Great Northwest Trip - Bavaria & Spokane

We had traveled over 2500 miles by car in 13 days, so we plan a decompression stop for just the two of us in a Bavarian mountain village, formerly known as Leavenworth, Washington.  Leavenworth is a small town on the east side of the Cascade Mountains, that Sue first visited years ago while marching with the Arlington High School Band in Leavenworth's Autumn Festival.  She later returned doing some geologic field exercises while at the University of Washington.  Since then, the town has gone whole-schnitzel into the Bavarian theme.  Leavenworth's Bavarian make-over is a huge success, as the three streets were packed with happy tourists wandering between coo-coo clock shoppes, wines, cheese and many restaurants and mountain chalet lodging facades. [no photos available - the camera broke]

We arrived in town early afternoon, and I had the phone number for the "Bavarian Inn" where we had reservations (but no address).  We cruised through town, and found the "Bavarian Chalet", the "Bavarian Lodge", the "Bavarian Bar & Grill" and the "Bavarian Hotel", not to mention the "Edelweiss Inn" and "Heidi's Pancake Haus" -- but no Bavarian Inn.  I stopped to visit Heidi (complete with laced up Bavarian bodice - I love that look) at the tourist info.  I told Heidi of my dilemma, she was stumped until Gretchen asked what phone number I had, and she immediately knew it was really the "Bavarian Lodge" that had our reservations. Dankeschön y'all!.

After checking in, we strolled beneath bountiful flower pots hanging from the street lamp posts and did a bit of window shopping.  Of course, it will come as no surprise to the frequent readers of this blog (all 3 of you, and you know who you are) that it was the Cheese Shoppe that brough us in to do business.  Free samples!  Sue selected a mango stilton.  I warned her that she would have to smuggle that cheese past the TSA in Spokane tomorrow morning, and I added that mango stilton looks suspiciously like plastik, a powerful explosive  preferred by Hezbollah the Lebanese Shi'ite terrorist group.  She was unfazed, as I think that warning sounded like a challenge.  [as a side note: she actually got the mango stilton AND a plastic bottle of water > 1.4 fl oz past the eagle-eyed TSA the next afternoon for our return flight to Dallas]

We had a late lunch that included samples of the local Wenatchee Creamery cheese.  We then wandered to the few blocks to the Wenatchee River Park and walked along the banks of the shallow, crystal clear waters filled with many intertube floaters enjoying the afternoon sun.  We made friends with a chocolate lab who came upon us as she trotted along the trail with a large stick in her mouth.  I gave her the command to drop, she did.  She gave me the command to throw the dang stick into the water, I did.  We played for about 5 minutes then we left.  So she found the next creature that had hands and a decent throwing motion.  I think she lives nearby, but comes to the river every day for a pickup game of fetch in the water.

We enjoyed a wunderbar dinner of schnitzel and wine at Mozart's Cafe.  It was there that we experienced a chocolate noisset (sp?) a chocolate pyramid filled with mousse and liquors.  
Viola!  
The End of a fine Trip through the Great Northwest.

   

Great Northwest Trip - Beach Picnic!

Finding everything in order on our visit to our rental property, we swung back onto I-5 and drove down for an afternoon with Sue's sister, Cathy, husband Eric and Zach, Connor and Emma on the Mukilteo Beach.  While first filling everyone in on our travels to date, Sue mentioned that we were late in getting in the night before because of our jaunt over to the Tillamook Cheese Factory.  Sue explained that she had begun making her own homemade cheeses.  Emma (age 6 1/2) wryly commented; "Well as long as you don't cut the cheese."  We all got her joke and laughed heartily.

Having dispensed with the fart jokes of my 6-year old niece, it was time to head on out for a picnic lunch.  We were able to catch 'em a day before their trip to see the California Coastal Redwoods.  In the meantime, Cathy put together a great fried chicken picnic lunch that we all enjoyed beside the stony beach.  It was a good visit, catching up on the active life of Cathy's young family as we sat on longs , threw rocks into Puget Sound at floating drift wood.  Then the 3 younguns were off to clamber over the play equipment in the grassy part of the park.  A sunny and delightful afternoon next to the water.

