Thursday, November 5, 2026
We enjoyed a slower morning before setting out to see the last Seattle-area troll. As we found parking near the National Nordic Museum, Mike suggested someone check the website because some Thursdays are free. Kristine read “the first Thursday of the month is free.” We looked at each other and very hesitantly, but proudly, announced that “That is today!” Both Kristine and I are struggling to know what month, day, or year it is. Travel to different climates seems to mess us both up.
Frankie Feetsplinter stands outside the main entrance to the museum. The bench under his foot doesn’t seem to have been as sturdy as he might have liked.
The museum was small but interesting. We didn’t take the time to read all the signs but enjoyed recognizing places we have visited and seeing things immigrants brought with them to America.
The gift shop was full of lovely, expensive things. These sheep figurines were $485. We didn’t get any.
We found some wave art. Hard to take a good picture; cooler in real life.
We walked down the block to the locks and fish staircase. No fish were there today – it is just after the season. We were walking out when a sealion popped up with a big salmon. I guess there was a fish afterall. He is gone now.
The big lock is closed for annual maintenance. It was pretty cool to look into empty.
A mid-sized boat came through the smaller lock, and we enjoyed watching it rise with the water. Locks are great.
We stopped to see the Fairmont Troll who has been under a bridge for more than 35 years. He’s got a VW Bug in his hand, if Keith isn’t enough to give you a sense of scale.
Just before we went into a long tunnel, I turned my head and saw the space needle. It surprised me so much I had to giggle.
Kris and Mike’s daughter, Cathleen, her husband, Fraser, and their incredibly cute daughter, Tove, came for dinner and visiting. Tove is just a jewel – littler and cuter in real life than in pictures. Mike made a wonderful dinner and Kristine made a fabulous pear almond cake. Some people had a taste of port wine. I announced that I like port and joined in the joining in. We all estimated it took a teaspoon of port to make me feel happy, another teaspoon (maybe) to make my arms heavy. It was lovely. I was careful to keep quiet, lest I start laughing and dropping my head on the table. I did so well.
I can’t see Keith or the Fairmont troll under the bridge? But I have seen it before
I just added the missing picture.
It’s actually Fremont, but we probably didn’t say it clearly. Maybe she will add the Fremont troll because we definitely stopped. I said we probably wouldn’t stop because there is never parking but there was a 3 minute loading zone. So both Barbara and Keith jumped out to get a photo. I think Barbara’s 2 teaspoons of port wine made her forget. 🤔
Pretty sure it was the port…