Memorial Day weekend in South Park

Emerging from a cold and windy winter, and a long cool, wet spring we were pleasantly surprised by the mild and sunny weather up in the mountains, south west of Denver. South Park is not yet snow free but the sun’s rays are warm and generating a lot of runoff. Our trail was almost a stream by mid afternoon! Our campsite was near a stream where the beavers are constantly making new dams. They took down a tree the first night we were there - saw it in the road on our way out! Mike decided to rough it in the wild for one night - even Rocky was too scared to stay out there alone, so he escaped the tent and ran back to us. Michael survived the night - extra snug in his feather sleeping bag - Thanks Judy. Ant and Allie preferred the luxury of the camper. We all enjoyed a visit from Jason, Nicole and Stella. After a steep hike up to Jefferson Lake, a relaxed afternoon at the campsite and marshmallows around the campfire we were ready for bed soon after dark. This is the first trip Rob was not with us - he was working all weekend and had to fend for himself. We missed him.

Christmas 2012

This post is a revival of our trip logs. Hopefully I will catch up on a whole slew of past trips since I last blogged.

This December we headed west to the Pacific coast. LA, San Diego then on to Phoenix. We got on the road early, after an evening party at Mt Vernon celebrating a friend's 50th, and drove through to Las Vegas. We spent the night in a KOA behind Circus Circus. The boys explored the casino and amusement park while Rich and I got the camper setup. We caught up with the boys in the Circus amusement park. From there we explored The Strip. The ceilings in the Venetian took my breath away - again. (pics)

The boys had great fun collecting "business cards." We saw the fountains at the Bellagio, and Mike found Mario and Luigi.

After a few hours of walking we finally had dinner off the strip - Sushi bar. It was good. Our feet were sore and our eyes tired, so we caught a taxi back to the camper. Bed was very welcome. After a late start we decided to go see the new bridge over the Black Canyon at the Hoover Dam. It is an engineering marvel and affords a great view of the Hoover Dam.

Just south of Vegas we hit a traffic jam, and landed up behind Jem and family. They were also driving through to LA to spend Christmas with us. The traffic was so slow we spent quite a bit of time walking back and forth between cars. Rob, Mike and Ryan walked ahead of us by about a mile and it took us a good half hour to catch up with them. It was fun watching trucks block off the emergency lanes as people tried to bypass the jam by racing alongside us all. It always astounds me how large the sprawl is in the LA valley. Jem got ahead of us and reached their hotel first. Once we arrived we collected Mom and headed for the beach. Out campsite was just west of LAX, right on the beach. Noisy (plane overhead) but three steps from the sand and a bike path extending the length of the LA bay. The boys and cousins always have a great time together. They talk non-stop (as long as no computers are around) and love to explore. Mike and Rich went for a ride south, so Jem and I decided to follow them.

We landed up riding 14 miles and Mike treated us to a seafood soup snack before returning to the camper. Christmas day was a great success. The best thing was Mike's gift of Season 2 of Big Bang Theory. It entertained us throughout the trip. We had Christmas lunch at a Chinese all you can eat buffet - wow teenagers can eat a lot! Our trip to see the Endeavor Space Shuttle was great. You can walk right underneath it and almost touch it. The earthquake proof supports were intriguing. I thought the displays of older space capsules were creative. You can get to within 1 inch of the capsule and really see the details. Everyone - except Rich and Mom did a long ride to Santa Monica Pier. They followed in the car and did their own exploring on the way. There really is something special about riding along the beach, smelling the ocean air and watching the ocean. Rich is so happy next to the water. The kids did lots of swimming - but with wet suits on. The water is too cold to do it without the extra layer! After four days at Dockweiler State beach we had a farewell breakfast at "Eat at Joes"

and said goodbye to Jem et al., and moved south to Laguna beach area. Rich had discovered a new State Park - Crystal Cove. What a gem.

The views from the camp sites are tremendous and the beach is lovely. There is a nearby coastal path and Trader Joes!

