12 - Oregon Coast

OK...pictures of our trip along the Oregon coast this week have probably been better and enhanced, maybe even into posters, since it may be the most photographed area of the US.  Nevertheless, I feel privileged to have seen and photographed it personally.  Along with thousands of others, I love the "sea stacks!"

Oh, although no picture, Paul had to brake sharply as we drove toward Portland for the day for the black bear cub who ran out in front of us.

11 - Washington Coast

All week we've been on the Washington Coast.  Monday thru Friday was spent in La Conner, WA (north of Seattle, near the San Juan Islands).   Our campground was on the water with its own little beach.

As Paul's niece said when she was little, "Oh, if I could live anywhere, it'd be here!"  One day was spent driving around Whidbey Island/Deception Pass/navy base, another day in Seattle at the Pike Street Market, and another day ferrying through the San Juan's. 

Unfortunately, my two co-worker buddies (Cathy and Jack) were in Chicago for the week so no visit with them.

This week-end we're in Ocean City, WA, again on the beach.  It just isn't the San Juan's though.  Monday we're off to Oregon.

Log jam on campground beach (cool fog)

After about 20 min., this guy had made no headway!

Kiwi and I

Pike St. Market (Seattle) - Crab, lobster, salmon, cod?

Ferry to the San Juan Islands (late as usual)

Landing at my personal favorite, Orcas Island

More Orcas - the village

Beautiful night in the San Juan's

What the heck is this, we said?  After walking the beach, it came in real handy in finding the path back to the campground!  (Ocean City, WA)

Pacific Ocean by the campground this week-end

Big dogs!  (Nah, riders in the sands.)

10 - Somewhere around Quincy, WA

Friday, we drove from West Glacier, MT to the family campground for Fairchild AFB, WA (near Spokane).  It was a bust, even at $17 a night.  Our neighbor's kids with five dogs pitched a tent with a spike into our asphalt site just under the bedroom window; people were slamming doors and talking until almost 3 AM.  Paul called it retribution for his "misspent youth."  (may be true!) 

We did a base run for necessities.  On the way, we almost hit a deer.  Just missed it by about a tail's length!  I said, oh my gosh, we'd be stuck here waiting for repairs!  We were outta there by 10:30 AM.

The rest of today and tomorrow, we're at a Thousand Trails campground somewhere around Quincy, WA.  Since we're TT members, it costs $0.   Monday, we're off to another Thousand Trails campground north of Seattle.

The lake near this campground

9 - Ziplining in Whitefish, MT

Paul and I decided we needed a little excitement in our lives so we made a reservation at a resort in Whitefish, MT to zipline.  We did six lines in about three hours.  What a fast few hours.  It was sooo much fun.  The only thing is you go down the line so quickly you hardly have time to look around. 

On line # 5, would you believe I got stuck about 15' out from the platform.  The guide said, "Oh, I never had that problem here before."  That reassured me so much!  He came down the line on his own trolley and said, "OK, the rock's out."  I asked if he was sure 'cause I did NOT want to get to the middle and get stuck again!

Line # 6 was the fastest -- about 50 mph by the time we got to the end.  I bought a picture of us, which I received via e-mail, but I can't open the ^&%* thing (my computer glitch).

Uh -- about that bar for the front ---

You'll notice which one has the zip

Think we're ready for Alps yet?  A little mountain climbing?

Headline:  woman stuck 30' in air -- vows to never have another glass of wine if Higher Power will save her

8 - Glacier National Park

We arrived here at West Glacier, MT KOA yesterday.  Today, we explored or... rather, covered... the park.  There's really only one road to take on the U.S. side, which is Going-to-the-Sun Road.  Once you've crossed that, you have two options.  One is to turn around and go back the way you came.  Two is to go around the perimeter of the park, which is about an 80-90 mile drive. 

Since there was road construction in Glacier also, Paul said he wasn't driving back through it so we went the perimeter route.  It has its own beauty.  I'm actually glad we did it.

Most of today was overcast with storm clouds in the distance.  Sprinkles and sun this afternoon.

Highlight of the day (for Paul):  a black bear that ran across the road (we saw him up close & personal, but my picture wasn't good).

Don't know what we'll do tomorrow... boat ride?  zip-line?  hike? Many possibilities.

Monkey Is Ready for Glacier

Rapids at Lake McDonald

Lake McDonald

Kind of like Switzerland

Wild flowers by road

Can't remember .... beautiful tho!

St. Mary Lake

Along the park perimeter road

Goat Lick - Mountain Goats eat the gray rock for salt

*Sigh* what a beautifully texutred tree stump at Goat Lick

7 - Week-end in Butte, MT

If you want to escape the hustling crowds, go to Butte, MT.   Just beware of family reunions!  We drove from half the world in Yellowstone to find ourselves in the middle of a family reunion just outside Butte. 

Paul finally decided if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.  He became quite attached to several  of these Montana native family members, esp. Dave, one-of-ten-siblings.  The mother (an 88-year-old) has about 109 descendants per her account.  What a wonderful family though.  They were truly special people.

Dave left -- Paul right

Tree outside our camper door

Oh, forgot to say earlier.  Trees, particularly the bark and roots, are my thing!  I love the texture, the grab for the earth, the things they've seen!

Lonesome Dove?

6 - Yellowstone -- Finally

Paul and I finally made it to Yellowstone on August 2nd.  We joined half the world, which was also there!  It's truly magnificent, just a bit busy.  On the other hand, Monkey was simply enthralled.

We made it!

The Representative Buffalo

Couldn't have missed Old Faithful

The Sizzle - Artist's Paint Pots

Fire Hole Spring

I think the most beautiful part (aside from OF and other geyser basins) was the little six-mile gravel road we took, which had so many beautiful wild flowers and vistas to photograph endlessly.  Unfortunately, we weren't the only ones on the road (no pic's).  We did give a ride to some lost hikers from Malaysia. 

By the end of day three (Aug. 4th), we decided Yellowstone belongs to the world.  We'd move on.