Toward the end, I was challenged by Zach to answer the question: "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?"

I said neither, it all begins with turtles.  In fact the world is held up by a turtle.  So what is that turtle standing on?  Not to be fooled by such a clever question, I said it was turtles all the way down.  But as for the first question regarding chickens and eggs, i told Zach and Connor that beside the turtles, the universe is really just an omelet.  This word about turtles and omelets set the two boys off on excitingly developing a whole new cosmological explanation which they felt confident was the long lost unified field theory.  The one simple idea that made sense of everything.  I assurred them they were going in the right direction, one cannot go wrong if you start with turtles.

We got some a chance to hear about Emma's dance classes and how she had performed in a circus themed recital earlier, dancing as a balloon and a zebra, with a chance to see her elaborate zebra costume.  Emma was soon dressed out in her leotards and was about to go to dance class, so we said our good-byes; leaving Zach and Connor writing a script for a film explaining the origins of the universe.  It was a brief but good and fun visit. 

Great Northwest Trip - LaConnor Landing

With the Cheese Factory and Portland Traffic behind us, it was a race with the setting Sun to up to Bob and Ann's place for our night's landing in LaConnor.  Around 5 we called to say we would be arriving later than we expected.  Bob asked where are you?  Sue said, well, we are in Washington.  Bob asked how far in to Washington.  Sue said, well we've made it about 3 miles in so far, so go ahead and feed the kids we'll be there in about 4 hours.

We arrived just as the Sun sank below the watery horizon.  Bob had a couple of nice steaks waiting to be cooked to our specifications.  But, looking around at the nieces and nephew - it was good thing Bob fed his kids before we arrives, as the way they had grown, it sure looks like they've been eating a lot of food!

Our host and hostess filled us in on many of life's adventures from there part of the world as they watched us consume a wonderful meal.  Bob's got a new addition on the place for his office, but for our visit, it was turned into a dog pound.  Ann is still kicking, by that I mean kicking ass and taking names, as she wrestles with laws, policies, management and attitudes involved with nursing in a nursing home.  It wears me out just listening to all that stuff, I don't know how she holds up - but she does.

We got filled in on Roberts summer violin camp and music interests while he sat in the corner electronically dispatching evil-doers on the computer screen. In fact, Hannah attended the same summer music camp as brother Robert as is working on her music reading skills with an eye toward joining the youth orchestra.  Katy Ann continues developing her skill with the piano, and her teacher says she has real talent, but at least to this point, not the "fire in the belly".  That passion Katy Ann reserves for her animals and has a list of exotic beast to acquire.  Dad says "no way" - but he has said that before.  

We talked into the night until it was time to take over the girl's room and bar the door from that curious cat.  The curious cat wanted to come in and see what we were doing lying on our backs in the dark.  I am afraid if the curious cat did get into the room and jumped on my face, it may have suffered the fate of many a curious cat.  Come morning, we found Bob at his post, serving pancakes, eggs, bacon and juice to all comers.  We took terrible advantage of his hospitality once again.

Our plan was to visit our rental on Pilchuck Creek and see how things were going, especially since we had to have the in-coming power line and breaker box repaired and rewired to meet code.  Unfortunately it was surprise visit, on account of our unplanned and somewhat erratic vacation travel schedule.  We were met in the driveway by our tenant, who once we assured her of our identity, was pleased to tell us everything was working well and how pleased she was to have such a place for her and her family.  Good reports all around.

Next stop: Beach Picnic!

Great Northwest Trip - Cheesy Tourist Stop

Sue looks upon Tillamook Cheddar Cheese
Assembly Line

As has been mentioned several times on these pages; Sue has become quite the home cheese-maker and connoisseur of cheese.  Accordingly, we scheduled a diversionary trip to Tillamook County, in the Northwest corner of Oregon to visit the large cheese factory there.  It was a happening place, the 20 acre parking lot was stuffed with RV and international folks ready to sample a small free cheese cube and then get enticed into buying an ice cream cone.  We enthusiastically joined the cheesy throng of tourist.

