When I moved to the PNW and started my first grownup job, I was assigned a mentor. Adraine was awesome. She knew how everything worked in the shipyard, was well-respected and had fantastic fashion sense. To top all of that, she was a mechanical engineer when women engineers were rare, pioneering the way for those of us to come. She's been through the sexism, the cold shoulders, the changing workforce, and thrived. I know I'm making her sound old; she's not. When she offered her Westport condo for a weekend, I couldn't say no. I rounded up some of my favorite ladies and chose a date.
Five of us, including Adraine, drove out Friday night to the beautiful Washington coast.
Westport on the Sea is a condominium complex on the sea (obviously) next to a state park and the tallest lighthouse in Washington. It's home to lots of charter fishing, sandy beaches, and crashing waves. There are a whole bunch of these condos for anyone to rent as well as many that are privately owned.
I woke up early Saturday and went for a run on the beach and park trails right outside the condo, stopping here and there to pick up perfect little sand dollars and dip my toes in the frigid water. It was a dream! A foggy marine layer hung over the water and the waves thundered against the beach. Cathy and Melissa put together a delicious breakfast while I was gone. Three of us headed out for a beach walk while Kate and Adraine hit the gym. I think I walked about 8 miles that day. My neck and shoulders burned through the marine layer.
For lunch we visited the beautiful Westport Winery. They have delicious food with gluten free options (YAY!) and a ton of wines. Adraine and Cathy are members which means free wine tastings!! Splitting my samples with Kate meant I could try about 12 different wines. I like the reds, while she likes the dessert wines. Each wine had a sassy description and a song pairing. The Smoky Nor'wester was my favorite. It's description was "Maserati intensity, like a good spanking." The song:
Life's Been good to Me by Joe Walsh. It was perfect for my mood and the weekend.
The grounds at the winery are gorgeous. There are different themed gardens, a large chess set, and a mini-golf course. I want to go back and play wine-drunk mini-golf. We wandered around the tiny town, checking out souvenir shops and buying candy.
Cathy, Adraine and I decided that we just had to pay a visit to the hot tub. The pool was crowded with kids and vacationers, the BBQs well used and wafting grilled meats. Everything about it screamed SUMMER! After our soak it seemed totally right to practice our handstands on the lawn before heading back. We made a gorgeous salad for dinner and played games until the wee hours.
Sadly, we had to leave fairly early Sunday morning to go spend some time with our spouses, but I had the most fantastic time with good friends, having great conversation, and doing whatever came to mind at the moment. Many thanks to all the amazing women who joined me and especially to Adraine for her company and a great place to stay.
