tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11103813901604046922024-03-14T10:56:19.315-07:00Such a Cool Family!Melinda Coolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12601522590141219615noreply@blogger.comBlogger126125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110381390160404692.post-24631388310927347632013-08-13T23:58:00.000-07:002013-09-07T09:08:33.820-07:00Cascade Lake and FishingWe spent a few hours that morning hanging out around our campsite, just being lazy.<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hqYg4ZipWm0/UitKE6-LJqI/AAAAAAAABQ8/vs7J8cIfQhE/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0294.jpg"><img alt="Yellowstone 029" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4l3flqdSsFc/UitKFQI5MkI/AAAAAAAABRE/qzZCW4ea7fw/Yellowstone-029_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yellowstone 029" width="411" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-AKBS0VkntN8/UitKFxmR3NI/AAAAAAAABRM/m3KiT8ron9E/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0324.jpg"><img alt="Yellowstone 032" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RFaXl0hUmSY/UitKGQ9WoQI/AAAAAAAABRU/7fEFfeM8TM8/Yellowstone-032_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yellowstone 032" width="411" /></a><br />
But then it was time to get going, to actually do something. Sean had spent some time talking to the fishing experts at the sporting goods shop in Canyon Village, and they had told him that Cascade Lake was a good place for trout. About 5 miles round trip, and close to our campground, it sounded like a great place—fishing for Sean and the kids, knitting for me.<br />
Within a few minutes after arriving at the lake (a hot, dry hike, with raincoats at the car), these clouds rolled in.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EZqbWrXNo5w/UitKG5YeTtI/AAAAAAAABRc/GQ86QWcUyaE/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0334.jpg"><img alt="Yellowstone 033" border="0" height="611" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YcK4JgATals/UitKHWXeqsI/AAAAAAAABRk/1BA1XcrxtpM/Yellowstone-033_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yellowstone 033" width="411" /></a><br />
We weren’t convinced that the storm was coming to us, so they fished a bit…<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wlWuEfRmVXI/UitKIJ_TYJI/AAAAAAAABRs/MuHyEB55nps/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0344.jpg"><img alt="Yellowstone 034" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MkUe9Bpu-MY/UitKInFGiLI/AAAAAAAABR0/FEHSD5HYUxY/Yellowstone-034_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yellowstone 034" width="411" /></a><br />
…and caught only algae.<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DXz86BIRM4Y/UitKJPHcX8I/AAAAAAAABR8/PgpcqnOTfGs/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0374.jpg"><img alt="Yellowstone 037" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YhVQGyre-8s/UitKJlcja_I/AAAAAAAABSE/yW5UwhpkNb4/Yellowstone-037_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yellowstone 037" width="411" /></a><br />
The thunder was sounding, and we saw a few flashes of lightning so we called it good and headed back, with an eye out for wildlife. Several times, we got excited by something moving on the other side of this meadow…other hikers, on another trail.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0TSHvwWF0R8/UitKKXQUMxI/AAAAAAAABSM/pajMPUXbOeM/s1600-h/IMG_59004.jpg"><img alt="IMG_5900" border="0" height="308" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-32plI6ZKakw/UitKKygCOZI/AAAAAAAABSU/orvNmIUigoA/IMG_5900_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5900" width="411" /></a><br />
Mostly, we saw a lot of downed trees from the 1988 fires, and hoped that the burned trees still standing and creaking and swaying in the stormy afternoon did not finally fall that afternoon. Thankfully, none did.<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ctArqVltyik/UitKLf5TUTI/AAAAAAAABSc/BpzesEcS5AE/s1600-h/IMG_59024.jpg"><img alt="IMG_5902" border="0" height="550" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gYzFItbiurQ/UitKLzCTItI/AAAAAAAABSk/cHgytOAfPiw/IMG_5902_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5902" width="411" /></a><br />
We did see a couple bison through some trees, but no pictures since they were hard to see, and we were realizing that bison are everywhere in Yellowstone, anyway.Melinda C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06775950700939084657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110381390160404692.post-58292311477232264702013-08-13T07:45:00.000-07:002013-09-07T08:42:55.192-07:00Morning Adventures with Owen<p>Owen has always been a restless sleeper.  He wakes in the night, he wakes early in the morning.  Me, in Yellowstone—I was a restless sleeper (so much to see, do, “is that a bear?” sounds, etc.).  So when he woke up early on our second full day, and wanted to talk rather than go back to sleep, I suggested that he and I go looking for wolves in the Hayden Valley.</p> <p>We didn’t see any wolves, but we did see lots of “pretty.”</p> <p>Owen at Sulphur Cauldron (holding his breath, I’d bet).  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-__IBZiOJ6Os/UitJYZw0yHI/AAAAAAAABO8/toIzig0hnOI/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0014.jpg"><img title="Yellowstone 001" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Yellowstone 001" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CJEQvOJsAqU/UitJY4TZ9RI/AAAAAAAABPA/DkNV9x0Vads/Yellowstone-001_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="277" /></a></p> <p>The Hayden Valley at sunrise.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-K9FspQUWmco/UitJZLN7bFI/AAAAAAAABPM/Pd_pKry71jU/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0044.jpg"><img title="Yellowstone 004" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Yellowstone 004" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2zosJJvKya8/UitJZ2WN0rI/AAAAAAAABPQ/f6n8Q4mSiT8/Yellowstone-004_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="277" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Pj28e-mdKgU/UitJaJkvnjI/AAAAAAAABPc/c-9noGULLqo/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0064.jpg"><img title="Yellowstone 006" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Yellowstone 006" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-v8zqYoTc_lY/UitJaqyb3fI/AAAAAAAABPk/8eiOHM5ERJU/Yellowstone-006_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="277" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-U7EcYNzDGnI/UitJbK0UmKI/AAAAAAAABPs/YgiEjUSUMaQ/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0074.jpg"><img title="Yellowstone 007" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Yellowstone 007" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XFj-xtRfp9g/UitJbv8bJYI/AAAAAAAABP0/4PdHUKzbo7g/Yellowstone-007_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="277" /></a></p> <p>After giving up on finding wolves, we made a quick detour to Artist Point, on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.  The light was cool—it made the pictures look more like paintings.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sJMvZzIsSjs/UitJb9DdxOI/AAAAAAAABP8/5BdZpsMgwU0/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0084.jpg"><img title="Yellowstone 008" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Yellowstone 008" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-A8sETu7-8Cw/UitJcZvl23I/AAAAAAAABQE/Oz1kDsybcC0/Yellowstone-008_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="611" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-m8DEUYgFAtc/UitJc2EVriI/AAAAAAAABQM/nQ0reGtLAAs/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0124.jpg"><img title="Yellowstone 012" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Yellowstone 012" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZkNn8ubZ7Ns/UitJdeEZkyI/AAAAAAAABQU/-54N8IFEHpg/Yellowstone-012_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="611" /></a></p> <p>Sean and I had been trying to convince Owen that his smile, with teeth, looks much better in photos.  It was about this time that he started to listen to us.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Gh4qXnBw9dI/UitJd8T3RwI/AAAAAAAABQc/RhTLUd_Qma0/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0144.jpg"><img title="Yellowstone 014" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Yellowstone 014" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jgxaQOCzCo8/UitJeQQpgWI/AAAAAAAABQk/_SzVZE4rFrs/Yellowstone-014_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="277" /></a></p> <p>After the canyon, we headed back to our campground.  But just a few minutes before getting to our site, we saw an elk off the side of the road (actually, a bunch of people saw it—we saw the people, then the elk).  The coolest thing about this elk—the velvet on his antlers was starting to shed off.  I had never seen or thought about that before.  Elk antlers are the fastest growing mammalian tissue—they start growing a new set every year in March, when the previous year’s antlers are shed.  In about August, the nice soft velvety covering (apparently very sensitive as they are growing) starts to kind of scab up and itch.  The elk rub their antlers against tree trunks and such, trying to peel off the scab.  The velvet comes off in bloody strips, leaving bloody bone behind (you can see the velvet in the picture below—it looks like moss).  In September, the bull elk start their rut and fight with other bulls to win the rights to mate.  Then in March, they start all over again. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iWrKneZRpZM/UitJe-aYX0I/AAAAAAAABQs/zL9ufVXouPY/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0254.jpg"><img title="Yellowstone 025" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Yellowstone 025" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Tec025VnqTU/UitJfc9fN9I/AAAAAAAABQ0/EmBSYaIJBe0/Yellowstone-025_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="277" /></a></p> Melinda C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06775950700939084657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110381390160404692.post-52229693804791990902013-08-12T15:38:00.000-07:002013-09-07T08:41:51.865-07:00Mud Volcano and Dragon’s Mouth Spring<p>We traveled to the southern end of Hayden Valley to check out the Mud Volcano area; our first “in-depth” look at geothermal features.</p> <p>The Dragon’s Mouth Spring was neat.  Lots of continuous hissing steam.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UBLTjj3YD4E/UitJKnholUI/AAAAAAAABNs/2oJwiDKQgEI/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0684.jpg"><img title="Yellowstone 068" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Yellowstone 068" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1FvXqzl4FRo/UitJLOYK--I/AAAAAAAABN0/AEt6EGbtaAk/Yellowstone-068_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="277" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xtzvvarKHOE/UitJL3PTmII/AAAAAAAABN8/ArpDJp9bhLY/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0634.jpg"><img title="Yellowstone 063" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Yellowstone 063" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-t18H_5xbJy8/UitJMG32RCI/AAAAAAAABOA/HxzPwQw2828/Yellowstone-063_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="277" /></a></p> <p>The mud volcano was…muddy?  And hot, boiling, and steamy.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UOxX1bZS11s/UitJMimPYwI/AAAAAAAABOM/XiI2scYZMqE/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0704.jpg"><img title="Yellowstone 070" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Yellowstone 070" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-C4Nb99wJx4g/UitJNKtZ99I/AAAAAAAABOU/UVbJVqQx8_M/Yellowstone-070_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="277" /></a></p> <p>Like good tourists, we stayed on the boardwalk, but several lone bison did not.  We didn’t see any drop through to the boiling springs below, but many posters informed that it could happen, you never know.</p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Qb-XFi3nUz8/UitJNs-QGpI/AAAAAAAABOc/DAgr_nM0KOM/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0804.jpg"><img title="Yellowstone 080" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Yellowstone 080" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lBh6mAlX45M/UitJONqgq0I/AAAAAAAABOk/Dg4nCpDODuc/Yellowstone-080_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="611" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3hcdNKSkdFk/UitJOsr22OI/AAAAAAAABOs/Ft_hGKD7G60/s1600-h/Guy-Yellowstone-0554.jpg"><img title="Guy Yellowstone 055" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Guy Yellowstone 055" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Da-iuOvmZ1k/UitJPbKmZbI/AAAAAAAABO0/73r3_FwLwxc/Guy-Yellowstone-055_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="309" /></a> Melinda C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06775950700939084657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110381390160404692.post-4222194071123721922013-08-12T12:25:00.000-07:002013-09-07T08:40:47.926-07:00Bison, Bison Everywhere<p>After the North Rim of the canyon, we set out to Hayden Valley, a good place for wildlife.  In Guyan’s words:</p> <p>“Today we saw TONS! of bison!  It was CRAZY!  I got some good pictures…  I think I saw more bison than I’ve seen rabbits in my whole life!!!  We see even more bison than chipmunks here!!!”  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1BBo0so7Dxc/UitI6o6wABI/AAAAAAAABMM/uhEo5TIZHtA/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0364.jpg"><img title="Yellowstone 036" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Yellowstone 036" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1qRdF1zl9jg/UitI669FobI/AAAAAAAABMQ/FO6rK5v8M3I/Yellowstone-036_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="277" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-R06khK9A0lo/UitI7Y-YDjI/AAAAAAAABMY/UZSgkG6DXKk/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0534.jpg"><img title="Yellowstone 053" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Yellowstone 053" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5KUzZ8d4-4E/UitI74TJU5I/AAAAAAAABMk/sH7mX0qN0zo/Yellowstone-053_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="277" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DKzIb08uOHg/UitI8Qp-rSI/AAAAAAAABMs/wHawgvOGTeQ/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0574.jpg"><img title="Yellowstone 057" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Yellowstone 057" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mO_RdMGJUDg/UitI8sLd-eI/AAAAAAAABM0/oLW1MP0MDBU/Yellowstone-057_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="277" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-sfCTpRnUKbA/UitI9GLr1XI/AAAAAAAABM8/58ErglfCFas/s1600-h/Guy-Yellowstone-0084.jpg"><img title="Guy Yellowstone 008" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Guy Yellowstone 008" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nEMdsR46UiQ/UitI9u4GD3I/AAAAAAAABNE/AqK3V4TR30o/Guy-Yellowstone-008_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="309" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0Rm0JPdleMs/UitI-dqTdKI/AAAAAAAABNM/f5-J8EDLzz8/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0954.jpg"><img title="Yellowstone 095" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Yellowstone 095" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rGVqZVYaNMA/UitI-rDXiNI/AAAAAAAABNU/Iv9MDRAGtvs/Yellowstone-095_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="277" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-q4mWdiuQDiA/UitI_NTmH-I/AAAAAAAABNc/gdNOaBmwUtA/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0854.jpg"><img title="Yellowstone 085" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Yellowstone 085" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-08yXa5h-9Bg/UitI_rRRBkI/AAAAAAAABNk/eWxoaebcT1A/Yellowstone-085_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="277" /></a></p> <p>FYI…Many of these pictures were taken near the Mary Mountain Trailhead.  Three days later, after we left this area of the park, two hikers (out of a group of four) were attacked by a grizzly bear about one mile down the trail.  So much for the idea that grizzlies never attack groups of three or more hikers.  Good thing we got two bear spray cans.  By the way, the hikers used their bear spray (two cans) and were treated and released the same day.</p> Melinda C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06775950700939084657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110381390160404692.post-64720847081682956442013-08-12T11:30:00.000-07:002013-09-07T09:10:17.605-07:00Day One—The North RimI thought I would do a post for each day. Not when each day has 2-3 blog worthy occasions. So…Day One, Part One.<br />