The "tour" was self-guided, meaning that you were allowed to look through windows from above the manufacturing floor and read educational signs post below the observation windows explaining the basic process.  We watched as 40 lb chunks of cheddar were automatically delivered, sliced into retail sized blocks, wrapped and boxed.  Of course Sue wanted to know more details than the basics, but was pleased to see and figure out much of the industrial process.  As it turns out, half of the Oregon labor force was canned earlier this year and much of the Tillamook Cheese process has been relocated to Idaho.  I am not sure why, but my suspicion is that Oregon has a regressive, anti-industrial mentality and set of policies and it makes economic sense to move those jobs 1,000 miles away from the Tillamook County cows.  We were not mooved to buy at the Tillamook Factory Store, since all of the products are readily available at local grocers throughout the NW.  We did move a few blocks down the road and stopped in to the Blue Heron French Cheese Creamery.  Again free samples.  I asked if these sampled were locally made varieties of cheese?  The Cheese girl said, "No.  Blue Heron has made all of their cheese in Wisconsin since 2007".  This relocation of jobs from a state that makes it illegal to pump you own gas. Just so backwards.  It is little wonder that Oregon has the 2nd highest unemployment rate of any state in the country.

Our cheese expedition to the old County Tillamook was a worthy and inspiring one.  However, it put us way behind schedule.  Once we cross to Washington State on the north side of the Columbia River, I filled up my own gas tank, washed the windows and made our "whey" to LaConner for a brief stay with Bob, Ann, Robert, Katy Ann and Hannah + pets.

Great Northwest Trip - Saltwater Between Our Toes

When we were packing for 2 weeks in the Great Northwest, we forced ourselves to put long sleeve shirts and light jackets into the suitcase.  None of those items have been used since last February 7th around here.  As always, it seems like it has been a hot and humid 102 forever.  It seems like it is hot everywhere in the world.  But wisely we each tucked clothing with extra fabric into our single piece of luggage - what a waste.  It was in the 90's in Montana, in the 90's in Idaho.  And the day we arrived in what was expected to be rain sodden Eugene, Oregon, it was 101 degrees!  Hell.  It was only 103 degrees back in Garland that day.

Inga took to the couch, while Sue and I had her bedroom.  The windows were open to allow the cooling night vapors seep into the blistering interior.  It being a hot Friday night meant that all of the raucous revelers also had their apartment windows open, so we had several competing parties from which to choose from and vicariously revel.  The loud, but rather poor singing was only punctuated by the inebriated voices emanating from 18th Avenue.  Kind of reminds me of being back in college. 

Take Off Your Shoes
Come and Get Some Saltwater Between Yer Toes!
Sue & Inga at Newport, Beach

Looking for some of the fable Oregon cold, wet air, we opted to go as far west a possible.  The next day was declared a beach day.  Inga preferred Newport over Florence, so it was north on I-5, cut west at Corvalis on to Newport, home of the Japanese dock that washed ashore after being broken loose from it moorings by the tsunami.  Alas, the tsunami dock which had travel across the Pacific had been removed.  All that was left for us to enjoy was a sunny day on an expansive beach, wading through the surf.

Ladies In Wading

Inga Makes A Splash

*** IT IS HERE THAT MY CAMERA BATTERY DIES ***

I realize the next day that the camera battery is past the point of being able to be recharged.  Not to fear, my phone can be a camera.  I can still take photos during our vacation.

*** IT IS NOW TIME TO FEAR ***

[Two week after my return from vacation, my phone (with stored vacation photos) has it's touch screen go kaput.  For those of you that log in just to look at the pictures.  Sorry, no vacation photos for rest of the blog.]

