Nomad Life - Day 121

Fortunately, I was feeling a bit better when I woke up at 0430 (alarm required) this morning.  I immediately started teleworking but took breaks for reading, puzzles and Duolingo.  Along the way, I also ate breakfast (snacks) and exchanged lots of texts and social media check-ins (friends and family).  Working off and on until 1230, I pieced together four hours of billable time and then took leave for the rest of the day.  Before leaving my room at the NAS Whidbey Island Navy Inn, I made and ate lunch.  After that (1245), I departed the Base by using the "Auto-Gate" at Banta Road.  This worked out OK but then I got stuck at a rotary almost immediately.  I finally got on WA-20 and headed south - a short time later, I turned east and (using back roads) made by way towards the Whidbey shoreline of the Saratoga Passage.  With roads going East-West and North South in most places, I easily found the coastline and soon (1300) located Ala Spit County Park.  The weather was overcast and cool (high 30s) but windless.  The conditions seemed good for walking on the spit and I spent almost 45 minutes near the shore of Skagit Bay and found some great new species of birds along the way.  The tide seemed unusually low but there were plenty of marshy/puddle areas away from the sandy areas.  Lots of huge tree limbs and trunks covered the Spit and it wasn't easy to walk in a straight line...  After getting done (1345), I made my way south (along the eastern coastline of Whidbey Island) in hopes of accessing Dugualla State Park, a place I'd seen on my paper map.  Unfortunately, I was never able to find a way to enter the "green zone", even though I approached the boundary from the north and the south.  One surprising thing I DID find, though, was the pretty (and high end) Dugualla Bay neighborhood.  By the end of my exploration of the northern end of Whidbey, I found myself near the huge Base Housing complex east of Oak Harbor.  Feeling hungry and worrying about curtailed restaurant hours (due to Christmas Eve), I stopped at Esteban's Mexican Restaurant and ordered "dinner" (enchiladas suizas).  I sat down at 1440 but their sign said they closed at 1500 - as a result, I hurried to order and eat.  In the end, I finished up my meal inside the available window and then went next door to check out the Wicked Teuton Brewery.  Starting at 1515, I enjoyed some beer tasting (assisted by a friendly bartender lady).  The establishment had an interesting vibe that I l really liked.  They also had a mug club with the same name as my friend, Ed B, and I sent him photos (he liked them).  After sampling four beers, I ordered a pint. Feeling tired after I'd finished that drink, I closed out my tab (1550) and drove down to the Oak Harbor Waterfront.  Hoping to continue my daily pursuit of 10K steps, I parked at the Water Treatment Plant and went walking on the "boardwalk" between Windjammer Park and Flintstone Park (1600).  Along the way, I found a memorial to several EA-6B crews who'd paid the Ultimate Price (including my friends from the 1998 crash) and got to watch another amazing sunset.  I was finished with my step goal by 1645.  After that, I drove back to the base.  After successfully getting onboard the post, I figured out that the 24/7 entrance (just off Ault Road & Goldie Road) is called the "Charles Porter Gate".  I arrived at the Navy Inn by 1715 and grabbed more hot chocolate and cookies in the lobby (a very nice perk during my visit!).  From my room, I did laundry, watched movies and communicated a lot with my daughters.  By the end of the evening, I'd finished up the last of my day/night cold and flu medicine.  I sure hope I don't need anymore! My bed time was at 2300.  Happy Christmas Eve!