Big Fir Campground

In this photo, we are entering Big Fir Campground (Ridgefield, WA). It is a perfect name -- we estimate that the firs are 200+ feet tall. The circle road through the campground appeared narrow but as you can see there are no low limbs!

We will spend the holiday weekend here to avoid traffic. Had planned to visit my neice in Oregon but we weren't able to work out a convenient time. 

Take a Hike

Today we enjoyed just walking around in the area where we are camped. There is a wetland just behind the KOA. It has a lookout platform and we could see for quite a distance from the top. The Green River runs along this area and the riverbanks are lined with blackberry bushes - loaded with fruit. It was down a steep bank or I would have grabbed and bowl and started picking!

We saw lots of bicyclists (regular & recumbent) along this road. There was even a cross country skier - he had long ski poles and 'skis' made like narrow razor scooters. He could really fly down the road.

We'll be moving further south tomorrow.

Driving in Seattle

We drove into Seattle this evening. We took 509 around the waterfront and stadium district. The first stadium is baseball -- the Mariners; and the second stadium is football - the Seahawks.

Drove into the Queen Anne district where our niece lives. Streets were narrow but had no problems with her good directions.

We enjoyed seeing Kerrie & Hart and my brother-in-law Lee who was visiting from Phoenix. We drove through several other areas of Seattle - Ballard and Fremont. Yes, we saw the troll under the bridge! Ate at a good restaurant then walked to a Cupcake Shoppe for dessert. Yum.

Domestic Duties

Today is cloudy, windy and a cool 64 degrees. We had planned a drive to Mt. Ranier but we can't even see it in the distance!

This is a good chance to 'get our house in order' again. Bought groceries, paid bills, filled prescriptions, Walt got a haircut and I caught up on the laundry. We'll drive into the city later.

Touring Seattle

We took a bus tour today. The bus picked us up at the KOA. We left at 8 am and returned after 7 pm. We had a great tour guide/bus driver. He was very knowledgeable about Seattle, energetic and a great comedian.
The first part was a driving tour through downtown and Chinatown. Then we stopped at Pike Place Market for about 30 minutes to stretch our legs.
After that we drove to the locks where we saw the fish ladder and our guide spoke about the perils of being a salmon in our current civilization. All the people in the area listened to our guide with rapt attention. Here's what we learned about driving in downtown Seattle -- 2 wrongs don't make a right but 3 rights make a left! Left turns are not permitted at many intersections downtown.
Then we drove back to Pioneer Square (really a triangle) in the historic district. Here we did about a 1 1/2 hour walking tour. This included: the NPS Klondike Gold Rush Museum, a glass shop, architecture, historical buildings and the birthplace of UPS at 2nd & Main. (How appropriate, Nate informed me that today is the 99th anniversary of the founding of UPS.) At this corner there is a quiet park with waterfalls, flowers and seating areas. A UPS security guard keeps watch during the day and the area is closed at night.
We then drove back along the waterfront and to some scenic outlooks in the city. After that we were dropped at the Seattle Center which includes the Space Needle. We then had three hours to explore this area on our own. We were given bus connection information so we could go back downtown if we wanted. We chose to spend part of that time back downtown and at Pike Place. We did get to see them toss fish. Fun. We felt like we had seen alot by the time the tour bus picked us back up at 6:45.  

Travel to Seattle Area

We traveled back to the Seattle-Tacoma area today. We will stay four nights at the KOA in Kent.

Port Angeles

Today we cleaned and packed. Ready to leave in the morning. Filled up with fuel and walked in Port Angeles. We enjoyed the antique and boutique shops -- and the beautiful weather.

Victoria British Columbia and Butchart Gardens

The tour bus picked us up at the campground at 7 am. We took the ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria British Columbia. It was a 90 minute ferry ride.

Our first stop was Butchart Gardens. It was glorious. We only had 2 1/2 hours there and could have used a little more time. I would like to see this in every season. It was so pretty today.


I think this was my reaction when Walt told me I could order anything I wanted!

After Butchart Gardens, we were on a driving tour of the city and along the coastline. It was pretty and lush.

Then we had three hours on our own to walk around Victoria. We chose to go to Parliament first. We had an informative tour of the building. Victoria is the provincial capital of British Columbia. The building was so massive that we couldn't get it all in one photo.





We walked through the Empress Hotel. There was a wedding in progress. We got there in time to see the bride march through the hallways and out to the gardens. She was on her father's arm and accompanied by a bagpiper. The men in the wedding party were all dressed in kilts and full Scottish dress.

We walked through downtown and an art fair. Then walked along the docks and enjoyed seeing the ships, sea planes, water taxis and bicycle taxies.