We wandered into Newport for some lunch.  The ever and over popular Mo's Chowder House was packed out the door.  We were hungry, so Ocean Bleu Restaurant a few blocks down the street worked just fine for us.  We picked up a bag of saltwater taffy to give our dog-sitter once we got back to Texas.

I drove the 50 miles down Highway 101 to Florence, then cut inland to get back to Eugene.  It would be nice to pull in to one of those coastal camps and stay awhile.  But I'll have to return some other cool and foggy summer day.

Great Northwest Trip - The Good Life, Ducks & "Sasquatch Sighting"

We were delighted to be counted among those who joined in the celebration of Nephew Daniel's achievement of Eagle Scout Rank, it was us no-bodies and a whole lot of Famous Potatoes.  After scraping the bugs of the windshield, it was off to Oregon.  Eugene, Oregon to be specific.

Inga will be a senior this year at the University of Oregon, Land of the Ducks. The University Registrar's office sends me quarterly reminders that "You can't be a Duck without a Bill".  Inga is living the good life in her hobbit-hole apartment across the street from the University with her two apartment mates.  Inga is volunteering several hours most days at the Campus Health Clinic where she is screening and doing preliminary advising for students interested in the Smoking Cessation Program.  Inga will be doing her Honor's College Thesis on Health Policy and Smoking Cessation as part of her Public Policy and Planning major with a eye toward a career in the health policy sector or perhaps a lobbyist (all expenses paid!) for health policy.  In September she will go through training as one of the select Clarke Honor's College Campus Guides, interacting the best and brightest prospective students visiting the Oregon campus.  Whoever gave her that (paying) job, knew what they were doing - she will be an excellent and enthusiastic representative of the really smart Ducks.

On our last visit to Eugene, Inga's mother heard mention of new interest by the name of Sean.  When discreet inquiries were made about a possible introDUCKtion, the response was that Sean was a very kind and caring man with many similar interests to Inga's; however, he was also pretty quiet and on the shy-side, not confident in his ability to make good first impressions.  So, Inga told Sean to lay low while her loose-cannon Dad was in town.  I took to referring to this Sean as the "Sasquatch boyfriend", a beast of the Northwest who is widely believed to exist, but who has rarely ever been spotted by credible witnesses (such as myself).  I was told that there was evidence of this Sean on Facebook, but I am not on Facebook; and besides, with Photoshop and everything, am I really supposed to believe the internet and Facebook? I checked Swope.com and found no evidence of this Sean.

After a year of hammering by the colluding wife+daughter team on old "Troll Dad" to layoff on the Sasquatch business, it was hoped that Dad was under proper control so as to be able to unveil Sean once we arrived in Eugene.  I am now a firm believer!

Sean Battee & Inga

We met Sean as soon as we pulled up to Inga's apartment.  Inga and Sean met us as we stepped from the car and Sean graciously carried my wife's luggage up the stair to Inga's room where we were to stay.  We offered to take Inga and Sean out to dinner.  Agreed.  We all 4 walked to the Maple Garden Chinese Restaurant.  Inga and Sue did most of the talking, Sean and me both stayed kind of quite.  Our waitress had pierced her nasal septum an had two small black horned toad lizard horns protruding from her nostrils.  She also displayed very dark eye-liner and spiked hair in a non-natural color while wearing a crocheted top over her perfunctorily covered black brassier.  It is a left-coast college town, so get used to it.  I didn't think commenting on our waitress was necessary (even after we had left the premises), but the nasal reptilian horns kind of undid my wife.  In retrospect, if only by coincidence, it was a nice contrast between the heavily tattooed & pierced population making a bold and permanent statement and the courteous, introspective and soft spoken Sean.  

Planned ahead of time was for Sean's mother, Annie, to make the hour trip down from Salem and the 3 Sunesons (soon-a-son) and the 2 Battee's (bah-TAY) to enjoy dinner together.  Inga and Sean had selected the Agate Cafe for dinner a few block up the street with dessert at the Sweet Life, across town.  We all enjoyed a very pleasant dinner together, and Sue and Annie quickly discovered they had an acquaintance (now living in New Zealand) in common. And as a mater of fact, Sean and Annie are planning a September trip to New Zealand and Australia.

