I like Big Buttes

Sunday, that means Chicago Bears football.  The game is at 10:00 am pacific time, so we tried to cram a quick hike.  We galloped to a local favorite, Spencer Butte.  Short mileage and quick elevation gain (800 ft).  Hikes like this remind us why we are doing what we are doing.  Hikes like this reveals martha's anger she has towards my physical fitness level. Great view in our "backyard."  Had lunch at Pita Pit, haven't had it since undergrad at UofI.  Good hike, good food, good game (bears vs panthers).

Coastal Chowder Traverse

It was a rainy one, but we did not want that to hold us back with our original plan of Sea Lion Cave.  About 1.5 hrs from Eugene, on the coast off Hwy 101, sea lions were waiting for us, or so we thought.  The front desk hostess of the caves told us that the sea lions were not in the caves, but rather playing in the sea.  We asked if there was a way we could woo the sea lions in the cave, no such luck.  So we saw a few swimming sea lions, nothing upfront and personal.  Do you know the difference between a sea lion and a seal?  The main difference is that sea lions actually walk on land while the seal crawls, whoa.  One of the guides said that the sea lions are a very lazy creature but they are capable of climbing up steep cliffs to bake in the sun.  See Sea Lions Cave, check.

We still had a few hours to spare, so we continued north on Hwy 101 for our search for an outlet mall in Lincoln City.  We are addicted to outlet malls and outlet shopping, cause we need more stuff to drive around with us.  En route to outlet mall land, we stopped in a cute small town where Martha experienced her first clam chowder.  The shop was very proud that they serve gluten-free food, but bad news for me, whenever I hear gluten-free, it usually means not egg-free.  Martha enjoyed her first chowder and the cook was so excited she chose this place to be un-virgined.

 

Sea lions, first clam chowder, outlet mall, burning full tank of gas= successful day.

Sand Boarding? Totally Righteous!

First weekend at Eugene we read that sand boarding is very popular along the coast, so we drove to Florence to see for ourselves.  It is based off of snow boarding, but instead of snow, it is sand.  We visited the sand dunes and rented a board and went attempted to perfect our craft for three hours.  It was amazing and we still have sand in our ears and butt dunes.  We don't like snow boarding cause it is very cold, but with sand boarding you can do it in shorts, simply awesome.

 

North Cascades

Between Port Angeles and Eugene we had time to do a quick trip to North Cascades NP.  Our adventures took us to Cascade Pass Trail, 1700' elevation gain 7.4 miles round trip.  To start the trip off right, we saw a cute red weasel.  This is the first time we have ever seen a weasel and Martha tried to woo it into our car, so we could take it home.  No such luck.

We don't understand why calling someone a weasel is an insult, cause if someone called us a weasel it would be a compliment, cause that means we are cute and you want to take us home.

  

The hike was gorgeous and quiet.  We were on a high ridge and we were able to see a brown bear hiking around and feasting on some delicious shrubs, mesmerizing.  Martha tried to woo it, so it would eat me.  No such luck.   

Martha naps a lot, I get bored.

 

Goodbye Port Angeles, Hello Eugene

Another assignment under our belt.  It was unfortunate that our visit here in Port Angeles ended five weeks premature, but things happen for a reason.  If it wasn't for this assignment, we would have never taken the chance to visit the Olympic National Park and North Cascades National Park.  It was a great place to call home for two months.  Both National Parks are the least visited per year due to their location, so with the lack of crowds they were perfect weekend getaways.  Thank you Fitness West and the Port Angeles Tennis Club, you kept us in shape.  We enjoyed the company of coworkers weekly at Bar9.  A great crew to work with at Crestwood Nursing Home.  Sad to leave them behind, happy to move on out from the nursing home. Thank you to our neighbor Paul, who shared stories of his very colorful past.  When Paul was younger he had a pet bear and use to carry 50 gallons drum of gasoline over his shoulders.  The first time he shook my hand he almost broke all my sweet supple falanges. Strong 89 year old man. 

Paul and his cub

Ozette Triangle

On the boardwalk

We decided to tackle the 9.4-mile Ozette Triangle loop trail on the Washington Coastline.  Our location was the furthest Northwest point of the lower 48 states.  We were so close to Canada, that my phone thought we were in Canada and kept reminding me that roaming fees are very expensive, stupid T-mobile.  On each leg of the triangle we walked on different landscapes, a boardwalk through a rainforest, white fine sandy beach, and black rocky coast.  We were mesmerized by a family of seals that sunbathed on the rocks and went swimming in the ocean.  Martha saw a whale propel itself out of the ocean and returned with a bellyflop, I missed it.  This was our last weekend in Port Angeles, and we have successfully visited all hot stops of the Olympic NP.  

Mystical Land

Sleeping Again!

