Longest night of the year

I love wintertime in the Pacific Northwest. 

It's peaceful, doesn't get that cold, and doesn't snow much, at least where I live.

My partner and I decided to celebrate the Winter Solstice by getting up before dawn to see where the morning would take us. We've caught sunrise on the solstice for the past few years, and unfortunately for us this was the first time it was too cloudy to catch the first rays sunshine. 

It didn't diminish from the beauty and peace of our morning, however. We started by heading to our favorite park in Tacoma, to spend some time in the blue haze down by the waters of Puget Sound.

...And to watch the ferry cross silently to Vashon Island.

Then we hit the road as the day took hold, headed north to Seattle. Along the way, the sun broke through the clouds a few times, sparkling gold, with a faint rainbow guiding us.

The city lights through a blurry rain smeared windshield are no less beautiful.

The hardest decision we made all morning was which amazing breakfast sandwich shop to choose. We went with Biscuit & Bean because of their incredible biscuit & egg sandwiches.

Then we meandered our way through the hilly Queen Anne neighborhood to find the mini Rosebud Motel (of Schitt's Creek fame).

Later in the evening, we lit a ton of candles, spent time enjoying the darkness, did a Zoom chat with friends, and generally had a very relaxing time. My only disappointment is that the skies weren't clear enough to see the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. Next time, perhaps? I wonder what eyes will be looking to those future skies.