The Canyon Village area is a pretty busy place. The campground, where we were staying for three nights, has about 275 sites, and just across the road is a lodge, grocery, sporting goods store, and Visitor’s Center/Museum. We started the day at the Visitor’s Center and got the boys set up with their Junior Scientist Program (gosh darn, they were going to LEARN something in this vacation if it KILLED me!). We also visited the gift shop, and I bought a couple field guides to help identify animals and give me hints on where to find them. I had been watching an app on my phone daily for the past 6 months or so that posted wildlife sightings (YNPWildlife; it’s awesome), but in the park, cell service is sketchy at best…I needed a good old-fashioned guide. Owen, it turns out, is my natural born shopper—he found a wolf puppet that he HAD to have (two days later, he bought it—I make him think about purchases, so mean).<br />
After the museum visit and getting our bearings a bit, we headed off to our first tourist destination—the North Rim of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. It was beautiful.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-E2p-4ol0r3Q/UitIkS96j7I/AAAAAAAABJ8/SWqdCYcer4s/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0014.jpg"><img alt="Yellowstone 001" border="0" height="611" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-F6J8Pe0ULp4/UitIky4WNeI/AAAAAAAABKE/yqXEwAWOKjY/Yellowstone-001_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yellowstone 001" width="411" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-niwp-xCSFqM/UitIllAmYvI/AAAAAAAABKM/98YBalBePiU/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0024.jpg"><img alt="Yellowstone 002" border="0" height="611" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PGEjtn1DvTA/UitIl5HGzAI/AAAAAAAABKU/V0JPS1V9vzw/Yellowstone-002_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yellowstone 002" width="411" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Eupf9F6gX4A/UitImqG37GI/AAAAAAAABKc/4l3UfGNGm6o/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0044.jpg"><img alt="Yellowstone 004" border="0" height="611" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-q4KCCk7xWwU/UitIm8NBApI/AAAAAAAABKk/TVEqgqj9zcY/Yellowstone-004_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yellowstone 004" width="411" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-i3EIF-lO4uk/UitInQSo2jI/AAAAAAAABKs/T-f0G0wKTTs/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0054.jpg"><img alt="Yellowstone 005" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-x72Yu22FJsM/UitIn6IJYRI/AAAAAAAABK0/m_5jgelBF2E/Yellowstone-005_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yellowstone 005" width="411" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ORZA7dyQG2I/UitIoMWWxoI/AAAAAAAABK8/8G31lcqtuFU/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0064.jpg"><img alt="Yellowstone 006" border="0" height="611" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oVxm0LrdOg8/UitIpfgc3_I/AAAAAAAABLE/U_2mVaFXEc4/Yellowstone-006_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yellowstone 006" width="411" /></a><br />
See the osprey nest? Right in the center of the photo below.<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qhxXnPDcW0o/UitIp1tOIDI/AAAAAAAABLM/0aeyF1uob40/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0074.jpg"><img alt="Yellowstone 007" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-sLho6TzH4Pw/UitIqDvzrkI/AAAAAAAABLQ/ViC8S-clYO8/Yellowstone-007_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yellowstone 007" width="411" /></a><br />
After hanging out with the hordes of tourists at the parking lot, we set out on our first “hike.” Flat along the canyon rim, a couple miles…no biggie, but at about 7700 feet elevation, I was winded anyway. It was a bit of a blow to the ego (we all need that sometime, anyway).<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pSvWNBVqfd0/UitIqki8_nI/AAAAAAAABLc/2krkSvUPTbs/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0154.jpg"><img alt="Yellowstone 015" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XD-oIrCzip8/UitIrLBi1eI/AAAAAAAABLk/fWW5zXoW1Sc/Yellowstone-015_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yellowstone 015" width="411" /></a><br />
See our car? The white dot to the left of my finger is the “Big Mac” pod on the top of the Mazda.<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YXWfKPKXVzs/UitIrq96JeI/AAAAAAAABLs/TPU_B8oGK-0/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0204.jpg"><img alt="Yellowstone 020" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-F_OEqhbKWg8/UitIsKvoXOI/AAAAAAAABLw/cNc8dhqh6QQ/Yellowstone-020_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yellowstone 020" width="411" /></a><br />
When we got to Inspiration Point, it was truly less than inspirational. “Really?” was more the reaction. A long walk (paranoid about bears the whole time, since it was our first hike), and the real Inspiration Point—a ledge that reached out into the canyon to give a nice view of the falls—was closed off. Oh well. Apparently we had already been spoiled by the previous views from the parking lot.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6eRQbYmaSek/UitIsjMn-VI/AAAAAAAABL8/qDlIheGOJzY/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0264.jpg"><img alt="Yellowstone 026" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AU8q91U_49E/UitItLsx0eI/AAAAAAAABME/0o48hR0xDE8/Yellowstone-026_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yellowstone 026" width="411" /></a>Melinda C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06775950700939084657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110381390160404692.post-14011164987300282312013-08-11T17:31:00.000-07:002013-09-07T08:56:33.572-07:00The Cools Arrive in YellowstoneWe made it! We arrived at the North Entrance, the Roosevelt Arch, at about 5:00.<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZLKvblxwBY4/UitISrrm_TI/AAAAAAAABHs/uiPMToeCsuI/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0045.jpg"><img alt="Yellowstone 004" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZktT-HGXo78/UitIS2rW4lI/AAAAAAAABH0/L7IP0OPqoRw/Yellowstone-004_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yellowstone 004" width="411" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Qnmp40ihGpY/UitITliRsbI/AAAAAAAABH8/tOWMXr35dok/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0084.jpg"><img alt="Yellowstone 008" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UiJfohU31rM/UitIUHurmxI/AAAAAAAABIA/0t70oqodiDg/Yellowstone-008_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yellowstone 008" width="411" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yqrVKr91sTA/UitIURTVH2I/AAAAAAAABII/p8pO1ch53E0/s1600-h/Yellowstone-016.jpg"><img alt="Yellowstone 016" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WLMwaNH44NI/UitIU2zVHEI/AAAAAAAABIU/Be1WGyvVoW4/Yellowstone-016_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yellowstone 016" width="411" /></a><br />
No more than five minutes into the park, we came across our first "Jam.” Tons of cars, some pulled off the side of the road, some parked in the middle, pedestrians everywhere…it was a Bighorn Sheep Jam. They are often spotted in this area, on the rock cliffs of the Gardiner Canyon. I can see about five in this photo. Look for a white butt just above the tree, in the center of the photo (I promise, the wildlife pictures get better).<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KJos9byhsVE/UitIVXMnwxI/AAAAAAAABIc/iEjsZAIvH_I/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0194.jpg"><img alt="Yellowstone 019" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ULD-v196T3k/UitIV28zjCI/AAAAAAAABIk/BdtBWbJcvwY/Yellowstone-019_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yellowstone 019" width="411" /></a><br />
I was so excited! Two minutes in, and I had already seen large mammals! This was going to be awesome.<br />
We needed to get to Canyon Village and our campsite before dark. About an hour drive, without animal jams…so we got back in the car and continued on.<br />
In Mammoth, the elk were EVERYWHERE. This stop took a little while.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WGVAurgpMco/UitIWNLXxpI/AAAAAAAABIs/DKayY1sA9Uw/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0224.jpg"><img alt="Yellowstone 022" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-n6Jq6_amuyU/UitIWgliWRI/AAAAAAAABI0/uuMUF04069k/Yellowstone-022_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yellowstone 022" width="411" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Eq40WMdj5Q8/UitIXF2tjpI/AAAAAAAABI8/RCVuZR8gdMY/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0244.jpg"><img alt="Yellowstone 024" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YaeUIoVW4XA/UitIXq_3XRI/AAAAAAAABJE/Xbr_BkK8UiY/Yellowstone-024_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yellowstone 024" width="411" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xIMum0DD6Ds/UitIYHBnHoI/AAAAAAAABJM/HtCJ26fkayg/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0264.jpg"><img alt="Yellowstone 026" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IWo4uuJWr2A/UitIYmDH4ZI/AAAAAAAABJU/aD8ixy7X25U/Yellowstone-026_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yellowstone 026" width="411" /></a><br />
And then more elk after we left Mammoth. Apparently they were fighting just before we got there. <br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OtyVZJr2QhQ/UitIZLOas9I/AAAAAAAABJc/Bn9m4JTJJhw/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0284.jpg"><img alt="Yellowstone 028" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_pfMN0_Y3V8/UitIZVRmc5I/AAAAAAAABJg/TU8TB7WM9AQ/Yellowstone-028_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yellowstone 028" width="411" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-P-yXQpGT6gA/UitIZ4mCWrI/AAAAAAAABJo/phYXJmPLNQc/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0324.jpg"><img alt="Yellowstone 032" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lDpPXYX35LQ/UitIaZtNuVI/AAAAAAAABJ0/-vSrOZJgsoA/Yellowstone-032_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yellowstone 032" width="411" /></a><br />
Given we had only traveled about 10 minutes into the park by this point, we were thinking it was going to take a while to get to Canyon. Fortunately, we only caught a couple glimpses of lone bison on the way (no pictures), so we made it to Canyon long before sunset.Melinda C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06775950700939084657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110381390160404692.post-3653175071654220582013-08-11T15:24:00.000-07:002013-09-07T09:08:49.645-07:00The Drive, Day 2After a nice night with family, we made a quick stop at the Donut House, and after a little impromptu pirate sword fight, and we were on our way. …Notice the “cousin uniform”—Guyan drew that character, and we had it made into shirts. All the cousins have one.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-X-jNqpeaVWI/UitIILdv2dI/AAAAAAAABGc/2egAl_pId7k/s1600-h/IMG_2107_thumb13.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2107_thumb[1]" border="0" height="544" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_IpJzUtbxbc/UitIIodmqZI/AAAAAAAABGk/T3mzD_bYe1M/IMG_2107_thumb1_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2107_thumb[1]" width="410" /></a><br />
We were intent on getting to Yellowstone.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pScBX6il8mI/UitIJLTPHaI/AAAAAAAABGs/YF5NHLZiCsE/s1600-h/Yellowstone-0014.jpg"><img alt="Yellowstone 001" border="0" height="279" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Uc_wCZ5C5jQ/UitIJgRX_HI/AAAAAAAABG0/OqPuakNGBac/Yellowstone-001_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yellowstone 001" width="414" /></a><br />
There were all sorts of destinations to distract us on the way, but we didn’t stop…<br />
<div align="center">
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pDTtnQGdMmc/UitIKNjVnAI/AAAAAAAABG8/TqOWMQQM2f8/s1600-h/IMG_21104.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2110" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pUyq__bblUA/UitIK9XVLUI/AAAAAAAABHE/uXumaphO8Bk/IMG_2110_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2110" width="399" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SMQB3UDT3b4/UitILUmSomI/AAAAAAAABHM/Xo6iT4CD468/s1600-h/IMG_21115.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2111" border="0" height="302" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Pr9HTdvqylQ/UitIL-lG-VI/AAAAAAAABHU/HFsMHrcEpwE/IMG_2111_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2111" width="401" /></a></div>
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LzSPgIRy-TQ/UitIMMDMqFI/AAAAAAAABHc/DOO2O7Jje1A/s1600-h/IMG_21145.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2114" border="0" height="537" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QGaAxQgrrko/UitIMgFjrSI/AAAAAAAABHk/5sC_eOJqyNY/IMG_2114_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2114" width="404" /></a><br />
