Same here but I make it anyhow
I am NW also, but I go anyhow! just allow yourself about an hour, in case you hit traffic or rain.
You ought to just come to the first half, it is OK to check out early and if you really really want to move something ahead in the auction you can do that for just a few bucks.
Folks with stuff to offer get 4 different color dots and each dot goes to a different group, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th. So, I can decide if I want my fish to be sold early or late. If you want to bid on my fish, and it is in the 3rd or 4th group, you can request that it be moved ahead ($2 I think) then it will jump forward in the bidding to the next few items to come to the front.
The silent auction tables end every so often, 4 or 6 tables, depending on how much stuff shows up.
If you win some things, they get your number and you pick them up as you pay and leave, whenever that is.
I've got some grown cichlids and some loaches that need to move on so I can give that tank to the baby discus. I'll bring some plants and some spare tanks and maybe some filters (I'm such a packrat)