Category Archives: Home

July 14 – New trail – CCC Middle Fork Rd

Sorry, its been a long time since I updated this blog. Haven’t done any REAL hiking for while, for various reasons- rain, garden projects, work, and of course just lazy. Its been literally months since I last hiked up Rattlesnake Ledge, … Continue reading

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Dec 30 Saturday – Christmas in Aiken Day 10 – Heading home

Got up this morning at 730. Must have coffee. Must have more coffee. Had a couple of Karens lebkuchen with it while on the computer. Need to start catching up on my blogs. Been too busy, have let it slide, … Continue reading

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Dec 29 Friday – Christmas in Aiken Day 9 – More relaxing

Friday I was up a little after 6am, but I had slept well. Must have coffee. More coffee. Went online. Karen made Oatmeal for breakfast, then David got his blower out and took care of leaves in the yard. After that … Continue reading

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Dec 28 Thursday – Christmas in Aiken Day 8 – Charleston

I had thought last night before bed about getting up early and going for a beach walk, but I didn’t sleep well, both due to full stomach from Bubba Gumps, and the room heater not cycling on and off properly. … Continue reading

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Dec 27 Wednesday – Christmas in Aiken Day 7 – Fort Sumter

Karen & David were up early to walk the beach and hopng for a sunrise worth photographing, but apparently it wasn’t much to look at. There were also a few raindrops. I was up by 730, showered, had some hotel … Continue reading

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Dec 26 Tuesday – Christmas in Aiken Day 6 – Folly Beach

I’m relaxed enough here on this trip, that getting up between 630-730 and checking emails is the first routine of the day. Just like home.  Also coffee. Must have coffee. We were all up by 9 and with breakfast done, … Continue reading

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Dec 25 Monday – Christmas in Aiken Day 5 – Christmas day

Everybody went to bed last night by 930 except me. I kept watching youtube videos until 1130. But we both slept well all night in bed and it was cooler with the window open. I got up about 0700. Coffee. Must … Continue reading

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Dec 24 Sunday – Christmas in Aiken Day 4 – Christmas Eve

Slept well all nite in bed, albeit too warm for both of us. We opened a window but it didn’t help much. Oh well, we got enough sleep. It was a leisurely get up Sunday morning. Coffee. Must have coffee. … Continue reading

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Dec 23 Saturday – Christmas in Aiken Day 3- a Saturday for relaxing

I got up from the couch about 0730(nobody seemed to be up yet, although David & Karen may have gone for a walk) and went upstairs and crawled into bed and slept another 2 hrs. Without coughing. May be finally getting … Continue reading

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Dec 22 Friday – Christmas in Aiken Day 2- Flight to Augusta

We had a two hour wait in Atlanta for DL4998 to Augusta. This was a Bombardier CRJ-200 which is about 50 passengers. So there weren’t a lot of people waiting in the terminal. I like that about small planes, not so … Continue reading

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Dec 21 Thursday – Christmas in Aiken Day 1 – Flight to Atlanta

I got all caught up at work today and was able to leave on time at 5. Got home by 6, Wendy was all packed up, we had dinner, and Carolyn drove us to the airport at 730, much earlier … Continue reading

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Dec 12 – Costa Rica Trip Day 6 – heading home

Slept well all night despite my sore throat. Got up at 7 this final morning, then went to the buffet breakfast again about 730. At 0900 we were pretty much packed up and ready to go. Our shuttle to LIR left at 1030, … Continue reading

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Dec 11 – Costa Rica Trip Day 5 – a fun relaxing Monday but with a sore throat

Yesterday’s weather was great, a more enjoyable temp(low 80’s) and finished with a great dinner. But about 8pm I felt my throat getting sore, just the way it does when one starts getting a cold. But I slept well otherwise and we … Continue reading

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Dec 10 – Costa Rica Trip Day 4 – Saying goodbye to the group

All the group activity is now over so no more being nervous or having any anticipation of anything. Time to relax. Slept VERY well last night after the big-beach-sunset-dinner in Tamarindo. Got up at 730 and made a couple cups of espresso, … Continue reading

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Dec 9 – Costa Rica Trip Day 3 – Presentation day

My alarm woke me up at 6am as planned, but I was not ready to get up. I probably could have slept another 2 hrs easy. I felt foggy and not normal. Not bad, just not normal. So I hopped in the … Continue reading

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Dec 8 – Costa Rica Trip Day 2 – Atlanta to Liberia Costa Rica