…except for a couple times.Melinda C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06775950700939084657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110381390160404692.post-92144501255443824722013-08-10T14:43:00.000-07:002013-09-07T08:36:19.353-07:00Getting to Yellowstone<p>My sister and her family, thankfully, live in Post Falls, Idaho.  This is just over the border into Idaho, and makes a great “halfway” point to Yellowstone from Ferndale.  We make the trip over about once a year (usually for Bloomsday weekend in May), and we were excited to be able to make a second visit on our way to Yellowstone.</p> <p>Liz and Dustin had a great dinner for us (tri-tip, yumm!) and of course Dustin shared some of his great selection of beers with us…the beers, ummm, not always so great; glad Liz had wine too!</p> <p>The boys had some great cousin time with Nolan.  He’s 3 1/2 now, and loves anything and everything pirate.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8_nmx0JosDM/UitH7MXX6jI/AAAAAAAABF4/QcFEO37msXg/s1600-h/IMG_21034.jpg"><img title="IMG_2103" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_2103" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ckOp_hEocxM/UitH7gaL6ZI/AAAAAAAABGA/0KlkHhYWNPY/IMG_2103_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="302" height="402" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nHK5PXEOwDo/UitH8K1ekFI/AAAAAAAABGI/-NQc0mWPbgY/s1600-h/IMG_20984.jpg"><img title="IMG_2098" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_2098" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8VksvMExOt8/UitH8lhKN4I/AAAAAAAABGQ/7fBnnnmtMPY/IMG_2098_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="408" height="307" /></a></p> Melinda C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06775950700939084657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110381390160404692.post-36685894301520559752013-08-09T14:42:00.000-07:002013-09-07T08:35:10.602-07:00The Yellowstone Commitment<p>A few years ago, Sean and I were brainstorming on places that we wanted to make sure to visit before the boys were grown up and no longer interested (or forced) in vacationing with us.  Yellowstone was put way up there on the list.</p> <p>We thought of doing it last year, but that didn’t happen.  Other years had other big vacations, so Yellowstone wasn’t feasible then, either.  Around Christmas of 2012, I decided that if I didn’t just start planning it, it wasn’t going to happen.  So when we had a couple hundred “extra” dollars in the bank, I made our first reservations for a few nights in <a href="http://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/what-to-know-113.html" target="_blank">budget cabins</a>, and we were set.</p> <p>Other preparations had to be made too.  If it was going to take two days to get there, and two days back, we were going to make this a two week vacation, so Sean needed the time off work.  After many conversations, and quite a bit of pouting from me, that was done.  August 10th through the 25th—that time was ours.</p> <p>Sleeping accommodations were going to be an issue.  We wanted a two week vacation, but two weeks in hotels was not even a consideration.  Renting a motorhome?  I looked at it for a millisecond; about the same cost as the hotels, not including gas.  Buying a pop-up trailer?  Possible, maybe, but it would require a loan (which could be paid off if we re-sold the trailer), and I just didn’t want to be bothered.  Sean would have loved it…ahhh, camping and a real mattress, what could be better?  Well, maybe not better, but how about a <a href="http://www.target.com/p/coleman-6-person-instant-tent/-/A-13186697" target="_blank">one minute set-up tent</a> with two double-height queen <a href="http://www.coleman.com/product/double-high-quickbedreg-airbed-queen/2000010289#.UitHHBHn-M8" target="_blank">mattresses</a>?  No sleeping on the ground, we have all the rest of the camping gear…  I decided.  That’s what we did—a few nights camping, one night cabin, repeat two times.  Saves on money, and also gets you to the showers in a timely fashion.</p> <p>We (mainly me) were sure that we wanted to do hiking while in Yellowstone.  No backpacking, just a few five or so milers.  Hiking in Yellowstone means potential wildlife encounters without the security of a vehicle. While some wildlife encounters might be welcome, the type with a mama grizzly and two cubs…not so much.  So we bought <a href="http://www.amazon.com/SABRE-FRONTIERSMAN-Attack-Deterrent-Holster/dp/B000H7N26A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1378568048&sr=8-2&keywords=bear+spray" target="_blank">bear spray</a>—two cans.  If we only had one can, wouldn’t that be a b*tch if that was the person the bear went after?  Two cans sounded good to me.</p> <p>And we needed binoculars.  And we needed rain jackets.  And we all needed new/better-fitting hiking boots.  Stocking up for Yellowstone was spendy, but doing it over the course of the year, and with most of those items being things we’d use post-Yellowstone, anyway (except the bear spray, let’s hope), it wasn’t so bad.</p> Melinda C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06775950700939084657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110381390160404692.post-19724360622211189322012-08-25T18:01:00.000-07:002012-10-08T18:02:15.955-07:00Sauk Mountain, Take Two (or The Second Sauk)After my oohing and ahhhing about how great the Sauk Mountain hike was, Michelle put it on her short list. She decided to do it a couple weeks after we went with Guyan’s friend Sully and family. Her neighbor and frequent hiking buddy, Kerry, was also going, but Michelle needed company for the kids (kids hiking with friends are so much more enjoyable than those hiking with only siblings). She asked if she might be able to borrow my kids for the hike.<br />
And that’s when I jumped in and invited our whole dang family. <img alt="Smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jWEu8OKl2ng/UHN214dyw1I/AAAAAAAABAk/2c80DzhGBGY/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /><br />
Sauk Mountain is not exactly the right hike for people with vertigo. Heck, the drive to the trailhead is not for people with vertigo. When we arrived at the trailhead, Kerry was feeling dizzy and not too well. She tried to join us on the hike, but after about 100 yards, and a look at the mountain and switchbacks, she decided she would read in the car while the rest of us made the hike. See? It’s a good thing I invited us all along.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8jlYbxmnkGw/UHN22h8lSEI/AAAAAAAABAs/Tf0yRT1iX4A/s1600-h/IMG_3168%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3168" border="0" height="574" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ICDjnf3GI2c/UHN23Jjeq8I/AAAAAAAABA0/THjOir8uO3M/IMG_3168_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3168" width="429" /></a><br />
So the last time we took this hike, we knew it had a LOT of switchbacks—over thirty, according to an elderly gentleman on the trail. I brought along my trusty knitting row counter (a little clicker thing) so that Alice could keep track for us. She has it in her hand here—she’s on the job).<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KuRRK86V9gQ/UHN23hQbmwI/AAAAAAAABA8/7hycEC40g54/s1600-h/IMG_3122%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3122" border="0" height="321" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iJhz3IolalQ/UHN24ML_hrI/AAAAAAAABBE/g620GIx0BVA/IMG_3122_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3122" width="429" /></a><br />
This picture of Alice and Michelle is a little bright, and it’s hard to see off in the distance, but you could see Mount Rainier on this day—that’s a long ways away! About 4 hours by car, down south of Seattle and east of Tacoma. We could also see the San Juan Islands, Mt. Baker, The Sisters, and Mount Pilchuck. ‘Cause Mount Pilchuk is very important (inside joke, sorry readers…).<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GfWtN1Z5jJ0/UHN241XW3XI/AAAAAAAABBM/d7k7nX7Eiyk/s1600-h/IMG_3162%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3162" border="0" height="321" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BBKXbgJ-3-0/UHN25TFA7uI/AAAAAAAABBU/Ihlgv5C83y8/IMG_3162_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3162" width="429" /></a><br />
When we got near the top, the boys were, oh, a little grumpy. They found the shade of these trees overlooking Sauk Lake and parked it for a while. Nature called, they had a snack, and everything was good. I need to remember…keep them fed, encourage answering the call of nature, and hiking with them will be so much more enjoyable.<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HUPlrKehC_4/UHN26DIWqBI/AAAAAAAABBc/i6xbQsfU_QY/s1600-h/IMG_3136%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3136" border="0" height="321" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zL3ovFLqWp4/UHN26c7H3EI/AAAAAAAABBk/Ml4_cQLy92I/IMG_3136_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3136" width="429" /></a><br />
Just right of Sauk Lake, there were several tents of backpackers…might be a good site for hiking in and camping next year or so.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KT7g68TpEI4/UHN27HoxhyI/AAAAAAAABBs/84OpeYfzBAg/s1600-h/IMG_3134%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3134" border="0" height="574" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CJNwnRTLr1A/UHN27nx1IuI/AAAAAAAABB0/YQqLRnuUJFI/IMG_3134_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3134" width="429" /></a><br />
My happy hiker.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-69YxUpvSYbs/UHN28TWMThI/AAAAAAAABB8/pS7cR_EeeBs/s1600-h/IMG_3130%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3130" border="0" height="321" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-tVS5bvGzz6U/UHN28xPSuoI/AAAAAAAABCE/XaM5_d3iSCE/IMG_3130_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3130" width="429" /></a><br />
On our way for the final ascent.<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xV8WC4Vwsgg/UHN29kNW2lI/AAAAAAAABCM/TVaWwJV5zyc/s1600-h/IMG_3137%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3137" border="0" height="321" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Yg8T3DEohFI/UHN2-YVrMKI/AAAAAAAABCU/prw-RTTfRL8/IMG_3137_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3137" width="429" /></a><br />
And once we got there after that last 1/8 of a mile or so? What did the boys do? Found shade and ate again. Typical boys, I guess.<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--MfnRHDjLvA/UHN2_HqKhiI/AAAAAAAABCc/D-J_E3DMwLE/s1600-h/IMG_3140%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3140" border="0" height="322" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lWUOHaqoZDw/UHN2_tB51rI/AAAAAAAABCk/bbLi9LkwJmM/IMG_3140_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3140" width="429" /></a><br />
The rest of us got to the highest point we could stomach and enjoyed the views.<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-T9RHsA8MN9I/UHN3AbqFloI/AAAAAAAABCs/LjnwqHqb2zc/s1600-h/IMG_3141%25255B14%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3141" border="0" height="308" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Zq66YLiz6lc/UHN3Aytx5MI/AAAAAAAABC0/XRqX25-OQzE/IMG_3141_thumb%25255B11%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3141" width="429" /></a><br />
This guy, out on the rock over there, the little blip to the right, he really should wear brighter clothing. If he were to fall off the mountain, no one would ever find his camouflaged body. Or, worse yet, hunters might mistake him for a bear (it happened to a lady a couple years ago on this trail, very sad). That’s why I make my children wear bright colors and encourage them to talk about video games and make noise for hours on end. Even the stupidest hunter knows that bears don’t discuss Wizard 101 for hours on end.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-71BWRmIyczE/UHN3BbkcwUI/AAAAAAAABC8/N_fqN87hXlk/s1600-h/IMG_3143%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3143" border="0" height="321" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NpgQ8m3lxHM/UHN3BxNWVDI/AAAAAAAABDE/44wDzsaQksI/IMG_3143_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3143" width="429" /></a><br />
Sean was with us on this hike too—he took all our pictures, which explains why I am in some, and he is in none. This is a picture that Michelle took. …or maybe that wasn’t Sean and I was just swept off my feet by a mountain man. Handsome guy, I tell ya.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QVa0tsnNGCM/UHN3CJbzH5I/AAAAAAAABDM/Pm7uj6Gp5zQ/s1600-h/394404_3998180726215_381511144_n%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="394404_3998180726215_381511144_n" border="0" height="323" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tkesL-94OZw/UHN3CrfK2pI/AAAAAAAABDU/4wtm5LyNF88/394404_3998180726215_381511144_n_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="394404_3998180726215_381511144_n" width="429" /></a><br />
We started back down the trail. Alice counted 36 switchbacks. Not all are visible in this picture, but quite a few are.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1PbaPoC7ALk/UHN3DcgilKI/AAAAAAAABDc/i9HYcPexNTM/s1600-h/IMG_3160%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3160" border="0" height="321" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Ef2vcxAiu64/UHN3Djlh4DI/AAAAAAAABDk/zSpkn2Cfg9M/IMG_3160_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3160" width="429" /></a><br />
The wildflowers were still going strong—Indian Paintbrush here.<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5lskviDAHvE/UHN3FIbUDqI/AAAAAAAABDs/ABbwvTKkIRs/s1600-h/IMG_3159%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3159" border="0" height="321" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bVTJcLklb3M/UHN3F29_GqI/AAAAAAAABD0/7AE5hfFRgas/IMG_3159_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3159" width="429" /></a><br />
Sauk Mountain with Mt. Baker in the background.<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HzWMijqCCHI/UHN3GXerRpI/AAAAAAAABEA/N6rvgMk0ufc/s1600-h/IMG_3158%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3158" border="0" height="321" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YaG_SFWrS7E/UHN3HdfVjoI/AAAAAAAABEI/afwq8RWysgw/IMG_3158_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3158" width="429" /></a><br />
Off in the background there, I *think* that’s The Sisters, but I could be wrong. Who’s going to correct me if I’m wrong, anyway? <img alt="Winking smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-x8O0M_e-_VI/UHN3H-co4SI/AAAAAAAABEM/8x6cZ7wu3Ww/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pYtPLWRBOik/UHN3IN02H7I/AAAAAAAABEY/G7K0n2aifU0/s1600-h/IMG_3119%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3119" border="0" height="574" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bF3mMKRCF5Q/UHN3IuW0iyI/AAAAAAAABEg/JiC1cQQrDOw/IMG_3119_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3119" width="429" /></a>Melinda C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06775950700939084657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110381390160404692.post-41292316757199393812012-08-18T17:00:00.000-07:002012-10-08T18:11:19.224-07:008.3 Miles, BABY!For the first inaugural Family Camp in 2011, all the kids, all the adults, we all hiked up to Skyline Divide. After a rocky start (who knew it was twelve miles dirt road to the trailhead and there was no way we’d finish nearly five mile hike by lunch?), it turned out to be a great day. Sean carried up the watermelon that was rolling around in the back of the Tribute, and we had a nice lunch of trail mix, Goldfish, and watermelon on the ridge.<br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGVmXbJCb5PGgCQSQtenmX7uhiArEHQkL-KvdLtMNN74o0Sq2aq41PnyebT7Ulwu2pRKsdNif1Tuia6yGJO9j3h-6b6hpemKf5g4QZpzu70CIogJP5MIOPp1xkXtUhlszypD_7Fe4QHQ/s400/P1020870.JPG" /><br />
Oh, the pressure was on to recreate such awesomeness.<br />
This time, we had five families. Kids ranging from 6 years old to 14. Hiking experience from very little to weekly multi-mile trips. Some who LOOOOOVE hiking, some who may have rather stayed at the campsite. And those of us who LOOOOOVE hiking, well, we had a hike in mind, the Lake Ann hike. It’s a long day hike, and given that it takes two hours to drive to it from Ferndale, we thought it would be good to try it out, being that we were already camping in the area. After all, we were saving lots of precious driving time since we were so close and all.<br />