Victoria

Victoria, our Canadian neighbor across the Strait of Juan De Fuca, that's fun to say.  Here in Port Angeles, there are a few Chinese restaurants, but our bodies were craving sum Dim Sum.  Victoria has the oldest Chinatown in all of Canada, so we knew that would be the place for us.  We took an hour and half ferry ride across.  The town was very cute and thirsty with touristy.  The highlights of the trip was Chinese for dinner and Dim Sum at lunch.  The unhighlight of the trip was getting pooped on by a flock of seagulls, not sure if it was the band or birds.  Then I ran, I ran so far away....It was an interesting walk back to the hotel covered in bird poop.  From that incident, I was "poop shocked," whenever I heard birds, I ran under awnings and overhangs.  Someone told me that getting pooped on is a form of good luck, I am still waiting for it.  I guess it was good luck, cause my face feels so exfoliated and moisturized from the bird doo doo.  Overall it was a very good trip and a nice change of pace of our extreme weekends.  

The Empress

Water Taxi

Chinatown

Black Ball Ferry Line

I'm on a Boat!

Camping Bear Grylls Style

August_25_2012

Our first backpacking trip of the year!  Woop Woop!  We left early Saturday morning and our goal was Scotts Bluff only 3.5 miles from the trailhead. My pack weighed in close to 40 lbs and Martha's pack weighed in at 20 lbs.  Since, I am a professional at the art of househusbandtry and all I do is go to the gym, it seemed very fair.  I also carried the food, so that the bears would attack me if they were hungry for Asian food.  The hike reminded us of an Indiana Jones adventure, using ropes to climb up, makeshift bridges and ladders to navigate the high coastal areas.  At Scott's Bluff, we felt sprite and chipper, so we continued on till we could not walk any further.  We ended up on Toleak Point.  Toleak Point was just announced in the recent Backpacker magazine as the Best Beach Campsite, and we would have to agree, even though this was our only beach we have ever camped.  This campsite offered remoteness, solitude, and calmness.  We just sat back and watched the waves all day.  We built camp fires from the dry drift wood along the beach.  The soothing waves helped Martha fall asleep easily, while I felt like I had to pee all night.  The trip was everything you could ask for.  This will probably be our first and last time at Toleak Point.

Miso soup for the soul.  Martha eating the last of our rations.

No food!

Hoh...What did you call me...Rainforest

August_18_2012

Two and a half hours from PA, we left early Saturday to get a campsite at the Olympic NP Hoh Rainforest.  We have learned in our multiple weekend trips, that it is almost impossible to find a campsite on a Friday night, but if you go early on Saturday there are always sites open.  Who would have thought that it was going to be a forest with rain.  It was a very light rain so we still able to get some hiking in. We have learned that here in Washington it gets the same amount of precipitation in our hometown, but rather it is just a constant all the time drizzly, misty rain, more true in the NP.  The Hoh offered great hikes.  We did a portion of the Hoh River Trail, it passes through lush rainforest and dense vegetation.  We did multiple small hike, Hall of Mosses and Spruce Nature Trail.

On Sunday we went a little further south and was able to get out of the rain and enjoy a day on the Washington coast in the town of Kalaloch.  Here we had a lunch picnic and enjoyed walking along the beach (Beach 1, Beach 2, Beach 3, Beach 4).

Ninja

Warrior

 

Forks, WA where they filmed Twilight.  Beware of Vampires!

 

Life's a Beach

We have been told by many that the Oregon coast is totally better than the Washington coast.  Well we have to totally disagree.  Our next adventure takes us to the Olympic National Park Coast near the city of Mora.  We camped at the Rialto Beach Campground, not knowing that you can actually camp on the beach.  This is one of the coolest things ever, being able to hike 1 to 2 miles along the coast and camp next to the ocean.  We decided that we will return another weekend to camp the night on the beach.  This was one of the shortest hiking weekends we have done since coming to Washington. The beach was so calm, that we just had to sit down and relax and that is what we did all weekend.  Whoever has the job to name beaches, seems to have an easy job, because we went to the following beaches, First Beach, Second Beach, and Third Beach.  Further south,  Beach 1, Beach 2, Beach 3, and Beach 4, genius. Regardless of the names, we fell in love with Washington Coast.  We will be back for more.

Hello Port Angeles

We pulled into Port Angeles on a gorgeous Friday around noon o'clock.  Just like our apartment in Longview, we were entering our new establishment for the next 3 months on blind faith.  We set our standards pretty high, please don't smell like cat piss (reference to Longview apartment). We crossed our fingers as we opened the door to our new place, held our breathe, then sucked in the air.  What we received in return was crisp clean air.  As we walked up the stairs, to our upper floor duplex, our view opened to a huge open space with natural light flooding the entire floor.  To the south a view of Olympic National Park and to the north a partial view of the harbor.  We fell in love with Port Angeles right away.  I remember when Martha told me we had Port Angeles as our next assignment, I was not happy at all, it did not sound appetizing.  I am slowly learning to stop judging a "book by its cover." While unloaded our car and settling in, we met our lower 89 year old neighbor, Paul.  I asked Paul if he is enjoying being retired, he kept saying that he is not retired, but retarded.  I definitely believe that he is not retarded but he keeps insisting he is, oh Paul, you so silly or retarded.

