AYGUST 13 Late Afternoon

After a stop at the Huckleberry Ice Cream Shop(no kidding,Huckleberry's are a hot item here!), we hopped in the truck for a ride on the Going to the Sun Highway.

This narrow (constantly under reconstruction) highway, bisects the park. It climbs to the Continental Divide at Logan Pass(6,646 feet). This road is one fantastic view after another!!
I'll let the pictures talk!!
Mountain peaks(1),mountain goats on the road(2),mountain goats off the road(3),big horn sheep(4),and deer(5).
What a great way to end a day!

AUGUST 12-13

Tuesday

Bruce and Judy have joined us for a jaunt through Glacier National Park and the Canadian Rockies.
The first thing that the guys have to do is make sure that the RV is ready to hit the road!(1) You can see right over Bruce's head, that Judy is busy getting her kitchen organized.

Wednesday

The first activity was a "4 Wheeling " trip. We took a 4 hour trip into the mountains outside of Glacier National Park. Don't we look like "Hell's Angels!!"(2) The views were spectacular. We saw a beautiful hidden lake(3),spring flowers(with butterflies)(4),and mountain ranges all around.(5)
We also ate about a pound of trail dust!!

AUGUST 5-9

Tuesday

Sadly, Catie had to fly back to New York today. We enjoyed every minute she was here!

We took another “vacation from vacation” day after delivering her to the Sea-Tac airport.
Time to do laundry, groceries and a little reorganization. We head off to the North Cascades on Wednesday!

Thursday, Friday, Saturday

The North Cascades are known for their alpine character, with high mountains and cool temperature. Well, the Stillwell’s arrive and a heat wave begins! Good thing we know real heat! We settled in to a great campsite, had dinner, and attended a very bizarre campfire program that was supposed to be about the history of the park but instead started with the creation of the earth and moved forward very quickly! (like something Mitchner would write!).

We followed the 129 mile North Cascades Scenic Highway. This road offered opportunities for hiking in the woods (5) viewing waterfalls (4), glaciers (3), and glacial lakes. Add to that beautiful cascading waters everywhere you looked (2) and the glorious mountain peaks (1) and you have more than enough to keep your eyes busy!

AUGUST 4

Today we toured the Boeing plant. It is a working assembly line and security is very high. We were put on a bus and delivered to the plant. (4) The big buzz was about the new 787 Dreamliner. We actually watched as they attached a wing to the fuselage of the first production plane going to Nippon Airlines.

They have their own airfield so that they can do test flights (3).

20 years ago we visited Seattle and had several hours to fill before our flight back to Jacksonville, so we decided to visit the Crittenden Locks which provide access between Puget Sound and Lake Washington. We revisited the locks and surrounding city park today and watched the Sunday afternoon parade of boats lined up waiting to return to port. The slow process of filling and draining the locks gave us plenty of time to visit the fish ladder (2) and some interesting metal sculpture (1).

AUGUST 3

The Seattle Public Market (Pike Place Market) (1) wakes up slowly on a Sunday morning. We started our day with a tasty brunch at Café Camplaine . We walked through the market marveling at all the fresh fish, veggies, and flowers, and of course t-shirts (6).

Mark and Catie would have had coffee at the original Starbucks, except for the long line! (5)

We walked several very long blocks to the 1962 Worlds Fair site to see the famous Seattle Space Needle (4). The site is on74 acres and includes performance centers, a huge “waterball”, a small amusement park, a science center, and lots of beautiful landscaping.

Walking back toward the waterfront we visited the Olympic Sculpture Park. (Now that’s a traffic cone!) (3)

We spent at least 2 hours exploring the Seattle Public Library. (2,10,11). Designed by Rem Koolaaas and built in 2004, it has been called a “light filled temple of books”.

We closed out the day by going “above” the city to Volunteer Park. They have the most fantastic conservatory with a large collection of orchids, succulents, and tropical plants. (7,8,9).

AUGUST 1

Friday

Our home for the next few days is Deception Pass State Park(WA) on Whidbey Island. We visited two forts on the island that were used for defense in WWII. Catie and Mark walked through a bunker at Ft. Ebey(1) that was up on the bluff,offering beautiful views of the Strait of Juan De Fuca(2). Ft Casey actually had a disappearing rifle on display!(3) We also visited the lighthouse at Ft..Casey.(4)

After a nice dinner at a bistro in Langley,WA. and a walk along the water (5)we went back "up island" to watch the sunset at Deception Pass.(6&7)

JULY 31

Thursday

Today we visited the Hoh rain Forest.(Olympic Natl Park). These trees even dwarf Mark!(1) We walked along the Hall of Mosses Trail. The moss is said to "beard"the trees.(2)
Catie decided that her method of tree identification would be sniffing them!!(3)
We made a quick stop at the Lake Crescent Lodge.(4) It was rainy, but still pretty.
We then loaded the truck and trailer onto the Port Townsend Ferry for the trip to Whidbey Island.(5)

JULY 30

Wednesday (AM)

We spent quite a lot of time on the beach at Cape Disappointment(Washington State), but NOT in the cold water! The beaches are beautiful-lighthouses(1),rocks for scrambling opportunities..oops(2) did Mark and Catie get trapped by the tide? Catie had to climb her way out of it to keep her shoes dry!(3)But it is time to leave for Olympic National Park.(4)

Wednesday (PM)

We are camped at Kalalock campground. Our site is just feet over the dune to the beach.(5) What a beach!.Great rocks for building inuksuks(6), or for Jan to try(not too successfully) to skip rocks(7), or for watching sunsets(8&9)!