Finally our morning to go to Portage Bay Cafe. This breakfast spot came highly recommended by Claire, and by Kate when she was here! My virtual school schedule kept getting in the way as was Grace's sleep schedule! :)

We made our way up 12th Ave to happen upon Portage Bay. So cute and lots of hustle and bustle inside. Then we spotted the patio. It was a chilly morning, overcase abn 56, but we also spotted the space heaters and neatly folded wool blankets on each chair - we were in! We were the only ones on the patio (I'm sure the locals thought we were insane!) so we got the best seat in the house - a table for two nestled between two outdoor heaters! Perfect! I had on shorts, so I had to borrow an extra blankst so that I had one on my lap and between me and the metal chair as well as one on my shoulders! It was actually quite perfect as was the food. Grace had the signature French Toast when meant a trip to the breakfast bar for fresh berries, nuts and whipped cream; I had the goat cheese omelet which was loaded with an illegal amount of goat cheese, my favorite! What a great way to start our Wednesday!

After a stop at Whole Foods on the way back, we relaxed at Claire's while I finished up some homework for the virtual class I'm taking and participated in class. Then our outings began.

We were so lucky to be in Seattle on a day on which a tour of the Boys in the Boat shellhouse was held. There are only a few on the calendar each year. We met at the new, currently used University of Washington shellhouse, Conibear. There we had a brief history of UW rowing (both men and women won NCAAs this past year!) by a 2016 graduate whose passion for rowing and the Boys in the Boat book led her to start these tours last fall. In Conibear, we saw the original Husky Clipper and learned where each of the 1936 Olympians sat! There is always a current boat also named the Husky Clipper that is used by the Varsity 8 team. In that boat, the names of the men in that seat are printed (see pictures). We then walked along the water to the old boathouse used in the 30s by the Boys. If you have read the book, you will remember that it was an old WW1 Airplane hanger converted to the shellhouse after the war. Inside we saw the location of the apartment build for the shell builder, George Pocock and the steps and door to his workshop. Such a great piece of history and a wonderful book - read it if you haven't!! Our tour guide is currently working with UW on a capital campaign to raise funds to renovate the original shellhouse back to it's 1936 version. I loved every moment of this experience!!

Grace and I bussed to University Village to catch our afternoon pick-me-up at Starbucks today. We did a little light shopping before catching the bus back to Claire's.

Dinner was in tongiht - zoodles with Claire's signature peanut sauce topped with rotisserie chicken and steamed broccoli. Yum! We were all beat!

Goodnight Seattle!