The quiet there was very different to the plane noise at Dockweiler. We were close to the South African store so we stocked up on home treats. We also discovered a great Greek restaurant - Athena Gyro, in Laguna Hills. I discovered a semolina Greek pudding - Halvas! All too soon Mom was heading back to SLC and we moved on the Chula Vista, south of San Diego. A RV park at the marina with lots of rules - very quiet though. We snuggled down in the camper when a downpour and hailstorm moved over the area. It is a joy to see so much rain. The proximity to the San Diego Bay was wonderful and on the first morning we saw Dolphins. There is a 25 mile bike route around the bay - so we cycled up to San Diego and the Midway aircraft carrier.

We were not allowed to board the passenger ferry to cross the bay (dogs not allowed) so we had to return to the RV park the same way we had come. Rich and I drove the remainder of the route the next morning. The drive out of San Diego to the east is incredible. Beautiful hills and valley give way to sand dunes and desert. It was a welcome treat to get all the bath towels dry - the moisture at the coast is something we are not used to. We got to Phoenix and the Lost Dutchman State Park quite late, but were up early the next morning to get Rich on the plane to New York. The thought of four days in the same place was very relaxing. We toured Taliesin West - Frank Lloyd Wrights winter home, a college Mike is interested in, and did a wonderful hike into the Superstition mountains.

We also discovered a quaint restaurant next to the state park - Mining Camp Restaurant. By the end of the week I had caught up on all my sleep and finished another book. The perfect end to a good holiday. We collected Rich from the airport and headed out of Phoenix. On our way to Albuquerque we toured a Meteor Crater - fascinating.

Temperatures plummeted and our stop over at a rest stop on I25 outside Santa Fe was chilling. We were lucky with the weather - no ice or snow on the roads so the trip back to Denver was uneventful. Thinking back on the trip - I am amazed at how well we all get on while living in such cramped quarters. I know the camper is large, but it is still astounding that we can coexist in such harmony. I am so grateful that we can have these times together. Good memories: traffic jam on an interstate in the middle of Nevada, Christmas lunch, breakfast at "Eat at Joes", sitting on the beach with Rich - watching the sunset, time with mom, Jeremy and his family, Greek lunch at Laguna, San Diego bay dolphins, Phoenix saguaros and desert evenings, the Superstition mountains, listening to audio books while on the road.

August 11 - Back to Salt Lake City

Our return to Salt Lake City was eventful. The Durango over heated and took ages to cool down. I sent mom on ahead with some of the kids and I hung out at a busy gas station with Rob and Ryan. I was amazed at the volume of customers that stopped at the station. There must be good money to be made here! Once we got back on the road the car behaved pretty well. It did however overheat again when we reached mom's place. The steep Wasatch fault and city driving was just too much for the car. It took a few tries to get the camper backed into mom's driveway - and we discovered that we had picked up a puncture in a camper wheel. I was able to change it out, thanks to Rich's good training.
Sylvia treatd us to a wonderful welcome "home" BBQ. The boys love her cooking. After a few days break we finished the final leg of the journey back to Denver. I took the Wyoming route and was able to get all the way back to Lookout Mountain before the car overheated again. I was very happy to back the camper into its resting spot at the bottom of the drive, and get a good nights sleep in my own bed.

August 10 - Diving boards and long walks

The kids planned on spending the whole day at the pools. They wanted to use the giant slides and high diving boards. The joy of the town is that it is small enough to walk to all the attractions. This gives the kids lots of independence, as they can come and go as they please. After spending time swiming and watching the kids on the diving boards, mom and I returned to the hot pools, at the other end of town. We lazed there until lunch, enjoying the peace without the children. We all met at the camper for lunch then spent some time in the river next to one of the hot springs. There is somethings very satisfying when one can enjoy a hot spring and not have to pay a fortune for the entrance ticket. Overall the day was very peaceful and the kids loved spendng time together.

