis of Alki Beach, including all the things people do here. It could have been filmed the day we were there except the sky was gray. In fact, a thunderstorm rumbled through and that's when we headed to Pike Place.
This may be my 4th or 5th visit to Pike Place. The stores are starting to become very familiar. The flower section has Sweet Peas and I took a great big whiff! Ah... they smell so very good. I miss them as they are so near and dear to my heart from my childhood. They grow well in cool climates and not at all in the SE.
Speaking of cool climates... that doesn't describe Tacoma/Seattle this week. It's only 88 degrees today but for the NW (and for Sweet Peas) that's hot! With the nice weather comes a great view of Mt. Rainer which dominates the horizon to the Southeast. It's huge!!! I took this photo from the car on the way back from Vancouver.
Tacoma streets, in some places, remind me of San Francisco with steep streets, big buildings, and lots of concrete. There is no free parking anyway to be found downtown. We'll have to pay for a monthly parking pass just to be able to park while working. Larry was told there are a lot of car break-ins downtown. That means we're going to have to find a place to stash all our adjuster gear for working in the field (ropes, harness, shoes, tools, etc). Oh boy. I'm not sure there is that much storage in this rig.
We do expect that I'll be employed soon though we're still waiting for an invitation. No problem as I still have plenty to do.
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