Did I mention it was 8.3 miles, round trip, and this particular day was one of the hottest of the summer? Didn’t mention it yet? Well, ask the boys. They remember. They can tell you all about it.<br />
Our group this year—Owen, Sean, Guyan, Melinda, Cecile, Henry, Michelle, Alice, Kim, Kerry, Roguie (black dog), and in the front, Freckle (white dog), Roisin, Jenica, and Liam. Kerry and Matthew and family opted to stay back at camp…Kerry only brought flip flops camping (coincidence?).<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-h9iI-4Nx_OI/UHNE5rJt8hI/AAAAAAAAA8E/N1FA3SdWIZ4/s1600-h/224395_3972790051464_263461214_n%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="224395_3972790051464_263461214_n" border="0" height="320" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uahEFAiUVns/UHNE6vj4vgI/AAAAAAAAA8M/TQBKxrG5xPI/224395_3972790051464_263461214_n_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="224395_3972790051464_263461214_n" width="426" /></a><br />
The hike started down, down, down into a valley with a cool stream and wonderful views all around. We splashed around and had lunch, and at this point, the younger hikers, their Moms, and Alice (she decided it’d be more fun back at camp with the other girls) decided to head back to the cars. <br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QJfPNYEMdjw/UHNE7a2wgfI/AAAAAAAAA8U/ITNiVUMvGXw/s1600-h/IMG_3013%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3013" border="0" height="555" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XwxWvxVthpQ/UHNE784o4eI/AAAAAAAAA8c/1PEYr3bgy_w/IMG_3013_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3013" width="416" /></a><br />
Cecile, Me, Michelle, Kim, and Roguie.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-eNhO_WuWwtE/UHNE8reDk1I/AAAAAAAAA8k/GEJVpGJRYZc/s1600-h/IMG_3017%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3017" border="0" height="559" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bfr9xy5x7DY/UHNE-1ZzCVI/AAAAAAAAA8s/YaAcdlP4g30/IMG_3017_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3017" width="417" /></a><br />
Our family (including Freckle), Michelle, and Henry trudged on.<br />
And on and on and on. We thought we were doing GREAT!!! Feeling good, crossing streams, watching the distance tick on by on my GPS watch. And then we came to another stream crossing. Huh? With a turn off to the Swift Creek Trail. Double huh? Didn’t we pass that back at lunch? Aren’t we four miles in with just a little bit to go before we get to the lake? Sean, my geologist husband, was expressing his doubt at the location…where would an alpine lake be around here? Our doubts were growing. Never fear—we KNEW we were on a trail, but had we really gone four miles? “Let me check something…,” Melinda says.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8Ap7ldVyVmc/UHNE_fF6GJI/AAAAAAAAA80/R0KTGHhvp20/s1600-h/IMG_3041%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3041" border="0" height="566" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZhkHHRFtR4E/UHNFBlifFNI/AAAAAAAAA88/eLA5ma3xcII/IMG_3041_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3041" width="423" /></a><br />
“Whoopsie! You know how we thought we’d gone four miles? Silly me, the watch was measuring kilometers!” And then I ran ahead before they could beat me with a stick. Good thing it was 80+ degrees…they didn’t have the energy.<br />
So we continued on again. Across some huge boulder and scree fields in the blazing sun…<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2tOeCbP5lJI/UHNFC-cFJzI/AAAAAAAAA9E/GJkr-aYwtNw/s1600-h/IMG_3046%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3046" border="0" height="564" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZhNL7PESZtI/UHNFDpl_EdI/AAAAAAAAA9M/Jj2Ods2UiS4/IMG_3046_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3046" width="422" /></a><br />
Up a blinding snowfield…<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1pZPUT3ba0U/UHNFEQpjO4I/AAAAAAAAA9U/-J_boLp8keI/s1600-h/IMG_3026%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3026" border="0" height="320" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8dxKs8QMyFs/UHNFE4Pu7kI/AAAAAAAAA9c/sj3n9_F_2g0/IMG_3026_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3026" width="428" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-koI5V-O0vFE/UHNFFn3UXLI/AAAAAAAAA9k/KLCkK0eyZIA/s1600-h/IMG_3021%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3021" border="0" height="563" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dAybnjTbfcI/UHNFGMvV8RI/AAAAAAAAA9s/MKtc4jSjap0/IMG_3021_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3021" width="423" /></a><br />
To finally arrive at…Lake Ann. A frozen Lake Ann. <br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TfEhnZCF7ew/UHNFGqaR_1I/AAAAAAAAA90/kpih3YRldfY/s1600-h/DSCN7280%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSCN7280" border="0" height="321" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LuGHImn4DB4/UHNFHWCiFyI/AAAAAAAAA98/fALslpSZHkM/DSCN7280_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSCN7280" width="427" /></a><br />
At this point, everyone was so tired, we collapsed under a tree, had some watermelon, and regrouped.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nXL7jGxiNDQ/UHNFH3n4xoI/AAAAAAAAA-E/lg5G3lxe5jw/s1600-h/IMG_3027%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3027" border="0" height="320" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZzrLSX-ogTI/UHNFIiOGe7I/AAAAAAAAA-M/dJBhHHmDHaU/IMG_3027_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3027" width="428" /></a><br />
Most of our hiking party was content to stay put and keep regrouping, but Sean and I went about a quarter mile more to see what there was to see. So glad we did! It was so sunny and bright, the glaciers of Mount Shuksan were glowing with the sun shining down on them. In the upper left, that’s the Upper Curtis Glacier, and in the middle, that’s the Lower Curtis Glacier. <br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-d8hXRmsX20A/UHNFJN1r7UI/AAAAAAAAA-U/q0rxhH5V2I0/s1600-h/IMG_3028%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3028" border="0" height="317" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QgqTYSNo3Sw/UHNFJUAQpLI/AAAAAAAAA-c/P5XS6k9Ujsg/IMG_3028_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3028" width="423" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4-WJOHJY4Ig/UHNFKFOuGoI/AAAAAAAAA-k/InFUxa_T77I/s1600-h/IMG_3031%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3031" border="0" height="569" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eP5zrDnvngo/UHNFKsO9p6I/AAAAAAAAA-s/1ZW2Zf_SxWQ/IMG_3031_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3031" width="425" /></a><br />
There’s a climbing route around the left of the Lower Curtis Glacier and over the top of the Upper Curtis Glacier to summit Mount Shuksan…I think I am totally content with never doing that particular climb. My bucket list is filled with different things than climbing rocks and crossing crevasses. Hiking, yes, climbing, no.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-h6j4s9ENZIw/UHNFLYl818I/AAAAAAAAA-0/zN-1bsMu9cE/s1600-h/IMG_3030%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3030" border="0" height="570" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ruSecgfBoWg/UHNFMMzNDZI/AAAAAAAAA-8/u4i2P2wOb1o/IMG_3030_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3030" width="426" /></a><br />
It was nearly impossible to keep your eyes open to look into the camera and smile. “One, two, three, OPEN YOUR EYES!” Click.<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8cFF10c_R_4/UHNFNTXzpwI/AAAAAAAAA_E/I16OudJUcmw/s1600-h/IMG_3032%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3032" border="0" height="565" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zvNjBwflTFo/UHNFNz2B-1I/AAAAAAAAA_M/WQLAtVHITkg/IMG_3032_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3032" width="422" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--D75vqdtlOQ/UHNFOVkMZGI/AAAAAAAAA_U/Y5EPVQvGroY/s1600-h/IMG_3036%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3036" border="0" height="560" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JWteBHEF8Kg/UHNFO0GMKTI/AAAAAAAAA_c/j9Oxh7DugLE/IMG_3036_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3036" width="420" /></a><br />
I think I need to explain this last picture. It looks like it’s overcast and that my children were doused in a rainstorm. Not so. If I remember correctly, it wasn’t overcast at all; in fact, Michelle’s pictures from her nicer-than-mine camera show pretty bright blue skies. All the water drenching the boys came from that nice little stream I showed you in the beginning. Any time we came across a stream on this hike, we’d sprinkle some water on our heads. By the time we were finishing the hike in 85 degree weather, we were just about jumping in it.<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Tl6QkB3-TPU/UHNFPm-Mg8I/AAAAAAAAA_g/TBV5SVraJVU/s1600-h/IMG_3054%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3054" border="0" height="569" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RFkWiexG2bo/UHNFP3aZpII/AAAAAAAAA_s/6rQo7iovRZ4/IMG_3054_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3054" width="426" /></a>Melinda C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06775950700939084657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110381390160404692.post-66305606697147801062012-08-18T11:49:00.000-07:002012-10-08T18:02:15.965-07:00Family Camp at Silver LakeFor the past six or seven years, my girlfriends and I have had a girls’ weekend in the early spring. For the past couple of years, we’ve all talked about having a second girls weekend in the fall, but it hasn’t materialized. That’s okay though…because last year, we started up the Family Camp tradition. Granted, not all of the dozen girlfriends like camping, so some may never see the dirt of the campsite. <br />
But Kerry, Michelle, and me? We were in from the start, and our kids loved it—it was a highlight for their summer. Matthew and Sean—they bonded through Ladder Ball. And this year, Cecile and Kim and their kids joined us as well.<br />
We barely took any photos at the campsite, but we did get a couple of the Orange Cake dessert—vanilla cake batter filled into hollowed out oranges, then wrapped in foil and baked in the campfire. Yummy! And so much better than last year’s “Smoky Cherry Chocolate Cake” (smoky is code for burnt).<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gfcaq_1VEgE/UHMgBRml2sI/AAAAAAAAA64/1sHcXrsNoFM/s1600-h/IMG_3059%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3059" border="0" height="553" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yl0L_HkOpXM/UHMgCAoKa-I/AAAAAAAAA7A/H3qsDLX-nPE/IMG_3059_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3059" width="413" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LDq0AOiN0o0/UHMgC_qanBI/AAAAAAAAA7I/NSHjYl3ADSk/s1600-h/IMG_3061%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3061" border="0" height="308" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-N4kLw3XNnRM/UHMgDS9jEJI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/OcHGQjT7J8w/IMG_3061_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_3061" width="412" /></a> <br />
Next year, we’ll be back. August 23-25, in case you need to mark your calendars.Melinda C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06775950700939084657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110381390160404692.post-3239821739317526012012-08-10T11:22:00.000-07:002012-10-08T18:02:15.960-07:00Steppin’ Out on Sauk Mountain<p>I found a great website this summer.  It’s for the <a href="http://wta.org" target="_blank">Washington Trails Association</a> and has all sorts of information about hikes in Washington State (duh).  I did a search for a hike of yada yada distance within yada yada miles from home, and turned up with Sauk Mountain.  The trip reports sounded awesome.  The weather was awesome.  But alas, our upcoming weekend had plans (no idea what—I am two months late in posting about this), and our regular hiking partners, the <a href="http://ohtheplaceswewillgoblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Bergmans</a> couldn’t make the hike on a weekday.  I had to find a substitute group, otherwise my children would be potentially be a whining mess that I’d need to haul up the mountain.  That wasn’t something I wanted to deal with, so I called Marnie.  Their family does backpacking, and Sully is a great friend of Guyan’s (and very nice to Owen).  She said yes, and it was a great match.</p> <p>The trail was about four miles, with lots of switchbacks.  LOTS—some guy on the way down told us there were more than thirty.  The wildflowers were out, and the views were incredible.  This hike seemed to pack more views in for less effort—views for 90% of the hike.  Incredible.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FTuK2hMIgz4/UHMaCf0snCI/AAAAAAAAA4M/fogCQt3o4L4/s1600-h/CIMG0196%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="CIMG0196" border="0" alt="CIMG0196" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OqpdPJCXSR8/UHMaC923t_I/AAAAAAAAA4U/VnkfiW56MtA/CIMG0196_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="547" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vBbYnCM3b0M/UHMaD256JMI/AAAAAAAAA4c/N7SCPzkvb0U/s1600-h/CIMG0148%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="CIMG0148" border="0" alt="CIMG0148" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-z8FTu7MF3jI/UHMaEhLPOGI/AAAAAAAAA4k/KT6qDwJGo78/CIMG0148_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="410" height="546" /></a></p> <p>Near the top, there was a small crop of rocks, and a marmot just sitting there watching us.  He’s right here in the middle of this picture, like a giant guinea pig.  The boys named him Marmot Joe.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-F7lvnmai7ZI/UHMaFFiZ_zI/AAAAAAAAA4s/2Bq8-OYDxkk/s1600-h/CIMG0152%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="CIMG0152" border="0" alt="CIMG0152" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-b61oz1isbME/UHMaF5cT3dI/AAAAAAAAA40/zlVrwfevU5Y/CIMG0152_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="417" height="556" /></a></p> <p>We got to the top, and the views did not stop—355 degrees (there was one rock that blocked a tiny little part of the view).  Owen gave it a thumbs up.  My, I do believe he’s turning into a hiker.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PM8UC9VslXY/UHMaGbNeNHI/AAAAAAAAA48/oV5tkUwwTO4/s1600-h/CIMG0159%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="CIMG0159" border="0" alt="CIMG0159" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7P8eFA1UhwA/UHMaHMmH2BI/AAAAAAAAA5E/enkCnRjijOg/CIMG0159_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="423" height="318" /></a></p> <p>He gets a thumbs up from me too.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NY9QG8imUrs/UHMaHi1-BJI/AAAAAAAAA5I/4evlL2JI5Z0/s1600-h/Me%252520%252526%252520Owen%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Me & Owen" border="0" alt="Me & Owen" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3N_cEkWLYn0/UHMaIqt5bZI/AAAAAAAAA5U/Kr075I179WA/Me%252520%252526%252520Owen_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="417" height="622" /></a></p> <p>This is Hailey, Sully’s sister and the only one of us to have the guts to climb up on one of the tallest rocks at the summit.  