Layser Cave

We just happened to see this small sign pointing to Layser Cave Interpretive Center and as soon as we got onto the very narrow, very steep, potholed road, I was ready to vote we turn around. You know I am afraid of heights and my side was straight down the side of this mountain. As it turned out, there was NO place to turn around until we got to the parking area. (Thats a laugh, the "parking" was a wideish spot in the road and a tiny little sign that we nearly missed pointing down the hill.)
Not much of a cave but it was used by prehistoric indians as home a few thousand years ago

Trails thru the Old Growth

Sharon and I had a great day today, hiking around the Gifford Pinchont Forest. Our first stop was Wood Creek trail, a 2.5 miler that touches 5 different ecosystems, plus boast neat beaver ponds. But, unfortunately winter has taken a toll and both bridges are out, so that ended that little adventure. I don't think it's going to be repaired anytime soon as it was an Eagle Scout project and the National Forest Service has so many blowdowns and winter damage, this trail is going to be way down on the list.
So off we went to find another hike.

Another little church in Port Townsend, this is St Paul's Episcopal and the oldest in the area. It was built in 1865. I think the red door is an added feature.

I love old churches and this one is particularly great, minus the wires of course. This is Port Townsend again, the First Presbyterian Chuch built in 1890. It is noted for its tracker-action organ with 692 pipes. Unfortunately it was closed when we were there so we didn't get to see this great old music maker

Sunday, and can you believe it, the sun came out

Sunday we got an early start and Sharon got some great pictures of the Olympic Mountains and Crescent Lake. We stopped at La Push but it was a little early for whales.

The most beautiful beach on the Pacific is Ruby Beach and we spent lots of time hiking over the logs and taking pictures.

Fort Worden

Ft Worden is another beautiful State Park here in Washington. The US feared an attack by the new steam-powered, iron hulled battleships and built forts at just about every major harbor entrance in the nation and Ft Worden was one of 3 protecting Puget Sound and particularly Bremerton Naval Shipyard.
It was named after the commander of the Monitor of Merrimac and Monitor fame, Adm John L Worden and was established in 1902

That's Sharon in the foreground. She is off to Iraq in June so we will be seeing a lot of Washington between now and then, if the rain lets up.

I can't seem to get enough of the Olympics

Roy was off to Eastern Washington with his friends so my friend Sharon and I decided to "do" the Olympics as she has never seen the Pacific Ocean nor has she been to the Olympics yet. (She is new to WA and I love showing her around)
Our first stop was Port Townsend and while the weather forecast was rain, we managed to walk around town and visit some great old buildings like this one which I think and old bell tower used to call the volunteer firemen

After a great cup of coffee, we headed for Ft Worden and again we were not disappointed.

Amazing

Its been months since I have posted anything and so glad to see that I am still around....
We will be departing on a 6 week trip down Central Oregon camping at Deshutes State Rec Area, LaPine State Park and Goose Lake State Park. We'll swing over to Eastern Calif and head down Hwy 395 until we get into Nevada and stay at Fallon Naval Air Station for a couple days, Then we plan to check out Nevada with a short stop at Death Valley.
Nevada is one of thoes states that doesn't seem to be on anyone's "must do" list, so I think we will enjoy the solitude and hopefully we will take lots of pictures.....

Portland x2

DH and I took another great trip down to Portland Oregon and while this was our second trip down there this year, it won't be our last. Last time we went, we went to the Japanese Garden and the Rose Garden. This time we explored the downtown area and had a great time, even in the rain. Our first stop was the Chinese Garden and we joined a tour already in progess. I really, really recommend going with a tour as the docent pointed out things that I would never have seen and even if I had seen them, I wouldn't have understood what they meant. For instance, (and I hope I can convey the beauty of this) the roof tiles came down to little V points and they were spaced about 4 inches a part so it looked as if you were looking thru a curtain of tiny jewels as the rain dripped off of them.
After the tour, we went into the tea house and each chose a tea. Since my new favorite is white tea, I tried one called jing (something). It was delicious.
Next stop was the Portland Outdoor Market. Reminded me of the 60ies a bit as there were stores that sold "hemp" items, and lots of crafts and food. Musicians were on every corner and there was just a party like atmosphere.
Can't go to Chinatown without having a Chinese meal, so back we went to House of Louie and enjoyed some pretty good food. They have a dim sum menu and it looked great and smelled better.
We were between storms and really lucked out when it came to the weather as we only had a few sprinkles. We stayed overnight and Sunday morning we had a huge breakfast with George and then went to the Asian Market to shop. The prices are reasonable but we found out they have a bigger store in the Seattle area so we don't need to travel down that far just to shop.
All and all it was a great weekend and as always we enjoyed Portand.

