Pacific Northwest - Day 2

After a reasonably good night's sleep in our tent, we started our second day with some egg sandwiches before we packed up the camp and headed out.

Janda making breakfast

The road leading to the campsite- tall trees!

 Our first stop was the Lake Crescent beach that we we camping near.  We didn't get a very good view the night before b/c it was basically dark when we got to the campsite.  It was a beautiful morning, although a little cold, and the water was surprisingly warm.  At least to the fingers that we dipped in!  The trees that were growing around the beach were amazing- huge and moss covered.

Huge climbing tree near the beach

Another tree by the beach- not as huge but still good for climbing

We headed up to the Sol Duc hot springs, which we were disappointed to find out are man-made.  There is a little resort there with a lodge and some little cabins.  It was pretty cute, but we didn't bother to go in and see the hot springs since they weren't natural.  Instead we hiked up a 3 mile trail to see a waterfall.  The hike wound its way past all the campsites situated on the river and then headed into to woods and up to the falls.  It had gotten quite hot by this point in the day (almost every day was like that- cold in the morning and then hot in the afternoon) and the glacial water from the falls really cooled off the air.  It was a nice break from the heat.

The water in the river that we were following up the mountain was so clear

Janda monkeying around ;)

Sol Duc waterfall

All that spray made tons of rainbows

Bridge across the falls

The river had a lot of little waterfalls, all covered in bright green moss

After we hiked back to the car we decided to have a little picnic before we moved on.  Garlic hummus on rosemary sourdough really hit the spot.

Next we headed towards the Pacific coast.  Janda got a permit at the Mora ranger station to camp out on the beach while I fell asleep sitting up in the car.  I guess non-stop travelling and adventure make a girl tired.  When we reached the beach, we climbed over the enormous downed trees that wash up on shore and create driftwood walls a little past the high tide mark.  We were back to cold weather, even though it was a beautiful day.  There would be no swimming in the Pacific at this beach!  Instead of sand, this beach was all pebbles and rocks.  I didn't see any shells either, which is quite different than the beaches in Gloucester.  We lugged our gear down the beach through the pebbles and over the driftwood until we found a good spot that was protected from the high winds.  We set up camp surround by these enormous trees and then explored further down the beach.  The reason that we chose this particular beach was the rock outcroppings, specifically Hole in the Wall, a passageway worn in to the rock by the water that is the only way to continue your walk down the beach.  Only at low tide can you walk any further along the beach, so we had to wait until after dinner.

Looking down the beach

One of the biggest downed tree driftwood that we saw

There were several rock outcroppings right where we camped

Hole in the Wall at mid tide

Me standing in front of another outcropping

Janda enjoyed playing with the enormous seaweed strands

Our campsite

We built a campfire and enjoyed dinner - this evening was Mexican so we dined on burritos and enchiladas.  Afterwards we let the fire die down quite a bit and headed back down the beach.  After checking out the rocks and Hole in the Wall, we headed back to camp to relax by the fire and enjoyed the evening on the beach until we were almost falling asleep by the fire, listening to the waves and gazing at the stars.

Making supper

 Campfire art

 The outcroppings at dusk

 Moonrise

Pacific Northwest - Day 1

Janda and I were invited to a wedding in Portland, OR that took place last weekend and since neither of us had been to the Pacific Northwest, we decided to make a trip of it.  Originally we had wanted it to be longer and to see more places, but ultimately we decided that the time and prices were best for 6 days.  We concentrated our visit on the area between Seattle and Portland, specifically the National Parks and Forests.

We arrived at noon on Monday and immediately stocked up on food, ice and fuel and started driving to the Olympic National Park and Forest.  We made a lot of stops- we got frozen food and snacks at Trader Joe's, ice, cooler and fuel at Walmart, and water and Gummi candies at Win-Co.  We were ready to go!

We decided to start north and work our way down the coast, so Monday afternoon we drove all the way to the northernmost coast of the Olympic Peninsula to get a view of the Canadian shoreline across the way.  We took a scenic route that led us right along the Washington coast and through some rural areas.  It was a long drive, but totally worth it for the views.

 A seagull resting on a sign at a little park looking towards Canada

The coastline, with Canada in the distance

Looking across to Canada 

After we took in the coast, we decided that we should try to get to a campsite before it was too late.  We drove along Crescent Lake, stopping several times to enjoy the view as the sun was setting.

Looking at Lake Crescent through the trees

Mountains along the edge of Lake Crescent

At the very tip of the lake, we spotted a sign for camping and ended up in a delightful campsite that was basically right on the lake.  As it was late, the prime spots on the lake were taken, but we did find a relatively secluded site set into the mossy forest.  We set up camp, cooked up some Chinese stir-fry from Trader Joe's and had a pretty good night of sleep after all that travelling.

Our campsite and crappy Hyundai Accent in the background

All the trees around us were covered in moss

It was a little chilly

Quick Trip

This weekend Janda and I took a mini roadtrip for a little work and a lot of fun.  On Saturday evening we headed out to Northampton MA so that Janda could meet an athlete and we could do a little motorcycle tour.