I love this picture.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3LpiWMGhp7w/UHMaJRHPSTI/AAAAAAAAA5c/b7w8i_HQLLQ/s1600-h/CIMG0189%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="CIMG0189" border="0" alt="CIMG0189" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9P7SLM6CBM4/UHMaKL2-DTI/AAAAAAAAA5k/dNOdAZCoeas/CIMG0189_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="421" height="560" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1xH3sw2urGw/UHMaL2k02QI/AAAAAAAAA5s/RnBrJLuWE6c/s1600-h/Cools%252520and%252520Smiths%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Cools and Smiths" border="0" alt="Cools and Smiths" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jBmnLrCbg2U/UHMaMQtv6qI/AAAAAAAAA5w/8KN58YcWtpM/Cools%252520and%252520Smiths_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="426" height="285" /></a></p> <p>On our way back down, I kept thinking how thrilled I was with the hike.  We were going to have to come back to share it with Sean and our regular hiking buddies, too.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vp0UzRgUUe8/UHMaNBG6lpI/AAAAAAAAA58/D-XfvEfXYZE/s1600-h/CIMG0149%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="CIMG0149" border="0" alt="CIMG0149" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mj3YCQUnl34/UHMaN3fHOEI/AAAAAAAAA6E/OVvHZQ1fiiw/CIMG0149_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="428" height="322" /></a></p> Melinda C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06775950700939084657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110381390160404692.post-8566559614853100052012-08-05T10:50:00.000-07:002012-10-08T18:02:15.970-07:00One Last Picture…<p>And we can’t end the Depoe Bay Trip without a staged family portrait.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-D5F__5KQ8PU/UHMSfrr2fUI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/50AB2S1MfMc/s1600-h/424296_3946963505082_1947532410_n%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="424296_3946963505082_1947532410_n" border="0" alt="424296_3946963505082_1947532410_n" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CetBpMralM8/UHMSgKV4VgI/AAAAAAAAA3U/nW4NEY_uAdQ/424296_3946963505082_1947532410_n_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="417" height="278" /></a></p> Melinda C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06775950700939084657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110381390160404692.post-75434735934414847672012-08-04T10:27:00.000-07:002012-10-08T18:02:15.967-07:00The Newport Aquarium<p>The boys and Sean took a trip to the Newport Aquarium with all the cousins, aunts and uncles.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vJbpF5Khbgs/UHMNTthJaeI/AAAAAAAAAzI/kW-5DAi8lq0/s1600-h/IMG_2885%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2885" border="0" alt="IMG_2885" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JqSuDQboLPA/UHMNUFOCmNI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/FJDkDIl3-pQ/IMG_2885_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="388" height="518" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cKs2G6cPAkk/UHMNUhPJVMI/AAAAAAAAAzY/st8ecVjZx_c/s1600-h/IMG_2840%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2840" border="0" alt="IMG_2840" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-oDirAqgGdyA/UHMNVFnYwRI/AAAAAAAAAzg/VIXLkAXPD5o/IMG_2840_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="392" height="524" /></a></p> <p>There was a tank with shrimp in it that munched the dead skin off your hand.  Guyan loved it, Sean thought it was pretty cool, and Owen…you be the judge.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-L8evB8NBG_A/UHMNV3f7XAI/AAAAAAAAAzo/1zyZzlgtYfc/s1600-h/IMG_2815%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2815" border="0" alt="IMG_2815" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_gvDIGm2DMQ/UHMNWbBlP_I/AAAAAAAAAzw/EsaiW4g_gH4/IMG_2815_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="183" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CDMjOpnnPWE/UHMNWiXrppI/AAAAAAAAAz4/qQTDqb28fHE/s1600-h/IMG_2811%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2811" border="0" alt="IMG_2811" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vEQVcaX_Pqg/UHMNYOgxzrI/AAAAAAAAA0A/_e2ozqZmx1s/IMG_2811_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="183" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TQLcfhcpxFI/UHMNYp1DCNI/AAAAAAAAA0I/qLXvM-0GwBQ/s1600-h/IMG_2812%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2812" border="0" alt="IMG_2812" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kW3hUW1JLK0/UHMNZP_aGII/AAAAAAAAA0M/NJn2EjZ8JUY/IMG_2812_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="368" height="491" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TLPgraNPcXg/UHMNZkpfonI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/Hb4-6Uaae_I/s1600-h/IMG_2807%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2807" border="0" alt="IMG_2807" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zhwYaqg9Nw0/UHMNaJNLyUI/AAAAAAAAA0g/dT2xYfp3y7E/IMG_2807_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="183" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YZ2P2ov0nUI/UHMNa02XQzI/AAAAAAAAA0o/mpE65G3PrqY/s1600-h/IMG_2803%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2803" border="0" alt="IMG_2803" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-a6UoaMsXgPc/UHMNbauvWHI/AAAAAAAAA0w/KOI7EwuTS_8/IMG_2803_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="183" height="244" /></a></p> Melinda C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06775950700939084657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110381390160404692.post-33685089441748785462012-08-03T17:52:00.000-07:002012-09-15T17:53:12.573-07:00Cape Lookout (‘cause it’s a long way down!)<p>After the dunes, we headed off to our real hike of the day at <a href="http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org/wiki/Cape_Lookout_Hike">Cape Lookout.</a>  This location is supposed to be just about the best place for whale watching along the Oregon Coast without getting in a boat.  With all the whales we had already seen during our vacation from the timeshare, I was hopeful.</p> <p>The hike was awesome.  The marine clouds from earlier in the day had cleared out, and we had beautiful views and great weather.  But alas, no whales.  The views would have to do.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-F4t0U9QvzKU/UFUi1lQ4VXI/AAAAAAAAAuw/NoBDqu0XkVU/s1600-h/IMG_2737%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2737" border="0" alt="IMG_2737" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UoY_WOa6s70/UFUi2F7GqmI/AAAAAAAAAu4/qjvz_abpy6o/IMG_2737_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="416" height="557" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6exfQ9YQqAs/UFUi2aP9cXI/AAAAAAAAAvA/QKEuy-ju13Y/s1600-h/IMG_2739%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2739" border="0" alt="IMG_2739" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UOHSuFcDmOg/UFUi3L_bZZI/AAAAAAAAAvI/ePMPlIa2SZo/IMG_2739_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="428" height="572" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pUS8AKhHDOs/UFUi3v12_wI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/iwClaa92SSI/s1600-h/IMG_2745%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2745" border="0" alt="IMG_2745" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-duqP0eSbqfU/UFUi36VUeuI/AAAAAAAAAvY/ZiNqHBcCr_I/IMG_2745_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="432" height="578" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Gsxw1K6p8xc/UFUi4WtQ1jI/AAAAAAAAAvg/GjCaGDivl14/s1600-h/IMG_2751%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2751" border="0" alt="IMG_2751" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xnYtuOsv568/UFUi4uczkEI/AAAAAAAAAvo/KUsdeuORMRk/IMG_2751_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="430" height="321" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mb5wrnNd_ZU/UFUi5cWDAQI/AAAAAAAAAvw/HiyzXBckX_o/s1600-h/IMG_2753%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2753" border="0" alt="IMG_2753" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XzTb4hm9-Fs/UFUi54gRkcI/AAAAAAAAAv4/MP4yoSVmfTY/IMG_2753_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="432" height="323" /></a></p> <p>He’s my best friend.  How did I get so lucky?</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-cItHKT8-jHk/UFUi6XLyuwI/AAAAAAAAAwA/nj_p9kG64Jk/s1600-h/IMG_2756%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2756" border="0" alt="IMG_2756" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tIdq37tb5OM/UFUi6gQyzqI/AAAAAAAAAwI/kF24NB_6r_g/IMG_2756_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="427" height="319" /></a></p> <p>This was a very very steep cliff down to the water.  You can’t tell very much from the picture, but perhaps you get the gist from the tension in Sean’s chest and arms, and that nervous smile?</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-p-VBeJ6hF-Q/UFUi60c3cHI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/muPxsH64bd4/s1600-h/IMG_2764%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2764" border="0" alt="IMG_2764" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-g48w5LHs2Bw/UFUi7bEJDCI/AAAAAAAAAwY/rJ1B07dO9VM/IMG_2764_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="424" height="567" /></a></p> <p>Or maybe from my look as I scold Guyan to stop goofing off for the picture, or else we will plunge down to our certain deaths?</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KIHI9UxRT-4/UFUi75rPn5I/AAAAAAAAAwg/y0gRsJC1j1A/s1600-h/IMG_2766%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2766" border="0" alt="IMG_2766" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Di41-yyJoXo/UFUi8OyMXnI/AAAAAAAAAwo/QPzxQVC31ro/IMG_2766_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="426" height="319" /></a></p> <p>Or maybe you can judge the height from this picture—and this cliff wasn’t nearly as steep and high as the others.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sQ4PW_LflbU/UFUi8pQ889I/AAAAAAAAAww/qiXRq76Vkik/s1600-h/IMG_2775%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2775" border="0" alt="IMG_2775" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YegJa_jhnjA/UFUi8zCVRpI/AAAAAAAAAw4/EkYQEffaH-g/IMG_2775_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="427" height="320" /></a></p> <p>On the drive back to the timeshare, the kids promptly fell asleep.  So cute.  Sean said it makes him feel like he’s doing a good job as a parent when they’re so tuckered out after a day of fun that they fall asleep in the car.  Yep, he’s doing a good job.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-E7awcjMyqHo/UFUi9f0ByXI/AAAAAAAAAxA/nI_xL6Gjv44/s1600-h/IMG_2787%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2787" border="0" alt="IMG_2787" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4dP_vhu_MjI/UFUi95R14WI/AAAAAAAAAxI/JaRm-oOuN6I/IMG_2787_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="322" /></a></p> Melinda C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06775950700939084657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110381390160404692.post-65596725355144043542012-08-03T17:28:00.000-07:002012-09-15T17:29:24.409-07:00Dude, it’s a Dune<p>When Sean and I took our bike ride, we rode through Pacific City.  When Sean was a kid, he used to visit his Granny just north of here at Tierra del Mar, and play on a big sand dune at Pacific City.  We brought the boys to the sand dune to show them.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bMvc6Nxi_OE/UFUdNwcmCUI/AAAAAAAAAq8/MP3mVe8m72A/s1600-h/IMG_2695%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2695" border="0" alt="IMG_2695" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zs5fqT1pv5w/UFUdONsq0aI/AAAAAAAAArE/9LbSklsJzjs/IMG_2695_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="423" height="566" /></a></p> <p>All those little specks?  People.  Dude, with a dune like that, you’ve got to climb it.  I was off…the kids, not so enthusiastic.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lCeeHEvGwHg/UFUdOp7bDZI/AAAAAAAAArM/6g51J6Mk5rc/s1600-h/IMG_2696%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2696" border="0" alt="IMG_2696" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BFokhz74lMQ/UFUdPFFKnRI/AAAAAAAAArU/6_UPUOBOn1w/IMG_2696_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="422" height="565" /></a></p> <p>Good thing their father is a patient man and took it slowly with them.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8LwQlmUVN14/UFUdPn-e2PI/AAAAAAAAArc/ystjT0-ZRL4/s1600-h/IMG_2698%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2698" border="0" alt="IMG_2698" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5y0__P4Y_3s/UFUdPz3ahiI/AAAAAAAAArk/wfL1catXKSo/IMG_2698_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="424" height="317" /></a></p> <p>Very…</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-z_ghPQJK1B0/UFUdQVpU9JI/AAAAAAAAArs/n7sgwsEVQIo/s1600-h/IMG_2699%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2699" border="0" alt="IMG_2699" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GkNG-VUNNWc/UFUdQhlrdGI/AAAAAAAAAr0/HYTvbHl9ZNs/IMG_2699_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="419" height="560" /></a></p> <p>…very…</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EPTmAm8Fon4/UFUdRayCdGI/AAAAAAAAAr8/LBh_eYJAfiw/s1600-h/IMG_2703%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2703" border="0" alt="IMG_2703" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yutR-JlBhzc/UFUdRrjL0oI/AAAAAAAAAsE/vblzwAuDtv4/IMG_2703_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="424" height="317" /></a></p> <p>slowly.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GTp126wGBT0/UFUdSBKpoWI/AAAAAAAAAsM/IwWi2SUbg74/s1600-h/IMG_2712%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2712" border="0" alt="IMG_2712" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8LXD_AiGzAk/UFUdSagnVPI/AAAAAAAAAsU/rseIEv8yCp8/IMG_2712_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="426" height="319" /></a></p> <p>After we all made it to the top, we did our traditional family tree pose.  Later in the week, I used that picture to inspire a mosaic stepping stone.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_xZ3G9RnaFk/UFUdS0LzZQI/AAAAAAAAAsc/V7CP--fBH_c/s1600-h/IMG_2713%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2713" border="0" alt="IMG_2713" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HQsjfZzKT20/UFUdTL_56eI/AAAAAAAAAsk/--np-5ElGUQ/IMG_2713_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="183" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZK65FVglBz8/UFUdTmR9zaI/AAAAAAAAAss/_pvdZOwTk0A/s1600-h/IMG_2886%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2886" border="0" alt="IMG_2886" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6281bUE5OZQ/UFUdUJ8OaSI/AAAAAAAAAs0/9BZLnKb1nJo/IMG_2886_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="231" height="174" /></a></p> <p>A little more leaping and celebration…</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mfvDB2WMUxg/UFUdUi2AAWI/AAAAAAAAAs8/gcn3dX0yEBY/s1600-h/IMG_2717%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2717" border="0" alt="IMG_2717" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2xSM86d6vwU/UFUdVF80p_I/AAAAAAAAAtE/E4HXWIG8tqc/IMG_2717_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="419" height="314" /></a></p> <p>…and it was time to head back down the dune.  