Annie and Sean, Inga and Sue
Ready for Dinner at the Agate Cafe

Inga & Sean Enjoying the Sweet Life (metaphorically)
As we all Enjoy Dessert at
The Sweet Life (literally)

We all enjoyed having Sean around quite a bit over our 3 day stay. Sean talked of his interest in a career in law enforcement and his status in no-man's land as the previous tenant refused to move out of the apartment he had leased for the Summer and Fall as well as other topics.  And contrary to whatever reservations existed before our arrival, Sean made a very good (first) impression on us all - I guess that would include Inga as well.

Inga certainly has impressed us with her good choices, and those choices are all being savored with a set of good close friends, roommates and of course Sean.  She is excited about her future and faces life with great zeal.

You go Inga! -- and enjoy the journey.

Great Northwest Trip - Famous Potatoes & Eagle Court of Honor

The morning light came gently through our window as we awoke to the rhythmic lapping sounds of small waves on the cobbled shore of Flathead Lake just below our window.  We washed up and stepped down the stairs to load up on cinnamon rolls and fresh local cherries.  Last thing to pack was the toothbrush and it was a quick load into the SUV with our traveling supplies and comforts. 

South through Flathead valley, still in the morning shadow of the Mission Range jutting up just to our east.  We soon connected up to I-90 and nodded at the ancestral ranch of Great Grandfather Jonas Suneson on the hills bordering the outskirts of Missoula.  South into the Bitter Root Country, then through Hamilton and over the pass to catch the headwaters and then flow with the Salmon River through Idaho.  Our destination 9 1/2 hours away was Sister Sheri & Family outside of Boise.

We were pleased to be able to arrange our vacation schedule to coincide with Nephew Daniel's Eagle Scout Court of Honor.  We arrived a day ahead of the big Eagle Scout event which was to be held in the backyard.  We were able to help in setting up tables and chairs for the 31 guests and the next day Mom and Dad arrived from where we had just departed.  I was able to demonstrate my expertise as a super-duper melon-ball scooper; both cantaloupe and water melon balls where skewered and mounted on pineapples.  It was looking real festive all around the place.

Daniel's Grandmother
Preparing the Melon Ball
Sampler

The troop members came a bit early for some rehearsal, then came the guests, ready to take their seats strategically located in the evening shade.  There was a powerpoint presentation of Daniel's adventures through years in the Boy Scouts scrolling on the family room TV; from Pinewood Derby Days through the 5-Day raft trip down Oregon's Deschutes River.  The program began punctually at 7 PM, short remarks by Assistant Scout Master, Daniel's Father, Tony (who has been heavily involved with both of his boys in Scouting) and then presentation of the rank of Eagle by his Eagle Scout brother, Scott.  

Daniel's Proud Father Address the
Eagle Court of Honor
Tony has Two Eagle Scout Sons

Daniel Taking the Scout's Oath

Daniel finished with some remarks of his own.  Then Jaz-Dog was released from the garage wearing her own scout neck scarf and the party got into full-swing.  Cheese, cookies, a special Eagle Cake and of course, melon balls. 

Congratulation to Daniel attaining the Rank of Eagle Scout!
A feat accomplished by a mere 1% of scouts, deserving of a fete.

Daniel Presents Scouting Awards
To his Mother and Father

Eagle Scout Daniel
Eagle Court of Honor

Great Northwest Trip - Big Sky & Hot Water

Hot Water - No Photos Please

Our little hike in Glacier National Park from Logan Pass to the Hidden Lake overlook was the day before.  As hikes go, relatively short and up a gentle incline.  I've done this hike many times before, but either the mountains have gotten steeper, or my lung have gotten older - not sure which is true.  They say the "legs are the first to go".  My experience was that the legs are willing, but it is the lungs that are weak.   

