July 23, 2026 - Go to Victoria

 

Title: July 23, 2026 -  Go to Victoria

Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking : Car

Trail: Tumwater Falls

Trail head: Brewery Park

Distance: .75   miles ¹

Elevation Rise:  218'
Descent:  219'

Maximum Elevation: 102'

 ^{1Information from plotting on Google Earth}

 

Description:

I got up around 5:20 to find that there was no lightning to report on. After yesterday’s activity, that is good for both the area and me. Me because I can use the early morning hours just to enjoy a few things. For the area, it will give people time to find any fires started in the reporting area.

People and RipTide-now called Toste-started getting up at 6:30. I had my breakfast and then packed the car. Felt pretty proud of myself: everything is below seat level in back. In the past, I have only had a tunnel to look through to see out of the rear view mirror. Lawrence leaves for work at 7:40.

We leave Andrea and Lawrence’s house at 8:45. Andrea is driving and I am in the backseat-this is a rarity. A bit of conversation for a while. I work on a couple blog entries for this trip. When Andrea gets behind a Tesla which does not seem to understand how to drive on a freeway, she notes that you can buy a beautiful car, but you cannot buy driving skills. This will go in my email signature line sometime.

When we get to a rest stop, Toutle River to be exact, I take over driving, but not for long. In about 45 minutes, we came to Brewery Park. Andrea has stopped here and highly recommends it. There is a set of falls, Tumwater Falls. This is the area where Olympia beer was brewed. It is a short walk to the upper falls. There is something about the falls, both something plain and simple-after all it is essentially a fall which was created by a dam-which is a source of refreshment to one's eyes.

Fish Ladder

But we walk further down a path, maybe a third of a mile. Some of the path has metal grates which allows you to look down onto a fish ladder. Andrea notes that when the fish are running, you can watch them as they leap up the ladder. The path is really a loop. We cross over the Deschutes River and come back to the other side. A very pleasant walk. I have marked this as a place to stop for a nice break if we are in this section of Washington.

Just as a note: We had previously walked along Deschutes River in Bend, OR. But this is a different Deschutes River. You do not expect something with that name to have several versions of the river.

I continue to drive. We need to get some bread and stuff. There is a Trader Joe’s along the way which we stopped at two years ago. We stop again. I sent a picture to the family asking do they know where we are? This starts a text chasing which seems to have no end. Finally David remembers the place from two years ago.

Sherri and Andrea crossing the Deschutes 

And along the lines of two years ago, I made the same mistake we made two years ago. The direct road to Port Angeles looks more like a side offramp than something that major. I started off wrong and realized ten seconds into the route what we did wrong then and now. It took us ten minutes to get us right.

I drove for a little ways further until Andrea finished her sandwich. Then she took over driving. I have my usual sandwich. It is another 2+ hour drive to Port Angeles. Andrea gives narrative about the places she and Lawrence enjoyed on a recent trip up here. We make it right when the ferry over to Victoria starts to accept cars. There is an almost two hour wait to load. Andrea finds some fellow Dragon Boat racers and talks with them. I read. We do hear thunder to the west of us and the waters look choppy.

 

 

The ferry has us leaving the cars in the hold and go up to the passenger deck once the ferry starts to move, the effects of the choppy waters is shown . Andrea and Sherri go outside into the wind and wet, Sherri can barely keep upright, Shortly afterwards, She comes back in and I join Andrea. I do not do much better getting out. I am able to navigate by holding onto rails. With a little practice I can go short distances without holding on. Eventually I rejoin Sherri and Andrea inside.

Someplace on the water, we get a message from Verizon. In essence it says that they are switching us over to Canadian carriers, but we can still use data, make phone calls and text.

We had left a bit late and arrived a bit late. The sides of the lanes are so narrow, we have a difficult time getting back into the car. I try to be the one who crawls over the shifter and managed to get stuck. Andrea helps to get me unstuck.

Andrea drives us to the hotel, Robin Hood Inn Room 245. Looks pleasant enough. We have two queen beds with our own kitchen. The room is a quasi-second story. The hotel is built on a hillside, so the slope has us even, even though being on the second level. After we got settled in, we ordered food for pickup from Hecklers Bar and Grill. Andrea and I got a Beef Dip while Sherri had a chicken salad. Enjoyable. I thought I wanted something light, but I ate the whole thing. Shortly after finishing, we went to bed, around 10.