When we finally got to Northampton, we had just enough time for a late dinner in downtown before settling in for the night.  I think that we must have been inspired by the film "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," which we recently saw and enjoyed immensely, because we chose the India House for our first ever Indian meal.  It was quite different and quite good.  We had the Delhi papri chaat for an appetizer.  Janda was impressed by the food and the presentation.  Then I had Tandoori chicken and Janda had Balchao chicken and prawn for the main course.  After all the water and half the appetizer, I could only eat about half of my chicken and a few bites of Janda's, which were both delicious.  Luckily for me Janda chose to order the Balchao chicken and prawn medium spicy!  Somehow Janda finished all his and then half of mine!  His famous appetite was working on overdrive.

Delhi Papri Chaat

The next morning Janda met with his athlete at a nearby track, and then we were off on our motorcycle adventure.  We took all sorts of back roads, twisting and turning through the fields and woods until we came to Shelburne Falls.  We stopped there to check out the Bridge of Flowers and have lunch.  The bridge was beautiful- it was kind of like Monet's garden, except the path was really a bridge.  We had sandwiches and snacks at a little shop before heading out to find a swimming hole.

 Giverny?  No, Shelburne Falls

 View of the river from the bridge

 There were even trees growing on the bridge, like this cool twisted one

 A view of the whole span

After lunch, we continued our trip and headed out following the river, hoping to find somewhere to swim.  We did not find anywhere suitable to swim, but that was okay with me since we headed up in elevation and it got pretty chilly.  I'm sure it only seemed chilly because we were on the bikes, but still, I was no longer too interested in swimming.  We took the long way back to Northampton, had dinner with my grandmother and then headed home.  There was still some weekend traffic on the Mass Pike, even though it was after 7:30, but all in all we made pretty good time.

 Janda on his bike

The Berkshires in the background

Taking a break for some snacks

Summertime and the livin's easy!

 Summer's in full swing and we are doing our best to enjoy ourselves.  With all the hot weather, the number one priority has been staying cool!

The livin's always easy for these guys!

Janda rowed in the Seine boat races in Fiesta.  

Sadly his team was eliminated in the first round.  

A July 4th happy sandwich.

Staying cool in the Ipswich Bay on July 4th.

A few hours out on the water is just what we needed with the hot weather.

 Just enjoying the day.

 

Parked at Flat Rocks to go for a swim.

Heading home as the clouds start to move in.  We actually didn't get hit by all those storms that swept through last night. 

Around the grounds

 I planted some wildflowers in our gardens this year.  Bachelor buttons are one of my favorites.

 To remind me of France, I planted Flander's Field poppies.

 They are lining our new wall, in the strawberry bed.

 The Royal Burgundy and Green beans are blooming.

 Tomatoes in bloom!

 The last of the peas are still as tasty as ever.

 Still have a few snow peas too, but not as many as last year.

                                                                                        

    Last year all my raspberry bushes in the back were black.  This year they are all red!  I don't know if the red is more prolific and taking over or what?  I'm not complaining though, I like the red better.

 We put a couple of chairs in the shade next to the veggie boxes.

Our house is looking pretty good nowadays, especially with Janda's new truck in front.  The first thing he said when the truck came home was how nicely it goes with the house.  :)

Enjoying the fruits (and vegetables) of my labor

Kohlribi Kohlrabi, Strike Peas, Strike Spinach and Romaine Lettuce

I've been eating peas and snow peas for a week or two now, but finally there was enough in the garden to pick and actually bring inside.  My first crop of lettuce and spinach didn't do so well and I have no idea why.  The second crop is growing nicely though, so pretty soon we'll have all the greens we can eat.  I also plucked the first kohlrabi and plan to try it out today.  

The tomato plants that I planted back in March are now sprouting buds.  Pretty soon there will be flowers and then in a while I'll actually get some tomatoes!  Can't wait.

 

 My big boy smushed himself into Michelley's bowl the other day and I had to snap a pic.  Doesn't he have the sweetest face?

More landscaping and a garden update

We added some garden boxes and covered the landscape fabric with dirt.  Hopefully there will be grass there soon.  Although I'm way better at growing food than grass, so we'll see.

 The semi circles are just two layers of angled stones in a neutral, natural color.  We're getting some more stones to make our firepit this weekend.  Hopefully we'll be done with all the hard labor by the end of this weekend.

 The strawberries from Johnny's are doing well, although their garden needs some weeding.

 The beets and kohlrabi are coming along.

 Red and white onions surround super sugar snap peas climbing up upside down tomato cages.  Great idea for a pea teepee or fail in the making?

Broccoli and dill.

 Blacks beans popping up in front of shelling peas climbing up last year's snap pea trellis.

 What made me want to plant kohlrabi?  The color of course; if I can't have aqua veggies, at least I can have purple.  Purple kolhrabi, purple beans, purple carrots, purple(ish) tomatoes...  Next year spinach and basil?

 The shelling peas are flowering much more quickly than the snap peas.

The moment that every gardener looks forward to most in May?  It must be the first ripe strawberry.  This one will be ready by the weekend.  We've already gotten two from my mom's monster patch.  We have hearts of gold and let Emma eat both of them, and then she scoured the patch for more red ones.  She said and I qoute, "I'm going to eat all the strawberries!"  Having seen her eat strawberries before, I believe her!