Our return ferry trip put us right in the middle of a brilliant sunset over the water. Everything was glowing orange.

We were delivered to our campground about 10 pm and tired from the day.

Crescent Lake & Hoh Rain Forest

We went to the western part of Olympic National Park today. We drove 101 around toward La Push. Crescent Lake is a 12-mile long glacial carved lake. It is so clear but not too cold (along the shore where I dipped my hand in). It is 600 feet deep and drops sharply. Bet it's cold further out! Along the north side of the road was this beautiful lake and on the south were the mountain slopes with occasional springs & waterfalls.

La Push is part of the Quileute Indian Reservation and has a restaurant with a tremendous view. If you ever get a chance, eat at River's Edge Restaurant. The fresh blackberry cobbler was beyond description - share it with a friend!




After lunch and a walk along the coastline, we drove back to 101 and headed south past Forks to the Hoh Rain Forest. This area gets an average of 140" of rain annually. We hiked the 3/4 mile trail called the Hall of Mosses. Lots of huge trees (200-300'), ferns and a variety of mosses. It didn't rain on us.

Hurricane Ridge

Today we visited Olympic National Park. We drove to Hurricane Ridge. It was cool when we started out, but at the top it was a cold wind.

It was a breath-taking view. You are actually looking at glaciers in the Olympic Mountain Range.

Driving back down, we were above the clouds for about half of the drive.

We drove along the waterfront in Port Angeles and ate lunch at the Downrigger Restaurant. I had Dungeness Crab cakes and Walt had Cod Fish & Chips. Both were wonderful.

We drove to Sequim -- it is getting to be THE place to live. Property values were high but they promise very nice weather year round.

Headed back to Port Angeles, we stopped at Sunny Farms Market. Lots of nice fresh produce. We got 'orange flesh' Honeydew melon. It was good. Looks like a honeydew but tastes like a sweet, firm cantaloupe. Picked up the makings for salad, too.

The last stop before the campground was Olympic Cellars Winery. They had a nice Reisling (Dungeness White).

Westward Ho!

We got a reasonably early start this morning -- then crossed the Idaho border and found ourselves in the Pacific time zone. Had thought that we might stay in Idaho or western Washington but made such good time that we continued driving.

We drove along Pend Orielle lake in Idaho to Sandpoint. It was a beautiful area. First we drove the eastern shoreline then reached the pretty town of Sandpoint. Then we headed back south to Coeur d'Alene. I would love to go back to this area to spend some time but it looks very crowded during the summer!



We caught I-90 again and headed west across Washington. I especially liked central Washington. We saw the beginning of the Columbia River. Then headed toward the Cascade Mountains and Snoqualmie Pass.



We had phoned Kansas friends this morning to see where they we were camping in Washington. They told us to come on to Port Angeles and we could do some sightseeing together. We pulled into Port Angeles, WA area well before dark.



This is a ship we saw at the Bremmerton Navel Base.

Montana

Today we drove from West Yellowstone to Plains, Montana. It was a beautiful drive. We took 287 north toward I-90 (Missoula area). We saw lots of awesom country but I only took a few photos. Attached is an example of the area.

We caught-up with friends and enjoyed having dinner with them. We will head further west tomorrow.

Packing Up

We have very much enjoyed our stay at West Yellowstone. We will be leaving tomorrow. Will spend today cleaning and packing.

Exploring Idaho

Today we drove south & west to see the eastern area of lower Idaho. We traveled about 250 miles and took three different scenic byways. We were either at the base of the Tetons or traveling along the Snake River most of the way.



We stopped at Mesa Falls (both upper & lower). At the upper falls is a ranger station, the restored Mesa Falls Lodge. The falls was breath-taking. Walt got some beautiful photos. We enjoyed the hike down to the top of the falls and it was a much easier hike than the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone!


They had a spotting scope set up on the front porch of the lodge. It was set to view a Bald Eagle sitting on the nest. The nest was clear across the falls on the mountain side.



We drove through farm country - wheat (just being harvested), barley, oats and potatoes (of course). I was fascinated by the potato storage barns - many shapes & sizes.

We traveled a lot of back roads -- Walt says he is practicing for the steep, narrow Baja roads.

The 1988 Yellowstone Fire

Today we drove to Grant's village to learn more about the 1988 fire(s) in Yellowstone. Here are a few photos of the current state of recovery from the fire. The Lodgepole Pine forests have recovered nicely. New trees range from 3 - 12 foot. The pinecones of the Lodgepole Pine are covered with resin and only open and release seeds in the heat of a fire. Areas of Douglas Fir & Spruce are slower to recover.

