03-15-2011, 15:21
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#1
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Area Commander
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,470
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SEA-SFO
News and updates: just returned home. We were in Seattle, consulting on a coffee shop lounge project, there is little reason to go otherwise; Seattle is much to do about nothing. An endless gray void filled self important cool. I’ve come to understand, if not appreciate grunge in a new light – the moral depravity of the socially challenged Nouveau Riche, juxtaposing the uncompromising personal integrity of the displaced native. Great wealth, alongside great angst; MS, Google, and the rest have really damaged this culture.
But, it did offer the opportunity to fulfill one of our dreams drives: a coastal excursion on America's great west coast touring road: HWY 101. Seattle to San Fran in a sled, a Cadillac STS, wow, what a car, and perfect for the 3 day drive.
Washington is absolutely beautiful, but Oregon, is arguably in the top 5 of scenic wonders. My God, the coastline is breathtaking; every turn presents a wonder and a prayer, shot tons of B & W 35mm. In the back of my mind there is a show developing - Collision with beauty. A slight reference to remain situationally aware while driving.
Spent part of a day and one night in Astoria, Oregon: one word- GO! It’s a time warp that’s slowly being discovered, lots of artist, mushroom pickers, scholars in residence, and really good restaurants filled with nice people. It’s also an excellent reason to exit Interstate 5 south out of Seattle, to cut across Rt 30 (another interesting drive) west to the coast.
Astoria sits at the entrance to the Columbia river, Salmon heaven to those devotees who know Salmon, and no I am not tired of Salmon yet, as there is nothing like fresh wild salmon with local lobster mushrooms grilled to order in front of you in some dive bar populated with foul smelling fisherman and the stale fragrance of processed yeast; though the Halibut and Dungeness Crab did test my loyalty to quality, in fact, several times I was forced to order both for failure to settle on the one.
My excuse for the glutinous behavior echo’s Nero’s, “I may not pass that way again”, which brings me to the Beer. I was not a beer drinker prior to this trip, possessing such a refine, if not pampered palette, often prevented me for investigating this ancient brew. Well, it was an awaking to say the least, the beer in Oregon was the best conversion anyone could ask for, like bread, I think it’s goodness is a water issue first, and skilled craftsmanship second.
And here is a funny thing, the people that hired me, every time we went out, twice each day, wanted me to choose the wines, I keep ordering the beer. In Seattle, there is an entire beer culture with coded acronyms used when ordering, x SF Med can explain it better than me, we meet for brews and burgers - a good time!!! And the coin slipped, I did not mean to slam it on the wooden bar. But, that’s another story…
The night prior, we ate dinner at the restaurant Wild Ginger, based on the recommendations here. When I announced that I was a beer novice they brought over a tasting of 10 of their micro brews on tap, explained everyone, and pointed out the essences I should taste as I drank each one. Could not have been better trained, to say I was a bit toasted by the time I was asked to leave would be an understatement. Luckily, I did not pick up a car until Thursday morning.
I also found again why I truly love my wife: We departed Seattle the wee hours the morning of the tsunami, way down the road when we were informed of the danger my wife turned to me and said: “Honey, you know I can’t swim, you’ll save me, right”?
I’m still her knight.
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Penn is offline
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03-15-2011, 15:42
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#2
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Quiet Professional (RIP)
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Carriere,Ms.
Posts: 6,922
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Penn,
Was US 1 considered as a possible option?........ Maggie and I did the same route from Seattle to San Diego but there were several times we were forced to go onto 101 because the road was closed due to rock slides etc....... But your absolutely right it's a beautiful ride.......... 
Big Teddy 
__________________
I believe that SF is a 'calling' - not too different from the calling missionaries I know received. I knew instantly that it was for me, and that I would do all I could to achieve it. Most others I know in SF experienced something similar. If, as you say, you HAVE searched and read, and you do not KNOW if this is the path for you --- it is not....
Zonie Diver
SF is a calling and it requires commitment and dedication that the uninitiated will never understand......
Jack Moroney
SFA M-2527, Chapter XXXVII
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greenberetTFS is offline
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03-15-2011, 16:48
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#3
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Asset
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Oregon
Posts: 57
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Penn,
Glad you enjoyed Oregon. Astoria is probably my favorite coastal town here. So much history and not quite as touristy as the rest of the Oregon Coast. There is a great place for fish and chips off an old fishing boat near the maritime museum.
Not bad for beer here either.
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zeke is offline
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03-15-2011, 16:51
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#4
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Guerrilla
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Fort Carson, CO
Posts: 338
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Penn
I’ve come to understand, if not appreciate grunge in a new light – the moral depravity of the socially challenged Nouveau Riche, juxtaposing the uncompromising personal integrity of the displaced native. Great wealth, alongside great angst; MS, Google, and the rest have really damaged this culture.
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You've summed up my reasons for only having gone back twice since I left for the Basic Course.
__________________
Example is better than precept.
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RTK is offline
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03-15-2011, 18:57
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#5
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Consigliere
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland (at last)
Posts: 8,841
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Penn
Seattle is much to do about nothing. An endless gray void filled self important cool. I’ve come to understand, if not appreciate grunge in a new light – the moral depravity of the socially challenged Nouveau Riche, juxtaposing the uncompromising personal integrity of the displaced native. Great wealth, alongside great angst; MS, Google, and the rest have really damaged this culture.
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LMAO! Man, imagine what you'd say about San Francisco or Miami! 