Last Day - KOA

Friday we were back in civilization again and stopped at the Ellensburg KOA. It was a nice park and Roy made friends with the owners, but I was a little unhappy with the place. We were there early enough, like noon, but they said they had no sites with either cable or sewer. The site they gave us was so far from WiFi that we barely could use it either. Yet when we woke up the next morning, the place was still about half full and lots of room. I think the reason was because I gave the lady a check. She made a comment that she didn't like bounced checks. If she had asked, I would have given her the debit card or even cash, but she just made snide remarks instead and gave us the worst site in the park.Don't think we'll be back soon, although the Owner did offer Roy a job next summer.

Thursday, what a nightmare

Another beautiful day in Washington and we left Kennewick before noon and drove to Walla Walla, WA and then on to Lewis and Clark State Park. The park was closed, probably because there was a fire in the area so we continued on to Palouse Falls State Park.
The road from Hwy 12 to the park is not a keeper. First it was very narrow and about 10 miles in we came to a bridge that was NOT my cup of tea. It was over the Snake River, about 1000 foot over and it was as narrow as the road with tiny 3 foot guard rails. I would have closed my eyes if I haven't been driving and about a 3rd of the way over this monster, what do I meet but a huge truck. He stops and I had inches on my side and maybe a foot on the other side. I was actually sick to my stomach by the time I go off that bridge and No, I am not ever going that way again.
Palouse Falls State Park was mostly tent sites, but we parked in the lot and for the first time we "dry camped". I was still a little ill thinking about that bridge, so I stayed in the RV while Roy went and took pictures. You see, there is a height issue here also. We were alone in the park, and felt like we were alone in the world. There was nothing in the area and no other campers. At just about dark two other Campers came in but they decided they didn't like it and took off. (I hope they aren't afraid of heights and heading south) When we woke in the morning there was another van camped next to us, but at dawn they left and we followed shortly. We got off that narrow road as soon as possible and on to one that was straight and wider. 

Wednesday in Kennewick

Last of Hwy 14 and I am just as glad to be off of it. While I loved the camping, I am afraid of heights and this road seemed to be teetoring on the top of the world. This is a picture that Roy took from a pull-out, which I absolutely refused to look at. Thats a town way down there.
Our next stop was Kennewick and the Tri-Cities RV Park. We needed a day in town to restock and do some shopping and we even found a decent Mexican Restaurant near the park and treated ourselves to dinner. Roy ordered Tortilla Soup and the bowl was hugh. I had carne asada and it was very good.
The park is very nice with all the amenities, cable TV, WiFi, hot showers, and super friendly staff. We already have reservations to return in June and this time, we are going to spend a whole week there. Within walking distance is a Mall, Home Depot and of course, the Mexican Restaurant. 

Crow Butte Campground

My new favorite campground is Crow Butte. Crow Butte was a state park but has been transfered to private hands and its a great, uncrowded place to camp. The spaces are wide and trees are plentiful and the wildlife is abundant due to its proximaty to the Umatilla Wildlife Refuge. There are over 50 spaces and there were only 4 campers so we had lots of room.

Once we parked we decided to spend two nights and we'er glad that we did. On Tuesday the wind picked up and nearly gale force for most of the day. Driving in it would have been scary.

There are a couple of trails, and we took one labelled Sand Beach. About 2/3s of the way down to the beach we saw a huge deer which I called an Elk, but Roy said was a mule deer. What ever it was, Roy took off over the ridge to see if he could get a picture and I continued down to the dunes and eventually back to the camp. Roy didn't see the deer again, but he did see the other side of the mountain.

That evening we went out to see if we could see any deer and Roy got a couple good pictures of some White Tail, like the one above. They like to come into the park at dusk.

Like Columbia Hills, we did hear trains and road traffic, but geese were also plentiful and their honks were much easier on the ears.

I give Crow Butte a 10 plus and will go back. It is just off Hwy 14 west of Paterson and east of The Dalles bridge. Its a keeper.

Columbia Hills/Horsethief Lake State Park

Thats our campground in the background and a fake owl in the tree. I would rate this park about a 6 as the utility sites (only 8 of them) were pretty much one on top of the other. Would I come back, sure. Its a nice park and open til the end of October.

23 Oct 06

Spent a chilly night, mostly because of Roys frugal attitude toward the propane!!! Woke to a beautiful morning with plans to hike to the petroglyphs.

Later: Well while the petroglyphs were awesome we were unable to hike to "She Who Watches", the most famous one, as they closed the hike due to vandalism. Isn't that a shame. We did get to see some that they had saved from the when they built the dam and would have been underwater. They lined the trail with them and the "First People" as they are called, now use the area as a religious meeting area. 