It seemed like we both had just fallen asleep when the alarm went off at 5am. Tough to get up. We had an hour & a half to shower and pack up and eat something downstairs at the breakfast buffet. No … Continue reading

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Dec 7 – Costa Rica Trip Day 1 – Seattle to Atlanta

This trip came about because back in October a customer at work, Press Metal North America, had invited us to join them in their office xmas party in Liberia, Costa Rica. They do this every year at different locations as a “team … Continue reading

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Sep 24 Rattlesnake Mountain

Too much sitting and not enough exercise the past couple weeks, I felt like I needed to do something long and more strenuous. I also needed to break in a new pair of hiking boots. It was Saturday, partly sunny … Continue reading

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Sep 10 Newport to home

Sunday morning I got up about 7 and went out to breakfast a couple blocks up the street from the motel to a place called Pig ‘N Pancake. It was early enough it wasn’t crowded, but clearly would get to … Continue reading

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Sept 9 McMinnville to Newport via Tillamook

I tossed and turned a little last night, but got enough sleep, getting up at around 7. Ate an apple, had my vitamins, and about 3 cups of coffee from my thermos with the rest of my mini bran muffins I … Continue reading

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Sep 8 Drive to McMinnville

I took Friday off with the intention of going to Hood River for the annual fly-in at WAAAM, camp there in the van and enjoy lots of airplanes flying, and hopefully clear weather like last year. But it was not … Continue reading

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Aug 20 Middle Fork Snoqualmie River trail

They paved the Middle Fork road last year, all the way up to the Middle Fork Campground, about 9 miles. I haven’t been on that road for more than a year now. So I thought I would check it out. … Continue reading

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July 9 21 miles in 3 days

I took the day off, Friday 7th, spent most of the morning working from home but was done by about 11. Then David met me for a walk thru the Snoqualmie Tunnel. We both met at Hyak about 315 and … Continue reading

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July 4 20 Miles in 3 days

I’ve been more lax in hiking/walking so far this year, my excuse is because of the generally rainy weather, but in reality, I’ve just felt less enthused to get out. Sometimes lack of energy contributes(I tend to have low ferritin/iron … Continue reading

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May 21 Viking Funeral-Admirals Cove-Whidbey Island – Day 5 – Our last day

I got up at 615, first one up. Made myself a cup of coffee, took a picture of Wendy and Carolyn out on the deck in sleeping bags. It was completely fogged in outside. The community, the bay, everywhere. Online weather showed … Continue reading

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May 20 Viking Funeral-Admirals Cove-Whidbey Island – Day 4 – THE BIG DAY!

We all woke up early, most showered and dressed before 7. Still breezy but skies show promise of clearing.  TODAY is the big day for “sailing mom out to sea”. Randy was first up and busy making his crockpot of … Continue reading

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May 19 Viking Funeral-Admirals Cove-Whidbey Island – Day 3

Its Friday, we’ve had two wonderful nights here alone, today others arrive. Last night was very calm, no wind no waves. Clouds are breaking up this morning, a little bit more sun. Breeze is picking up a little though too. … Continue reading

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May 18 Viking Funeral-Admirals Cove-Whidbey Island – Day 2

Up at 7am this morning, calm mostly cloudy weather, low 50’s out. No rain. So far so good. A nice leisurely morning, with a couple cups of coffee, some muffins & cheerios for breakfast, along with some time checking emails. Around … Continue reading

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May 17 Viking Funeral-Admirals Cove-Whidbey Island – Day 1

I’ve finally got 4 days off, a real(albeit short)vacation. Wendy planned this last fall after her Mom passed away. Mom said she wanted a “Viking funeral“, so we rented a house in the community where mom and husband Rod had … Continue reading

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Sept 9-11 WAAAM Hood River Fly-in

I took Friday Sept 9th off work so I could drive down to Hood River and car camp at the airport for the annual WAAAM fly in. After getting everything packed up in the van, I left the house a few … Continue reading

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Aug 7 Mt Si

Its been awhile since I posted here. Haven’t done as much hiking this summer as I would like but finally decided its been two years since I last did Mt Si, so I had to do it at least once … Continue reading

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Oct 9-10-11 Crabfest in Port Angeles

Thursday Oct 8 after work I headed home and with Friday and Monday off I packed a weekend bag and headed up to Camano. Spent the night at moms, then Friday 8am Wendy & I headed for Coupeville and the Port … Continue reading

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Sept 19 Lodge Lake

I had a few things to do this morning, so my hiking was delayed until noon. But I really needed some exercise so I finally went where there were fewer people, on the PCT from Snoqualmie Pass ski area south. … Continue reading