Quickly.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-VkYb2ZsSY00/UFUdVu3Qq5I/AAAAAAAAAtM/Nsj9ES7RxK4/s1600-h/IMG_2720%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2720" border="0" alt="IMG_2720" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sD1ZE4XnddQ/UFUdV_mDI2I/AAAAAAAAAtU/Zp6rkfur96M/IMG_2720_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="209" height="279" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dkxpRFmnehU/UFUdWYuE3GI/AAAAAAAAAtc/7_FI__Cjht4/s1600-h/IMG_2721%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2721" border="0" alt="IMG_2721" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lqoBXIHvUDs/UFUdWukeevI/AAAAAAAAAtk/hFDKWbnuIGw/IMG_2721_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="209" height="279" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-VI-fyQ_XOLg/UFUdXN5Wz5I/AAAAAAAAAts/bI05P6RiqQE/s1600-h/IMG_2722%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2722" border="0" alt="IMG_2722" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HLjxfnlYjZ0/UFUdXhxglJI/AAAAAAAAAt0/voqg2ejBCH4/IMG_2722_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="423" height="566" /></a></p> <p>But not as quickly as some people.  Crazy nut.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pv7cqt7F0Fo/UFUdYEBlT8I/AAAAAAAAAt8/mGnf3hYWP1w/s1600-h/IMG_2700%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2700" border="0" alt="IMG_2700" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4v5oD-M3_3g/UFUdYj00kJI/AAAAAAAAAuE/wcopckaeKkY/IMG_2700_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="427" height="320" /></a></p> Melinda C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06775950700939084657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110381390160404692.post-57652717604597257282012-08-03T17:14:00.000-07:002012-09-15T17:58:28.106-07:00A Rogue Family<p>Another Depoe Bay highlight was our night getting to know all things Rogue.  We started at the Rogue Brewery gift shop, with pre-dinner drinks…</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Wzyw1WSQaAQ/UFUkJGd2hqI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/XxxI4fc41BU/s1600-h/384618_3946936304402_1317874996_n_th%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="384618_3946936304402_1317874996_n_thumb[1]" border="0" alt="384618_3946936304402_1317874996_n_thumb[1]" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-POakEd61YSQ/UFUkJTiZ_rI/AAAAAAAAAxY/f3n6zNWa2vM/384618_3946936304402_1317874996_n_th.jpg?imgmax=800" width="412" height="274" /></a></p> <p>…then dinner at the Rogue Brewery Restaurant (whole Black family and some of the people we’ve collected along the way)…</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cLCNJXrxgYo/UFUkJyDF2QI/AAAAAAAAAxg/Hco_EI6M_p8/s1600-h/484422_3946935304377_1785901954_n_th%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="484422_3946935304377_1785901954_n_thumb[1]" border="0" alt="484422_3946935304377_1785901954_n_thumb[1]" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zNGer8qCarE/UFUkKVLDQfI/AAAAAAAAAxo/B9XqstIPHwE/484422_3946935304377_1785901954_n_th%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="415" height="276" /></a></p> <p>…followed by our late night drinks (siblings and spouses only) at the Rogue Pub. Just to make sure we didn’t miss anything. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-z12k23YYRmQ/UFUkK8Jv2_I/AAAAAAAAAxw/fenF6CIVe6Y/s1600-h/432020_3946942304552_1202441148_n_th%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="432020_3946942304552_1202441148_n_thumb[1]" border="0" alt="432020_3946942304552_1202441148_n_thumb[1]" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-REK4cMEjsko/UFUkLPAl7cI/AAAAAAAAAx4/AAYWP9eDzsU/432020_3946942304552_1202441148_n_th%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="418" height="278" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xvLcc08kNW0/UFUkLezu1oI/AAAAAAAAAyA/ygNlaW1H2i0/s1600-h/427118_10151002359212153_1608404839_.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="427118_10151002359212153_1608404839_n_thumb[1]" border="0" alt="427118_10151002359212153_1608404839_n_thumb[1]" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NSetUIIr5b4/UFUkLzinP6I/AAAAAAAAAyI/oXnZIAnHoc8/427118_10151002359212153_1608404839_%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="422" height="562" /></a></p> <p>The cousins had all gone back to the timeshare after dinner with Grandma and Grandpa. The picture below is my favorite photos from the night, which my brother Deke posted on Facebook with the caption: “Dory and her cousins at the Rogue Brewery. They are so drunk.” I think my brother—not the kids, I promise—had already had a few by the time he posted it. I knew I had. It made me laugh and snort for quite a while.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7DjtZhtu_bE/UFUkMQcgKII/AAAAAAAAAyQ/XNxE_QC8x6E/s1600-h/IMG_2794_thumb12.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2794_thumb[1]" border="0" alt="IMG_2794_thumb[1]" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fbwtFKw5aWs/UFUkM-zoybI/AAAAAAAAAyY/6sBffLos7dQ/IMG_2794_thumb1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="419" height="315" /></a></p> Melinda C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06775950700939084657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110381390160404692.post-31954963702647478422012-08-03T17:04:00.000-07:002012-09-15T17:06:31.092-07:00Blowing Glass<p>When I’m on vacation, I like to collect experiences over souvenirs.  At the Oregon Coast, finding a glass float on the beach is a rare souvenir; buying a piece of blown glass from a local artisan is a more common souvenir.  We kind of blended all that together—we found a <a href="www.jennifersearsglassart.com">studio</a> that allows tourists to blow their own glass with the help of a local artisan.  Perfect.  Our helpful artisan, Andrew, was awesome.  He let all four of us trade in and out of the process, so we all got a piece of the action.  Guyan and I started.</p> <p>First, we donned the safety gear—leather gloves and eye protection.  Looking cool.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1f-F6Lef2xY/UFUXxHcc_sI/AAAAAAAAAl8/tS6yNzCb7YM/s1600-h/IMG_2679%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2679" border="0" alt="IMG_2679" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cOjNBBNb6_c/UFUXxWa7dgI/AAAAAAAAAmE/YguYis1RWVs/IMG_2679_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="315" height="421" /></a></p> <p>First we chose our colors and the object we were going to make—a giant float with green, blue and white.  Kind of like an earth globe.  After setting out the colors, it was time to heat the glass.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-p29ezr9K_jU/UFUXyGN0JBI/AAAAAAAAAmM/QYL7zHu46EE/s1600-h/IMG_2680%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2680" border="0" alt="IMG_2680" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-J5ePSc1xM7I/UFUXyopuGrI/AAAAAAAAAmU/4TSP5TgtGZI/IMG_2680_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="318" height="425" /></a></p> <p>After it was nice and molten, Owen was the brave soul who was going to apply the colors.  Careful…he was so good he did it with his eyes closed (kidding!).</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6pfJXC3NBFM/UFUXy7OJ2uI/AAAAAAAAAmc/cUkh-7ZV3f0/s1600-h/625462_3946883943093_1217108648_n%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="625462_3946883943093_1217108648_n" border="0" alt="625462_3946883943093_1217108648_n" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-t_rZSSc1kls/UFUXzU1y-AI/AAAAAAAAAmk/2P0PzOJCIG0/625462_3946883943093_1217108648_n_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="417" height="278" /></a></p> <p>Concentrate….</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1m9Wp0faiM8/UFUXz2j_31I/AAAAAAAAAms/YPADo6ogGCU/s1600-h/315485_3946888423205_994287823_n%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="315485_3946888423205_994287823_n" border="0" alt="315485_3946888423205_994287823_n" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Pa0erj6cXBQ/UFUX0epaprI/AAAAAAAAAm0/g8heQMZ1CAI/315485_3946888423205_994287823_n_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="421" height="280" /></a></p> <p>…and smoosh, smoosh, smoosh.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1Yc5RANrj7k/UFUX1MuP6LI/AAAAAAAAAm8/xngckFK8Fkg/s1600-h/IMG_2685%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2685" border="0" alt="IMG_2685" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-G53bLXpUL00/UFUX1XNSN_I/AAAAAAAAAnE/bitTN_gokCk/IMG_2685_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="138" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-t8Nh20X0Qzc/UFUX2Cb-RpI/AAAAAAAAAnM/oon05fcFa8o/s1600-h/IMG_2686%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2686" border="0" alt="IMG_2686" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TBIgM71oPwU/UFUX2kMrSJI/AAAAAAAAAnU/81gmWBdtY_o/IMG_2686_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="135" height="180" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eMI6BIkEHGo/UFUX3InS0mI/AAAAAAAAAnc/AbOvjHo82CE/s1600-h/IMG_2687%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2687" border="0" alt="IMG_2687" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-I9H_LvEPrY4/UFUX37li2zI/AAAAAAAAAnk/3HeO0CTn_rU/IMG_2687_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="134" height="178" /></a></p> <p>Ta-daa!  Color applied.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aLsrARCNqSQ/UFUX4R7C_fI/AAAAAAAAAns/iZ0-EZqZ8iQ/s1600-h/400484_3946888743213_1199653166_n%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="400484_3946888743213_1199653166_n" border="0" alt="400484_3946888743213_1199653166_n" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-t3H3nBZze40/UFUX4p95tII/AAAAAAAAAn0/muQax5CI8rA/400484_3946888743213_1199653166_n_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="410" height="273" /></a></p> <p>Time to reheat, and get the color to join in with the molten glass….</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cDgwDWgJm84/UFUX45SD8WI/AAAAAAAAAn8/yYApQl0lBkw/s1600-h/557497_3946890743263_308693347_n%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="557497_3946890743263_308693347_n" border="0" alt="557497_3946890743263_308693347_n" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QXKZC58SXec/UFUX5e0XtkI/AAAAAAAAAoE/xTc-sDAiiSU/557497_3946890743263_308693347_n_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="409" height="272" /></a></p> <p>Then roll it, and pinch and twist it to make the swirlies.  Lots of pinching and twisting—grab firmly, but don’t jab, we were told.  I think I may have jabbed.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YU3cPAdXBEQ/UFUX5oE-MiI/AAAAAAAAAoM/PvQ5_PWJ-9k/s1600-h/402019_3946893023320_366272681_n%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="402019_3946893023320_366272681_n" border="0" alt="402019_3946893023320_366272681_n" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5g1kflFLj78/UFUX6BC3uXI/AAAAAAAAAoU/8z0fMZDnSaY/402019_3946893023320_366272681_n_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="392" height="261" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-eszxyzho8fk/UFUX6lFlY-I/AAAAAAAAAoc/E1pMwIZP8S0/s1600-h/582653_3946892703312_681732271_n%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="582653_3946892703312_681732271_n" border="0" alt="582653_3946892703312_681732271_n" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yYLJuA30ANI/UFUX68KEnCI/AAAAAAAAAok/pw7IfCbqORE/582653_3946892703312_681732271_n_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="391" height="260" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-71lCx95o8Tc/UFUX7mS_1OI/AAAAAAAAAos/urMXUznp-dw/s1600-h/418273_3946891863291_503291324_n%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="418273_3946891863291_503291324_n" border="0" alt="418273_3946891863291_503291324_n" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Eoub-uwlpeM/UFUX7zyrllI/AAAAAAAAAo0/60C3kT5xXSo/418273_3946891863291_503291324_n_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="262" /></a></p> <p>Then heat it and roll it again…(And again and again and again, it seemed.  Lots of reheating and rolling.)</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5TVC8rgmAAM/UFUX8m9BsqI/AAAAAAAAAo8/pSte_wegvgI/s1600-h/558195_3946895223375_1073837360_n%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="558195_3946895223375_1073837360_n" border="0" alt="558195_3946895223375_1073837360_n" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-i0G-Qj36SVY/UFUX8x9C88I/AAAAAAAAApE/iGhy4ZDdsNQ/558195_3946895223375_1073837360_n_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="421" height="280" /></a></p> <p>Smooth it out round…</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FjbOVL7zD4k/UFUX9eIKwLI/AAAAAAAAApM/R6SWzL2nSdo/s1600-h/484067_3946897823440_977821859_n%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="484067_3946897823440_977821859_n" border="0" alt="484067_3946897823440_977821859_n" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-T6S92hNBzB0/UFUX9tupTwI/AAAAAAAAApU/TVUwBQNIwvs/484067_3946897823440_977821859_n_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="425" height="283" /></a></p> <p>And now blow while it’s hot!  Not too hard…constant, steady…Andrew was a good coach.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rfPvQB2wjas/UFUX-Wz2UhI/AAAAAAAAApc/oQflyanv7LE/s1600-h/418351_3946905463631_1393033510_n%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="418351_3946905463631_1393033510_n" border="0" alt="418351_3946905463631_1393033510_n" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mDBu8v-ZfXM/UFUX-19tuZI/AAAAAAAAApk/uz6E2DR_9UU/418351_3946905463631_1393033510_n_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="426" height="284" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qJ51SNaRkrw/UFUX_E8b9gI/AAAAAAAAApo/R-xI7SgzZ98/s1600-h/405184_3946906703662_1178686080_n%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="405184_3946906703662_1178686080_n" border="0" alt="405184_3946906703662_1178686080_n" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bH09Vm2Ex9A/UFUX_iQ0_AI/AAAAAAAAApw/D29tfKmKs-I/405184_3946906703662_1178686080_n_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="427" height="284" /></a></p> <p>Break it off the pole with a large knife over the concrete floor.  No surprise that the professional took over at this point.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ntD3bWScrdE/UFUYAFsLUxI/AAAAAAAAAp4/RAlarQDzMQ8/s1600-h/IMG_2692%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2692" border="0" alt="IMG_2692" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ISFYq0ezrNU/UFUYAm2ep9I/AAAAAAAAAqA/FRIV3EHni70/IMG_2692_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="425" height="569" /></a></p> <p>Add a dollop of molten glass for a loop handle….</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bp-Ndiz2TkM/UFUYBGfTUbI/AAAAAAAAAqI/O-At2LIxpoA/s1600-h/IMG_2693%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2693" border="0" alt="IMG_2693" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3WPX4Y5AGSo/UFUYBdPib-I/AAAAAAAAAqU/ghNt26hd4iA/IMG_2693_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="424" height="567" /></a></p> <p>…and voila!  You’re done.  