BFF Outlaw Pacific Northwest Trip - Part I: Seattle, WA

Welcome to my BFF Outlaw Pacific Northwest Trip with Alicia! Over the next seven days we will travel 1600 miles from Seattle to Crater Lake and back up to Seattle via The 101 coastal highway.

Tuesday, September 15th:

Here's a map of what we did during our time in Seattle:

I arrived at SeaTac at 1:05 PM and caught the Sound Transit Link Light Rail to Seattle for $3.00. I wasn't able to check into our hotel without Alicia, so I dropped my bags and headed to Pike Place Market. 

[Real great time to go on a road trip 🤦‍♀️]

I walked around the market until 5:00 PM when it closed. I then headed down to Pier 58. It was a little overcast and cold, so I went shopping! 

[I love all the Bigfoot stuff!]

The sun eventually came out, which was very enjoyable. 

Ally landed around 4:15 PM, got the rental car, and then came and met me at the Pier. I knew exactly where we should go for dinner:

The Crab Pot!

We started with two cups of clam chowder and then got The Royal, which consisted of "Jumbo Alaskan Bairdi Crab, Dungeness Crab, Snow Crab, Lobster Claws, Head-On Shrimp, Andouille Sausage, Corn on the Cob, and Red Potatoes."

Not only was I reunited with my Outlaw BFF Alicia, but we were on vacation, AND eating crab! Life is good!

After being stuffed with crab we finished off the night with a piece of mud pie 😋

Wednesday, September 16th:

The next day we got up early (yes, a two hour time change is enough to impact you) and headed out into the city. 

Alicia drove while I navigated! We are a good team!

We went to the Smith Tower, got some coffee and tea, walked through Occidental and Pioneer Square, and found a cute yarn store.

[Seattle coffee]

[Alicia bought some beautiful yarn at the Yarn Dragon Factory Store]

[Smith Tower]

We then went on a 2.5 hour walking tour of Pike Place Market with Savor Food Tours. We learned a ton of history about the market (starting at the beginning) and we ate a lot of delicious food. 

[Main entrance]

First stop was the Doughnut Company where we each had two warm doughnuts. They were sweet, light, and fluffy. 

Next, we went to the Pike Place Fish Co stand where we learned about some of the local fish.

Gotta see them throw the fish!

[Rachel the Piggy Bank]

Under the "Farmers Market" sign is a mural honoring the Japanese farmers who were taken away and thrown into internment camps. At that time Japanese immigrants made up 75% of the farmers. Read more here.

We walked over to Frank's where we had the BEST pears, peaches, and other fruit that I've ever had! We made a note to come back later for more!

[Art]

Next, we got an assortment of treats from Chukar Cherries and then we made our way to Pike Place Chowder to get some of the best chowder I've ever had. According to our tour guide, the line is always huge and it is worth it!

We then went next door to get a sample of Rachel's Ginger Beer. It was ginger beer mixed with lemonade and it was very refreshing! 

[We love food!]

Next, we walked through the market so see some of the artists. We were shocked with how cheap the flowers are! $10-20 for these gorgeous flower bouquets! 

[I love ball dahilas! I tried to grow them in my pots this year, but they were uncooperative]

We went up to the top of the market where we got a great view of the Olympic Mountains to the west and beautiful Mt Rainier to our southwest!

We ended the food tour with a fish taco from Mr. Fish (no picture because I ate it too quickly) and gelato at Hellenika Cultured Creamery (London Fog flavor). We parted ways with our amazing tour guide and headed to the Space Needle.

6th Annual Charity Horse Show

Monday, September 7th:

Due to Labor Day, Theo didn't have school. We hung out at home and Ms. Becca came over in the morning for PT.

I love it when friends send me pictures of powered, height adjustable, adult changing tables! It makes me happy that others are looking out for them 😁

Tuesday, September 8th:

Theo and Nurse Patti went to school today and had a great day. We didn't see Sherman today because it is rest week, but we will see him on Saturday for The Legacy Ranch's 6th Annual Charity Horse Show.

Theo had his Femoral Varus Derotational Osteotomy & Muscle Lengthening (aka hip surgery) back in April 2022. Recently we noticed that a small bump has formed on his left side scar. It's not hard and appears to be full of fluid. 

[Right side scar]

[Left side scar with bump]

I sent a picture of it to his Orthopedic Surgeon and they asked us to go get an x-ray, which we will do on Friday.

Wednesday, September 9th:

I was supposed to attend a meeting at Theo's school today about the PUNS list, but we got a call from NuMotion asking us to come in so they can get Theo measured for his molded seats.

They put Theo in a chair with a beanbag on it. Once Theo was straight and settled in, they let the air out of the beanbag and they molded it around his body. He was a little upset, but the crew at NuMotion are so patient!

Theo was REALLY crabby as we left the appointment so I told him he needed to take a nap during our two hour drive home. I laid his seat back and turned on some white noise. But Theo was WAY more interested in looking out the window at the corn fields 🤷‍♀️

Thursday, September 10th:

Today was a long day for me. I had a lot to do before Theo and Nurse Patti got home from school. I have to admit I was pretty impressed with myself that I finished everything on my list!

First I went and got a mammogram and some bloodwork done. Then I went to get my allergy shots. Finally I swung by Costco, Jewel, and Walgreens. With gas being so expensive it's better to run all my errands on the same day. But it's a little overwhelming!

I made it home in time to get Theo and Nurse Patti off the bus. That night I attended a leadership meeting with the Little Lobbyists. Even though they aren't launching their chapter here this year, they still want me involved in their non profit.

Friday, September 11th:

Never Forget

I love how they did a seventh moment of silence this year. A lot of people have died from after 9/11 due to health issues caused by the collapsed buildings.

Weekend:

Theo was up at 4:00 AM on Saturday morning. I guess he was just REALLY excited to participate in the 6th Annual Charity Horse Show at The Legacy Ranch!

About 20 minutes before he was supposed to perform he got really tired and took a power nap.

We got him on Sherman and they headed outside.

Theo performed with his group. 

He was still very tired, but that's okay!

Great job Theo and all of our other friends! Theo got 9th place, but they didn't have a ribbon, so they gave us this 6th place one 😁

After the horse show Theo and I headed home. Josh went to southern Wisconsin to see his dad and other members of the Woodhull Family! It was nice for him to attend a little family reunion!