Weekend update, with short informal restaurant review

[derekl_1963]

Saturday was another geocaching run, this time in South Kitsap. The day started out well and ended up being a bit of a roller coaster...

I'd picked out a set of caches Fri night, but right before we set out I checked my email and saw that a new cache had just been published right at the head of our route. I added it to our list, and when we got there was pleasantly surprised to find we were FTF - the first to find. We then quickly found the next two on our list. The second of those was particularly fun, the GPS lead us to a spot with no obvious hide locations, and then I noticed one about thirty-forty feet back. (GPS is only accurate to sixty odd feet remember.) I decided to trust the Force, went and checked that location, and came right up with the cache. (Yay me!)

Then... the roller coaster. We couldn't find the next one even after an extensive search. (Though the signs indicated it may have vanished, and over the course of the day, two others also logged that they didn't find it and thought the same.) We couldn't find the next one either, and were further chagrined when within an hour of us giving up it was logged as someone's first find! After giving up, we headed into Gig Harbor for lunch intending to eat somewhere on the waterfront but were frustrated by the car and foot traffic for an Arts Festival and ended up having to settle for Burger King.

Then the roller coaster reversed... We checked and found there was a cache in a little garden area near the BK which turned out not only to be full of Robins singing away but also a fairly quick find even though it was cleverly hidden. The next one took us to a lovely little park at the head of the inlet.

Done with our list we decided to 'follow our noses' (and the maps in the car navigator) and headed out onto the point overlooking the Sound. We found a spot with a spectacular overlook and I got some wonderful shots of the water and of Mt Rainer. We checked and found there was a park and a cache nearby so we headed over and walked the beach to find the cache and also spectacular views of Commencement Bay. (Luckily it was low tide, as it turned out the cache would have been inaccessible otherwise.)

It getting on towards dinner time, we headed back into Gig Harbor and found that while the traffic had abated the parking lot at the spot we'd kinda hoped to have dinner and a beer to be full to overflowing, so we headed up into Silverdale and decided to try the new Hale's.

Hale's has only been open two weeks or so, so while the beer and food were pretty dang good, they've still got a lot of rough spots. The service was uneven and the waitress not too knowledgeable about their beers. We both ordered our hamburgers medium and they were delivered medium well to well, but they were still pretty darned good. Their beers were also good, so Silver City is going to be into a real run for it's money. Next time we visit, we'll avoid sitting on the patio though. There was a nice breeze, but also quite a bit of glare from cars in the parking lot and reflected glare from the windows.

We will be going back, as they have several beers we want to try and their food looks interesting. With Silver City's over fascination with garlic (and we both like garlic) we may have found a new favorite pub.

Tummies full and feet tired, we headed home and flaked out on the couch.

Sunday was far quieter, spent mostly doing errands and housework. Really not much to say about Sunday.

Comments

[shellywoo.livejournal.com]

I really do love geocaching. I haven't done it since my camping trip last summer in central Oregon. I will have to get back into it. I know there are lots of local ones to explore. I am glad you guys had such a great day at it. I have been to Hales Ales once and it was pretty nice. I didn't try the food, but they had a good selection of beer. I will definately have to go back and eat next time.

[derekl1963.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I saw your reply on FB and was going to chat at practice... You really should come with us some time, a great way to get fit. :)

[shellywoo.livejournal.com]

I won't be at practice tonight, but I would love to join you guys sometime. I have a box with supplies in the back of my car incase I ever feel the need to go geocaching. When I was in Central Oregon, we tried a crazy one in the lava fields. We looked forever and couldn't find it and were pissed. The terrain was very dangerous being all pumis stone. I will have to post some pictures sometime.

[hrmortcia.livejournal.com]

We went to hale's last night and thought it was thoroughly..ok and not much else. i second all your comments about the waitstaff and i figure i'll wait another month or so and try them again. While nothing we had was bad nothing we had (burger, fish and chips, pizza) was GREAT (although the burger and fish was better than the pizza).