22 October Columbia Hills State Park/Horsethief Lake

Slow to get started and a long drive to the Columbia Gorge and our plans to camp at Beacon Rock fell thru because the campground is closed for the winter, so we continued the drive to Columbia Hills State Park.
On a scale of 1-10, I think we would give this park a 5 or 6. The utility sites, all 8 of them and in a tight little bunch at the entrance to the park, the rest is day use only, but the hikes are interesting and we took lots of pictures.
Once parked and settled in, we walked down to the waters edge and laughted at the "no swimming" sign. Didn't have to tell us more than once, the water looked cold and murky. 

Nisqually NWR

The Delta has many ecosystems and this is one of my favorite places to sit and catch my breath. I am sitting in a bird blind peeking at a duck who, of course you can't see. This date was one of the best for siting birds, besides the duck, I saw herons and some little shore bird pecking in the mud. 

Its been awhile

This tree is actually called "Old Grandpa" by the locals. You go for a hike and no telling what you find to take a picture of. This is September at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge near Olympia, WA 

Destination Brewster, WA

My hubby is a Mason and he was invited to a function in Brewster, Wa and the first thing I did was to run to a map and try to find "Brewster".
Brewster is mid-northern section of the state, above Wenatchee, along the Columbia River. In fact, it started as a ferry landing and was named Virginia City, although the name and purpose were both short-lived. (They actually had to move the whole town, lock-stock and hotel to a better deep-water dock a few years after the first one was developed)
Not a big town by any standards, it didn't take me long to drive through it, and the only great thing I found was a delicious Mexican Bakery that had more selection of pan dulce than I have ever seen. The smells coming out of the building made my mouth squirt and I was sorry my diet doesn't allow breads.
After Brewster the road continued north, now following the Okanagan River and I saw a sigh for the Fort Okanagan Interpretive Center and lucked out to find they were having a talk about the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It was presented by a Army Corp of Engineer lady who really new her stuff. I had to laugh, there was another gentleman sitting next to me and when I arrived he asked if I were a Clarky. He was certainly one and Ill bet he knew more about the Expetion than she did. (I have a book on Lewis and Clark at home and I'm going to read it again as the talk was very interesting)
(The photo above is from the site of the Interpretive Center. It is in the high-desert and as you see very deserty in the foreground and very green along the river. On the right side, the green are apple trees and if I were a betting person, I would thing there are at least a billion apple trees in this area. One man told me that lots of farmers are now switching to grapes as wine is better cash crop)
I did stop at one of the many fruit stands. The prices were excellent and I bought some beautiful blueberries that were the size of nickles and sweet as sugar.
The next town up the road was Malott, a scenic little town that was flooded by the Okanogan in 1938 when a dam broke, so most of the buildings are from that time or later.
Last stop was to the city of Okanogan. I wish I had taken some pictures because the Methodist Church faced with river cobbles and the courthouse, built in semi-Spanish style architecture were awesome. Guess we just need to go back some day.
It was a long ride home because we just didn't want to deal with the traffic or retrace our steps. so we headed to Ellensburg and Yakima and then took White Pass over the mountains. The last time I was on this section was with Dea and family when the boys were young. I didn't remember how beautiful the drive was. 

Portland

We don't seem to have time to lake long trips, but we had time to head south and visit Portland, Oregon and friends in the area. What a hoot.
While I really enjoy rural America, city living does have its merits - like access to some amazing restaurants, art and parks and during our short stay in Portland, we managed to get in a bit of all of it, plus shopping.
We met our friends in a suburb of Portland called Beaverton and parked the car, opting instead to use the amazing Portland transit system where we bought a $4.oo all day ticket and with that took trains, trolleys and buses.
Our first stop was to Goose Hollow where we found the most amazing restaurant for lunch. I had a ruben, drenched in melted cheese, corned beef, sauerkraut and since I am doing Atkins, I didn't even miss the bread.
We walked through downtown, window shopping, art galleries, brousing and sightseeing. Found these little bears playing in a troth, which was one of many artforms in the city.
Our next stop was to Washington Park. The docent told us it was the biggest park in the US, but unfortunately there was a news article in the Portland paper a week later that ranked Portlands green space and only #14 th in the nation. It is large and you could spend days there, checking out the zoo, the museum, the hiking trails, etc. but we opted for the two very famous gardens, the Japanese garden and the Rose Garden. The Japanese garden made us homesick for Japan as it was 'right on' correct. The Rose Garden was a mixture of beautiful sights and smells.

There is much to see and do in Portland and we just scratched the surface. We will be back.