Hanging out with John and Ginny's family in Eureka

It is a rare thing to have true friends, it is even rarer to have a couple who are such loving and giving people as friends.  John and Ginny were the ultimate hosts.  With 30 amp service and water hook-up at the garage we were able to spend the week in our own bed but share meals and many firsts with our friends.  Even Roger the dog welcomed us and shared a meal or two with Georgy (even though she wasn't really invited!)

Just wanted to capture this moment: despite protests, I know that Mark loves this dog!

Logan was the strong silent type, but a sweetheart with a great imagination.

Johanna is a beauty.

Just a little mischief.

This was the coolest treehouse ever!  I might have been convinced to spend the night up there!

Mark worked very hard to wax the rig.  It was not a small job!

We awoke in the mornings to the sound of this stream.  We carried bear spray and made a lot of noise to ensure that we didn't surprise any bears.  That was definitely a first for me!

eGeorgy and Roger had a blast together.  We had to be careful though, because Georgy would help herself to Roger's food. Roger was pretty cool about it.

at the Kootenai falls with dear friends John and Ginny

We headed across Idaho, spent the night in Coeur d'Alene and headed into Montana.  We met John and Ginny Hamilton who were our tour guides and hosts for the week. What a great week.  Thank you John and Ginny for opening your home to us and for generously giving your time so that we could have such a great experience in Montana!

Kootenai falls in western Montana on our way to Eureka.

Our proof of life photo: thanks John for taking our pic.

John and Ginny Hamilton

I don't know what these trees are, but I thought that the bark was unusual and beautiful.

The three of us crossed the river on the swinging bridge.  The trip over was a piece of cake (Georgy was fine even though other dogs were a little freaked out!) However, on the trip back, 5 people decided to join us on the bridge and it made for a bumpy walk back.

Central Washington was a desert when compared to the coast!

More pics from where I sit: the landscape seemed to change abruptly from green and lush to arid and desolate.

This part of Washington reminded me of New Mexico.  Dry, brown and spotty vegetation.

I believe this is part of the Columbia river, Wanapum lake was created here by the Wanapum dam.

This is the vantage bridge that crosses the Columbia River.

Grandfather cuts loose ponies is the name given this sculpture atop a hill.  

Coke may not have my name on a bottle, but I came close with this mango nectar!  

This one is all about the shellfish!

We took the Pacific Coast Highway all the way from San Diego to the northwest corner of Washington.  Then we headed east along the the 101 until we could catch highway 90.  Most of the drive was spent looking at acres and acres of trees.  It was interesting to see the roadside signs that told us when a particular forest was planted. We stopped just west of Port Angeles.

We drove down and around the Seattle-Tacoma area.  We just didn't want to risk a ferry ride across the sound with an RV and car.

As soon as you drive into Port Angeles you notice 2 things: Main Street ends at the sea and a huge Masonic temple.

We couldn't figure out how they teach the elk to punch the button at the elk crossing. 

An out of the way place outside of Port Angeles with awesome tempura calamari, halibut, shrimp and clams.  And of course it is served in a plastic basket lined with paper.  The best places to eat aren't always fancy!

Right across the highway from the cafe was an inlet.  The beach was covered in a variety of shellfish.  It had an aroma that attracted Georgy but had me looking for a shower!  

seaweed, mussels and barnacles

the clams are so plain and rough on the outside but bright purple inside.

I have no idea where this shell came from: he didn't seem to have any close family members with him at the beach (and no hitchhikers aboard either!)

What a beautiful design.

I hadn't ever seen an oyster shell on the beach until this trip.  I was intrigued by the layers of shell and the shape! It takes 2-5 years for an oyster to grow to this size!

Just a few more pics from Oregon

What I see is wholly dependent upon where we happen to stop.  Mark had to take a call and we had cell signal in Port Orford, Oregon.  That meant I got to wander around with my camera.  

This is the gallery owner: she didn't know I was watching her as she carefully placed her new sign in front of her window.

Fish on a fence.

2 orange flowers: one for Damian and one for Evan.  

Blueberries!

Yes, another bridge!

I was amazed by the sand dunes.  They seemed to pop out of nowhere and were surrounded by pine trees.

This is a protected area for cultivating oysters.  We saw huge mounds of oyster shells being hauled off.  If I remember the story, Ewing Kauffman got his start by grinding oyster shells in his garage to make calcium supplements that were later named OsCal.  He then founded Marion labs, later owned the Kansas City Royals and was a huge supporter of the Kansas City arts.  Who knew that Kansas City has such a strong connection to Oregon!

A mountain lake.

We stopped to buy fresh halibut, salmon and shrimp.  Georgy posed with seal...

Miles of sand along the northern Oregon coast.  I think that it is granite based in Oregon and I understand that the Oregon dunes are the largest expanse of dunes in North America.

The inland dunes with the ocean in the background.

The Heceta Head lighthouse.

I can see how people at the time of Christopher Columbus thought the world was flat.  I marveled at the stonework on the side of this mountain.  I imagined men hanging by ropes lowering stones down the side.  Man, I have a great job! :)

Curled up on Mark's jacket with her new toy.  Georgy is one spoiled pup!

Tacoma and points east

The Tacoma Narrows Bridge as it stands today.  I remember physics classes that talked about the original bridge collapse being related to resonance: today they think it was due to negative damping.  In any case, the original bridge only survived for 2 months before it died a violent death.

The Cascades from my perch in the passenger seat.

Fog settling into the valleys in the Cascade mountains.  It seemed as though the sun shone in patches: bright sunshine surrounded by dark clouds.  

One of many lakes in the Cascades. We slept through a hail storm and never heard a sound.

Easton Lake, east of Seattle, northwest of Spokane. The water was still and clear.  The state park was one of the best campgrounds we've visited to date.

The sun setting over Easton lake.

I loved this pic: the reflections on the water were spectacular.

Family hike in the woods.  I think Georgy had 3 baths that day.

I think the clouds look better in their reflection!