WOW! Crater Lake is beautiful! I would love to be there with you to see it. We had a great full moon last night, too, but I expect your view may have been more spectacular.
Enter the Silver Surfer Been a while since we have posted a comment but voila!! here we are. The pics are BEAUTIFUL. They come very close to my views of the dumpster from my own window. Life in the crisis lane continues. I have been spending quality time on the sides of various municipal highways since the vingo van has decided to move on to a higher plane of mechanical abilities. In plain English, it has died 4 times in 2 weeks, we are on first name basis with the AAA towing company. Alas, the spousal unit was all for waiting and repairing until we switched vehicles and it died twice with him. I believe he "saw the light". We are now the proud owners of an 05 Dodge Caravan with luxury features I never even knew existed because we have always driven the tin can model of vehicle. It talks to me and warms my rear end!!! the kids are excited by the DVD player I swore we would never have. I was more interested in the only 10,000 miles part. It is indeed silver with the required roof rack for kayaks. Em is practicing the clarinet diligently, unfortunately for the local human and animal population. She has a concert next week with a duet/group ensemble performance of "Hot Cross Buns". The MP3 version will be out on ITunes shortly. Have a wonderful time, Crater Lake looks spectacular. Can I just close my eyes and wake up there? Hurry back, All Hallows Eve approaches!!!!! Vingo and co Hi Alan, so sorry about your "heartaches", hang in there. or is it HANG IN THERE!!
how beautiful! Love the photos. Well I have been better at reading than writing. So just a quick not to say, hi! Miss you guys. What a great adventure you are having. Looking forward to seeing you in Oct. Lori
Happy Halloween You'll be home just in time to join us for Dracula: The Musical? at Theatre Knoxville Downtown on Halloween night. It's a costume party just like last year - maybe you can win more season tickets!
I think that you are ruling out going to Portland, because you are supposed to go to Sequoia! Dear Lord- if you love big trees, then you gots to go there! (and pick a cabin for Christmas already!!!) love you both soooo much!
Not going to Portland! What do you mean you're not going to Portland? We have tickets to fly out there this weekend! Don't you have a house lined up for us? Aren't you meeting us at the airport? Well, if you're not going to Portland, we're just cancelling our plans. So there.
Okay, so I'm just yanking your chain. We haven't purchased any tickets; the deals haven't been great and the timing is a little difficult. We still wish we could meet you SOMEWHERE along the way, but it's looking less likely. You might recall that I'm going to be in Texas part of October (my Fellows program). Mark is going to go with me for part of the time, and we'll visit with his brother a bit. That is adding a little bit of complexity to travel options, but it sounds like your plans have been a little more fluid also. Are you going to be willing to spend any time in Knoxville when you return? It sounds like you might have to move immediately to Hermit's Lodge!
I hope Cannon Beach turns out to be good. If I recall Seaside is pretty touristy; I thought that might be the case when you mentioned you were there. I'm glad you got to Crescent Lake even if you didn't stay in the lodge. We thought Olympic was pretty amazing, too.
Do you know what date you'll be back in town?
I just KNEW it...but didn't take the time to guess But, we thought she was just wanted in the Eastern US!!
Actually, I just KNEW it was my mom.....she knows everybody and everybody seems to know her!!! I just didn't send in my guess from outside my head. Oops.
Stay Gone "Stay Gone"...it's the title of a current country song but , like most country songs, you can make the lyrics work for just about any situation......but, back to my point. As I have commented before, I am living vicariously thru you (aside from that week at the beach.....sorry but you can have your tent and sleeping pad that I usually enjoy....I'll take big comfy bed followed by morning coffee on the beach anyday!!!)...anyway, it occured to me as I read this last entry and realized you have turned south and the next turn is east and home, that I really don't want you to come home because that means the end of this journey....MY journey.....the one I am I am vicariously enjoying....hence...."Stay Gone" !!!!!!!!! (Seriously, I wish only safe and fun travels!!!!!)
Beauty, beauty, everywhere. Here,s another guess on the trivia question-Mark Palmer. You can give me my prize in person, 'cause I'm quitting my job (which I love) and heading to the Lake Quinault Lodge.
Who knew Jim was a hobbit? We must say that in all the time we have known Jim (which we have established has been MANY years), we had not suspected that he was a hobbit. we always thought he was somewhat more gnome-like. Clearly, we were wrong; hobbit it is. Maybe Susan is more gnome-like . . .