The morning after our jaunt through the snow, I decided what we needed was to "take the waters".  Not that I was feeling any ill effects - it is just nice to take the waters.  In this case, it was a 45 minute drive from Polson to Wild Horse Hot Springs.  For $3 per hour per person one could get a 4-foot deep cement pool inside a dimly lit room that was filled with 121 degree mineral water. 

Spoiler Alert! --- Underneath these adult clothes, I am really naked.

Me and the wife cut off the lonely 2-lane Montana highway and turned north at the well weathered sign that seemed to point toward the Wild Horse Aqua Park & Hot Springs.  For a mile or two we traveled very dusty ranch roads until arriving at the Aqua Park.  The place was surrounded by a rusted-out house trailer or two, ample scrap iron and old pipes and what was probably a 60-year old low slung structure connected to the bath house.  We paid $6 and were shown which of the rooms had working plumbing.  I thought #4 looked the best.  That is not to imply that these could in anyway be thought of as the now popular "spa" type of setting.  But for $6, it was a deal.  I am all about value.  Me and the misses took off our clothes (I warned you this was coming) and stepped down the aqua green painted cement steps into the broth.  A pool of hot water is really a civilized way of letting worries and aches of body and soul melt away.  It was a good soak, for about an hour.  Once reaching parboiled prune stage, it was time to dry off.  All muscles restored by hot mineral waters.  Probably a good idea, but someone in our party said "of course there will be no pictures of this event on your blog."  So, let your imagination run wild as your peruse this very literature. 

I decided to take the long way home.  Just east of the town Hot Springs, is the world famous Camus Prairie Giant Ripple Marks http://www.glaciallakemissoula.org/virtualtour/camasprarie.html.  A must see for the geologist and and natural history affectionados of the cataclysmic Glacial Lake Missoula.  We stopped and marveled at the indications of deep and swift moving waters from the last glacial age, but seen deposited in a now arid valley.

Stupid Joke Alert!
     Q: What did the Mother buffalo say as she sent her boy off to school?
     A:  Bison!

Still cooling down from cooking in the Wild Horse Hot Springs, I pulled into the Moise Mercantile for a Huckleberry milkshake.  The couple from Washington parked next to us asked if we were going to tour the National Bison Range?  They breathlessly told us that they had just finished driving the 19-mile tour and had seen a bear picking berries, an elk, Big Horn Sheep and many bison cows with their calves!  Sue was intrigued.  I remember the Bison Range as a less-than-thrilling slow ride over a big hill, which may or probably may not have any wildlife to see.  I've been there about 4 or 5 times.  No doubt, after our Huckleberry shakes, I was going to go again.

We saw Big Horn Sheep in the shade on the slope of mountain.  We saw several solitary bison bulls.  Then toward the end, we saw off in the distance, the herd of bison.  I guess these critters are a must see, as part of Sue's family lore, her Grandfather raised buffalo (bison) on his ranch in Miles City, Montana.  That endeavor has since been referred to in the Cook family as "those damn buffalo!"  Among other things, they don't take to fences too kindly.

On a sad note for lovers on nonsequiturs, driving through Charlo, Montana, just outside the National Bison Range, I saw that the Hawaiian Cafe was no longer in business.  I always wanted to stop and sip a mai tai at the Hawaiian Cafe in Charlo, Montana as I looked upon the great ungulate beasts of the North American Plains and the snow-covered crags of the Mission Range while trying to think of the the tropics with spouting whales, and hula dancers on the sunny beach.  I guess the Hawaiian Cafe in the land of melted glaciers, bears and bison was never meant to be. 

The Great Northwest Trip - Big Sky

I find it strange how those grooves get worn by a person spending time in one place.  The grooves are not readily visible, at least until it comes time to get up and move, and then one realizes you're up to your neck in a well-worn rut which is called my place or my job.  And even if my place and my job are not that special or enviable by any of the other observers of your location and condition, one feels those strong tethers of routine or of place that hold one fast.  I find it strange that is so hard to just climb out of that groove and just go away.

