Day 5 - Seattle - Port Townsend, WA

The rain returned today.  We've heard that even for this area, this amount of rain is unusually high, in fact, landslides have been reported in several locations.  We are grateful we had the break yesterday for our visit to the mountains, but for today, the rain gear, hoods, and hats were on for sure.

After our final breakfast at our inn, we took the light rail into downtown Seattle so we could visit the Amazon HQ building which houses the grocery/convenience store called Amazon Go.  After downloading an app to our phones, a QR code appeared on our screens.  After placing our phones on a scanner, an automated turnstile opened and let us in.  All the items in the store have a tracking/scanning device on them so you just pick items from the shelves, put them in your bag, and walk out.  The store itself is about the size of a really nice convenience store back home, but the items are nice with a focus on organic, fresh choices.  In fact, as we approached the store, we could see kitchen staff preparing sandwiches and other meals for sale inside.  We selected some items, put them in our complementary bags, and walked out.  The turnstile devices near the front door scanned our items as we walked out and a receipt appeared on our phones within minutes.  I admit it felt a bit like shoplifting.  The building itself is very attractive and as we made our way back to the light rail, we passed the Amazon Spheres.  These geodesic domes are for Amazon employees and include greenhouses, nature spaces, and more, right next door to their HQ building.

Leaving our inn, we headed north to Mount Vernon where the annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival was in full swing.  We stopped at the RoozenGaarde farm and, even through the rain, were treated to a sight I've never seen.  The fields were teaming with rows and rows of vibrant colors of tulips.  There were even amazing garden areas where tulips, daffodils, and other flowers were planted in beds, around trees, and in special shapes.  I really can't put into words the amazing sight, so I'll have to let the pictures speak for me.

It was late afternoon and we still had a drive to make, so we headed west on Highway 20 from near Anacortes, down the Whidbey Island Scenic Way.  We pulled over as we approached Deception Pass as the sight of the upcoming bridge spanning a narrow portion of Puget Sound was gorgeous.  Further down the road we stopped at Fort Ebey State Park where surfers were valiantly trying to catch some waves.  Next up was the Coupeville/Port Townsend Ferry which would deliver us to our final destination.  A short trip and we were driving to the Bishop Victorian Hotel.

Port Townsend had a population boom in the late 19th century which caused many of the downtown buildings and houses to be built in the popular ornate Victorian architecture.  Unfortunately for the town, the boom quickly faded and no new industries grew so the buildings were left abandoned, but not knocked down either, preserving them for 100+ years.  Our hotel is one of the old buildings and it's quite charming and Victorian.  It includes modern conveniences, but the hallways, decor, and layout are from the olden days.

Our dinner tonight was at the fantastic Fountain Cafe just two blocks from our hotel.  Probably THE best meal I've had in a long time and warm gingerbread for dessert.  The view from our window seat was pretty spectacular too.

Tomorrow we head to the Olympic National Park and we'll get sight of the Pacific Ocean!