Marymere and Port Townsend

After a healthy (well, large, at least!) breakfast, we packed up and drove just a short way to the Marymere Falls trail. It’s a beautiful stroll through old growth forest and over some sparkling rivers.

The falls were well worth the walk – delicate, even a little under-powered at this time of year, but framed by brilliant ferns and a neck-straining ring of giant trees.

Heading back towards Seattle, we stopped at an ever-so-cheesey casino for some ever-so-cheesey food, then on to Port Townsend. None of us were particularly taken with the over-priced antiques ($85 for 18 postcards!) but the old downtown has some charm – and views across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Mount Baker are sublime.

Exploring the Olympics

On the Monday, Mum and Dad and I piled into the Cutlass and set sail in our America whale for the Olympic Peninsula. First stop (if you don’t count some crumbling Indian firework stalls, and lunch at Sequim) were the cloudy reaches of Hurricane Ridge. I don’t what they’re looking so happy about – we couldn’t see a thing!

Well almost – the clouds parted briefly at the summit, to reveal a beautiful wild landscape.

No time to waste! Back in the car and on to Lake Crescent Lodge in the heart of the park. We were staying in the cute Singer cottages right by the old lodge, complete with lake views and stable doors.

There was plenty of time to enjoy the sunset, explore the shore and take a well-earned rest before a tasty dinner in the lodge.

The next morning, I snuck out early to ‘bag’ Mount Storm King right by the lake. A really fun hike up in the morning mist, and then a heart-pumping scramble to the top, with views right into Canada.

Another rainy Hartstene experience

It seems whenever we take my family to Hartstene, the weather is against us. Here’s Dad getting his sea legs on the ferry ride over.

We had to stop at the chainsaw carving place in Allyn on the way, of course. That being the case, I had to pull a silly face.

Ted gave us the usual warm welcome, then Karen’s mates arrived for the annual bridge contest and over-eating competition (I remain the undisputed champion at the later).

Although, frankly, not even I could finish the gargantuan quantity of samphire that Jonathan harvested from the beach. This is what was left over AFTER feeding 12 people…

Here’s a room full of full people, being full. Torrential rain kept us indoors most of the weekend – boo!

More Seattle tourism!

Mum and Dad took a couple of days down in Portland seeing Sue and Bob, but were back in town for the First Thursday free museum day.

We started on the University of Washington campus just up the road, polishing off an exhibition about the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition at the library, totem poles and stuffed animals at the Burke, then the oh-so-hip Henry Museum of modern art – in which our favourite piece was definitely this atmospheric SkyScape above.

In the afternoon we managed to squeeze in the Andrew Wyeth show at the SAM, too, before dumbing down with burgers at the Two Bells pub.

On Friday, mum and I explored the Japanese garden and the Washington Arboretum, while Dad shot in Wallingford. And here’s a fun shot of Karen serving cupcakes at a delicious at Ann and Ted’s in Bellevue later in the week.