We're looking for the trash fence...

Since its been a few years since we lived in Seattle I surveyed my friends about their favorite places and things in the city. Our first question:

What is your favorite special occasion restaurant?

Revel was most frequently suggestedalong with Crush, Canlis and Poppy and the rest are in Alphabetical order.

• Revel (3) | http://www.revelseattle.com
• Crush (2) | http://www.chefjasonwilson.com
• Canlis (2) | http://canlis.com | "if you only order the duck"
• Poppy (2)| http://poppyseattle.com
• Artusi | http://www.artusiseattle.com
• Cafe Campagne | http://cafecampagne.com
• Canon | http://www.canonseattle.com | "drinks/dessert"
• Chandlers Crabhouse | http://www.schwartzbros.com/chandlers-crabhouse | "The Book Bindery is closed now, so I'll go classic"
• El Gaucho | http://elgaucho.com/El-Gaucho-Seattle.html
• Harvest Vine | http://www.harvestvine.com
• Lark | https://larkseattle.com
• Maneki | http://www.manekirestaurant.com
• Marjorie | http://www.marjorierestaurant.com
• Mashiko | http://sushiwhore.com
• Nishino | http://nishinorestaurant.com
• Red Cow | http://www.ethanstowellrestaurants.com/locations/red-cow | "Went for my birthday and it's hands-down the best steak in town."
• Restaurant Marron | http://www.restaurantmarron.com | "super, super tasty...but spendier."
• Rock Creek | http://www.rockcreekseattle.com
• Roux | http://restaurantroux.com
• Spinasse | http://www.spinasse.com
• Terra Plata | http://terraplata.com
• Westward | http://westwardseattle.com

We're trying to do a better job taking in the sites around Oahu. Last weekend we went to the Pacific Aviation Museum and this weekend we went to Shangr-La, Doris Duke's home and now Islamic Art Museum.

We have done a lot of site seeing and tours in our journeys and we are now 100% convinced if there is a guided tour, pay the extra and do that. We've have never once had a bad experience. The Pacific Aviation Museum has such a docent lead tour and it was great. I think it was \$10 extra, but worth ever penny. We also got a Kama'aina discount by showing our Rainbow ID Card (HI Driver's license). We didn't quite work the deal right though as we could have got one ticket for Kama'aina AND buy one get one free. Gotta figure that one out when we go back for the other exhibits at Pearl Harbor.

Shangri La was once Doris Duke's private residence, but it was also designed to be what it is now a Museum to Islamic Art. The building and the grounds are absolutely beautiful. You're  not allowed to take photos inside, but this panorama of the view to the ocean gives you a taste. This is a must see if you make it to Honolulu.

Everyone need specialized Coconut equipment! http://www.coolthings.com/coco-jack/

Dawn and I were at home in Honolulu watching the America's Cup on YouTube on the day they tied the race up forcing a final deciding race. We booked a last minute flight to San Francisco to watch the race and were not disappointed! Team USA Oracle won the race, retaining the cup in one of the most exciting come from behind wins in sporting history.

The event was excellently staged and watching from the shoreline with the TV monitors and live audio coverage was perfect! These boats are going so fast it is amazing. In our America's Cup Flickr set there are couple of videos that give you sense of how fast they really are. After the race we walked down to Pier 39 to see the trophy ceremony. You can see how close we able to get to the cup!

To top it all off, we just happen to also have friends from Seattle in town in SF at the same time! So, we had a mini reunion with great friends which wasn't even planned! Yay Universe!

Great weekend. Great Race. Great Friends.

• Super Bowl - Check
• America's Cup - Check
• Pipeline Masters is looking like the next epic sporting event to check out!!

I uploaded some new videos from last summer's RV road trip and one of Dawn on her SUP in La Cruz.

Update 2022: We don't post on YouTube any more

We've been in Hawai'i for about three weeks now and we're settling in quite nicely. Originally we landed in Waikiki to a place we had setup to be in for a month as a launching pad to check out neighborhoods and find an apartment. After about 10 days though we found a great place in the Kaka'Ako neighborhood. We're directly across from Ala Moana Park which is both a great park, beach and surfing area! Our place looks West and South offering us great views of the Pacific Ocean during the day (the makai side) and of the city and mountains at night (the mauka side).  There's a ton of shops, restaurants, and geek spaces in the neighborhood most of which we've yet to explore. But we did manage to find Real A Gastropub, @realgastropub1. This place has awesome beer on tap, hundreds of bottles I've not even started to look at a tapas style menu with amazing items like duck confit corndogs and candied bacon! Yep, things are working out here just fine.

This image is from ShipTrak.org. It shows all the times I logged our position via AirMail while we were out cruising.

I'm going to write a few post about some of the projects and systems we loved the most on the boat and less about things we didn't use as much as we thought or wish we had done differently. To kick this off, let's brag about our watermaker.

Our Spectra Capehorn Extreme Watermaker was expensive and it was worth every penny. We love water. We drink it. We cook with it. We wash dishes with it We shower in it. We never wanted for water and especially when we we're surfing or cleaning the bottom we'd take two showers a day. There's just nothing better than fresh clean water. I pitied those folks carrying water jugs looking for a free spigot, or looking for a cart to carry full water jugs from the store. If you want to do one thing which will make your boat more like your home, then I say a watermaker is it.

Spectra Capehorn Extreme Watermaker <- Can't say enough good things about it!

Natasha and Own are the new owners of Pearson 424 Hull number 152, now christened as sv Wine-O Rhino.

Fair winds and Following Seas to both of you and your new boat!