Category Archives: Northwest

We tried our hands/feet at snowshoeing

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We didn’t wear the fancy tennis racket–looking snow shoe made of wood and gut. Ours were the much more utilitarian plastic and steel shoe with built in crampons to grip the slushy, icy snow. It was great fun once we got the hang of it. I am sure we’ll do it again. We hiked out to see the Nisqually glacier and the results of all it’s grinding down the face of the mountain. It is a convincing image of the power of nature.
We both managed to stay on our feet pretty much all the time. Morning will tell us if we abused any muscles too badly.

She is everywhere!

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We ran into Ranger Gail. She is an interpretive ranger that we met in Rocky Mountain National Park last fall; saw again last winter at her home park, Big Bend, and now here at Rainier where she is stationed this summer. Really uncanny.

A place too beautiful not to share

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We headed back to Rainier with the kids. Weather wasn’t perfect but the Mountain was out at least part of the time. We hiked to waterfalls and checked out the visitors’ center and a hot spring (really just a seepy warm spot nowadays) then checked out the big trees in the Grove of the Patriarchs. We headed out for a moonlit picture of the mountain and saw lots of deer along the way. Fortunately the deer were pretty intent on eating the new growth just peeking out of the snow so they didn’t wander out into traffic.

Too bad (not), the strawberry field was closed for U-pick

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We spent a peaceful day around camp and a visit to a local berry farm and farmers market. We had intended to pick some berries but I don’t think anyone was terribly disappointed when they were closing the field just as we got to it. We checked out everything in the market from fresh veggies, fruits, and herbs to rustic porch furniture and feathered hats. What did we buy? Food: a scrumptious peach-raspberry pie. It filled the motorhome with a wonderful smell as it baked. Mike picked out a couple fun jellies, tomato and blueberry/jalapeño. We have since tried them all with varying degrees of appreciation.

Wine tasting…the domain of full bodied reds.

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Unfortunately, none of the tasting rooms had nearly the view we found in the Gorge. We sampled at two wineries and managed to find some wines we enjoyed and even bought a couple bottles.
The oldest winery in the area Chateau St Michelle, has beautiful grounds and the winery is on site so we took a tour…wouldn’t you know, its Friday and they work four 10 hour days so all the equipment is quiet. The tour guide was great though and still made it informative and fun. He is a retired teacher and has a wonderful way with people. We all enjoyed it, the tour, the talk and the wine. We were hanging around after the actual tasting and just chatting and we go a special tasting of their “most expensive’ cabernet sauvignon. It was awfully good but we settled just for the taste.
We had a picnic and strolled a while then headed back to camp. It was a fun afternoon.

Mike and Tracy arrive on Amtrak from Portland.

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Back at Pike Place Market.
Kent found a front row parking place right by the entrance of the Market that was free! It was sort of funny given how much fussing around we did yesterday looking for a spot within walking distance and reasonably priced.
The rows and rows of beautiful fragrant flower bouquets were still there. This time I came home with a sweetpea and mint bouquet. It is bright and cheerful and it fills the whole motorhome with a wonderful heady scent.
We checked out some local beer and I had a local hard cider. It was pretty good.
We ended the day with a stroll through the Olympic Sculpture Garden.