Tuesday, September 25, 2012

One day road trip

Columbia Gorge by Southworth Sailor
Columbia Gorge, a photo by Southworth Sailor on Flickr.

This weekend we took a 500 mile day trip. We wanted to test the Scion's comfort on a long haul. We also get an itch for the mountain passes and Eastern Washington this time of year. We drove Chinook Pass over to Yakima. It was extremely smokey, beginning at the summit of the pass. Yakima was socked in as well. We made the decision to take a long loop down to the Gorge and back up I5. The Gorge was beautiful and Esther got to see Stonehenge and Maryhill for the first time. We were tempted to run up to Trout Lake, but we got home at 10 pm as it was. The Scion tc passed the test: comfortable ride and fun to have the roof open.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Dungeness Spit

11 miles round trip by Southworth Sailor
11 miles round trip, a photo by Southworth Sailor on Flickr.

Saturday I took my 6th grade class on a hike to the Dungeness Spit lighthouse. Eleven students and two parent joined me on the eleven mile round trip trudge though the sands along the Strait of Juan de Fuca. I was hoping for more participation, but the new families aren't quite trusting enough to give me their child for the day. By spring they will! The weather was great and the low tide on the way out made a quick 2 1/2 hour trip out to the lighthouse. After an hour of lunch on the lawn and a tour of the lighthouse, it was time to drag the kids back to the parking lot. The rising tide pushed us up to the softer sand and logs for a slower go. It took 3 1/2 hours for the last of the stragglers to make it back to the parking lot. We all piled into a fifteen passenger van for the trip home. You'd think that the kids would have been pooped out. You wouldn't know it from the the raucous singing and shouting on the way home.

Monday, September 03, 2012

A Traveling Labor Day Show

This year's Labor Day weekend took on a little different twist as we moved about. The weekend started at the cabin at Cain Lake cabin on Saturday afternoon. No oysters this year, but burger sliders and fresh veggie salad was the fare. A lazy Sunday morning in blazing lakeside sunshine turned slowly into afternoon and a quick pack up and drive to Bothell, where we checked into the Springhill Suites using Zachary's discount. After lounging by the pool, we headed to Red Hook Brewery for supper. Monday morning saw most of the gang at a nearby Value Village snatching up deals. A trip to Blythe Park and Woodinville Chipotle led up to the final activity of the day- checking out Markus new house in Fremont.