Planning Their Next Crime

 Speaking of the two furried terrors, here they are getting up from their fifth nap of the day.

Across the USA

 

This was my second trip across the USA.  I drove this beast, while my sister drove my Dad's Honda CRV.  Everything went pretty smoothly, even some snowy weather through Utah and Wyoming.  We managed to miss the storm itself by a day, thanks to navigation decisions by my sister.  The highway through Wyoming was absolutely torn up though after the storm, and the biggest worry became monster potholes that had obviously undone a number of 18-wheelers parked on the side of the highway.

This was my second journey across.  Way back in what must have been 2007 (actually it was 2006) I drove from Washington, D.C. to Bellingham, WA to stay with my Dad.  I ended up working in a kayak factory for a year before moving to South Korea to teach English for 12 years.

This time, after cleaning out my Dad's house for sale, we took a more southerly route.  The general goal was five days, four nights.  If memory serves, it was Bellingham to Boise, Boise to Rawlins, Wyoming, Rawlins to Kansas City, Kansas City to Cambridge, Ohio, then Cambridge to the Baltimore area.  (The last day of driving was pleasantly light.)

Rawlins to Kansas City was about 785 in one day.

Anyhow, this is very much a young person's game and I hope I never have to do it again.  Maybe if I was driving in a car with somebody who could take over, but it's just exhausting, and the number of jackasses with licenses in this country knows no bounds.

Worth documenting I guess.  My two kitties were surprisingly well behaved.  I left the Whatcom County Humane Society with a can of cat-targeted pheromone spray, which had the calming effect it was intended to have.  I'd never heard of the stuff, but apparently you can get it over the counter.  There is no version for dogs, as far as I know.

And, Scene

Made it about a week ago.  I only just got out my laptop though and have been on my phone.  Lots of coffee and greasy breakfast sandwiches.  The cats are fine.  My Dad is also doing well.  Nebraska never, ever ends.

USA! USA! USA!

I'm off to drive across America tomorrow.  I'll probably put up some pics on Twitter, but not much here.

It's been a long journey from Daegu to Bellingham and now back to the DC area.  But you should already know my elderly Dad is safe and sound back in Maryland, albeit in a nursing home.  Me and my sister and clearing out the house for resale.  And I've got two new kitties joining us, although I'm sure they'll be miserable for eight to ten hours a day in the car.

Gotta fight through it, my furry little babies.

See you in five days!

The Various Diners of Whatcom County -- 24/24 Reviews, Including the Best!

No beating around the Hollandaise -- Mount Bakery has the best Eggs Benedict in Whatcom County.  The secret?  They make their own bread.

It's done -- I've reviewed all 24 diners in and across Whatcom County.  (Quick listing here.)  And with the exception of two corporate monstrosities (they rhyme with LIBLOP  and JENNY'S) I had a ton of quality dining experiences.  And frankly, even the weaker spots were never too terrible -- we all have bad days.  I think at the very least what I got out of this project was simply getting into remoter parts of Whatcom County that I might never have seen otherwise.

Here are the three best diners in Whatcom County:

1)  Mount Bakery (with three locations, I went to the one in Fairhaven)

2)  Old Town Cafe (admittedly, I'm a bit sentimental about this place but objectively, everything they put out on the table is very, very good)

3)  Marlin's Cafe (one thing I learned -- while food quality is most important, atmosphere is impossible to separate completely, EBs only on weekend)

The Various Diners of Whatcom County 24: Al's Downtown Diner

2012 Main Street, Ferndale, WA

Where we headed today, Mr. Tummy?  Well, it's lovely Ferndale and the small, unassuming Al's Diner.

Cozy but also surprisingly on the new side in terms of decor, the place was packed -- the best sign there is for a quality restaurant.

The Various Diners of Whatcom County 23: Marlin's Cafe (Inside Nelson's Market)

 

512 Potter Street, Bellingham, WA

Let's head to the York neighborhood east of downtown, and a place that's inside a larger Market, but as far as I can tell most people come here for breakfast.  It's Marlin's Cafe!  And it's well worth the detour!

The Various Diners of Whatcom County 22: Horseshoe Cafe

113 East Holly St, Bellingham, WA

Let's head to the heart of Bellingham for breakfast today, at the Horseshoe!  And let's be honest -- you might be turned off by the homeless guys encamped along the sidewalk but I'd suggest going on in.  They seem to have an agreement on not harassing customers.

So maybe not the best way to start one of my diner reviews?

San Juan Islands

 

I last visited the San Juan Islands by ferry with my Dad about 20 years ago.  I figured there was no better way to enjoy my last week in Bellingham.

I'll never be a skier, but I like riding the ferries all day just fine.  So long, Bellingham.  A week from Monday I'm driving back east.

Hard At Work

Chingu and Mandu, working on their taxes.

Wayne Shorter

 

Wayne Shorter, "Speak No Evil"

It's easy to underestimate Wayne Shorter because it's so damn hard to remember just how many important contributions he made to jazz music, both traditional, avant-garde, and in between.  Always calm, in the pocket, in control.

Rest In Power.