Devouring life, one bite at a time
After leaving Hurricane Ridge, we continued west on our drive around Olympic National Park until we reached our next stop at Lake Crescent. A hike nearby gave us a preview of the rainforest ecosystem we’d be seeing when we went on to Hoh Rainforest, and …
The next destination on our Washington itinerary was Olympic National Park, waaaay north just across the bay from Vancouver, Canada. Did I mention I have never been to Canada before? Or seen it, despite living in Northern Wisconsin for 4 years of my life. My …
Autumn is behind in California but just beginning in Washington.
It’s the evergreen state, for sure, but dramatic splashes of color are showing up. Along with the mighty Mount Rainier, which I’m seeing out my window for the first time.
Outside Olympic National Park, the trees are ablaze.
This week we found ourselves in the Yakima area of Washington, and went for a drive to explore it more and search for wildlife. (Picture a stopped car with four people squinting up into the hills through binoculars and you have my family.) We admired …
A little fun on the road with the Android spinoff of Instagram, called Retro Camera. Good news for mediocre photos and subpar photographers. A boring old snap on the road looks like a unique and intentional shot. Glad I have a way to beef up …
After cruising along the Columbia River Gorge and heading into Washington state on our way to my aunt and uncle’s house, a mysterious mountain loomed ahead.
Actually, we had to exit and drive a ways first, but then we saw it … Mount Saint Helens, the stuff from geology class made of legends from the 80s.
It’s been over 30 years, and the treeline is still barely starting to recover from the famous volcanic blast.
Here you can see the once snow-capped mountain that blew its top in a nine hour stew of gases and ash. Well, the build up to it lasted much longer, as you can imagine.
Eight foot diameter trees were snapped off their roots and the sound barrier was smothered for 30 miles around. My uncle remembers his apple farm getting covered in ash over 100 miles away, and a visitor from Ohio told me that ash snowed into her pool from that fateful day.
That’s one mountain I think I’ll skip climbing.
Before we left our brief introductory visit to Portland, there was something I had to do. See Bob’s Red Mill. Aka a baking pilgrimage of sorts. A paradise of organic bulked goods and health food products for bakers and gluten intolerants. My one bit …
When we woke up near Coos Bay this morning, we needed to get some more miles under our wheels and were quick to get back on the road. Of course, we did make a few stops on the way. How can anyone turn down the …
We took a short hike at Pinnacle Gulch in Bodega Bay. I love this place if you have a dog and are short on time, but look out! Parking is super pricey, though I like to think it’s for a good cause.
Here I’m helping Mitch identify kelp from jellyfish.
We stopped to say hello to Hitchcock in my beloved Bodega, put on the map with the filming of The Birds.
Wine tasting! But not just yet …
The next day we went for a tour and tasting at Korbel.
Then when we couldn’t get enough champagne, we headed to Iron Horse for more. (With a little lunch break, of course.) This is a local’s favorite I hadn’t been to yet, and it has one of the most breathtaking views of vineyards framed by mountains.
Don’t worry, I also gave Mitch a taste of Dry Creek (Unti) and Alexander Valley (Hawkes) wines, not just Russian River.
On our last day, we met up with the colony of harbor seals at Goat Rock.
Aren’t they cute?
Look out, Mitch found a taffy shop! How is this the one candy I’ve yet to understand? Flavors like vanilla cake? Apple pie? Is taffy the new jelly bean?
All I cared about was that she send some home to her amazing taffy-loving husband, who cashed in some miles so she could have a spontaneous trip with her kooky bestie in California.
At the Oakland Museum last week, I especially identified with their extensive history exhibit on settlement and migration so prevalent to this state. Just a little over a year ago, I too immigrated here from the East Coast, a pioneer anxious to stake claim on …