Lake Crescent Lodge is great if you're near there This is really a comment on Rachel's comment. Lake Crescent Lodge is wonderful if you get into that part of Olympic National Park. Mark and I visited there this summer. We didn't stay at the Lodge, but we had lunch there while we hiked in the area. Lovely and looks like a great place to stay! The lake is marvelous!
It looks like you're not lacking for beautiful vistas or great places to stay, though.
Other adventurous friends Thanks for clarifying your hiking abilities. I'm disappointed we won't get to do all the 14ers but will try to accommodate your desire for a more leisurely visit to CO.
I've got friends who are biking from the Canadian to Mexican border, and you guys are in the same area as them. They stayed at Quinault Lodge on Sunday, Sept. 16 and are heading south along the coast. Here's their website: http://web.mac.com/wking8/iWeb/biketrip/Home.html
They are blogging just like you guys. I bet you may have seen them. They're doing some camping and some lodging. If you run into them, tell them Joe and Diana said hi.
Eh? Can't hear you! Well, I know it's not me. All of my parents friends are dead or dying. That happens when you reach 80. By the way, I am falling apart without you two close by. Not only did I have a slight heart episode since you left, but I'm being fitted for a hearing aid tomorrow. Come home soon! I running out of spare parts.
I should clarify our hiking abilities When I said "100 miles more or less", it was actually a lot less. I was thinking more of hiking down to your den and consuming lots of wine and cheese and chocolate and whatever I can find in your fridge and cabinets. My apologies for not being clear on this subject.
Trivia question? did I miss it? What the heck WAS the trivia question? Did my cousin in Washington State run into you guys? Her mother is June or Tess? She is my mom's sister. We have also lived vicariously by watching Silverchin's slide show - an awesome cinematic expeience. Some beautiful places, a lot like the panorama outside my classroom window. Oh, well, except my view is an asphalt parking lot with a dramatic view of the dumpster and newspaper recycling container. For excitement we duck bullets from the drive by shootings at the drug house nearby. For fragrance we whaft the odour of prepuberty boys and girls - intoxicating I can assure you. Enjoy your wildlife sightings and I will continue with mine. Have fun, stay safe. Silverchin is in wildlife detox therapy. Vingo
No thanks Since I am afraid the fabulous prizes may be linked in some way to the freeze-dried delicacies you make sound so very yummy, if nominated to play the trivia game, I will decline to participate. I got a nice can of chili waiting for you right back here at home.
Since you are currently doing 25 miles a day (more or less) of hiking, then I suggest we tackle at least three 14ers each day you'll be in Colorado. By that time you should be averaging, ummm, say 50 miles a day. So let's calculate for added difficulty traversing snow fields, slowness from wearing ice crampons, elevation gain of minimum 4,000 feet, maximum 6-7,000 ft. Yep, we'll plan for three a day! Looking forward to it!
ah, the memories We had a very nice stay at Lake Quinault Lodge...isn't that the one with a small rain forest and a sweet hike right across the dirt road? Look up Lake Crescent Lodge (I think on your way back from Olympic, but check in case I'm wrong)...really quaint lodge experience and a very gorgeous lake! I could spend days there. On the previous bonus question, I say hops or cranberries. Sorry I don't know the whereabouts of the various mothers in question.
Gnome Alone I was just found enough time to hook your blog back up so I am catching up. One quick question to clarify matters. Why did you buy a Gnome? Do you miss having a third wheel or is this a desperate cry for help? If indeed it is a cry, believe me I am listening. You have my number. Remember back home you already have a stuffed dinosaur and a real live cat, quit purchasing fantasy pets. You are not in Germany you are in Washington state, if having a weird "friend" is a must get something like a totem pole. If you disagree with anything I have written go ask Mr Moose on the dashboard, he never disagreed with me. Hopefully this is just an a(g)nomaly. This is not gnormal. Maybe when you stop heading gnorth and turn south things will get better. I am gnot out of these type statements but I will quit. Keep the entries coming, now that I am back on the other side of the screen I need my favorite distraction. Talk to you later mammals.
Quit our jobs to travel the Northwest. Hitting most of the National Parks on our adventure. Three Months. Two people. One car. A lot of chocolate and a lot of beer (not together). Not coming home until we see a real Moose.... full info
sue
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This is clearly a peat bog located near the town of Portland OR. All sorts of ancient people have been found perfectly preserved in its depths.