August 9 - Paddling the river and playing with cousins

Rob and I got up early to prepare a large breakfast for the family. They arrived at 9:30am. We had tonnes to eat, and then hit the river. Jeremy had brought his canoe and inflatable raft with him, so we all took turns to paddle the river from one end of town to the other. Mike and I got dumped on one of the rapids - cold and rough - because I was being too timid. After that I was much more aggressive on the white water and had a lot more fun. Rob and I took turns riding to the end of town with the burley, to collect the rafters and help bring the boats back to the top of town. Jem had so much fun in his canoe, it was a joy to see him smiling so much. We paddled till 7pm, then enjoyed a wonderful dinner thanks to gran. She had arrived during the afternoon and brought a pre-cooked meal with her. Jem and Syl left for home leaving Gran and I in charge of five excited kids. Ant, Rob and Ryan decided to sleep in the tent, which left the camper to Mike and I. Gran and Ash stayed in the adjoining motel. The night was slated to be warmer than the one before, but we still gave the tenters lots of blankets.

August 8 - Back to the beginning

We woke to drizzle but it soon stopped and the wind died down. It was quite pleasant. I had discovered that Alison was an avid reader so we planned to give her a set of five books we had all read. (I was still busy finishing the fifth but had to concede defeat or we would not have left before noon) We continued south to Idaho Falls, where we had lunch and bought supplies. We could not find a book store, so I worried that Ant's reading frenzy would die off before we got him his next book. We arrived at Lava Hot Springs by mid afternoon - completing a two month circuit of the north west. It felt like being home. We were happy to see the familiar town and faces. After parking the camper I stayed in the car to call mom, while the boys hopped out to connect up the camper. I finished my conversation, got out the car and wondered why I could hear water flowing. We dashed into the camper to find we had a mini lake inside from front to back. At least they had levelled it well! The basin faucet had been left open that morning and when they had connected the water they had not noticed that the water started flowing. The plug was in the basin and as a result it had overflowed and flooded. It was a great chance to get the floors cleaned before Gran arrived. After loading up the burley we rode off to the laundromat. Those were the worst machines we have encountered all trip. Mike and Rob wallowed in a spring in the river - the water level had dropped a great deal and there was a nice rock pool to collect the hot water. After dark the town got real quiet, except for the freight trains passing by. The temperatures dropped considerably at night - goodbye summer!

August 7 - South across Montana

By this stage we had decided to make changes in our itinerary. Since Rich had left, we were not enjoying the trip quite as much. We were anxious to make our way home and not explore any more. I was happy that we had seen Glacier, but our planned route home through Yellowstone did not hold much appeal to any of us. The boys proposed returning to Hot Lava Springs, Idaho. They also wanted to invite their cousins to join us there. We had contacted the family in SLC and they agreed to meet us there on Sunday. I knew it was a long drive but we decided that we could make it in two days - Friday and Saturday.
We woke quite early Friday morning because the boys wee so excited at the prospect of seeing their cousins. We packed and spent some time saying goodbye to the lake and fort. We drove the full length of the eastern shore of Lake Flathead. It so really pretty and cherry stalls were everywhere. We soon joined I90 and sped east towards Butte, then south along I15 towards Idaho. Driving the interstate system is so easy, we drove the rest of the day without much stress. Towards evening we pulled in at a reservoir campground. We were told to find a spot near a picnic table and settle in - it was free to boot! The wind was blowing and the chill was not particularly pleasant. The camper was so snug! We had to hand pump our water - a job for the boys. A young girl, Alison, came over to help us. I also discovered that I had left the water pump on while driving - as a result it was now not working. Oh well - we would deal with it when we got back to Denver. Rob made dinner while I went for a long walk with Alison. I was really tiered from the long day on the road, and the boys were also happy to curl up in their beds. The only sound was that of the rain on our roof.

