Over Memorial Day weekend we camped at Alder Lake, one of Tacoma Power’s three campgrounds, and did some hikes around Rainier. The park was really busy so we went in by Longmire then got up early and walked the Westside road. The road was originally built in 1926 but never finished. It’s great for biking and walking.
I’ve always wanted to try going through the locks from fresh to salt water. There is something about walking out the front door and paddling to the sea that still seems impossible to this Arizona girl. But possible it is! This trip I went there and back but next time would like to camp and explore the beach more before returning.
Stepping out of the car in Coon Rapids, Iowa the enveloping warm humid air, smell of manure, sound of birds and deep green rolling hills took me back forty years to detasseling corn, bean roguing and cattle AI-ing. “Iowa is a faded photograph” said my cousin. Here are some vibrant ones to show the beauty of this place. The family pooled their land to form White Rock Conservancy. This preserves…
We put the Oru kayak together and paddled down the Duwamish from the Star Fire Sports Complex to Diagonal Park; about ten miles. We zipped right along with a good current for the first third then the river widened and the incoming tide slowed the flow. There were submerged trees and a few areas with strong eddies but we had no mishaps and enjoyed the day.
With one week to explore the lands around the mouth of the Columbia we listened to stories of the Lewis and Clark expedition, tried to learn the verses to “Roll on Columbia”, hiked, paddled and had a great time.
4-12-17 Visit with Anna and Claudio. Urbino is in the background. Urbino church paintings. San Vitale, Ravenna Garibaldi biking in Ravenna. Latin palindrome graffiti. Madonna and child Prayer wheels in Pennabilli honoring a visit from the Dalai Lama. Theodric, King of the Ostrogoths, enjoys biking in Ravenna. Urbino Pennabilli countryside, the backdrop to the Mona Lisa painting. Dante’s tomb Urbino church painting. Ornate door in Urbino. Floor mosaic Ravenna. Mosaics…
