Making America Healthy Again

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Hoh, Hoh, Hoh

Over the Labor Day weekend we celebrated our third anniversary by backpacking up the Hoh River Valley in Olympic National Park. When you're camping in a rain forest you have to put up some rain but you're rewarded with lush, green surroundings.




We hiked in a few miles and made camp on the banks of the Hoh. Shortly after getting the tent up we had a surprise visitor in the form of a male elk. He spent the rest of the day in the area munching away and completely ignored us.

That evening as we sat on our log by the river we heard several elk calling. We finally noticed the herd of elk crossing a little ways down the river.

The next day the rain was gone and after breakfast we set out on a day hike. We continued on the trail up the river valley. The valley eventually reaches the Mt. Olympus and the Blue Glacier (nearly 18 miles from the trailhead). We only went a few more miles in before returning to our campsite on the river for dinner.

Our second morning was bright and dry. We ate our breakfast, marveled at the sunlit valley and made our way to the trailhead.

The Mt. Baker Experience

This past Saturday we hiked the Skyline Divide trail to the open meadow views of Mt. Baker and surrounding peaks.

On our way home we stopped by a local berry farm for some fresh blueberries. After buying more blueberries than we could possibly put on our morning cereal we did what any berry-loving couple would do . . .

we made freezer jam!

New Digs

At the beginning of July we moved out of suburbia to a new apartment in Seattle. We're in the Capitol Hill neighborhood and the location is ideal. Bridget's office is literally one block away and the university is a five minute bus ride away. Not only is the location great but the views are incredible. On clear days we can see Mt. Rainier to the south.





On the first weekend of August the Blue Angels performed over Lake Washington as part of SeaFair.




And one evening after some rain a rainbow appeared over the Madrona neighborhood to our south.

July Happens

What a month July was. We had three sets of visitors and moved to our new apartment in Seattle. First on the guestlist was Sarah who flew up from Colorado and spent the Fourth of July weekend with us. Linus quickly won her over with his coolness.



For the Fourth we headed to a Mariner's game which included the requisite stop at the Pyramid Brewery for pre-game imbibing.

The next day we hiked around Point Defiance Park in Tacoma where Sarah and Bridget upped their tree hugger cred.

After Sarah's visit we packed our things and moved to Seattle. We got the new place in working order just in time to welcome our second set of visitors, my mom and nephew Justin. First stop, the Market.

Later in the week we headed for the Pacific coast at Long Beach, Washington. It was the coldest day we had all week and even though it was July, the water was not inviting. Frigid indeed.

On the way back home from the coast we stopped by Mount St. Helens.

The next afternoon we made our way to Anacortes and went whale watching in the San Juan Islands.

We spotted several members of a local orca pod and were able to follow them for a while. On the way back to port Mt. Baker came in to view and we passed a couple of the ferries that service the islands.

The next day we somehow gathered the strength and energy to go to Mt. Rainier's Sunrise Visitor's Center. After a picnic lunch we went for a short hike through mountain meadows and summer snowbanks.

Returning to sea level that evening we celebrated mom's birthday with dinner overlooking Puget Sound.

The final day meant one last day at the Public Market where the fish thowers did their thing.

And on mom and Justin's final night in Seattle Linus gracefully modelled his new scarf and gave away free puppy dog kisses.

Shortly after our second set of guests departed Bill and Bernie arrived. On their first morning in town we made our way to Bakery Noveau in West Seattle. With good reason we refer to this place as "the world's best bakery." There are plenty of people who can back us up on that assertion. Right Eric? After pastries and coffee we went down to Alki Beach and strolled through the annual art fair.

The Public Market was our next stop as we grabbed some lunch, flowers and cherries. We spent the next day at the Seattle Art Museum before going to Teatro ZinZanni for dinner and cirque under an antique Belgian cabaret tent. After a couple of more days of gallivanting it was time for Bill and Bernie to return to Iowa. As always, everyone's visits seemed way too short and we were sad to see each and all go.