August 6 - Farmers market and library

We slept in thinking that the weather would be bad, but when we finally emerged from the camper it was quite mild. We walked down to the lake for a swim. Only Mike and Rob braved it. To warm up the boys played some attack games around their fort. Today was supposed to be a day off - this meant having to find a library and some conputers. As is always the case - small towns mean small libraries and few computers. The boys had to share resources. Mike often wonders off to read books instead of using the compter. Rocky and I expored the town on foot and we found a wonderfull farmers amrket. I love the way they block off main streets to set up the stalls. I collected Mike and we ate some lovely goats milk cheese and zucchini bread. Looked east we noticed very dark storm clouds over the mountains. We returned to the camper late in the afternoon. We explored the campground a bit and after dinner we cycled down to Apgar village. Mike and Rob wanted to get their Junior Range badges, but the office was closed. We, instead, bought huge ice creams. After skipping pebbles over the lake for a while we realised it was getting dark - rather quickly. We had to hussle to get back to the campground, 2 1/2 miles back along the lakeshore. Rocky had run all the way to Apgar, so we bundled him into the burley on the return journey.

August 5 - Shuttle busses and mountain meadows

The sun rises late over the eastern mountains and we were tempted to sleep in, but we got going quickly so that we could catch the shuttle bus to the top of Glacier Park. We did not account for all the other people also planning on catching the bus so when we got to the pickup point there were only three seats left. I sent the boys on ahead of me with strict instructions to not wonder off when they got to the top. Their shuttle was a direct service, but mine was involved a transfer at Avalanche, which only got to Logan Pass 50min after them. It was an incredible drive to the top of Logan Pass. The road works delayed the traffic quite a bit, but it gave us time to admire the wonderful views. I noticed a precipitous trail on a cliff face high about the road – I made a note to walk it. At the top I was relieved to find the boys all waiting for me. They had already explored the visitor center and knew which trails they wanted to do. Ant was all for going back down – been there, seen it and already done! We started out on the Hidden Lake Trail. The width of the trail made us feel like we were on a dual carriage way – it was so wide and well worn. We soon appreciated the width as there were so many people on it and passing would have been a problem. It is a bit like the 14’er trails in Colorado. It was glorious to be so high and see so many wild flowers (pic). We saw big horn sheep, mountain goats and marmot (pic).One mountain goat caused a people jam because he was relaxing on a rock ledge right next to the trail, at eye level. He was a great photo op. The boys attached themselves to two ladies walking along the trail at our pace. They chatted constantly and I chuckled many times when I heard the comments they made about our trip. Our two lady friends were most patient and showed so much enthusiasm when talking to the boys. I always appreciate the effort people make towards the boys. Upon return to the visitor center we decided to do the cliff face trail I had spotted earlier – Garden Wall trail. It was pretty scary even though there was a steel cable to hang on to. We caught another shuttle down the eastern side of the road – towards St Mary’s. We hopped off the bus so that we could take the trail to see St Mary’s Falls. This trail was quieter and more secluded in amongst the forest. There was a tremendous volume of water coming down the falls and the color of the water was a wonderful light green/blue (azure???). The falls flowed into a lake which we walked along for quite some time. Upon returning to the top of the pass we found at least 100 people waiting for the shuttle busses. We quickly got our names onto a waiting list and yet again the boys made friends with a family stuck in the shuttle line with us - the 1 and ½ hour wait passed quickly. Rocky was so pleased to see us when we returned to the camper at 7:30pm. He had been stuck in the camper for 11 hours. This is one of the problems of National Parks - so much to see and do, but you are unable to take your pet along with you on the trails.
While we were making dinner a ranger popped in to warn us of an approacing storm - but only before Saturday and today was Wednesday! They warned us of heavy rain and snow. We decided to make a fire but the winds were too strong so we packed it in after some scary moments when the flames flared up. After such a long day our beds were a welcome relief.

