Cheers!

You'd never guess that Australian blipper GlassRoad and Phil and I didn't get to sleep until nearly 3 a.m. Saturday, after her plane was late getting into Bellingham -- we picked her up at the airport shortly after midnight, started talking, and didn't stop until our eyelids would no longer stay open!

Nothing daunted, we were up at about 8 a.m. on Saturday, ready to take on a full day of activities, including shopping at the Bellingham Farmers Market, lunch and beer sampling at Boundary Bay Brewery, spirits tasting at Chuckanut Bay Distilllery, several other brief shopping stops, and a rapid but comprehensive yomp through Whatcom Museum's Old City Hall building and Lightcatcher building. Whew!

Brief naps set us up for a leisurely evening meal of wild Alaska salmon; fresh corn and beans, and black olive bread from the Bellingham Farmers Market; a chocolate coconut tart from the Community Food Co-op; and local wine. Our ongoing conversation reflected this compatible trio's interest in forensic science, death prep, food, childhood memories, and much more, and it was only when we noticed that midnight was approaching that we decided to call a halt to this long, delightful day.

Tomorrow we'll have a later, slower start, leaving home shortly before noon to enjoy the gustatory delights of the Bite of Bellingham before heading south to Skagit County to share the bucolic pleasures of the Bow/Edison area with GlassRoad.

No time for looking at your journals today, but I'll catch up later in the week. Our time with GR is limited and precious, and I know you'll understand!

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