A Very Redwood Christmas

We spent Christmas this year in the California Redwoods, hiking, relaxing, hiding from the rain, and of course eating.  Will and Jane coerced us to join them, and so we braved the rain.  The guys created a masterful rain canopy of tarps (that the ranger later yelled at us for...) so we could enjoy our food.  First full day, we embarked on an "8 mile" journey through the redwoods, to the beach, and back to camp.  12 miles, lots of water crossings and backtracking, and intense 4 mile sprint later, we returned to camp just before dark.  Much food consumed, including Will's spectacular beef enhanced chili, sweet potatoes and chicken, and an assortment of goodies were consumed near the campfire.  The following day, we were a bit pooped, so VP and I took a light hike to an old barn, built by early settlers that was built about 100 years ago.  We forgot water on that trip, and VP was a bit parched when we arrived at the barn.  We then proceeded to the giant Paul Bunyan and Big Blue.  Who can resist giant characters? Not us.  Despite the rain, we had a fantastic weekend, Christmas, and had great company. 

 

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!