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Roguish Lawyer is offline
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03-15-2011, 19:06
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#6
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: NorCal
Posts: 15,370
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zeke
Astoria is probably my favorite coastal town here. So much history and not quite as touristy as the rest of the Oregon Coast.
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Yeah...and Arnold taught kindergarten there once, too. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfC3C...eature=related
Richard
__________________
“Sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whisky bottle in the hand of (another)… There are just some kind of men who – who’re so busy worrying about the next world they’ve never learned to live in this one, and you can look down the street and see the results.” - To Kill A Mockingbird (Atticus Finch)
“Almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so.” - Robert Heinlein
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Richard is offline
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03-16-2011, 07:24
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#7
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Guerrilla
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: N. Idaho
Posts: 143
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A tumor, it was not 
Penn, did you stop off at the Rogue Brewery in Newport Oregon? You would have passed within ~100m of the place when heading past on 101.
http://www.rogue.com/
Dead Guy Ale is a favorite. The label might look a bit familiar....
dead-guy-ale-label.jpg
http://www.rogue.com/beers/dead-guy-ale.php
__________________
The more you know, the less you need. -Yvon Chouinard
Speed is fine, but accuracy is final. -Wyatt Earp c.1888
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ES 96 is offline
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03-16-2011, 09:15
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#8
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: In transit somewhere
Posts: 4,044
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I refuse to comment further on the description of the residents and attitued in this area as HH6 might use any such description against me and have a case for (in this area) justifiable homicide for hashing the Wx and attitudes...
Penn... make it back soon - I had a great evening... and I was extremely pleased at your fumblefingeredness in extricating your coin when it was upposed to be naught but a look, with no bar contact. Oh, yeah... the original "Joy Of Cooking" was written by Erma Rombauer NOT Julia Childs 
We need to set up a PS link up cook off shootout and camp out....
__________________
In the business of war, there is no invariable stategic advantage (shih) which can be relied upon at all times.
Sun-Tzu, "The Art of Warfare"
Hearing, I forget. Seeing, I remember. Writing (doing), I understand. Chinese Proverb
Too many people are looking for a magic bullet. As always, shot placement is the key. ~TR
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x SF med is offline
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03-16-2011, 10:12
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#9
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Guerrilla
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Pacific North Wet
Posts: 402
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Penn
... I also found again why I truly love my wife: We departed Seattle the wee hours the morning of the tsunami, way down the road when we were informed of the danger my wife turned to me and said: “Honey, you know I can’t swim, you’ll save me, right”?
I’m still her knight.
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You were my first thought when I woke to find the news of what was arriving on our shores - what an exceptional way to add to the memory of your drive. I'm so sorry Mama Nature didn't cooperate, as the views on a clear day in March of all the Mountains is stunning with their snow capped bountifulness. If you'd had the extra time to do Hwy 101 from it's beginning, all the way around the Olympic Peninsula, you would have worn out your camera... You'll just have to come back here again so we can take you to the bestest places.
Our grey dreariness is just a filter to keep out the unwashed masses. Unfortunately, Starbucks has created an evil brew that allows some of those said unwashed masses to pollute our region with their 'tude. Though if you can manage to stay away from the cesspits of liberalism, aka Seattle, Portland, Bellevue/Redmond, Eugene, then the people of the Northwest are absolutely the best. Like the folk of Astoria, the rest of the Northwet denizens really do embrace a multitude of 'realness'.
So glad you enjoyed your gluttony up here, but it seems like you missed out on some native specialtiesup here like the lingcod, rock crab and the not to be missed Geoduck. Not to mention hitting up the wineries, breweries and distilleries out in the hinterlands. 
Did you manage to drive by the downtown Seattle library? Is that not an interesting library building?
Quote:
Originally Posted by x SF med
... Oh, yeah... the original "Joy Of Cooking" was written by Erma Rombauer NOT Julia Childs...
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Snork. Librarians are always happy to settle bets.
Quote:
Originally Posted by x SF med
... We need to set up a PS link up cook off shootout and camp out....
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Not sure I could survive a PS link up cook off - the cooking might just kill me with pleasure!
LL
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Only librarians like to search, everyone else likes to find. Roy Tenant
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LibraryLady is offline
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03-16-2011, 10:17
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#10
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Guerrilla
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Fort Carson, CO
Posts: 338
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LibraryLady
Did you manage to drive by the downtown Seattle library? Is that not an interesting library building?
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LL, Everytime I drive by that place I think of what a mess it's going to be when the earthquake finally hits and that I hope I'm no where near it!
__________________
Example is better than precept.
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RTK is offline
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03-16-2011, 10:30
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#11
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Guerrilla
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Pacific North Wet
Posts: 402
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RTK
LL, Everytime I drive by that place I think of what a mess it's going to be when the earthquake finally hits and that I hope I'm no where near it!
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Ever been inside? Bleh. I don't like it. Glad I don't live/work where that is my library.
I wouldn't want to be in downtown anywhere if an earthquake hits, highrises have way too much glass!
LL
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Only librarians like to search, everyone else likes to find. Roy Tenant
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LibraryLady is offline
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03-30-2011, 08:18
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#12
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Area Commander
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,470
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Astoria
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Penn is offline
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04-02-2011, 12:04
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#13
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Auxiliary
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Harrisburg, Oregon
Posts: 80
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Penn
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Picture # 21 gets my vote of approval. Penn, next time your out here on the west coast again, let me know. I'd enjoy meeting up with you and showing you around a few more brew pubs.
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mangler is offline
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