Montana

We camped the first night in St. Regis - a routine established on our 2007 trip. Then we headed north along the Clark Fork and over to Flathead Lake where I could do some quick gravel beach drive-bys. It turns out we could have gone over Logan Pass, since it opened for the season at noon, but the prospect of the Going to the Sun Road, loaded with first day gawkers and RVs, didn't jive with a desire to be in the Big Apple in a week. We did stop in Columbia Falls for coffee at Montana Coffee Traders, then headed up to the Isaac Walton for lunch.

We crossed the divide at Marias Pass and put the car in neutral for the long coast down to the Mississippi (okay, not really). An hour from the pass and the Rockies were pretty much history - at least for 3 weeks.

Road Trip

We got out of Seattle before 9, which seemed pretty late to me, but (21 days later) has proved to be the earliest start of the trip! At least we only have one teenager to accommodate.

We loaded the rocket box with the basic camping stuff, although we're not too sure how much use it will get. Most of our payload (by weight) is actually AAA tour guides.

The Subaru rolled past 200K just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We're counting on it making the next 8000 without any hitches (or tows, or leaking head gaskets, or failed clutches). We'll stick to the interstate until we clear the northwest, then head off on more interesting roads.

Our daily schedule hasn't lent itself to posting stuff, so this entry is being written as we approach the end of the trip (from Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, on Day 21?). The following entries will be similarly delayed, although I think I will date the posts to match the actual events and will probably bounce annoyingly between past and present tense.

Lake Union

I've been taking advantage of the new boat to explore local waterways - so far sticking to the ones close to home and with less frigid water. I'll expand out as time and confidence allows. Saturday was gorgeous, hinting that our dismal El Nino spring may eventually give way to a nice summer.

I've found Waterway 18, just east of Gasworks, a great place to launch. Early this morning the lake was crawling with scullers and sweepers racing each other backwards across the Lake - trying to get their training out of the way before the pleasure boaters and the breezes picked up.

Shilshole

Sunday seemed like a better evening to celebrate M's birthday than Monday (the real day), so we headed for Ray's. Despite today's high overcast, the weather was beautiful and the late afternoon sun was great. M & I both adhered to the seafood theme, while D, quite predictably, found the beef.

The Milwaukee Road

The old Milwaukee Route over Snoqualmie Pass hasn't seen a train in many decades and is now the Iron Horse trail (or alternatively, the John Wayne Trail). I parked at the Cedar Falls trailhead and rode ten miles or so up the valley before turning around. It was a beautiful morning with dog walkers in the first couple miles, occasional bicycles like me, and climbers up on the rocks near the Change Creek and Hall Creek trestles.

Because its a railroad, the grade is gradual and the turns sweeping. But it means it is a long gradual climb one way and a long easy ride back down. The highlights are the trestles - not counting the big tunnel at the top (but that was beyond today's reach and is closed right now anyway). It's cool to see I-90 winding up the valley below, but it also means there's always a gentle roar in the background.

Snoqualmie

I dropped D at Marymoor and then headed off in search of a bike ride. By way of a drive through Fall City and Snoqualmie, places I haven't explored in many years. Besides Snoqualmie Falls, I checked out some of the old railroad relics - some nice geared locomotives and some rolling stock, most of it desperately in need of a some tender loving care. I'm sure that keeping a vintage engine in good condition, especially out in the weather, is an awful lot of work.

Burlington

Another weekend spent in Mount Vernon area, this time for two days while the Garfield HS team competed at the Western Regionals. The weather was great, if not sweltering - at least by northwest standards (in the 70s). There was lots of great Ultimate - some of it even by our team - although in the end there were plenty of stronger clubs.

M and I managed to have a pleasant lunch at the Calico Cupboard on Saturday and there was even a brief acknowledgment of Mother's Day by the team during a time out on Sunday morning, but we also spent time running back and forth from Safeway and Costco to buy drinks and snacks and hanging out on the sidelines doing the normal parent cheering and chatting.

Skagit Delta

We decided to drive D and a friend up to Burlington for the second day of Spring Reign (the largest youth Ultimate event in the world?). We dropped them at Skagit River Park for the flying saucer festival and headed for the Rhododendron Cafe for brunch - where the wait wasn't too bad. From there we went south to La Conner, where we wandered 1st Street and the waterfront without buying anything (well, I bought coffee, but no expensive artwork, tempting ceramics, or fine wood furniture). Then back to the tournament to watch Garfield pull out a win in their final game.

Gasworks

Nine hours in a cramped basement office was enough, so I grabbed my bike and rode down the hill. The goal was exercise, after all I did have to ride back up the hill to get home, but of course I had the camera along, too. A shoreline park, industrial design, some color, and late afternoon sun.

Gasworks was always sort of a high risk notion for a public park. Industrial waste and something resembling a big jungle gym. They use fences and signs to keep people away from the contaminated dirt and the rusting climbing equipment. It's still a great view of downtown and a great place to fly kites - not that I've ever actually done that here. And there's probably something appropriate about visiting it on Earth Day - a reminder that just because we've messed things up for a long time, it's never too late to clean our rooms.

M & I almost got married here, 19 years ago next month, but it was threatening rain so we had the ceremony in the living room instead.

Lopez Island

Monday was Whidbey Island; Tuesday was Lopez Island. Long days, but I always enjoy the Beach Watchers classes (hope they enjoy them, too). We wrapped up at Spencer Spit a little after 4PM on Tuesday. I decided I could catch the later ferry, which left time to pick up a sandwich and head for Agate Beach and Iceberg Point. I had never visited the latter - the closest I'd come had been passing it in a boat a few years ago. I didn't quite have the place to myself, but it was awfully close. The Olympic Peninsula was clouded in, but the weather was beautiful.

Columbia Plateau

We spent a couple more hours on the Oregon Coast before heading over to Portland Sunday afternoon. The rain stayed with us - and actually got pretty blustery that evening. Reed was grey and damp, and some combination of quirky, hippy, and intellectual. Monday afternoon D got to drive from Portland to Hood River through a white knuckle rainstorm - at least I was on the right side of the car so I could admire the waterfalls when I wasn't giving advice.

Walla Walla was cool and hazy sunshine this morning. D got to sit in on a physics class while I searched out coffee and outdoor art. We had lunch in town, then visited Palouse Falls and the Hanford Reach before heading over a wet and slightly slushy Snoqualmie Pass.

Astoria

Sunday morning at the Columbia River Coffee Roasters, beneath the south end of the bridge. There's actually some blue sky showing, despite early drizzle and pending storm. By now D is probably up, maybe in shower, but probably watching ESPN. Vacations and road trips open up new vistas and cultural experiences - cable television, for example.