Birthday Paddle

Birthday paddle on Lake Washington and around the Mercer Slough Nature Park.

A Day out in Seattle

Recipe for a day out in Seattle: take the bus to downtown; then stroll through bell town, stopping at Patagonia, and on to the Olympic Sculpture Park.

Lunch at the Old Spaghetti Factory and then a walk along the water front to any random coffee shop for a rest of weary feet.

Wrap things up with a Seattle Sounders FC home game – beating San Diego Earthquakes 2-1.

Sorted.

Finn’s Last Day

For the last day at BCS for Finn’s class story time was in the garden with Mrs Cambell & Mrs Simmons. Fantastic school, we’ll miss it.
I’m not sure where squirting water at the photog came into the story, but at least it wasn’t me getting damp.

Lake Serene

Martin was back states-side for a brief visit, but not so brief that a short walk wasn’t in order. So with Chris we took another amble up to Lake Serene…

…past big (no pics, too wet) and little Bridle Veil Falls that drain the lake through Bridle Veil Creek.

After our last visit two years ago I was prepared for a swim and a little snooze on lunch rock. Instead the lake basin was fog filled and the lake covered in thick ice.
Chilly.

Panorama Hike

With a big breakie at Paradise Inn behind us and the boys safely off with grandparents it was onwards & upwards for us.

We left the guide service hut and dirty snow at Paradise behind…

…and climbed up along the western side of Alta Vista through Paradise Park

The trail led up through the snow – a different route from Camp Muir last July – and was helpfully signed to avoid embarrassing falls down step slopes.

The view from Panorama Point was amazing, with Alta Vista, Mazama Ridge and then Mounts Adams, St Helens and (just visible) Hood on the horizon.

Mount Adams (from last years’ escapade)

Mount St Helens (not as much as there once was)

We even had some company for lunch

The way down was fun: steep and slippery. Fay tried plunge stepping before giving in to the charms of glissading (at which she was too fast for me to get a pic).

Wide brimmed hat = no/little sun burn

Kuhl cap & no hair = red ring of embarrassment next day in the office

Some more pics on the way down and then a well deserved drink back at the Paradise Inn.

Mountain Men

The boys, catching some rays out on the deck

Pyramid

6,937 feet

(Bed)Room with a View

The morning view from room 317 at the Paradise Inn on Mount Rainier.
Better than the hotel in London; but waking up to this view in Padstow is still my favourite.

Small & simple, and all the better for that.