Blogs from Washington, United States, North America - page 195

Leaving the lovely Lake Quinault Lodge. Just adding a few pics to get you all through the next few days until you hear from us again. We miss you John. Not too late to quit the job (or call in sick for a week) and meet us in Yosemite. Just throwing that out there. No correct answers on the last trivia question, but Betsy Whaley gets the bonus question prize (a lesser prize, but still a prize). Hops was the correct answer (ingredient in Jim’s favorite drink and a nice potpourri). Again, just to clarify the last question, we met some folks from TN, who knew the mother of one of you who is reading this. The correct answer would be, for example, Mary Anne Hoskins (but that is not the correct answer). Okay? So everyone ... read more

Well, after reading Squirrel's blog I guess the trip is about over. Who knew! Here are some quotes from the trip: “It’s warmer here because we’re closer to the sun.” Dennis, our campground neighbor in Yellowstone explaining why it was so hot. He also said, “I can’t go to bed until I count 10 stars,” then proceeded to count them. When asked about the weather forecast, the young girl working at the forest service office in Sheridan, WY looked out the window and said, “Yeah, it might rain later.” Our camp host at Indian Trees campground in Montana told us we were the first people from Tennessee he’d had all year. Really? And it's so conveniently located in Nowhere. “Just Mother Nature moving the furniture.” Mrs. Bernard, our camp host at Mt. Rainier talking about the ... read more

Have left Mt. Rainier National Park. Lots of hiking (100+ miles in the past 4 days, more or less). Camping and backpacking. Lots of great camping meals. Okay, some good meals, some mediocre meals. Since some of you are interested in the menus, the past few have included: taco salad (made with TVP (textured vegetable protein), real cheese, salsa made from a dehydrated packet (I added fresh garlic and fresh red pepper) and lettuce. And of course tortilla chips. Yum yum. Topped it off with the wine given to us by the B&B hosts at our last stay (anniversary wine). Stovetop stuffing and an added can of chicken for one night’s meal. Lets just say that what we are currently eating while camping or backpacking is not what we normally would be eating. Course it tastes ... read more

We’ve been contacted by the Department of Gnomeland Security regarding the suspicious activities of one, Homey bin Gnomey. We disavowed any knowledge of such a personage, but then we discovered that we had unwittingly been transporting Gnomages across state lines. Somebody set us up and we’re in no little amount of trouble. If the DGS finds out about our aiding and abetting fugitive Gnomes we could end up between a Gnome and a hard place. We would appreciate any information you can provide on the masterminds behind this Gnomestic conspiracy. DGS believes there is a Gnome Cell in our midst and no one is safe from their prankish plots. You may be the next one Gnomed. Please help. ... read more

Last night when we came in I left my tennis shoes outside, by the door. (sand on the carpet has become an issue!) I was raised in eastern Montana, so I thought about the possibility of wind blowing them away, but it didn’t seem likely. I didn’t know about fog….this morning my shoes were wet inside and out, and I had to wear my sandals with my jeans all day! And when we were walking over to morning devotions, (which is the first time we get a good view) it was like someone had erased the ocean….you couldn’t see the waves at the shore, and everything was the same color~~ocean, sky, sand. I took a picture of it, but it just looks like fuzzy gray! I’ve posted some beach pictures taken on our beach; did ... read more