Wednesday - A day off

Since it had been nearly a week of vacation, and since we were leaving early-early on Friday morning for Orcas Island, I decided Wednesday would be a great day to do my laundry.  Not a very exciting topic for vacation blogging, but one of those necessary parts of life that gets left out of all the novels.  You never hear about the hero or heroine pausing for a moment during the quest to wash out their knickers.

After getting the laundry done, Dad took us back down to the marina to go for a sail.

Foiled again!

When we arrived, right next to Dad's boat we found a cart that held a chugging air compressor, with a hose leading off into the murky marina waters.  It was the professional diver that Dad pays to scrub his boat clean of scum and critters every few months.  All the boats that are permanently slipped at a marina need this kind of attention now and then, or they'll end up dragging slower and slower in the water, carrying all those hitch-hikers.

It was actually very fascinating, even though it was disappointing to not go sailing.  It turned out to be our last opportunity, too.  Ah well. 

Anyways, as I was saying, it was fascinating to see this man (or rather, his life line, until he surfaced) working away in the rather disgusting and very cold water.  He swam along, scrubbing the bottoms of several boats in a row of slips.  When he surfaced, he was wearing a dry suit with just a small section of his face exposed.

Since there would be no sailing, we wandered around on the docks, looking at the variety of boats moored there.  Everything from modest fishing boats to enormous pleasure yachts were represented.  There was even a little half submerged dinghy that the kids nicknamed 'Jack's boat' in reference to Pirates of the Caribbean.

After we got back to "the Cave" (aka Mom and Dad's condo), we picked up Mom and headed for Central Market in Poulsbo.  Central Market is a gourmet lover's grocery store.  It is a good thing I don't live nearby or I would spend a fortune in there!  We picked up a few fun items and a few more necessary items, then ate THE BEST pizza I have ever had!  Like Costco, Central Market sells hot dog/soda or pizza/soda dinners super cheap.  But, unlike Costco, the variety is huge and the quality is amazing!

Here is a blurb about it from a local who wrote about it...

photo courtesy of http://www.kitsapfun.com/

OK, not everyone can have fun at the supermarket. But it’s hard not to at Central Market. I’m always amazed they don’t charge an entrance fee. But there’s definitely an additional fee charged (above and beyond what should be just the cost of your groceries) before you can leave.

Central Market in Poulsbo is a fun time, even if you have the willpower to walk out without purchasing anything. I have to admit, although that may be my intention sometimes, I’ve never made it through without the “exit fee shock” yet. There’s just too much fun stuff in there.

The fun starts before you even enter. Choose the smaller shopping carts unless you’re some hulking football player. They’re much easier to maneuver and they look so darn cute. No, they don’t hold enough for a family of 10, but they hold enough for me.

If you’re still on the outside, there is a nursery section where you can get bulbs and trees.

On the other side is a window where you can buy barbecued meats. At least it was there during summer. Haven’t checked recently.

There’s more fun to be had inside. For instance, you can have lunch there. Order a fresh made pizza. Go through their buffet line (Mexican food usually). Have a deli sandwich made to order. Order sushi. Or put together a salad. It’s almost like the food court at a mall.

Half their produce is organic. Vegetables I’ve never seen before are available. And everything is fresh… no flies buzzing around the berries.

There’s a whole seafood department that SOMETIMES has shark (wish they had it more often). And there’s a take-home dinner section where they’ve made the dinner, you just cook it.

Bulk products (candy, nuts, flour, coffee, etc.), where you can take as much or as little as you want. Great for single folks who don’t need a whole box of something.

Chinese herbs are available, and you can even get the capsule “thingies” that you can stuff with whatever combination you want then swallow.

There are more teas than I’ve seen in any store. Along with teapots, both utilitarian and elegant.

There’s an olive bar and a sushi bar. I’ve never found it (the place is sprawling), but there is a pharmacy. There are fresh flowers to be had, and a coffee shop.

My favorites are the ethnic aisles. So far I’ve found Japanese, Mexican, Kosher, Indian, Chinese and English (got to have my Bovril, Marmite and Heinz Baked Beans!).

It takes me hours to shop at Central Market, but I’m having fun the whole time.

http://www.kitsapfun.com/

Like I said, it is a good thing I don't live close enough to abuse the place!