And now all we need to do is make a hanger so we can get it out of the bubble wrap and on display in the house (knew I should have bought a hanger…).</p> Melinda C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06775950700939084657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110381390160404692.post-25566316242566238782012-08-02T10:48:00.000-07:002012-10-08T18:02:15.956-07:00Everyone Loves a Parade<p>My sister’s family and my mom and dad all brought their bikes down to Oregon as well.  One of the first mornings, we rode them from the timeshare into Depoe Bay…thirteen of us along the Oregon Coast Highway, up some big hills, spread out, taking turns into the neighborhoods, getting lost, Sean dumping me on the tandem.</p> <p>I wouldn’t call that bike ride a success.</p> <p>However, a few days later, we tried again.  This time there were a few less of us (Dave, Cindy, Nathan and Lindsey had left for home), and the timeshare presenter had told us about a flat, scenic ride along the Yaquina River.  Not too much traffic, and we could go as long as we wanted.  She wasn’t too helpful with the timeshare presentation, but her bike route recommendation was excellent.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gLoThNd2GbM/UHMR5Q0HCNI/AAAAAAAAA1g/6tN7G0F-hCg/s1600-h/DSC_6737%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC_6737" border="0" alt="DSC_6737" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FC71raKdDdM/UHMR6N9Z0uI/AAAAAAAAA1o/q4NqlMMZak8/DSC_6737_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="417" height="281" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NI6igum9rbk/UHMR6n4tHaI/AAAAAAAAA1w/tzrIyr1PxKY/s1600-h/DSC_6750%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC_6750" border="0" alt="DSC_6750" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VOoFK5eU8mg/UHMR7P36g3I/AAAAAAAAA14/7_Hkq5prXpA/DSC_6750_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="421" height="284" /></a></p> <p>And an added bonus on this bike ride?  An old tractor in a field just waiting for a photo shoot.  Glad to oblige.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-itGJKALidFc/UHMR8GkcK_I/AAAAAAAAA2A/657xympgSIk/s1600-h/246861_3946879822990_1048733341_n%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="246861_3946879822990_1048733341_n" border="0" alt="246861_3946879822990_1048733341_n" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZMLL2CNOWPc/UHMR9rOW0FI/AAAAAAAAA2I/rplyUzVh93Y/246861_3946879822990_1048733341_n_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="427" height="284" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wMIM3Vaups0/UHMR-gEo0XI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/3YDJ21jlXjI/s1600-h/DSC_6760%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC_6760" border="0" alt="DSC_6760" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lUSvgLx12VE/UHMR_UT-YFI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/JvQnF9I04z8/DSC_6760_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="422" height="285" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Ol4EXE6m16k/UHMSAAVb8vI/AAAAAAAAA2g/qL6kQG-t3po/s1600-h/DSC_6754%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC_6754" border="0" alt="DSC_6754" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jBPALFD-LEo/UHMSAU7_giI/AAAAAAAAA2o/olrEFCor-TE/DSC_6754_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="283" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8bQ2kSbT0Mk/UHMSBFNYkqI/AAAAAAAAA2w/kFof0Ol8SF4/s1600-h/DSC_6751%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC_6751" border="0" alt="DSC_6751" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FbknWzUwu3s/UHMSBh7aUUI/AAAAAAAAA24/GOZvs6Gc33A/DSC_6751_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="418" height="282" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-I2e0lwckSFQ/UHMSCiXQPPI/AAAAAAAAA28/FOF5PL4aut8/s1600-h/DSC_6746%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC_6746" border="0" alt="DSC_6746" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dmcsicRmj6Q/UHMSDFTJbOI/AAAAAAAAA3I/ATzZ6pJ58dM/DSC_6746_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="283" /></a></p> Melinda C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06775950700939084657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110381390160404692.post-2725838997372903712012-07-31T18:17:00.000-07:002012-09-03T21:25:16.051-07:00Earning Your Ice CreamI had another hare-brained idea for the tandem while we were at Depoe Bay. The Oregon Coast is renowned for cycling, and a long hilly bike ride seemed as good an idea as any, in my opinion. Not in the opinion of my extended family; most of them thought it was <em>cah-RAE-zee</em>, but kept their opinion largely to themselves. We decided on a route from Depoe Bay to the Tillamook Cheese (and ice cream!) factory. The map says 58.06 miles, but my GPS watch said 60.89. I’m going with my watch.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7-YSzHpdWvk/UEVWmqU9qNI/AAAAAAAAAkc/_XrI-yfrz5M/s1600-h/image%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="347" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9s-CbjpoYOQ/UEVWnYhFMrI/AAAAAAAAAkk/rWx5OUyAeK0/image_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="418" /></a><br />
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Those two big hills? Yeah. BIG. I’m glad I didn’t see them before we set off on the bike ride. Coming back in the car with the tandem loaded on top, I was quite impressed that we made it up and over them!<br />
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The scenery was beautiful, and the company was fantastic. It was a great way to spend the 15th anniversary of when we first met.<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-l2cACVtKSYk/UEVWn6jCsdI/AAAAAAAAAks/eeixLaxuJHQ/s1600-h/IMG_2596%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2596" border="0" height="314" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yb2fBscA6EY/UEVWoJifJBI/AAAAAAAAAk0/AWwY4IiVKZA/IMG_2596_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2596" width="419" /></a><br />
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Say “cheese!”<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BTIAXtkIDcA/UEVWo_HlSiI/AAAAAAAAAk8/d-l5ro4yJUQ/s1600-h/IMG_2616%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2616" border="0" height="315" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IuZViDovACk/UEVWpZ3ulGI/AAAAAAAAAlE/jh58qLAXMek/IMG_2616_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2616" width="421" /></a><br />
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And “ice cream!!!”<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PqVTxLuuq6Y/UEVWp57Gv4I/AAAAAAAAAlM/8CAXyGC6TGs/s1600-h/405349_3946833501832_97923950_n%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="405349_3946833501832_97923950_n" border="0" height="279" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xwRediODVhw/UEVWqOAQxoI/AAAAAAAAAlU/oUM413wE6gI/405349_3946833501832_97923950_n_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="405349_3946833501832_97923950_n" width="419" /></a><br />
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(just in case you’re thinking the boys did this crazy ride, ummm, NO. The rest of the family came up in cars, and kindly brought our children, our bike rack, and our vehicle with them.)Melinda C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06775950700939084657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110381390160404692.post-51348082032926498102012-07-30T16:31:00.000-07:002012-09-03T17:20:35.300-07:00Depoe Bay Family Vacation<p>At the end of July, our family set out for the Central Oregon Coast to spend a week with Grandma & Grandpa Black, the Andersons (Dustin, Liz, and Nolan), the other Andersons (Cindy, Dave, Nathan, and Lindsey), Ryan, and Deke & Dory.  We had a couple units at the Worldmark Depoe Bay.  We saw gray whales almost every day—the first ones within a half an hour of our arrival.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uAvy_JxAyPU/UEVJQGSHkkI/AAAAAAAAAiU/j9NOVJtwULA/s1600-h/IMG_25614.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2561" border="0" alt="IMG_2561" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uqS1DM7L_9o/UEVJQh0z4vI/AAAAAAAAAic/RLQygF_bMDc/IMG_2561_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="405" height="303" /></a></p> <p>All the menfolk took a daytrip to the Evergreen Air & Space Museum in McMinnville.  The ladies opted to search for a pedicure (which ended up being back at the timeshare, courtesy of Lindsey). </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:96cd2ae0-1b23-4846-85c0-54932d90e4ce" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;width:406px;border-collapse:collapse;'><tbody><tr><td style='margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;width:auto'><a style="outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;" target="_blank" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=da38ef9f2ece3551&page=play&resid=DA38EF9F2ECE3551!175&type=5&authkey=!ANTUkWBgYr9MPyc&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" alt="View album" title="View album" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6quSJTZhiew/UEVJQwqdcgI/AAAAAAAAAik/x_yldiyCHxs/album%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><div style='width:406px;text-align:center;overflow:visible;padding:0px;margin:0px;'> <div style='width:406px;overflow:visible;'><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=da38ef9f2ece3551&page=browse&resid=DA38EF9F2ECE3551!175&type=5&authkey=!ANTUkWBgYr9MPyc&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:1.26em;padding:0px;width:406px;font-size:26pt;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" defaultText="Enter album name here">Evergreen Air & Space</span></a></div> <div style="text-align:center;padding:9px 0px 0px 0px;margin:0px 0px 0px 0px;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;"> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style="text-align:center;width:auto;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;border-collapse:collapse;"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 12px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=da38ef9f2ece3551&page=play&resid=DA38EF9F2ECE3551!175&type=5&authkey=!ANTUkWBgYr9MPyc&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">VIEW SLIDE SHOW</a></td> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 0px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=da38ef9f2ece3551&page=downloadphotos&resid=DA38EF9F2ECE3551!175&type=5&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!ANTUkWBgYr9MPyc" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">DOWNLOAD ALL</a></td> </tr> </table> </div> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <p>Another day, we went down to Agate Beach to see the dock from the Japanese tsunami that had washed ashore.  Equally fascinating were the miniature sand dunes.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:257ceb9c-6bd0-4df1-b9c0-ecea810cc487" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;width:490px;border-collapse:collapse;' > <tr> <td colspan=2 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:5px 0px 5px 5px;width:193px;vertical-align:bottom;' > <a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=da38ef9f2ece3551&page=play&resid=DA38EF9F2ECE3551!182&parid=DA38EF9F2ECE3551!180&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AP4O78WgKJSc1Dw" target="_blank" border="0" style="outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;"> <img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" alt="View album" title="View album" width="193" height="193" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ccxt1J4TBaQ/UEVJRcSCG8I/AAAAAAAAAis/D6IdbQ1txmA/-14577574843CF163D7.png?imgmax=800" /></a> </td> <td colspan=3 style='vertical-align:middle;margin:0px;padding:5px 5px 5px 0px;outline:none;border-style:none;width:277px' > <div style="margin-left:10px;top:-3%;" > <div style='width:277px;overflow:visible;'><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=da38ef9f2ece3551&page=browse&resid=DA38EF9F2ECE3551!180&type=5&authkey=!AP4O78WgKJSc1Dw&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:1.26em;padding:0px;width:277px;font-size:26pt;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" defaultText="Enter album name here">Agate Beach</span></a></div> <div style="padding:10px 0px 0px 0px;margin:0px;"> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style="margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;border-collapse:collapse;width:auto;"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:10px 15px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=da38ef9f2ece3551&page=play&resid=DA38EF9F2ECE3551!180&type=5&authkey=!AP4O78WgKJSc1Dw&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">VIEW SLIDE SHOW</a></td> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:10px 0px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=da38ef9f2ece3551&page=downloadphotos&resid=DA38EF9F2ECE3551!180&type=5&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AP4O78WgKJSc1Dw" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">DOWNLOAD ALL</a></td> </tr> </table> </div> </div> </td> </tr> <tr><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 5px;margin:0px;width:94px;height:94px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=da38ef9f2ece3551&page=play&resid=DA38EF9F2ECE3551!184&parid=DA38EF9F2ECE3551!180&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AP4O78WgKJSc1Dw" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="94" alt="View album" title="View album" height="94" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5g8B0_oGM5g/UEVJRkfY0-I/AAAAAAAAAi0/34WawRTrKhw/12691952435E510973.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:94px;height:94px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=da38ef9f2ece3551&page=play&resid=DA38EF9F2ECE3551!185&parid=DA38EF9F2ECE3551!180&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AP4O78WgKJSc1Dw" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="94" alt="View album" title="View album" height="94" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2Q4tZggkwD4/UEVJR1GZeHI/AAAAAAAAAi8/fmT6uO62l7s/1269195464253A2C71.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:94px;height:94px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=da38ef9f2ece3551&page=play&resid=DA38EF9F2ECE3551!183&parid=DA38EF9F2ECE3551!180&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AP4O78WgKJSc1Dw" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="94" alt="View album" title="View album" height="94" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-shmyBxxpum8/UEVJSJWDKDI/AAAAAAAAAjE/4IISKBF62AE/-14577572946C234F6E.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:94px;height:94px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=da38ef9f2ece3551&page=play&resid=DA38EF9F2ECE3551!181&parid=DA38EF9F2ECE3551!180&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AP4O78WgKJSc1Dw" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="94" alt="View album" title="View album" height="94" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-j-2uIkAyGng/UEVJStio5SI/AAAAAAAAAjM/6GLmD0mxGvk/-13238674051E1AEFF9.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:94px;height:94px;' > </td></tr></table></div> <p>A family bike ride along the Yaquina River (the Andersons, Blacks, and Cools) was another highlight, complete with a perfect tractor photo op.