August 4 – Through a portal

After an early start we got delayed in Kalispell doing tire rotations and an oil change. I dropped the boys off at the library – they were in heaven. Before I could drop the car off for the service we had to unhitch the camper in the Wal-mart car park. I felt a bit strange ‘camped-out’ in a car park. While waiting we strolled around on the grass and Rocky managed to stand on some sort of stinger. He was really unhappy. After a late lunch we got underway towards Glacier National Park. We passed through a gap in a small ridge and it was like passing through a portal into this cool refreshing new world. The temperature dropped 20 degrees down to 70F. It was cold and windy but we felt so energized. We entered the park and found the campground. We were right next to Lake McDonald, although the many trees obscured our view(pic). We were unable to level the camper side to side as the site was really uneven. The wind was blowing in from the east over snow capped peaks and it really started to chill us. It looked like the weather at the top of the ‘going to the sun road’ was really bad. Through all of this the mosquitoes still attacked us. Because this is a National Park dogs are not allowed on the official trails, but we decided to sneak down to the water with him. We skipped stones and generally fooled around. After dinner we cycled up to the amphitheatre to attend a great talk by Doug Follet. He filled us in on the history of the park and places we had to see. We got back to the camper to discover the neighbor trying to cook his dinner over a very smoky fire – those sad tenters! He was upwind of us and managed to set off our smoke alarm – it is way too sensitive and he was way too smoky!

August 3 - Unhappy campground host

It was great to wake up to the faint sound of the trains in the distance - not passing through our campground. Ant and I went for a walk and returned to the cool air in the camper. We read most the morning then hit Hwy200 around the northern end of the lake. We then took Hwy2 north through the Cabinet Mountains. Trees and lakes where everywhere. The temperature is still above 90F and the sky is slightly less hazy. Now back on Mtn time. McGregor Lake was our home for the night but we drove the wrong way around the campground loop to access the camp site - the host was very unhappy with us. I waded into the lake to cool off, and the boys plunged right on in. We finally finished off the ice cream cake and spent the evening reading. The air cooled off quickly after sunset so I was happy to cuddle under my quilt. I am looking forward to getting to Glacier so that we can spend the next few nights in one place.

August 2 - Goodbye Rich, Hello cooler weather

After placing covers over the sprinkler heads at midnight I was sure the car would stay spot free. Upon waking up I discovered that I had missed one and it took me 1/2 an hour to re-clean the car. What is in this water??? We nearly melted while packing up and had to swim before hitting the road. We hightailed it to Spokane airport - past wheat fields everywhere. After saying goodbye to Rich we headed north east. This region is a real RV dealer mecca! Once we passed Ceur de Arlene we turned north. The sky became really hazy and the heat came down to 90F. We crossed a long bridge into Sandport. Trains seemed to be everywhere. After deciding that the Best Western campground on the lake was just too noisy, we found a campspot (the last one)at Springypoint. It was hell to manouver the camper into the site - I tried nudging a tree, but it did not move! I did not bother to unhitch, just set the brakes. We were right next to the lake and were once again swimming. We read and did puzzles in a very relaxed but hot camper. The air outside cooled wonderfully so Mike and I went for a long walk. Cleaning up after dinner was a joy because they had wonderful sinks with hot water, outside the bathrooms. We had more icecream cake - this birthday is carrying on for days! It was a joy to shower and shampoo my hair. Our last shower was many days ago. I really miss Rich.

August 1 - Returned for Mexican dessert

The early morning sprinklers wet the 'sleeping beauties' in the tent! The water has something weird in it because it left marks all over the car - which we could not rub off. We declared today a 'day off' for the boys. Rich and I went off to do laundry and clean the car, the boys headed to the river. We found Ant's long lost MP3 stuck into a seat. What a joy to have a vacuumed car, free of sand and dog hair. We returned to find the boys back from the beach and Rob making lunch. He is so helpful. The shade from the canopy over the camper(pic) was wonderful but once our tummies were filled the heat sent us back to the water. Even Rocky was pleased to see the beach and river. We struck up a conversation with some folks who have a weekend home here and live in Seattle. The drive is about 4hrs. They were saying that approx. 50% of the homeowners are weekenders. A wind picked up over the water and cooled the air. I must admit that having Rich with us leads to more interesting meals. He made ribs for dinner and then took us to the Mexican restaurant to get the dessert we missed the other evening. We decided to watch the laser show again - before heading home.