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Sept 12 Longs Pass

It was a little bit of a drive but it was a couple years since I last hiked Longs Pass. I got up at 530 and made a couple sandwiches for the hike, and some oatmeal for breakfast, and left the house … Continue reading

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August 19 WAAAM Hood River

Wed morning Aug 19th, I got up about 7 and wasn’t really sure I was going anywhere or what I wanted to do. It was forecast to be hot, upper 80’s here at home so I decided it would be … Continue reading

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August 18 Dungeness Spit Lighthouse

Since I have this week off, my original intention was to drive to Crater Lake, OR on Monday. But I ended up having to put Carmel to sleep mid day Monday, so that kind of ruined my day. So I … Continue reading

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Rattlesnake Mountain Redux

I’ve done this before a few times, Rattlesnake Lake to Snoqualmie Point, 10.5miles. The last time was Sept 23 2014. Just scroll down, you’ll see my posting. It was a perfect sunny day, cool 40’s to start, but forecast for … Continue reading

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Lake Twenty Two, Mountain Loop Hwy, Wendy’s birthday

Saturday, Mar 7 was Wendy’s birthday. She went up last Wed evening to bring her mom home from Mira Vista in Mt Vernon, and get her settled back in. Wendy will be with Mom thru Mar 10 to make sure she can … Continue reading

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John Wayne Trail, Lake Easton

My left ankle has been very sore the past week(probably from not using it enough!) so I wanted to loosen it up with more of a walk than a hike. Sunday Mar.1 was a very nice day, cold to start but … Continue reading

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A brief walk on the beach at Dungeness Spit

After dropping Karen off at the airport about 545 am today, I headed south to Tacoma, stopped for breakfast a little after 6, and then continued west on Hwy 16 up past Bremerton and crossed the Hood Canal bridge and on … Continue reading

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Sunday following Kendall Katwalk

I slept extremely tightly from 9pm when I went to bed, until about 330am. I got up to pee, then started to clear a fish shipment arriving midday Sunday. I was up for probably an hour on the computer, then crawled … Continue reading

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The Kendall Katwalk, heading north on the PCT – 11 mi RT

The Kendall Katwalk is a pathway blasted out of rock on a sheer cliff. Its not unsafe to cross, quite wide actually, but you still don’t want to get too close to the edge. I didn’t decide to hike this … Continue reading

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Lake Valhalla – I drove 85 miles for a 3.5 mile hike

Its been off and on rain all week, but this weekend it was supposed to be clear and sunny and low 70’s. I wanted a little bit of a drive so I left the house about 920 and headed up … Continue reading

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All 10.5 miles of Rattlesnake Mountain

With Saturday the 13th likely going to be the last REALLY nice weekend of the summer, I opted to stay close to home but get some miles in and do an old favorite. Since Wendy had to open the store … Continue reading

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Long Weekend to Mt St Helens and Hood River OR., Part 4

The Days Inn in Yakima was a decent quiet place to stay. Monday morning the 8th, I got up about 7am, got some coffee and milk downstairs, had a bowl of granola while I checked a few emails, and then packed up to … Continue reading

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Long weekend to Mt St Helens and Hood River OR., Part 3

I had a hard time getting to sleep in the back of the van last night. Not a comfort thing, just couldn’t make myself relax. It was probably after 10 when I finally nodded off. I tell you, total absolute … Continue reading

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Long weekend to Mt St Helens and Hood River OR., Part 2

Aside from some middle of the night loud and rude and drunk neighbors at the Rodeway Inn, I got enough sleep, and got up about 630. Although a continental breakfast was included, I just went down for a cup of … Continue reading

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Long weekend to Mt St Helens and Hood River OR., Part 1 – 9/5/14

I took Friday and Monday off, 9/5 – 9/8 so I could take a long weekend away by myself. Originally, Dad and I were going to go down to the Columbia River and watch a steam engine run, but it … Continue reading

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Beyond Snow Lake

Snow Lake from the Alpental parking area is usually very crowded on a nice weekend. It was no different on this Saturday. I wanted something close but still a good workout, and while I would have preferred to start at … Continue reading

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Aug.2, Pacific Crest Trail, Snoqualmie Pass to Windy Pass, 11.8 mi RT

Today I needed some distance so I chose a trail that is popular but I’ve never been on before, and yet so close to home. The PCT from Snoqualmie Pass to Windy Pass. Last week was Mt. Catherine from a … Continue reading

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