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Wu7qpSlF7WE/UEVJS3i1P0I/AAAAAAAAAjU/PSrv3uiWRxk/s1600-h/246861_3946879822990_1048733341_n3.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="246861_3946879822990_1048733341_n" border="0" alt="246861_3946879822990_1048733341_n" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_WGwogH1sVg/UEVJTd37KbI/AAAAAAAAAjc/9DsGBmy7lIw/246861_3946879822990_1048733341_n_th.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="269" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8Fn72v6kV4U/UEVJTtZtHfI/AAAAAAAAAjk/kuIOwxnOvYQ/s1600-h/418702_3946865382629_1157337451_n3.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="418702_3946865382629_1157337451_n" border="0" alt="418702_3946865382629_1157337451_n" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BuhfWDITm28/UEVJUBTeDpI/AAAAAAAAAjs/Yd_s-Yg6Ehw/418702_3946865382629_1157337451_n_th.jpg?imgmax=800" width="409" height="272" /></a></p> <p>We also spent time exploring Newport.  Sean took the boys to the Newport Aquarium, where Guyan was eaten by a shark, and Sean was eaten by shrimp. </p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:46f9d713-4d66-47d2-8d46-8c8c31032997" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;width:410px;border-collapse:collapse;'><tbody><tr><td style='margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;width:auto'><a style="outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;" target="_blank" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=da38ef9f2ece3551&page=play&resid=DA38EF9F2ECE3551!186&type=5&authkey=!ABVGF26Dc2wk0uw&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" alt="View album" title="View album" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lBi13a262no/UEVJUSOHtxI/AAAAAAAAAj0/KdOp9pqH28s/album%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><div style='width:410px;text-align:center;overflow:visible;padding:0px;margin:0px;'> <div style='width:410px;overflow:visible;'><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=da38ef9f2ece3551&page=browse&resid=DA38EF9F2ECE3551!186&type=5&authkey=!ABVGF26Dc2wk0uw&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:1.26em;padding:0px;width:410px;font-size:26pt;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" defaultText="Enter album name here">Newport Aquarium</span></a></div> <div style="text-align:center;padding:9px 0px 0px 0px;margin:0px 0px 0px 0px;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;"> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style="text-align:center;width:auto;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;border-collapse:collapse;"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 12px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=da38ef9f2ece3551&page=play&resid=DA38EF9F2ECE3551!186&type=5&authkey=!ABVGF26Dc2wk0uw&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">VIEW SLIDE SHOW</a></td> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 0px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=da38ef9f2ece3551&page=downloadphotos&resid=DA38EF9F2ECE3551!186&type=5&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!ABVGF26Dc2wk0uw" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">DOWNLOAD ALL</a></td> </tr> </table> </div> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> </p> <p>As I look through the hundreds of pictures we have from this trip, I am seeing the need to compartmentalize.  The next few posts will focus on some of the other big Cool Family highlights from Depoe Bay.</p> Melinda C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06775950700939084657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110381390160404692.post-65741300576228377492012-07-22T16:00:00.000-07:002012-09-03T16:05:38.915-07:00A Boy, A Girl, and Their BicycleWith the boys sent off to camp, Sean and I had to do something spectacular, something out of the ordinary, something we’d never done before. How about taking our newly acquired tandem bicycle camping on Lopez Island? No car, no showers, minimal supplies. Just us, the open road, and plenty of scenery. Sounds great, yes?<br />
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That’s why we did it for only one night. To test out this crazy idea.<br />
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The benefits of bike camping are numerous. For starters, you get to load onto the ferry first, and it’s much cheaper than the car fare.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-llNpWbxEsLQ/UEU2R701AOI/AAAAAAAAAfc/PIKZy1S1Sh4/s1600-h/IMG_2447%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2447" border="0" height="529" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9dWbL5N3HSE/UEU2SYpj70I/AAAAAAAAAfk/gmLfEkTrvAM/IMG_2447_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2447" width="396" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JNxHg2dBdY8/UEU2S4OPkDI/AAAAAAAAAfs/64oJ794Rp4E/s1600-h/IMG_2451%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2451" border="0" height="299" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sBiWT0tInwo/UEU2TQqTtaI/AAAAAAAAAf0/UOFJkf4KRxI/IMG_2451_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2451" width="400" /></a><br />
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You can fit a hammock in with your gear.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-18ThvDQzjxA/UEU2T0g_L-I/AAAAAAAAAf8/tmUZiEXIZUA/s1600-h/IMG_2477%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2477" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-L8cHkqhIYIs/UEU2UTeFZzI/AAAAAAAAAgE/3R-fCBjV3wA/IMG_2477_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2477" width="401" /></a><br />
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Solitude with your husband. You can only fit two people on a tandem, especially if your kids no longer fit in one of those trailer thingies.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-srsN1tda9n4/UEU2VHUP9OI/AAAAAAAAAgM/zVhIm_Yd8AA/s1600-h/IMG_2453%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2453" border="0" height="298" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-F5WP5pWDPTI/UEU2VsM8qiI/AAAAAAAAAgU/TAak2r8PhQQ/IMG_2453_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2453" width="403" /></a><br />
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You can fit a hammock in with your gear.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-X9pOeD9UDtc/UEU2Wkg6QmI/AAAAAAAAAgc/j84Hnk8WOB0/s1600-h/IMG_2460%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2460" border="0" height="302" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YiJkRwd6FPs/UEU2W7indJI/AAAAAAAAAgk/QgLyRweiZIg/IMG_2460_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2460" width="403" /></a><br />
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It’s much faster and lighter than a John Deere tractor, and no diesel fumes. The John Deere Club spent their weekend on Lopez as well—we only saw them on the ferry).<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-EWSuq9U4EBo/UEU2XX317II/AAAAAAAAAgs/PyBJKTAZzlg/s1600-h/IMG_2456%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2456" border="0" height="301" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9BNDEuEEvFY/UEU2XortqCI/AAAAAAAAAg0/WwA-7Z2kV-o/IMG_2456_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2456" width="402" /></a><br />
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You can fit a hammock in with your gear.<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5ma4uuDQIh0/UEU2YfDo4_I/AAAAAAAAAg8/BFDebvMQ1lM/s1600-h/IMG_2461%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2461" border="0" height="303" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_vqZfX_uNHU/UEU2Y9hyvBI/AAAAAAAAAhE/DH5DUlSABek/IMG_2461_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2461" width="405" /></a><br />
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Your husband, if he’s a regular cyclist, will look similar to this. If you’re the stoker on the tandem (in back), you’ll get an up close view of his sexy back.<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gybVOEoYmWc/UEU2ZdnYbwI/AAAAAAAAAhM/_VtKjuc3-0k/s1600-h/IMG_2465%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2465" border="0" height="545" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wH2AFNO0i04/UEU2Z3VVZ_I/AAAAAAAAAhU/i7Q0KphP3n8/IMG_2465_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2465" width="407" /></a><br />
<br />
You can fit a hammock in with your gear.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Go-5zEI5Xsg/UEU2aee3iJI/AAAAAAAAAhc/Vsvc6TdykCU/s1600-h/IMG_2462%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2462" border="0" height="545" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jcCLqlaf4qY/UEU2a-8rwnI/AAAAAAAAAhk/I75LDxtG_Ag/IMG_2462_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2462" width="407" /></a><br />
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The walk-in/bike-in sites have views like this.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dPj5sGQGN7U/UEU2biI28AI/AAAAAAAAAhs/_5zlneiaTBs/s1600-h/IMG_2483%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2483" border="0" height="306" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YQeBrYO-cso/UEU2b5fkjrI/AAAAAAAAAh0/U9PqRGu-b9o/IMG_2483_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2483" width="409" /></a><br />
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Next year, when the kids go to Camp Orkila, I hope to do at least two nights of bicycle camping. Highly recommended.Melinda C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06775950700939084657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110381390160404692.post-85652426239381184782012-07-21T15:21:00.000-07:002012-09-03T15:28:50.281-07:00Camp Orkila—the Build-Up and Send-OffI have always wanted to be one of those kids that went off to summer camp. Sleep in a cabin, get dirty, make lifelong friends in one week. It’s probably a little late for me, but for my kids, I wanted to make it happen. With some help from Grandma and Grandpa Black, this year, it did happen. The boys went for a week to YMCA Camp Orkila on Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands. I’m so jealous.<br />
When we first told the boys in April about this grand scheme, Guyan was thrilled. Owen, not so much. He has problems with homesickness at Grandma’s house, so he wasn’t sold on the idea of a week away in a strange place. In June, our whole family, plus Grandma and Grandpa Black, went over to Camp Orkila for an open house, so we could all check it out.<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-T6SX_q572M4/UEUuCojKJaI/AAAAAAAAAdA/p1hayVrKMNk/s1600-h/IMG_18384.jpg"><img alt="IMG_1838" border="0" height="296" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4SSLvjx-rHc/UEUuCzAQqoI/AAAAAAAAAdI/BjO1SXSqZHg/IMG_1838_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_1838" width="395" /></a><br />
A cloudy ferry ride, followed by beautiful skies and scenery at Camp Orkila.<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Gs2MacN8fgQ/UEUuDbzf1FI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/v4bORXSFV44/s1600-h/IMG_18436.jpg"><img alt="IMG_1843" border="0" height="275" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dnpJjszz_uI/UEUuD2BGDwI/AAAAAAAAAdY/ZEX_R6h7SNU/IMG_1843_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_1843" width="367" /></a><br />
The campfire and stage…<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HPf-J281JRM/UEUuEfKebLI/AAAAAAAAAdg/JVoAnTNjTvU/s1600-h/IMG_18635.jpg"><img alt="IMG_1863" border="0" height="470" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1w_bjh9RHHw/UEUuE_NMq8I/AAAAAAAAAdo/P9h9-Gy_D-Y/IMG_1863_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_1863" width="351" /></a><br />
A real stump house!<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-48HbjJH_HJo/UEUuFdixafI/AAAAAAAAAdw/Llsya3G3qWY/s1600-h/IMG_18864.jpg"><img alt="IMG_1886" border="0" height="472" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-757BJ38dAfo/UEUuF_P5QeI/AAAAAAAAAd4/R56p-KsAjz4/IMG_1886_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_1886" width="353" /></a><br />
Goofy and his grandson.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jrQqlUX07dU/UEUuGYB0AuI/AAAAAAAAAeA/tzSpGD3pg0g/s1600-h/IMG_19004.jpg"><img alt="IMG_1900" border="0" height="276" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mg2cCy6B-hk/UEUuG1RmUWI/AAAAAAAAAeI/h5NqiJVBtAQ/IMG_1900_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_1900" width="369" /></a><br />
The dock—site of the Polar Bear Dip, should the campers choose to accept the challenge.<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-B47zOn5Avns/UEUuHQ4h1YI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/MdbjFYy_SwM/s1600-h/IMG_19054.jpg"><img alt="IMG_1905" border="0" height="500" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LeMER-zKsTY/UEUuHkUWeqI/AAAAAAAAAeY/KN0QFZMr7Os/IMG_1905_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_1905" width="374" /></a><br />
At the end of the Open House (even before!) Guyan was convinced, and Owen’s nerves were calmed. By the time it came for camp, they were both ready, with a bit of nerves, but more excitement than anything else. After hugs and kisses (and wrestling), they were on their way.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-G7_L05oUtcI/UEUuIKYTXAI/AAAAAAAAAeg/FPi57ieodio/s1600-h/IMG_24444.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2444" border="0" height="265" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qhCATuuF-sk/UEUuI0PPiQI/AAAAAAAAAeo/lp2nsqP36PU/IMG_2444_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2444" width="199" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JcKDHlYH3CE/UEUuJXOyZeI/AAAAAAAAAes/6IoXiUaUQz4/s1600-h/IMG_24454.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2445" border="0" height="264" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-EIiklTrikkU/UEUuJtpjWiI/AAAAAAAAAe0/DtS0yJ450jI/IMG_2445_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2445" width="198" /></a>Melinda C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06775950700939084657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110381390160404692.post-66589249750064810972012-07-15T14:57:00.000-07:002012-09-03T15:21:56.962-07:00Raptor Ridge<p>Some days, you just need to get out there with friends and explore your backyard.  That’s what we did on this somewhat chilly July afternoon.  Unfortunately Sean had to work, but he was with us in spirit.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5lP6v2pux6g/UEUtfnrKvzI/AAAAAAAAAcg/3Q7uEveQnwk/s1600-h/IMG_03754.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0375" border="0" alt="IMG_0375" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-I4sA5IcMMfA/UEUtgL2eG8I/AAAAAAAAAco/KHZIbbt0I-A/IMG_0375_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="301" /></a></p> <p>Matthew, Kerry, Henry, Michelle, Guyan, Alice, Owen, Melinda, and Freckle…who much preferred the safety of the bushes to the heights of the overlook.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iRmlX3gr2Z8/UEUtgvymvHI/AAAAAAAAAcw/N26Q7Kfe0Ok/s1600-h/IMG_03764.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0376" border="0" alt="IMG_0376" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-d4GDxVkAmtw/UEUthJPtrLI/AAAAAAAAAc0/FI63j_w4p98/IMG_0376_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="301" /></a></p> <p>Girlfriends.  We rock.</p> Melinda C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06775950700939084657noreply@blogger.com0