July 31 - Mighty turbines on the Columbia River

We woke to the sound of sprinklers firing up. The early morning light was a delicate pink. The whole campground was quiet so I decided to take a walk with Rocky. We went down to the waters edge and watched a couple launch their boat for the first time. After a light breakfast we sent the boys down to the river. We enjoyed the peace and then hiked up a nearby hill. The view was wonderful but Rocky suffered on the hot soil. He kept sneaking under rocks to find some shade and cool his paws. Rich finally carried him off the trail(pic) and into the river(pic). Rich made us lovely burgers for lunch. Our energy levels dipped with the heat. What a great feeling and good excuse to relax. We decided to tour the Grand Coulee Dam - it was really interesting. We each found different aspects of the visitor center interesting. Mike really reads a lot and absorbs so much. The tour into the dam wall was unavailable and the heat was killing us - 105F in the shade - so we returned to the campground for a sunset swim. (Our shower for the day) Ant and Mike pitched the tent and moved in there.

July 30 - Ice Age Floods and becoming teenagers

Ellen called to wish the boys a good day. We then had to honor their wish to play tennis. It was not yet too hot so we took Rocky with us. He chased balls until he dropped with exhaustion. Our next caller serenaded each boy while playing her accordion, we laughed at her slip of the tongue when she made mistakes - Thanks Sarah. Baxter sent wishes from everyone in SA who the boys did not remember! Granny Peggy, Paul and Kathy each called and sent wishes. After some phone calls to the local ice cream stores we found the perfect cake. Luckily our camper has a freezer. I was sad to leave Wenachee, but driving north along the Columbia reminded me of the Orange River in SA. Very arid with a splash of green along the banks. We were soon cutting across basalts towards Dry Falls. We traversed some incredibly wide u shaped valleys. The basalts made for some steep valley walls. Dry Falls blew my mind!(pic) The sheer size and energy of the ice age flooding was fascinating - just 17,000 years ago. The museum sitting on the cliff edge was very informative. The whole concept of a massive ice dam extending into Missoula then breaking through and gouging out the Grand Coulee just north of the dry falls was inspiring. Evidence of the energy involved during this dam break can be seen in Montanna where there are massive ripple marks covering the hills.
We enjoyed generous helpings of the ice cream cake for lunch(pic). What a place to celebrate a birthday! We drove north along Grand Coulee to meet the Colombia River at the Grand Coulee Dam. We passed a very pretty campground at Steamboat Rock, perched next to the Coulee reservoir. Our campground was on the Columbia and thankfully there were many trees and lots of well irrigated green grass.(pic) We struggled to squeeze into the small camp site - under a carport. It was strange to be so confined, but at least the camper was not out in the full sun. There was no power - and as a result we had no AC. The dam was going to serve as our shower for a few days and it took very little arm twisting to get us into the water. The boys pitched the tent and moved out the camper.
We all chose to have a special Mexican dinner - which was super. We had to leave before pudding so that we could watch the laser show on the dam wall. We were all very sleepy by the time we got back to the camper. The heat in the camper and noise from our East European campers nearby made it difficult to sleep.

July 29 - Enjoying the river

The heat drained our energy but I was still able to drag the family onto the trail along the river. We had to stop frequently for dips in the river. When we crossed over the Columbia we noticed a nest with bald eagles on the bridge. We have been so lucky to see so many eagles on this trip. Mike was a good sport - riding with Rocky in the burley - as we were one bike short(pic). By the time we ended the ride the boys discovered the joy of riding their bikes into the river.(pic) While we were relaxing at the beach we were astounded to see how swift the river flowed. One would have to be really careful swimming out in the current.
By late afternoon we ventured out to Liberty Orchards. My mom has always treated us with a gift from the factory at Christmas time so I was curious to see the place. While waiting for the tour we over indulged on their free samples. What a treat! We tested an energy bar they are planning to market - I thought it was horrible. The tour was interesting and we completed it twice. Considering the volume this factory produces we were quite surprised that they have only 4 double boiler drums.
We returned to the campground and headed straight for the river. After a snooze Rich made a wonderful orange chicken meal on the BBQ. The wind picked up and cooled us down.

