| Seattle and the Pacific Northwest - May 2007 (Part 2) |
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| After circling the Olympic Peninsula and stopping back at Taylor-central, we went down to Mount St. Helens and across the Cascades. |
| At the distinctly All-American Silver Lake Resort |
| This cute little cabin was very comfortable at 50 bucks/night |
| Some friends at Silver Lake... |
| Another Bigfoot too! |
| We did a long day hike around Johnston Ridge, up to the "Devils Elbow" and down to the edge of Spirit Lake. We could see a whisp of steam coming out of the lava dome. Nowhere to run if this thing goes ;-) |
| I clearly remember when Mt St. Helens errupted on May 18th 1980, but this is as close as I've ever been. |
| We spent one really nice night here at the cabins just outside Mount Rainier National Park. For $100 I would expect the Ritz, but I guess I'm behind the times ;-) |
| The snowline began directly from the parking lot, so no luxury of bare ground. Lots of falling down trying to get our snow legs. |
| We saw a group of six marmots on the way up. This is my best shot with 2 of 'em. There are two more in the hole. |
| ...and this fox was climbing the slopes so easily - I'm jealous? |
| Tee is making her way up to meet me |
| She did extremely well for a "first-timer". I was amazed |
| Climbers just below Camp Muir - good weather |
| The author at 9000 feet - time to turn around and look for Tee. |
| We slided on our butts back down the mountain - always the best part! |
| We crossed over White Pass and had a Denny's Breakfast in Yakima. |
| Classic Washintonian humor on the way |
| Denny's Grand Slam and the rest. Tip: $5 |
| Many of the apples and cherries I find overseas come from here - Grown In Washington |
| I love this Americana scenery - crapped-out cars and bus on the front lawn |
| Douglas, Washington (east of Wenatchee) seemed to have a surplus of the stuff. It's like a mini-museum. |
| Tee's Birthday in Wenatchee |
| Cemetary in Douglas on Memorial Day |
| Crappy unwelcoming house in Wenatchee. And my Thai friends think all Americans are millionaires and live in mansions. |
| At Lake Chelan the place was packed with long-weekend tourists. |
| Over the North Cascades to Mount Baker. Snowbanks ever-deeper. |
| We saw two bear cubs along the roadside near the Mount Baker ski area. |
| White Horse Mountain towers over the town of Darrington on the Mountain Loop Highway. |
| Big Four mountain, also on the Mountain Loop Highway. |
| Even at this remote little camp spot at the back of the loop it's $6 just to stop and have a picnic. Amazing. (we didn't pay) |
| Overnight near Stevens Pass. |
| The mock-Bavarian town of Leavenworth. Rather boring. |
| Seattle Center on a sunny afternoon. |
| Snoqualmie Falls |
| Pike Place Market - a Seattle institution. |
| The very first Starbucks. |
| Tee and friend at Ye Old Curiosity Shop. |
| No Seattle visit is complete without fish and chips at Ivars, and must be eaten outside watching the ferries come and go, while being terrorised by dive-bombing seagulls. Anything less wouldn't do. ;-) |
| tall thing |
| There's more... |