The Beach and The Forest

Our "mission" today was to head west to the coastline - Rialto Beach to be exact. We wanted to see the Sea Stacks and the rugged coast. Sea Stacks are little (very tall) islands that used to be part of the mainland. At low tide, you can actually walk out to some of them. Over the years - the ocean has worn down the sides of the stacks. The trees that were on top of the stacks fall into the ocean and become drift wood. Huge tree size drift wood we had lots of fun climbing the trees - we felt just like cats. The driftwood lines the the coast for as far as you can see in both directions. The "sand" on the beach is actually little pebbles - worn smooth by the ocean. There are some as big and both of D's hands together and then some as small as a pea. It was really fun to be able to run and run. The wind in Tuckers fir made him look like he was flying. We even saw a couple of bald eagles and a pair of Canadian snow geese - with the father goose sitting on the nest.

Our other trip of the day was to the Hoh Rain Forest. This area was really neat - It's SO dense that it's almost dark at the ground level. There are ferns, moss and fungus growing on everything. The trees all have green beards and the ground is just a carpet of different kinds of green plants. It's so wet that the ground is spongy (it make running really fun). We were in search of the elusive yellow banana slug... but it was apparently hiding. We'll try again tomorrow in a different rain forest. Maybe we'll have better luck - it's supposed to rain.

A recent reader asked how we were able to type this blog - we actually tried but our noses push two keys at a time and that just wouldn't work. Then we tried with our paws but K just freaked out. So we all came to a compromise - K types while we (both of us) provide the dogtation!

Daily Observation: You can fetch a driftwood stick - but D can't even throw a driftwood tree.

Olympic National Park - Day 1

We started out this morning with a little bit of rain - but it cleared and turned into alot of sunshine. The weather is great - high of 60's low of 40's. Wonderful.

We drove into the Olympic National Forest - to Hurricane Ridge. The road goes up toward Mount Olympus (didn't find the Greek god up there). The road was clear and beautiful - but it was snowing a little at the top. We saw lots of black tail deer and lots of pretty birds.

Then we took another road into the Forest at a much lower elevation... beautiful glacier fed rivers and lakes. The glacial melt makes the water SO blue, K just can't stop taking pictures. We even saw a beautiful waterfall - so beautiful that K actually got out the tripod to take a picture that made the water blurry. Pretty.

We also drove to the Purple Haze Lavender Farm on Bell Bottom Lane. (no fooling) What a delightful place. K and Lani have bought stuff from them on the internet - so it was really cool to see them in person. As a matter of fact while we were there K called Lani so she could see K & D on the farms web cam. It worked - K & D were standing out in a field of little lavender plants - looking like they were waving to someone - but no one was there. Crazy people.

Daily Observation: Everyone should have some lavender in their lives - it has such a calming effect. Or is it the vacation. Woof!

Let the Vacation Begin!

K arrived today, safe and sound. We started heading north on highway 101. We're apparently going to be on 101 for almost the whole vacation. That's a good thing.

Tonight we stopped in a town called Sequim - it's pronounced skwum - kinda like scum but with a skua. They just shoulda picked a better name. K wants to stop here because the town is the largest grower of Lavender in the U.S. - we don't get what the big deals it... it's not even blooming yet. Just mounds of gray/green bushes. We figured she's just going to be buying last years stuff.

We drove past Discovery Bay and Sequim Bay and Dungeness Bay - there were lots of people out digging for clams. There was even a sign for geoduck clams. There were some guys putting on dive gear - may to go after the dungeness crab.

The flowers are really starting to show - there are white, yellow and pink dogwood trees. There are even beautiful rhododendron's in pink, purple, white and red. You sure don't see those at home.

We're in a cute little RV park - this one has a trout pond and a puppy play area. There are lots of dogs, maybe we'll get to play with them. Well, maybe later, right now K & D are in the box watching the NASCAR race.

Tomorrow - Olympic rainforest.

Daily Observation: No one would ever eat clams if they really knew where they came from.

She's Coming

K will be here tomorrow. Yipee!
Today we just had a slow day getting ready for K to arrive. We drove south from Ferndale to the SEATAC airport. We had to make sure the truck and box would fit in the arrivals terminal - otherwise K would have to take a cab or hotel shuttle to a parking lot where we'd be waiting. Good news - we fit. So, when K gets off the plane, she'll call us and we'll drive through and pick her up.

We're spending tonight in Preston, WA - a very nice RV park with level spaces, a big koi pond and lots of trees. The weather is nice - in the 60's and no rain. We'll see how long that will last.

Once we're all together, we're going to head towards Sequim, WA (Lavender capital of the U.S.), Port Angeles and Cape Flattery (the very north west corner of the U.S.).

We'll be spending a lot of time on the west coast of the U.S., so we're not sure about K & D getting an Internet connection - but we'll do our best at updating the blog.

BTW for those that asked - BLOG is short for weB LOG - and that's just what this is. I wonder who dream up that one.