But go away we did.  The impetus was primarily to spend a few days with my folks, see how they're doing and gettin' along.  And as they are sort of worriers about me and my lifestyle, it was expressed that I had to get up to Montana where they reside and give an accounting of myself and my life.  There needed to be talks of the estate and of affairs to come and likewise there needed to be assurance from me that the wolves are not baying at my front door.  All of that was accomplished in a grand tour and with a get-up-and-go-away abandon.  It was good - and I've got the pictures to prove it.

     ******************************************

It was to be a big loop, as many things in life truly are; we would cover 2,702 miles and hit the usual high points, as will be documented.

We flew Dallas to Spokane, thus avoiding outrageous taxes and fees at Sea-Tac Airport in Seattle, but we did succumb to $100 in round-trip checked baggage fees, amounting to an additional +10% charge to the ticket!  I prophesy the coming day when we will just fly naked with no checked baggage and we will not even pack a toothbrush while we are on vacation.  It may not be pretty, butt it is going to happen.  

Perhaps it was because I did not fly naked this time, but the guy at the Spokane car rental counter gave me a free up-grade on our reserved mid-size model to an SUV.  By mid-afternoon we were heading up over the bump that is the Idaho panhandle east of Spokane on our way to see the folks for dinner at Flathead Lake.  After enduring two consecutive butt aches (which I never get) from sitting in the airplane seats, it was a great feeling to get on the road.  I always feel great driving the St. Regis to Ravalli route in Montana, it is my favorite stretch of road in the West, hugging the banks of the Clarke Fork and Flathead Rivers, and it is especially pleasant in the illumination of a late summer's day.  I am feeling good about this.

We check-in at the Chateau Mom & Dad and select the upstairs "Chimney Room" for our stay.  The menus were already penned and the plan was to not be a tourist, but just take it easy and on the lake shore and visit like just plain folks.

We chucked that easy-going plan the next day and took a trip to Glacier National Park.  We caught a free shuttle bus in Apgar Village and rode it up the Going-to-the-Sun road, currently experiencing long traffic delays due to construction repairing the parts of the road that slid off the cliff.  We debarked at Logan Pass and Sue challenged me to a hike to the Hidden Lake overlook.  Game on!

Dad, Sue & Mom
Logan Pass Visitor's Center
Trailhead to Hidden Lake

We had to cross several slushy snowfields on the trail, and we were gleefully mindful that it was 105 degrees in Dallas, and a sunny 66 degrees atop the continental divide.  We saluted the federally employed Mountain Goats posing for the tourists along the trail.

Mountain Goat placed in snowfield by Park Service to entertain  the Taxpayers visiting the park

Nanny & Kid taking a break from Job
Snowfield Posing for Tourists
(Goats with Kids are allowed 30 min breaks after 3 Hrs in the Snowfield)

On the way down we both took a tumble as we crossed the slippery snow - it felt good.


We passed several Rangers briskly walking up the trail with there radios full of chatter while we were returning; I asked, "Are you closing the trail because of the bear at Hidden lake?"  She answered, "Yeah, you got that right."

I read in the Missoulian paper the next day that a seasonal worked from Michigan had disappeared on a lone hike from Hidden Lake in Glacier NP. The article wrote of slippery rocks and steep cliffs as hazards; I fear a bear et 'im up.

Hidden Lake, Glacier National Park
Glacially carved landscape

Mark has chased Billy Goats Gruff out from
Under this Bridge
And is now acting as a "Troll" Dad
I am ready to mess with by-passer's minds - for no good reason
As they tromp across my bridge

Sue Crosses the Treacherous Ice

Snowbank Sue - Nothing like Dallas in August

Wife basking in high-altitude marvelously cool air

My parents were waiting for us at Logan Pass Center when we returned after being chased off the mountain by the bear.  We all hopped on the bus and took the ride down the road carved precariously on the vertical wall of the glacial valley.  We got off for a small hike through the "Trail of Cedars" and the beautiful Avalanche Creek.

