An ancient cedar tree

 

 

 

With a story.

 

It was believed to be a thousand years old when it died in a fire in the 1800s.

 

More family

 

 

Matt and Lindsay got here Friday.

 

Elise, Conner, Cameron, and Taylor.

 

Elise already lives here in the Pacific Northwest with Tony and Teigan.  Conner and Cameron came from Colorado.

 

Brian and Becky, Tony, Teigan.

 

Tony and Taylor.

 

Mister Kitty.

 

Elise and Teigan test driving the zero gravity recliners.

 

 

We’re all gathering for Kyle’s wedding tomorrow.

 

Ribs for dinner at brother Bill’s

 

 

 

 

The ribs were wonderful.  Ate till I was full, then a little while later, had some more for dessert.

 

Good company.

 

Tom and Kathy, Bill and Pat, Suzanne.

 

It’s always worth a walk through the garden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now there is a convertible in his garage for the summer months.

 

Evening light.

 

Had a mechanical issue

 

 

Suffered a blowout a week ago.  The hamstring on my left leg popped.  I’m otherwise wonderfully healthy, but the muscle injury is restricting my mobility.  We’re sure it’s only a partial tear because I can still use it if I’m careful.  Suzanne got us in to the E.R. at her hospital to see a physician and get a referral, then used her superpowers as a patient advocate nurse to get us in to see a sports orthopedist in the U.W. system next week.

 

That should keep us rolling.

 

 

We were chilled on the coast

 

 

Temperatures in the fifties and sixties with a breeze off the Pacific.  It was good to get a little inland.  Less wind.  A few degrees warmer.  In fact, there is a heat advisory in effect here.  It’s going to be 80 degrees, or almost 80 degrees for three days in a row!

 

I can tell you what we call temperatures like that in South Texas.  Morning.

 

 

Edmonds, WA

 

 

Summer Solstice.

 

2026 Summer Trip Map

 

Christie and Andy’s house.

 

The van fits right in their back driveway. 

 

We can hang out at their house for home base and still retire to sleep in our own bed.

 

Had a family get together at dinnertime.

 

Teigan and Elise, Tony, Kyle and Alexis, Christie and Andy.  Teigan, Elise, and Tony, all from Colorado, share an apartment together here now.  Close by, so it’s easy for this group to congregate.

 

Port Ludlow

 

 

 

2026 Summer Trip Map

 

Quite the surprise.  We couldn’t get a spot in a state park, so we booked in a commercial RV Park.  To our delight, Port Ludlow RV park is set up like a really good state park, individual sites secluded in the trees.  No cordwood camping here.

 

 

Crescent Lake along the way.

 

The trailhead on the Elwah River.  Brother Bill and I started one of our backpacking trips across the Olympic Peninsula here, a feeew years back.

 

 

A side trip to Fort Worden.

 

 

 

We’re pretty far north now.  The sun sets late and twilight lasts forever.  Wake up at 5am for nature’s call, and it’s already light.  We don’t even get a full 7 hours of darkness at night!.  Scrunch the eyes shut and go back to sleep.

 

Quileute Oceanside Resort

 

 

 

2026 Summer Trip Map

 

Serious Washington coast at La Push on the peninsula.

 

 

The river mouth behind the Jetty.

 

And the welcoming committee of 1.

 

A young bald eagle.

 

 

We’re not tired of shrimp/crab melt sandwiches, halibut, or Rainer cherries from roadside stands either.

 

Ocean City State Park

 

 

Now we’re in Washington.

 

2026 Summer Trip Map

 

 

Another trail to the beach.

 

This one a little longer.

 

 

 

Not so cold today.  Less wind.

 

 

Met a guy at a rest stop.  He’s touring down the coast from Olympia to Crescent City in his 1955 Triumph TR2.  A trip he makes every year.,

 

A classy ride.

 

 

We’re not tired of clam chowder either.

 

 

Nehalem Bay State Park

 

 

 

2026 Summer Trip Map

 

 

The beach is right over the dunes.

 

 

 

Brrr.  It’s still blowing.  Back to camp.

 

 

We’re still not tired of fish and chips.

 

Beverly Beach State Park

 

 

 

2026 Summer Trip Map

 

A camp in the forest.

 

 

A walk to the beach on the other side of the highway.

 

 

 

Brrr.  60 degrees and a gale!

Back to the woods.

 

Skunk Cabbage.

 

If you step on it or squeeze it with your hand, it smells like a skunk.

 

I didn’t.