View from our duplex

On Saturday, we decided to drive to Sol Duc Springs resort to go swimming in the natural hot springs.  On our way there we passed a SUP rental place and decided to stop in to check it out.  The rate was $12 for an hour or $40 for half day, so we changed our plans from soaking in hot springs to SUPing for an hour..... We strapped two SUPs to our roof and drove ten miles to Lake Crescent East Beach.  The sun was blazing, the water was clean, the day was beautiful.  While on Lake Crescent, Martha decided to fall off her board into the water.  It was a crisp shock of coldness as she frantically attempted to remount her board.  It was our first SUP casualty ever.  To make Martha feel better I joined her in the water, my turkey was done, ping.  We ending up boarding for about 4 hours, so it was quite an expensive first day, so I implemented a Ramen diet for the next week to make up our lose.

What SUP!

On Sunday, we went with our original Saturday plan to the Sol Duc Springs to soak in the hot springs.  As we pulled near the resort, a strong scent was lingering in the air, a smell that are usually in my nightmares, the smell of eggs.  I was told by Martha, the doctor (aka the smart one) that it is the smell of sulfur, that is how the springs are hot, due to geothermal reaction.  I never really thought how the hot springs were hot, but thank goodness for her, cause I was about to turn the car around.  It was another eventful day of chillaxing and it was a great introduction to our new home, Port Angeles.

Goodbye Longview

Dear Longview

You were a peculiar town to say the least. We thank you for being a central hub to the surrounding fun areas. We have done more things in the last three months than we have done in the last five years. We made a promise and commitment that we will be more active, eat healthier, and go explore every weekend. Thanks to you, we kept that promise and are happier for it.

We joined Mint Valley Racquet and Fitness Club where I rediscovered my passion for tennis, a sport that I have barely played in the past 10 years. It is here that I met Don and Fred, two retirees and they accepted me into their tennis gang. They gave us insights on good exploration locations and how to retire early. Technically, I am retired, but not a millionaire like they are. It is a funny dynamic in Longview, the rich live on top of the hill while the others live on the lower ground. It is almost like the Kings and Queens on the hill are looking upon their lower ground peasant neighbors.

Our two favorite places in Longview were the Mint Valley Club and Lake Sacajawea Park. We would describe the Lake as a more scenic Lake Arlington. We spent many nights walking and running around Lake Sacajawea.

Your selection of eateries ranged from McDonalds to Jack-in-the-Box which were always busy. During the tail end of our stay, when we closed our kitchen, we explored the local eateries of Fuji Japanese and a El Charrito Mexican Restaurant. Good thing we discovered those at the end, cause if we knew about the good food, we would have gone out to eat way too much and gain the freshman fifteen.

Work at Columbia Rehab was a daily challenge, as I experienced working with chronic pain patients, severe obesity, and a myriad of patients everyday.  Quirky coworkers kept me entertained daily.  I will miss carpooling with Dawn, a wonderful PTA, with an awesome sense of humor, and also a newby at Columbia Rehab.  Staff and patients alike were very friendly and welcoming.  

You gave us the opportunity to travel to local hot spots within a two and half hour drive. We were able to explore Mount Rainier NP, Mount St. Helens NP, Seattle, Long Beach, Portland, Battle Creek, Astoria (Goonies!), Cannon Beach, Seaside, Tillamook, Columbia River Gorge (SUP), Hood River, Mount Hood, Bend, Smith Rock S.P, Olympic NP, and Crater Lake NP.

We thank you again for being our first host city and perhaps our paths will cross again in the future.

Martha and VP

You look like a monkey!

Camping/Hiking_Cove Palisades S.P.

Hiking/Scrambling_Smith Rock S.P.

Weather_75 degrees, Sunny

After driving through snow at Mount Hood, we arrived at Cove Palisades S.P. which is 30 minutes North of Bend, OR.  Our first impression driving towards the S.P. was that we would be sleeping in farm fields.  At the last moment, it opened up into a canyon, with cliffs, waterfalls, and boulders everywhere.  Saturday morning, we made our way over to Smith Rock, a.k.a climbers paradise. 

Tam-A-Lau Trail

We could see why this was a climbers paradise.  All sorts of trad and lead routes within walking distance from each other.  Not being in climbing shape, we decided to hike and scramble through Asterisks Pass and around Smith Rock.  There was a formation called Monkey face, and that is when I realized vp looks like a monkey, but don't we all.
 

Monkey Faces

Smith Rock

Martha Rock

Mount St. Helens Part 1

Day Trip

Hiking_Mount St. Helens

Weather_Cold and Rainy

The weather looked bleak so we decided to do a day trip to Mount St. Helens.  It was described to me as "a mountain with a hole in it." We had to check it out for ourselves.  Although the weather did not cooperate, we were still able to have a great hike.  Unfortunately, we were not able to see "a mountain with a hole in it," so we will return....

Mount St. Helens peaking through the clouds

Devil's Elbow