Then we drove to West Thumb to get a different view of Yellowstone Lake and see the West Thumb Geyser field. There are even 'hot pots' in the lake. Here is a photo of two close to shore.

West Yellowstone Montana

Today we just walked through West Yellowstone. It is a nice little tourist village.

The Old Union Station Depot has been turned into a museum of Yellowstone. The building is beautiful. We didn't take our camera so I'll grab a photo from the internet.

The current featured exhibit is Dining Car China from the five railroads that served Yellowstone travelers.

I thought it was interesting. They not only displayed china but silver, children's dishes, menus, napkins and tablecloths.

There were also films on the 1988 Yellowstone fire and earthquakes in Yellowstone.

Later we went to the IMAX theatre and watched a film about the 1988 fire.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

What a beautiful canyon with the Yellowstone River rushing through it. We hiked the 3/8 mile, steep trail (9 switch-backs) to the Lower Falls. As you can see, we are smiling in the photo after completing the hike back up!!

Northern Yellowstone

Today we were privileged to have tour guides -- new friends that we met at Camp Teton (see 8/9/06). They are very familiar with Yellowstone and great guides.

We drove to the original North Entrance at Gardiner, MT.

We saw Mammoth Hot Springs, Park Headquarters and made the upper loop back around past Canyon Village , Norris and back out the West Gate where we are camped.

Old Faithful

Today we drove down to see Old Faithful. We noted all the many scenic drives & pull-outs on the way. We were there about an hour before the predicted eruption so we walked through the lodge and shops. The eruption came about the time predicted but only lasted a few minutes. Somewhat of a disappointment -- we have waited over 50 years to see this!!



We drove back up the road and took all the scenic drives and pull-outs that we had seen on the way in. Lots of beautiful colors and stinky, sulfuric smells!

I really liked the Spasm Gyser. It erupted in fits and spurts all the time we stood there.

We're settled for a while

We are at Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park in West Yellowstone, MT. It is a nice park and only a few blocks to the West entrance gate to Yellowstone. We plan to stay here for a week. There is a lot to see in this area.

We drove through Grand Teton National Park to the south gate of Yellowstone National Park. Then through Yellowstone on US-287 to the west gate. Saw lots of beautiful scenery -- geysers, lakes, rapids and elk. Tomorrow we will spend the day seeing Old Faithful and the other geysers.

Walt took the attached photo this morning of the Grand Tetons reflected in Jenny Lake.

Chilly Morning

We didn't close windows until late last night and we slept well burrowed under the covers. Awoke to an inside temperature of 59 degrees. We are between Jackson and Yellowstone. Jackson is reporting a current temperature of 37 and Yellowstone reports 32. We're digging out the long pants!

Ain't it Grand (Teton, that is)

We are camped at the entrance to Grand Teton National Park. This afternoon we drove through the main road of the park and to Jackson, WY. It was a beautiful drive. We stopped at the Museum of Wildlife Art. What a beautiful display. Their special exhibit was Extinct Animals by Andy Worhol. He painted these in the mid-1980's shortly before he died.

We enjoyed the cool weather and walking through Jackson. We will have to return there again.

Coming back, we enjoyed the sunset over the Tetons. It wasn't the brightly colored sunset we are used to on the prairie. Instead it was brilliant white light reflected in the clouds creating a heavenly glow.

We'll go back to several areas of the park tomorrow.

"Pavement Ends"

Yes, that is what the sign said. We left Casper this morning to head to Grand Teton National Park. About half way there (around Dubois) we came to construction. It was 14 miles of unpaved road that they lead us through with a pilot car. It was slow going. The water truck worked back & forth to keep the dust down (But our rig is no longer clean!)

Service work is finished

Our RV was finished and inspected by 3:30 this afternoon. We had not made reservations for a campground tonight so are staying one last night at Camp Teton. Everyone has moved on except one couple who will not be finished until some time next week.

Walt washed the truck yesterday and the RV this afternoon.

New Friends

There are now 4 Tetons at 'Camp Teton'. We have access to a nice customer lounge and enjoy visiting. Walt says it is like a hospital ICU waiting room -- we soon learn lots about each other! Most of us will be here until Friday. We have gone into Casper to eat, shop, etc. Tonight we are having pot luck with one couple sharing Bison they just got at Custer State Park in South Dakota.

Independence Rock

We decided to do some sight-seeing around Casper today. We toured Fort Caspar then drove southwest to Independence Rock. This is the halfway point on the 2,000 mile Oregon Trail. The California Trail also passed through here. Wagon ruts still remain.