Salmon River

  The Pounds and the Chapins gathered together in Walla Walla to begin an adventure to collect a group of memories to be held for a lifetime.  Our first day we packed up in Walla Walla, headed to Hammer Creek to rig the boats.  We launched in late afternoon arriving in camp at mile 49 just above Big Foot Island in time to set camp, make dinner, and create the willow club houses. 

On Day 2, we traveled through Green Canyon stopping for yummy lunch and sand hill play.  Heading on down for a total of 19 miles to our camp near Cliff Rapids in Cougar Canyon.

   Day 3 held our big 3 rapids, Half and Half - Class III, Snow Hole - Class IV, and China - Class III.  In addition we rounded the big oxbow.  We camped that night just above Billy Creek Rapid where we had all afternoon to swim the rapids, practice throwing ropes and play in the sand.

 Day 4 morning brought a nice quick thunderstorm while we were packing the boats and a favorite moment, the penguin huddle.  Pushing off rather early, we were able to stop for lunch, columnar basalt and a awesome rock bar with an easy loop swim.  That night in Blue Canyon was our first shady camp and a wonderful set of Rock Shops. 

 Morning of Day 5 came and brought the sun for a sweaty pack up.  We all cooled down with a white water swim past camp and into the eddy channel.  Heading on down Blue Canyon past the confluence with the Snake River, we stopped at Cherry Creek for lunch, a waterfall hike and wonderful wildlife sightings. Moving down stream past the beginnings of civilization to a quiet camp at Jim Creek with blackberries and a evening circle of favorite moments. 

 Our last day gave way to the “Snake Lake,” a long section of mostly flat water rowing and and ever widening view.  The Grande Ronde joined the snake just above our take-out at Heller Bar.  Packing up, we returned to Walla Walla to de-rig with a collection of memories to take home.

Cherries, Raspberries and Apricots...Oh My!

So I knew the northwest was known for it's apples.  But the fruit here is flowing over and then some.  Here at our rental house there are 4 cherry trees.  One that is mature and produced over 10 gallons of picked fruit and three other trees that are 3-4 years old that each produced at least 2 gallons each.  Here are the boys carrying one basket from one of many picking days. 

And then at our new property there are 2 raspberry patches where I think we have picked over 40 quarts of berries.  It is amazing to have as many raspberries as one can eat...never before have I experienced such berry decadence.

 And now come the apricots.  We have an apricot tree on the new property that has a manageable crop this year and yet we still can't quite keep up.  

 Unable to keep up with the sheer quantity of fruit, I resorted to making preserves.  So the pantry shelves are getting full.  Cherry preserves, raspberry jam and apricot jam.  YUM! 

Seattle!

After the relaxing isolation of the San Juan Islands, we dove into downtown Seattle.  We all were excited begin to get a taste of this wonderful city.  So for one day we tried to do it all.  On our target list of objectives: see the King Tut exhibit, explore the science museum, ascend the Space Needle, and of course eat along the way. 

First off, the King Tut exhibit (supposedly the last time to be in North America.)  We had done our research and prepared for this wonderful experience so the boys recognized many of the artifacts.  It was great to see this history and enjoy the treasures of Egypt.  We did wish for a few more artifacts from the tomb but were very impressed with the ones we saw. 

Then it was time to explore the science museum.  A super fun time was had by all.

This is a 4000 pound granite ball held up by a constant upward stream of water so you can spin the ball even though you can't lift it.

A wonderful lunch and then some time to split up.  Oma and Gampy went in to the Chiluhy Glass Museum and were blown away by the installations of glass art.

Then up to the top of the Space Needle with Gampy and the boys.  We got lucky because the weather was beautiful, clear sunny day with good visibility.

After a wonderful dinner at a Thai restuarant we walked back by this cool building that was glowing pink in the setting sun.

And so Seattle was a success.  The next morning we packed up and drove Oma and Gampy to the airport.  With a sad good-bye we wished them safe travels and headed back to Walla Walla.

Oma and Gampy to the San Juans

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.

 Here are the boys giving their best "mountain man" pose, reflecting on the surrounding peaks.

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.