Richland Trip 2005

This trip took me from Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island in western Washington across the Cascade Mountains to Richland in eastern Washington to visit my daughter, Linda, her husband Larry, and sons Sam, 5, and Max, 2. It was about an 8 hour drive with stops.







GETTING READY TO GO - July 28 - Thursday
In Oak Harbor I gassed up my car - 1998 Ford Escort. The tires, oil, coolant, and water were checked by Les Schwab, but at home I had already taken a look under the hood so that I would know what was there. I stopped at the Oak Harbor Visitor Center and got a map of Washington.




Then I went to the bank to get some cash.








DAY 1 - July 29 - Friday
I left Oak Harbor at 8:00 a.m. and took Hwy 20 to Mt. Vernon where I got on I-5. In Everett, I took Hwy 2 thru Monroe and Hwy 203 thru several towns. I stopped at a place to make sure I was on the right road. Yep. This route was suggest by my friend Lisa.




Near Fall City I had to stop for construction and there was a baby deer in the bushes along the side of the road. The picture is for Angela who insists that I show the real thing.




In Snoqualmie I stopped at the Railroad Museum, wandered around, and mailed a postcard.

I stopped at the Ranger Visitor Center at Snoqualmie Summit and told the nice young ranger that since I paid some of his salary, maybe he would take my picture. He did and even suggested the background. Then I took his picture.





I stopped in Ellensburg for gas. I paid $2.59. I drove down the street and it was much lower. From now on, I will shop around.I got a sandwich at McDonalds.


At Celah Creek Rest Area I thought I could get a good picture of Mt. Rainier or maybe it was Mt. Adams. Mountain did not show up in picture, but you can see my car and Yakima Valley where I was going.
I arrived at Linda's house about 4:00 pm. She served chicken salad for dinner with cherry tomatoes right from her garden. I even got a glass of wine.






Larry was busy making castles out of boxes for Sam's birthday party the next day. He did not stop until it got dark! What a guy.



I made the mistake of asking what I could do. Oh! Oh! Linda brought out a bag of 100 balloons. I gently said that I hoped I did not have to blow them up. Yep. But I was told that I would have a balloon blow up contraption that worked o.k. once I learned how to use it. Linda turned them into swords for the boys



DAY 2 - July 30 - Saturday
Linda is well known for her birthday parties. The yard was decorated with a very real looking castle which Larry made (remember the boxes above?) and banners which Linda had made. Kids (10 boys 7 girls) and many parents started arriving about 10:00
I helped the girls make princess hats. The boys had ballon swords and scabards.

A young man dressed as a dragonslayer arrived and the kids all followed him around to find the dragon. He found the dragon in a tree and slayed it! Then the kids hunted for their treasure. Linda had made a bag of goodies for each kid - with their name on it - and I put them around the front yard. Sam blew out the candles on the cake Linda had made in the shape of a castle. Kids ate cake and juice. Soda and water and a bean dip dish was available for the adults. Sam opened his many wonderful presents. I was recorder.
In the afternoon I went to the public library where I was given a visitors pass to use a computer.


That evening Larry barbqued hamburgers.






Day 3 - July 31 - Sunday
I went to Linda's Presbyterian Church about 10:00. Sam showed me his preschool room which he attends during the school year.

Sam and Max were then left at their Sunday School. Before going into church we stopped a the church library.





The first half hour was spent singing songs and words were projected on a screen. I loved it.

One of my new goals is to attend a different denomination of church in my town about once a month. I left shortly after 11:00 to go to Catholic Church. I had my picture taken with one of the pastors. A lady I met there said that a friend of hers had just moved to Whidbey Island, and I will look her up.


In the afternoon Linda and I went to Cosco. No kids. Larry babysat. I asked him to take a look under the hood of my car. He did and everything seemed to be o.k. Larry barbqued steak for dinner.







Day 4 - Monday - August 1
In the morning I went with Linda and the boys to Sam's swimming lesson. When we got home, I went to the library, mailed a postcard, and gassed up my car.

In the afternoon we went to a winery where we sampled 4 wines. Picture is not very good. Just imagine me raising a glass of wine. Linda bought me a bottle of, now wrap your tongue around this word, Gewurztraminer.





Larry barbqued salmon for dinner, and linda cooked stringbeans picked right from her garden.



About an hour after dinner, I went with Linda and Sam to the Racket Club where she and Sam had a special swimming time.





Sam had been promised a sleepout in the tent in the backyard for giving up his room to me. This was the night.




Day 5 - Tuesday - August 2
7:45 am and car all ready to go. I had the boys bring me their piggie banks and had them put all my change in them. Sam helped me carry out stuff. I told him to look under his pillow after I drove off. He loves to read and at Cosco, under the direction of Linda, I got him a few books. The note said "Thank you for letting me stay in your room and sleep in your bed".


In Ellensburg I got gas - $2.41. I'm glad I didn't wait till North Bend because it turned out to cost more there. I stopped at North Bend Animal Clinic to make sure I was on the right road to Snoqualmie Falls. Yep. I stopped at the Falls and took pictures. Traffic was minimal and I only had to stop 1 more time to make sure I was on the right road. Yep. Kind of funny that I had stopped at a place directly across the highway on Day 2.
In Marysville I stopped at the Tulalip Indian Casino because I had never been there. Now why isn't it called a Native American Casino? I also stopped at a couple of stores in Mt. Vernon because I don't get over there very often.

SUMMARY
This was a teriffic trip and gave me the opportunity to be with my 2 grandsons. I got to play lots of games including pirates, castles, and trains on their train table.

I read many books to them including "Another Celebrated Dancing Bear". Then I taught Sam how to dance. 1-2-3-slide.......1-2-3 slide...1-2-3-slide.....He was a quick learner.






Max likes to put his foot in his ear!

Sam has a fish tank in his room.




Max was not happy when he was put in his crib for doing something naughty. Like hitting his brother or teasing the dog.


Sam showed me how he brushed his teeth.