Sequim Washington, June 2012

Here we are one year after retirement, still traveling, still enjoying what we are doing and still married, go figure. We decided that we really made the right decision for our retirement. In the past year we have volunteered at two lighthouses (we love lighthouses), volunteered at a state park in Michigan and one in New Mexico (I love Mexican food) and are now at a private park in Sequim Washington. One reason we chose Washington was that both Holly and I have family here and we wanted to spend time with them and get reacquainted. We've been traveling all over the Olympic Peninsula and are having a ball.

Our latest adventures have included a trip to the beach at low tide with Holly's Aunt Lorrie, exploring the tide pools. We were able to see several small fish, crabs and clams. We also found this starfish waiting for high tide. We had a great time climbing all over the rocks and the dogs had a ball running all over and investigating the new and different smells. We even had time for a family photo before the tide came back in.

On another day we went with Lorrie and her two grand daughters to see a waterfall by Crescent Lake which is about 50 miles from the park. It's called Marymere Falls. We started at Storm King Ranger station and walked about a mile and a half to the falls. It was an easy walk thru the forest and over the river to the falls. The last bit was a real climb up to the falls but it was a nice surprise when we rounded the last bend in the trail at the falls. The two girls were having a ball on the walk. They each had a camera and were taking pictures. We saw a small blue butterfly and they were going in circles trying to get a picture of it.

We took the ferry over to Edmonds which is a town north of Seattle but close to Holly's sister Debbie where we stayed.  It cost about $16.00  to go over there and $24.00 to get back and about 2 hours total travel time from the park to Holly's sisters. If we drove all the way around Puget Sound to get to Debbie's we would use a tank of gas and be on the road 3 1/2 to 4 hours one way. Even for me it is a no brainier to take the ferry over. While there we celebrated Lorrie's birthday at a nice seafood restaurant called Arnies. Made a trip to the Seattle Center which is the site of the 1962 world's fair.  We met our friends, Jackie and Larry from New Mexico for dinner.

Jackie and Larry were in Seattle for family and a baby shower and to pick up their grand daughter Addie, who is 2 and spending two weeks with Nana and Binkie. We had a nice time at dinner and said that we hoped to see them again in our travels. Little did we know that in May they  made reservations to spend a week at our park.  They were so sneaky.....but we fooled them, we saw the day before they arrived that they were coming in. Good thing we worked that day or else they would have pulled a fast one on us. While they were here we traveled all around sight seeing and found some great pizza and fish and chips.

   They wanted to go to the HOH rain forest and even though we had been there, we really loved it so we were more then happy to go back. This time we took a different trail and had a great time. Their grand daughter Addie was a doll and a real trooper. All the different trails she walked with us she kept right up and had a ball. The only problem I had at the rain forest was the tree shown below. I'm pretty sure he (or she) was watching me. After a week the Linleys loaded up and took off for Portland, Oregon. I'm almost sure this time they are gone but we do hope to meet up with them again in our travels. 
                                                                                

We had an offer for a free trip to Victoria B.C. by the ferry company that runs between Port Angeles and Victoria. They wanted the people from the area campgrounds and hotels to go over and see what was there to see so we could tell our guests. We went over on the 8:30 ferry. It takes 90 minutes for the ride over and a round trip ticket cost $32.00. Once we arrived in Canada and were in line for customs Holly leaned over and says, "Behave yourself and don't get cute". Now I'm not a compete idiot...even I know that custom agents have no sense of humor. They also carry guns.

After the strip search they let me go (they really don't have a sense of humor). We boarded a bus and had a tour of Victoria on the way to Butchart Gardens. The gardens are on the grounds of an old cement company and were started by the owner's wife when the plant moved over to the mainland in Canada in the late 1800's. While there we attended "high tea" and I even enjoyed it. As you can see in the picture, we had several small sandwiches and sweets to sample. After we were done we were taken on a guided tour of the gardens. 



We didn't have a lot of time to wander thru the gardens but we did have time to appreciate them. There are several different areas within the grounds and are planted with flowers, shrubs, plants and trees. There is a sunken garden which used to be a limestone quarry. That's the picture at the left and it also had a beautiful fountain.
 There was a carousal that has animals that were hand carved after the family pets. There are also giraffes and Orca whales.   





We were in luck because the day was gorgeous with lots of sunshine and warm temperatures. We would of loved to have been able to spend more time there, but we needed to get back and catch the 3:15 ferry so it was back on the bus and back to the docks. We could of stayed and gone to the B.C. Royal Museum, but we don't like to leave the dogs alone that long. When we landed back at the U.S. side I was very nice to the border patrol and custom agents with a lot of "no sir" and "yes sir", plus Holly said if I embarrassed her again I was walking home.

So pretty...I took about 50 pictures this day and most of them were at the gardens.

While we were in Seattle we made the pilgrimage to the Seattle Center. We walked around, went to the top of the Space Needle and then we found the musical fountain where Holly and I first met way back when. Being there brought back such great memories.

We walked down to the public market which is better known as Pike Place Market. If you have seen the shows on TV where guys are throwing fish around, this is the place. It's a giant farmers market with fresh flowers, produce, meats, seafood and crafts. Very interesting and very crowded.

We just returned from our second trip to Seattle where we made a quick trip to have dinner with Sue and Sandy and their husbands. Sue and Sandy are high school friends of Holly. I knew them from way back and recognized them as soon as they walked into the restaurant...they haven't changed a bit. We had a great time and are looking forward to seeing them again.

Well, that is all for now. It's hard to believe we've been here two months already.  We have the Fourth of July coming up and the Lavender Festival, which is a big thing here. Sequim is the Lavender Capital of the Northwest.  The park is full for the Lavender Festival and we now have a waiting list going. My sister Debby and her husband David are coming to spend the Fourth and a few more days with us. We're looking forward to their visit.  Hope you all have a wonderful holiday and be safe. Be sure and check back next month....We'll see you all then.