Week 521 - Pacific Pickleball People - 08-07-2016

Pacific Pickleball People

With the MotherShip in top shape it was time to get moving and visit new places and old friends. This week we visited two families whom we met at their winter homes because of Pickleball. And now get to visit at their summer homes.

Meet Neal and Sherry. We met them in 2011 at Palm Creek Golf and RV Resort in Casa Grande, Arizona. Neal is a little shorter than Pete; he tops out just below Pete's shoulder. But, he is quick as a mouse and never lets a ball drop on the court. Neal and Pete won the 32-team 3.5 Gold Medal at the 2011 Palm Creek Duel in the Desert. Never losing a match, it is the most memorable day of their Pickleball careers.

We had the pleasure visiting in their home town of Centralia, Washington. They have a competitive group of Pickleball players that we joined for some indoor play. Our hosts, Neal and Sherry along with Jerry, Darlene and Shirley, spent the day playing table games: Hand and Foot, Farkel and we introduced them to Oh Hell.

Coincidentally Pete's sister Donnalee stayed in Centralia on the same day we arrived. She was traveling with her, and our, friend Don on the way to Sequim, Washington. That night we visited McMenamins Olympic Club, Hotel and Theatre.

It's always nice to get a group photo when we visit.

Our next Pickleball visit was with our close friends (or acquaintances as Janet would say), Dennis and Jean. We spent months with them at Golden Village Palms last winter. They invited us to stay at their house with hookups. We always tell people "Don't invite us unless you mean it!". We spent five nights with them. How could you not with a home like this just feet away from the water, and hospitality beyond compare.

1) Their backyard on the beach. 2) Our spot at the lawn.

We took many local trips: this one to Fort Flagler State Park where Battery Henry Bankhead is located. This facility was completed in 1902 and housed eight 12 inch mortars. These mortars were created to defend the US from enemy ships in the Pacific Northwest. We found it interesting that they were installed prior to World War I and removed in 1942 after the attack on Pearl Harbor and before the end of World War II.

Another tour was the Dungeness Valley Creamery, owned by their son and daughter-in-law. Located in Sequim, it is a Raw Milk dairy. They are constantly breeding cows; the nursing pens are shown here.

1) Ellen checks out the milking cows. 2) The cows are manually connected to automatic milking machines. Each cow produces five gallons of milk daily, until they pull them off the milking schedule to allow them to breed.

1) The milk is chilled immediately, then labeled and bottled and chilled more. They have an on site store for walk-ins and delivery trucks to take to markets. 2) Everything here is recycled. They wash the stalls twice daily and process the manure to make fertilizer for their fields and for sale.

1) For most of us, the photo on the left would be a framed picture. But for Dennis and Jean, this is an actual view through their window. 2) Each weekend they see several cruise ships heading out to sea from Seattle.

As is usual for Ellen, she snapped these photos from the beach in the morning. Enjoy!

And of course, there was daily Pickleball in Port Ludlow and Sequim. Donnalee and Don stayed in Sequim and had just left!

Our last outing was to Port Townsend. We missed, by a few days, seeing our friends James and Anna there. James described Port Townsend as a town that he must return to for another visit. We shot these photos of the Jefferson County Courthouse and our lovely hosts.

1) The Post Office and 2) one of hundreds of beautiful homes.

1) A small jazz festival on this day and 2) a sampling of the grand architecture of the downtown area.

1) Fort Worden and 2) The Salish ferry that would be our transportation to our next stop: Clint and Jackies' home in Stanwood, Washington.

Next week (already in process) we'll visit more Washington State friends.
With love, Pete, Ellen and Mandy

Photos from Aug 2016