Oma and Gampy came to visit! Our goal was to introduce them to Walla Walla and the northwest. We spent a few days here in Walla Walla touring Whitman, seeing our perfectly sized downtown and preparing for our journey to the San Juan Islands. Here you see folks enjoying lemonade with frozen strawberries on the back porch.
Together we went looking for a taste of the Blue Mountains and a good picnic spot. We packed a lunch, borrowed a truck that fit all 6 of us and headed up through the foot hills. What we found was a spectacular day full of wild life, views and a bit of adventure. We are quite sure we saw a bear with her two cubs though without binoculars we could not be 100% sure. Here we are at out picnic spot.
We ate our picnic on the edge of a ridge with a meadow full of wild flowers spread out below us. A western tanager flew in and out on a large pine just below us. Here, our two sweet boys sat still for me just long enough to capture the love that is between them. Otherwise they were catching caterpillars or battling the rotting log with sticks.
At the end of our drive, we came out on this open knoll with an amazing view of the Walla Walla Valley. And yes there was a couch. So we decided that we would have our own "you know you are a red neck if you have a muddy truck and like to hang out next to it on an old couch left by who knows who out in the middle of no where land."
After that adventure, we were in full pack and prepare mode for the San Juan Islands. Getting 6 folks ready and out the door is the first challenge but we were up to it. We did our shopping for the island, not knowing what we would find out there. Nice to know we had most of our basics covered.
And then we were off. We headed across the North Cascades via the cute Bavarian Alps town of Levenworth, WA. Our lunch stop there was in a nice quiet courtyard with yummy Mexican food.
This picture really set the tone for our trip....Happy and full of love for each other.
After the 6 1/2 hour drive to Anacordas, WA, it was time to load the ferry. On we go. I almost always get seasick so I was headed for the front of the boat and outside with the fresh air. I managed to keep my stomach under control while the boys ran around the upper deck thrilled to be on the ferry. The day was clear with good views of the islands but the air was super chilly and full of quite a brisk wind. We were all bundled up and holding onto our hats as we enjoyed our ferry ride.
We arrived at Orcas Island and made our way to a sweet little cabin on the North Shore near the town of East Sound. You can see our cabin through the trees here. I was standing on the beach to take this picture. A most beautiful spot.
We had three main types of beach time. The first was collecting stuff, rocks, shells, crab exoskeletons, sea glass and sticks, as evidence here on this log.
The second was just pure relaxation. Sit, read a book, paint, watch eagles and other avian wild life, drink tea or coffee, skip stones.....
The third was searching for wild tide pool life.
One day we pulled ourselves away from the quiet beach life and headed up to Moran State Park and Mt. Constitution. On the top of this island highpoint that sits a stone lookout tower that affords spectacular views. We must have picked the perfect day for viewing as we could see Mt. Baker, Mt. Rainier, and the Olympic Peninsula range. This is Wren with Mt. Baker in the background.
That park also has some wonderful lakes. Here the boys are looking for fish.
One rainy day, Stuart, Wren Dakota and I headed out for an afternoon, rainforest hike. We headed down a short but beautiful trail to a beach that was made completely out of beautiful pebbles.
Buchart Gardens on Vancouver Island was on Oma's bucket list. We got up early, out to Father's Day breakfast, and an international ferry over to Canada. The weather was absolutely perfect and the Gardens turned out to be everything we could have hoped for, full of beautiful blooms and wonderful paths.
We were sad to leave Orcas as our time drew to a close but for a final hoorah! we decided that we should all join the polar bear club.
What a gorgeous place! I am going to put it on my list. Such fun you all had....I bet it was great to reconnect.
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