Yaquina Lighouse and Fort Warden State Park and grandkids.

 

 

On the way north from Arizona back to family in Washington this "just for fun" picture is called

 

" and one flew away" taken in central California.

 

 

 

 

We found this Olympia Beer can in a field in central California.

 

Another stop was on the Oregon coast where we hiked to the top of  Yaquina Lighthouse.

 

 

 

Most people go to the top and shoot down, this is at the bottom looking up to the top.

 

Go out the back door and the rocks are covered with birds and birds and birds.  And it smells like it.

Another view from the other side looking inland.

Finally made it back to Washington and had a fun day with two of our granddaughters at Fort Warden near Port Townsend Washington built about 1910.  A fun day with Daisy and Dani.

 

 

 

 

 

And finally don't forget to stop and smell the roses at Evergreen Coho Escapees park in Chimicum Washington.

 

 

Or just hold one to share.

To be continued...

Palouse of Washington State, sunset and super moon rise all in one evening.

Last weekend we took a trip to Pullman Washington for Jackie's 50th High School reunion and part of the weekend was a picnic and an evening out in the wheat farming area at the top of a ridge where we could watch the sunset and turn 180 degrees to watch the rise of the super moon.  The only problem was the residual smoke in the area from forest fires damped the view of the moon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recently harvested wheat and soon to be harvested in the distance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And a just for fun picture that we try and add to the end of each blog here is a photo of 2 of our granddaughters



 

To be continued...

Saguaro and Crested Saguaro near Congress and Tucson Arizona

Before leaving Arizona this Spring we spent a lot of time out in the desert and we continue to be amazed at the number, size and shapes of the Saguaros we find.  The first four pictures are taken at the Saguaro National Park near Tucson Arizona where we went with good friends.

 

Just one small hillside with more Saguaro than you could even think about counting. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We arrived a little early in the season but some of them are starting to bloom at the tops.

The bees just love the flowers so there has to be lots there for them to collect.

Some with arms and some reaching for the sky.  We would guess over 30' tall.

Back closer to home (Congress) we took a ride with our quad out in the desert and found this rare Crested Saguaro.

Taken from the internet so it's not our writing but it does give a little insight into the following pictures.

"The magnificent Saguaro Cactus grows only in the 120,000 square mile area of the Sonoran Desert in the southwestern US and northern Mexico. It is arguably one of the most recognized natural wonders of Arizona.
A rare condition that affects roughly one in every 200,000 appears like a fan-like abnormality. These are known as “Crested Saguaros.” The cause of this deformity, which sometimes resembles a burl on trees, is unknown. Theories include everything from lighting strikes to genetic abnormalities. The most widely accepted explanation is that cresting is caused by damage to the apex of the plant, either from some sudden trauma or by freezing. The crest doesn’t seem to harm the saguaro, which can continue to produce flowers and fruit."

A little closer view.

On another day we took a hike with a guide near Stanton Arizona, an old ghost town where there are several Crested Saguaros spread out over several acres.

This one is called the Elephant, complete with curled trunk.

Nothing crested here but a lot of new arms trying to grow.

Not the same from the back but interesting.  There are several more in the area but it was time to head back and find some shade.

 

 

And near the base of one of the Saguaro was a very unique spiders nest.

To be continued...

Yosemite National Park

After the 3rd try in 3 years we finally made it to Yosemite National Park, camping just 5 miles outside the west entrance.  We spent 4 days touring and hiking the park and had a ball.  The park is spectacular from all sides, except when we tried to tour the last portion the road to the north entrance was closed because of 18" of new snow, and here we are in shorts and T shirts!

One day we drove to the Arch Rock Entrance just so we could drive through the arch.

Bridalveil fall taken from tunnel view area of the park.  We stood in the mist at the bottom of the falls for more pictures.

Bridalveil fall from near the bottom.

These next two pictures are out of order so skip down and take a look at the size of  El Capitan then come back and see if you can find the white tent half way up the side with two people standing next to it on a ledge.  You can click to enlarge any of these pictures.

People come from all over the world to try and climb El Capitan.  Not sure I would want to try it on a day with the clouds covering the top.  Oh, heck I guess I would never want to try and climb it.

Just one of the views from the end of glacier point road where you can look down at some of the major areas of the park.

Two more out of sequence, so take a look at Half Dome picture and then come back to this one and if you look real close at the next picture of the very top of Half Dome you can see about 20 people who have made it to the top.

Half Dome from Glacier Point.

Just 6 miles inside the park from the southern Mariposa Grove entrance is one of three groves in the park of giant sequoia trees.  We took a 45 minute tram tour through the grove and it was spectacular.

What can we say about these two huge trees.

Now you can get a better idea of the size with Jackie walking through another.

This shot is also from Glacier point view showing Nevada fall (upper) and Vernal fall (lower).

Another view of Nevada and Vernal falls.

Another day we hiked near to the base of Vernal  fall.  Short hike of about a mile but it was straight up and really tested our hiking abilities!

It's been a while since our last Blog so we wanted to share a recent picture of us to let you know we are still alive and well and still on the road touring our great Country.  This taken from Tunnel View area of the park.

Upper and lower Yosemite falls.  We did hike to the base of the lower fall but opted out of the hike to the top of the upper.

The last day into the park there was snow at various areas so Dick found some waiting to melt on the inside of this plant.  I think it's skunk cabbage.

To be continued...  it may take awhile but hope to post more of our travels soon.