Poulsbo

I don’t know how Hemingway did it.  The availability of alcohol has greatly decreased the inclination to write.  Poulsbo, with approximately 10,000 people, has 4 breweries.  That is why you are only getting one post for our time in Poulsbo.

Our friends the Davies are the best kind of hosts, warm and generous, ready with a cold beer or a hot cup of tea at any hour, and willing to have 5 adults, 7 kids and 1 dog in their home for several days.  Debra’s sister, Andrea, and her 2 daughters were visiting from England while we were in town.  Deborah is a wonderful cook and it amazed us how she and her sister were able to whip up delicious meals for us.  Once again, traveling with our own little condo, the Sunstar, was just the ticket. The Davies have a nice long flat driveway and we were able to camp out there and put a bit less strain on our hosts.  

The (mostly) happy hosts

We arrived at their house after the Mt. St. Helens adventure late Tuesday night and were greeted by Simon and Deborah.  We had a nice chat and a drink before bed.  We all got up the next day and decided it would be just fine to hang out and relax.  The weather was gorgeous; warm but with a refreshing breeze.  Kellen and their son Jonathan had fun biking around the neighborhood and picking berries while the rest of us just relaxed and chatted.  Simon worked at home so he was able to join us for lunch.  The day went by in a flash.

Soon the boys were off to get beer and hit a few breweries.  After sampling "a few" options they settled on a Sommerweissen from the Sound Brewery to go with the fish. They also brought back pineapple juice and limes so that the girls could have rum cocktails.  We had some tilapia on the grill on their outside deck.  It’s nice to be able to sit outside in the evening without worrying about mosquitoes eating you alive!

The ladies with their rum cocktails

The next day before we left, Jonathan, who is an inspiring cyclocross rider, took Greg and Kellen on a small bike adventure.  One of Simon's friends has drawn up a cyclocross course at the local middle school, and Jonathan wanted to show it to Greg and Kellen.  The boys came back tired and hungry after all the hills and dirt.  Kellen's appetite could only be satisfied with one thing - pizza. 

Kellen and Jonathan race around the track. 

The advantage of having gears.  And incredible fitness.

Jonathan in cycling kit.

While they were off, Deborah offered to take Bella and Kristin over to meet her horse Daisy.  Daisy is a beautiful painted horse, brown with a white spot on her belly.  After Deborah took her to run in the ring to get her wiggles out (a lot like Bella has to do), Bella helped her groom Daisy.   Then Deborah saddled her up and Bella got to go for a ride around the rink.  The smile on her face said it all.  We had been contemplating trying therapeutic riding for Bella this clinched it.  We have a friend in Maryland with a horse that has offered to let her ride, if she still likes it, we will definitely try out therapeutic riding.

Bella riding Daisy.

Back together everyone was happy that Kellen's appetite required the one food all off the crowd enjoyed - pizza. After lunch we headed over to spend a night by Olympic National Park (separate post to come on that trip).  Deborah and Andrea offered to take our dirty clothes and wash them for us  while we were gone (We told you they were amazing hosts!). We returned late afternoon Friday in time for cocktails and brats on the grill.  Since it was the weekend a stronger beer was in order - Tripel Entendre (9.9%), again from the Sound Brewery.

Saturday Greg, Simon and Jonathan went on another cycling adventure at the "cyclocross course" while Kristin packed up the RV.  After cleaning up and late morning coffee it was time to say good-bye.  We will truly miss them and hope that we can get them out to the east coast sometime soon.  Five years is too long between visits.  Plus Deborah and I are overdue for a girls weekend.  We had talked about one not long after we both left Chicago but then she had another baby and well, it just fell off the radar.  We talked of meeting with Andrea in New York sometime.  Deborah, I’m not going to forget this time!!

A morning at the "track".