7-8, Kitsap Peninsula

This day worked out surprisingly well.  Sven's mom had a job interview with a bakery in Kingston that morning.  The ferry connects Edmonds, where Nina, Chris and mom live, to Kingston on the Kitsap Peninsula.  Since mom had to go there that day, we decided to make that our day-trip destination and go visit our old places after her interview.  (Now, with a few weeks having passed, I'm happy to report that mom got the job!!)  We spent a very nice (but long!) day driving up and down and all around.  I'm amazed at how much we saw!  I remember when we moved to Silverdale and Sven called me from cruise (Nik and I made the move alone because Sven got called up to deploy with a month's notice).  I told him, "I love it here!  I never want to move!!"  Sad to say, that after dealing with back-to-back deployments, my view of Bremerton/Silverdale became tainted.  It wasn't because of the place, it was because of our lives at the time.  It was hard for all of us.  We just wanted Sven to come home so we could move away.  It was easier to move than to deal with another deployment.  That's when got sent to Maryland.  We didn't like MD at all, but we loved the fact that Sven was home every day (imagine that!).  So, this whirlwind tour of Kitsap brought back a lot of memories for us all.  Some good, but a lot that we'd rather forget.  But I do have to say, it's a lovely place!

Arriving on the ferry at Kingston.

Lunch at our favorite Thai place (yes, it was still there!).

Dyes Inlet in Silverdale with Mt. Rainier in the background.

Our old house in Silverdale.

I LOVE Debbie Macomber books.  They're heartwarming, lighthearted and pleasant to read.  I didn't start reading her books until moving to Colorado.  How ironic is it that she's my current favorite author but she only lived 20 minutes down the road from us when we were in Silverdale?  I know a good part of the reason I love her books is because of the series she bases in Seattle and Port Orchard ('Cedar Cove' for those of you who many know her work).  Sven patiently waited in the truck with a sleeping Emalie, so mom and I could go in and browse her yarn shop in Port Orchard.  (Aunt Emma would be so happy to know that I've been inspired to pick up my crochet hook again!)

A bald eagle on the fly.

The ships docked in Bremerton.

It was always so amazing to round the bend in the road and see ships so close.

The ferry from Seattle headed into Port Orchard.

Payback for Sven having to sit in the truck at the yarn shop was me having to watch them all eat donuts from Sluy's in Poulsbo.  They were favorites then and they're still favorites now.  They smelled good and I'm guessing they tasted even better.

The marina in Poulsbo.

Loading up to head back to Edmonds after a long day.  You rarely see a ferry this empty-- especially in the summer.

One last goodbye to a place full of memories.