"Unemploying"

It's amazing what a good nights sleep will do for you!  I was beginning to think this unemployment thing wasn't going to work out as it was requiring me to get up so early.  Luckily for me, I gave it another chance.

Bruce drove me back to catch the downtown bus yesterday morning.  As he did, we chatted about what I had done and seen the previous day.  Bruce seems genuinely intrigued by my travels.  Perhaps he is just one of those people that simply thinks I am crazy.  Waiting for the bus I met a couple from Austin, TX. Equally intrigued by my adventure, they decided that what I was doing was "unemploying." Unemployment as a verb....interesting.

Following my bus ride downtown, I traveled to Bainbridge Island, a 30 minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle.  How else was I going to see this view?

 

Bainbridge island is approximately 12 miles long and has a year round population of 25,000. There are so many small islands off Washington's coast.  I knew I wanted to visit at least one of them and Bainbridge was the closest.  I was not disappointed with my choice. I walked the small downtown, which was reminiscent of a small seaside town in the northeast.  Check out my view while I was having lunch.

It was here at Doc's Marina Grill that I consumed beer #2 - a Pyramid Heffenweizen.  I'm impressed with the local brews.  Equally as impressive was the local wine selection.  I just happened to stumble upon a sign that said "local wine tasting."  Who was I to say to no to that?

Five dollars bought me a taste of nine different wines from two different island wineries.  Matt, the winemaker from the vineyard "Eleven," was my host.  I asked him, "what made you decide to become a winemaker?"  He responded, "you wouldn't believe me if I told you."  I liked him immediately.  Matt apparently was a bike racer for several years.  Finally realizing that there was no money in it, he decided to try his hand at wine.  A risky, but noble venture.  Three weeks following his nuptials, he told his wife that he wanted to quit his job and become a winemaker. I am not sure how she felt at the time, but I was sure glad he did.  The wines were excellent.  I would recommend the "Sweet Sarah," named after Matt's wife, to anyone who enjoys white wine.  Eleven's Port was equally as impressive.

Matt explained that his grapes came from western Washington where the weather was drier, hotter and more ideal for growing the grapes.  He, however, is in an ideal location in eastern Washington, where the climate is cooler and thus cutting out the need to purchase an expensive air conditioning system.

Check out this page of Eleven's website.  http://www.elevenwinery.com/about.htm  It chronicles Matt's entire story and provides a small glimpse into his sense of humor, which was evident, even more so, in person.  I particularly enjoyed his story about converting his two car garage into the "expensive winery building."  He even shared with me a picture.

With a kick (or slight stagger) in my step after a beer and tasting nine different wines, I walked back to the ferry and returned to the emerald city.  I ventured to Pioneer Square which is an historic district in Seattle's downtown, most of which was rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1889.  It is an eclectic mix of used bookstores, small watering holes, and galleries featuring the works of local artists.

It was here as I strolled down the street that I met Robert, for a second time.  The day before Robert and his co-worker Christina stopped me and asked if I would like to donate some money to their organization, Save the Children.  I figured my "unemploying" was as good excuse as any, so I had politely said no.  Robert, now in a different location in the city and being ever so persistent, stopped me and asked again.  This time he offered to buy me dinner if I would donate $18 a month.  The idea of free food was tempting, but I again declined. 

I told Robert and Matt they would both make my blog and gave them the web address.  We'll see if they too start following my travels.

My day ended with a three mile walk from downtown to Volunteer Park.  Much like San Francisco, this walk was mostly uphill.  But after getting to the park, which was at the top, I realized that the view was worth it.