July 28 - Heading East

During a slow, quiet morning walk we enjoyed watching a mom trying to launch her jetski into the water while her kids were anxous to start playing on the thing. We finished breakfast and packed up. We could not resist another dip in the water before moving on. While Rich visited Kinko's we hung out in a Pets Mart store to keep cool. It was 101F when we left Everitt. We said goodbye to the Pacific and started the long haul over Steven's Pass. It was refreshingly cool at the top - 85F. The mountains were steep and rugged. Leavenworth was a quaint Bavarian village surrounded by wonderful scenery. The vegetation was brown and dry. The only green growth was the fruit trees on the flood plain. Irrigation sprinklers were everywhere. What a lot of water usage! The heat hit us again as we descended towards the Columbia River Valley. We stopped at a farm stall for tonnes of fresh fruit and snacks. We enjoyed a late lunch exploring their maze and farm animals. We passed Liberty Orchards on our way to the campground at Wenatchee. What a joy to stay on grassy sites with great big trees for shade, but we had to be careful of biting insects while relaxing in the shade. Mike and I explored the campground and discovered a 10 mile loop trail, tennis courts and a lovely beach on the river. The air hardly moved after sunset and the heat only subsided late at night.

July 27 - Boeing factory and Canada

We headed to Everitt for the tour of the Boeing factory. Just as we arrived we saw the Dream Lifter getting ready for take-off. It is the converted Jumbo Jet that transports parts of the 787 from around the world and delivers them to Everitt.(pic) The assembly lines of planes was a sight to behold. I was astounded by the efficiency and compactness. The tour was rather rushed but worth it. We saw the first 787 manufactured, sitting outside the hanger. We learnt a lot about the 787 - it is a small but comfortable plane with a lot of carbon fibre materials. The cabin environment is going to be humid and comfortable. I look forward to travelling in one.
We then headed to Canada for dinner with friends in Vancouver. It was an enjoyable drive and we made quick time. They live on the west side of Vancouver, half a block from the waters edge and Stanley Park. The high density living would be too much for me to deal with. While walking along the beach we noticed a wonderful tree at the top of a 30 story apartment block. I wonder how much that penthouse sells for. We all laughed at the dog swimming out to fetch a stick - the only problem was that he decided to bring back a huge log floating in the water. He was quite successful in his quest. After a wonderful Greek dinner we drove through Stanley Park. The sunset was gorgeous.(pic)

July 26 - Pikes Place Market

We just could not resist another visit to Seattle. We planned a rondeavouz with Helen at her apartment. She has a wonderful view of the city centre and space needle. We enjoyed a good cup of tea and a great donut before venturing out to Pikes Place Market. I was astounded by the selection of flowers, fruit and fresh fish. We stopped by the first ever starbucks coffee shop(pic). The water front restaurants were adorned with flower baskets(pic). Helen then took us to the Asian market so that Rich could get some good Sushi fish. She introduced us to "Bubble tea". Different and quite refreshing. We ventured to the west side of Seattle and walked the length of Alkyr Beach. It is a vibrant hub of social activites on the weekends. Rob discovered a tortorise out for his Sunday stroll - we could not believe how fast he moved off from his owner. By the time we returned to the campground the lake shore was quiet. We had a wonderful swim followed by sushi dinner.

July 25 - Urban campground

Rich and I woke up before the boys, so we decided to sneak out and investigate the lake. We were surprised at the development. It was peaceful so early in the morning but we wondered what it would be like by noon. We were thankful that the campsites were quite far from the waters edge. The water was warm and we looked forward to a swim later in the day. After breakfast I started prepping blog entries. I was way behind and knew it would take most the morning. Mike made some friends and soon they were each walking a dog around the campground. It reminded me of the pied piper.(pic) Rich and I had to get to Everitt to sign some bank papers so we took the opportunity to do laundry and grocery shopping. On the way back to the campground we stopped at the local chamber of commerce to download blog entries and make a booking for the Boeing factory tour. Upon venturing down to the lake for a swim, we passed a wedding party playing music that the whole campground could hear. On the waters edge there were people everywhere, dogs barking, radios blaring and the restrooms were a sight to behold - how sad. We enjoyed a great steak for dinner and were amazed at how peacful the campground got after dark.