Fireside chatting

Our after dinner stroll Wed evening

Some of our posts may be out of order a bit.

Our spot in national forest

We have setup camp for the next five nights at a national forest
campsite outside of Leavenworth. There's no electric or water but it
is quite beautiful and woodsy. The best part us that it's first come
first served so our lack of a reservation for July 4th weekend ended
up not hurting us here.

Stay tuned for lots if photos from around here and the nearby town.
You'd swear we were in Austria or Bavaria!

Three Fingered Jack's Saloon

Nice Sign

Winthrop, Wa

Eastern Cascades. Very well restored old west feel. My pics can't do
it justice. Eating lunch in "the oldest legal saloon in Washington
State".

Dockside view

This lake is adjacent to our campground.

Another pretty campsite

Washington is making a great impression on us! Just outside of
Winthrop for the night.

More alpine beauty

A taste if the Alps

If you can't get to Sweden, consider going here.

Manmade lake

One of two lakes along route 20 made by dams which feed into power
plants. The plants have been here since 1924.

More Cascades

A great weather day for driving.

High Cascades of Washington

Started driving east today as the first step in out return. Headed
across route 20 and drove thru the cascades. Beautiful and hard not to
stop to hike them. Very steep and shear.

Geography lesson on board

The ferry had a relief map of the Olympic mountains that we drove
around.

All hands on deck

Monday afternoon's ferry across the sound.

Last in board.

We just made the Kingston ferry over to the eastern side if the Puget
Sound. Saved at least two or three hours of driving and was fun to boot!

Jonah fighting temptation

That gum is no good for chewing Jonah!!

Do not touch!!

A wall of chewed gum in an alley behind Pike

Walked thru Pike Place Market

Seattle skyline

A little sprinkle in the air

Part of our Seattle tour.

Lyman took us by an overview point of Seattle and this sculpture was
there.

Jonah being cool and Elena making fun

Fremont Troll  Best Bakery EVER!!!!

Visit w Lyman & Carolyn

We had a chance to catch up w them after church. Had lunch together
and then Lyman gave us a tour of the area.

Ferry to Seattle

Went to Seattle for church at the RP congregation there. Took a cab
from the ferry terminal.

Mt Ranier at sunset

This photo is not nearly as impressive as seeing the mountain just
sitting there across the bay! Makes me want to climb it.

A happy customer

After dinner treat at the bakery

We walked around the main streets of the town and then swung into this
bakery for dessert. It's the same one we went to back in 1998 w Kate.

Nice evening on the water at Poulsbo

Future Viking?

Viking tents

They actually sleep in these all weekend. Good for them that it was so
nice out.

Vikings invaded Poulsbo

The annual Viking Days were held in Poulsbo this weekend. We walked
around their tents after dinner.

A taste of home

We split an order of steamers as an app for dinner.

Dinner in Poulsbo

Reminds me of Rhode Island. Lots of shoreline and boats.

Worlds largest hop scotch track

Kids drew up the hopscotch w chalk we bought at Walnart this morning.

We decided to stay on Bainbridge Island for the weekend after parking
in a nearby Walmart last night. There were several open spots at the
park which was surprising since it's such a nice weekend.

Stuck around and played/rested for the afternoon and then drove 15
minutes to Poulsbo.

Stain glass in the capital

I took a walk thru the capital while D & gang were whaling.

Center city marina

The capital is in the background.

Deryl and the kids on their way out

They took a three hour tour (a three hour tour) and saw a pod or two
of orcas. Also saw some seals and had a nice cruise through the nearby
islands.

Have spent two days in Victoria on Vancouver Island for "vacation". Kids swam in pool, we've eaten out, had real doors, took a tub!  Loved Butchart Gardens!!  Kids and I went on three hour whale watch this morning and saw two pods of Orcas, had full tea, went to Miniature museum and are about to visit w Daves old friend, Shannon, and her family. Busy day. Aren't they all?  Lovely visit with Shannon, Dave, Nicora, Sheldon, and Ciara (sp? Sorry)

Mrs Butchart's private garden

Butchart garden path

Japanese garden section of Butchart gardens

More of Butchart gardens

For those of our followers who really love gardens, we can send you
even more photos!!

Butchart garden walk

Reflecting pond at Butchart gardens

Our walk thru the gardens took almost 2 hours.

Sunken gardens at Butchart Gardens

Evening at Butchart Gardens

Went to these beautiful gardens about 25 minutes out of Victoria for a
late afternoon / early evening walk. Had sandwiches at their coffee
shop at about 8:30 then drove back to hotel.