Daily Observation: It's more fun for everyone, when the whole family is together.

Back in the U.S.A.

We started out this morning with a few snow flakes - but that ended soon enough. We headed south toward Whistler on some of the windiest, steepest roads we've ever been on. There were several hills posted at a 13% grade. Good thing those trailer breaks work.

D told us how much the sea to sky highway area changed since he and K were there. (WAY before we were born) Now there's lots of construction men working in their big trucks and lots of really tall buildings like apartments, condos, stores, etc. Not very pretty - we'll just save our good scenery for Banff and Jasper in September.

D took the "scenic route" through North Vancouver, West Vancouver and Vancouver. We really didn't understand what he was saying... but we knew he wasn't happy. Something about misleading road signs and needing his navigator. Finally we found the road to the Canadian/US border. Maybe this time they'll want to look at our stuff.

Be careful what you wish for. Boy, did they want to look at our stuff. So much so - we had to get out of the truck and go sit in the customs office while two guards searched the truck and trailer. (did they think we were smuggling cats?) They checked all of our paperwork and asked lots of questions. They wanted to know if D had any canned goods. He explained that K packed the groceries and he didn't know what was in there. Maybe they searched the trailer so they could let D know what we had. Oh well, they gave up pretty quick and let us go on our merry way.

We're stopped for the night in Ferndale, Washington. Cute little town - nice RV park - and we have a heater again tonight. Were so close to Seattle - maybe we'll sleep in tomorrow morning. Nah!

Daily Observation: There's no place like home - or at least your home country!

That's Far Enough

Today we kept driving north in... British Columbia. We took the scenic route #5A up to a big city named Kamloops (that name means... the meeting of the waters). That's a good name for it - there's water everywhere. There are big lakes, little lakes, big rivers, little rivers and creeks. Some are still icy so we can't go out and play in them.

We got some pretty neat weather today - snow and hail. (we love weather) In the afternoon it started to clear a little - but it's supposed to snow again tomorrow. Yipee. Today we drove as far north as a town called Clinton and are spending the night there. We wondered who/what came first... the town or the former President? Something to think about.

D took us for a little walk tonight and we saw what we thought was the biggest dog ever. Ends up it was a horse. Tucker just wanted to hang back and bark at it. I wanted to get closer. D walked me right up to it and we almost touched noses... Horse to Bosco. It was pretty neat - although he seemed a little standoffish. He just stood there looking at us. Woof!

Tomorrow we're starting to head down to Whistler and the "Sea to Sky" highway. Although from the way we see it - we're going to be driving the sky to sea highway. Either way... we're on the road again.

For now - we're going to sleep. D's got the heater running and it's nice and warm.
Sweet Dreams Everyone

Daily Observation: Hail tastes almost as good as snow!

Going International

Even though K's not with us yet - D decided that we should head north into Canada - British Columbia to be exact. The weather is great for driving - Blue Skies - only a couple of rain showers. Ya just can't stop us.

We zipped right through the state of Washington. Spring has sprung up here. K would love all the flowers. We saw lilac, dogwood (didn't look anything like a wooden dog) and lots and lots of apple orchards. So many trees... so little time to stop. Woof! As we drove we heard splat, splat, splat - we thought it was hail but nope - BEES. There's so much in bloom that the bees are everywhere. We did get a couple of good rain storms - just enough to clean the windshield.

D wanted to head over highway 20 through the Cascade Range - but it's still closed because of snow. So, that's when he made the decision to go to Canada. What the heck - it's up there for a reason, right?

Crossing the international border was fun. D was ready and we were ready - no misbehaving - no growling - no barking. We didn't want to spark an international incident. D had his passport out and ready and he had our health certificates out and ready. Dissapointment - the Canadian officer didn't even want to look at them. She was more interested in why we all wanted to go to Canada, when we were there last and when we were coming back. Geez, problem with tourism or what? If we come back through this border crossing - it should be a breeze. There is a big sign that says that the US Customs office and Border Crossing is only open from 9a.m. to 5 p.m.. We figured the "bad guys" don't get up really early and they don't stay up too late.

Who knows where we'll all go tomorrow - at this rate, we could be barking North to Alaska!

Daily Observation: We're fortunate to live in such a beautiful country, eh?

Driving North

We're heading north towards our 1st destination - Seattle. We have plenty of time and hopefully will take some side trips.

Sunday night we stayed just north of the small farm town of "Maxwell" in the county of "Glenn". Go figure.

Today we drove north to Madras, Oregon. The good news is that the temperatures and the price of diesel is going down. That makes D very happy.

Daily Observation: There sure isn't a lot of room to run in what they call a "rest area". We figured you're just supposed to sit there... and rest.

Welcome - here's our first post

K & D spent the day walking back and forth between the house and the box. I guess they call it packing. We just sat by the front door, being good and watching.
Tomorrow - We will leave with D and then K will fly to Seattle next week to meet up with us.

Daily observation: Humans sure do "need" a lot of stuff.