Avalanche Creek
Glacier National Park
Along the "Trail of the Cedars"
Named after it discovered, Cedar Yopantz -
An early explorer who was known for
striking off into the wilderness without  a map or compass.
This random navigation technique is now known as:
"Flying by Cedar Yopantz"

Time for some Time

Time: Nature's way of keeping everything from happening at once.

Vacation Time: A parallel universe developed by humans that dares nature to make everything happen at once.

What the heck!  Let's go on vacation, what is the worst that can happen while we are gone? [Actually nothing very bad happened, but it could have you know]

We dared the fates.  We scheduled two whole consecutive weeks for vacation.  

Summer is the busiest time for Sue - other than Advent/Christmas... and also Easter is very busy.  Come to think of it, she is busy planning for Christmas in the Spring, and busy planning for the summer camps in the winter and busy planning for Easter at Christmas... What the heck! Let's go on vacation!

Sue had the proverbial full plate.  She seriously contemplated skipping the 1st week of our vacation so she could do some more work.  Doesn't sound like a good idea to me, but then again, I was not asked.  She had finished 4 consecutive weeks of day camps where one day the wheels almost came off the church bus (literally literally) because the servicing dealership forgot to tighten the lug nuts after rotating the tires. Whoops! We just killed 9 church kids.  It didn't happen - but it could have you know.  Then it was right on to VBS.  Her secretary screwed up registration and paper work.  Once the registration mess was sorted out, the week went pretty well.  Not even getting the helium-filled 4 ft motorized clown fish balloon stuck way up on the sanctuary ceiling was too much of a problem.  Then it was time to fire her secretary (for a number of reasons) - but only after more long hours documenting and filling out secretary's "failure to meet expectations".  Human Remains Dept. told her what was needed to be done before the firing (since they know about this sort of thing); but when it came time to lower the boom, HR said I'll just watch to see if you do it right, this is really your job (I am thinking if you know so much about the proper procedure, why don't you be the one?).  Then it was time for another camp of her own design, mixing kids with residents of an elderly care facility for a week.  That camp went really well.  Sue was actually thinking about sticking around 107 degree Dallas for another week (because this was so much fun) - but I repeat myself.
What the heck!  Let's go on vacation anyway.

While we were cruising through barren stretches of the Great Northwest Inland Empire, she was fielding 2-3 call a day from a boy scout who decided to do his Eagle Scout project all-of-a-sudden in one of her Sunday School classrooms.  He had to have it done by end of August.  [Isn't a boy scout supposed to be prepared?]  Then come the calls from the secretaries filling in for the one who is no longer employed, "What does this mean? Can you explain it to me?"  "I don't understand how this is supposed to work."
Meanwhile back in the Oil Patch; my 6-week simple effort to get 14 people to sign 2 pieces of paper and send them back in the provided SASE was dragging on and on.  Anything but simple.  The last signature page arrives at noon on the Friday before vacation.  We have only 6 months before our gas well lease expires, and these folks take 1 1/2 of those 6 months (25% of time wasted) to sign a paper?  Nothing like a scheduled vacation to make the final paper come in, thus requiring much final effort to process the package of legal documents in my final work hours.

Then I get calls from the partners, "Hey, what's happening with that well?  We are running out of time - better do something quick!"  Sorry, I am on vacation.  I'll get to it in 2 weeks.

"URGENT: Immediate Relocation" reads the email on my phone during the first days of vacation.  The building management has decided to move all tenants off of floors 3 through 6 in your building.  Sunstone Exploration, Inc. is in Suite 305. I call and say, "Sorry, I am on vacation, I'll deal with this when I return."  Then the mineral interest owner in the afore mentioned gas well calls, "Our FedEx package to Sunstone Exploration has been returned!  Why doesn't some one sign for it?"  Because I am on vacation and there is no one there to sign for it, until I return.  So sorry, but I am on vacation.

It was a heck of a vacation.  Film at 11.