 

Extra Photo's

Little waterfall by trail

Sweat Pea by the Deschutes River

Upper Tumwater Falls

Gary, Andrea, and Sherri by Tumwater Falls

Deschutes River

Gary and Sherri by the fence locks

Entrance to the ferry

Waiting for the ferry

Sherri and Andrea getting a bit wet

Weather on the crossing

More crossing conditions

Father and Daughter

 
Flowers and Plants

July 22, 2026 - Salem

 

Title: July 22, 2026 -  Salem

Passport Recieved

Hike Info : Description 

Hike Info:

Type:Travel

Description:

Before going to bed last night, I saw there was a significant amount of lightning in the reporting area. I thought I would be getting up at 5am, instead it was almost 6. Good thing I had done this a couple of times with my travel set up. Even then, I had a few issues and got the reports out right at 8am.

I had my breakfast, then Andrea, RipTide-now called Toste, and I went out for a walk. We just went to the grounds of the Oregon State Hospital and came back. Enjoyable little excursion before it got too hot. Then Andrea and I went to Costco. She picked up supplies and I put gas in the car for our trip tomorrow. While we were out, Sherri celebrated! Why? Because we are out? Negative, because FedEx brought her passport. Now she can go to Canada.

Tap Root

When we came back, I read for a few minutes until the words on the screen started to go blurry,my eyes closed and the phone hit me in the chest. I think I woke up an hour later.

Afterwards, we migrate down to the basement where it is significantly cooler. There we discussed the plans for the next week up in Canada. Andrea has set up the logistics such as hotels and itinerary. We just needed to fill in some gaps with possibilities.

After our discussion, Andrea made lunch and I fell asleep after eating. I think I slept for another hour and a half. I guess I was more tired than I thought. Did yesterday take more out of me than I anticpated?

When I woke up, it was warm in the front room-not hot like yesterday. I lounge around a bit more, not doing anything really meaningful. When Lawrence came home from work-somebody had to work, don,t they? We all went for a walk with RipTide.

Decibel Meter

Then it was time for dinner. We went out to a local place in Salem called The TapRoot. Did Lawrence and Andrea take us there last year? I think so. It has good bar food. While service was a bit slow, it gave us time just to enjoy each other’s company. One point of discussion was a meter we saw up above the bar area. I asked what it was? Our waiter said a decibel meter. This turned into a center of conversation. The food was good. Andrea had a Soul Bowl with BBQ Chicken; Lawrence the Bacon Jam Elk Burger; Sherri was the same while I had the O.G.cheese burger.

When we got back, Andrea packed, Sherri finished packing and I took a refreshing shower. Evidently while I was in the shower, there was some lightning activity. Then it is loafing around the rest of the evening. I went to bed around 10.

July 21, 2026 - Go to Salem

Title: July 21, 2026 -  Go to Salem

Hike Info : Description

Hike Info:

Type:Car

Description:

Only a few strikes so my lighting report was mostly quick. In reality it gave me practice in case I needed to do a full report. David gets up and does his exercises. But he does not go for a walk-I think he wants to make sure we are taken care of before we leave. Either that or he is afraid we will leave without us saying bye.

But we do not move fast in leaving. While Sherri is eating breakfast, David and I go for a 20 minute walk. It is good to have a few steps in before driving. Also it is better to have a few minutes of alone time with David.

One thing which I was concerned about with myself was my passport. Did I bring it? It seemed like when I was packing, I first needed to make sure I pulled it out my passport. But what I did not do is check to see if Sherri had hers. She did and did not. She had laid it on the desk, but did not pack it. That led to a frantic conversation with Rachel to see if she could get it up to Andrea’s. Rachel, being the person she is, knew how to get it to us: FedEx. The USPS looked like it would arrive well after we needed to leave.

100 degrees-Willamette Valley

We leave about a quarter to 10 with me driving. It turns out I will drive the entire way, but we have breaks, so it is not too bad. Our very first stop is in Eureka for a cup of coffee at Dutch Brothers. Google map led us on a circulus route, but Sherri got her white mocha and was happy.

This section of 101 is beautiful. Going through redwood forests, so much green along the side of the road; an occasional view of the ocean to break up whatever monotony of all of that beautiful lushness of the forest.

The goodness of going through such a beautiful place was needed on this drive. Why? There are several bits of construction on 101. There were two particular places which held us up for about half an hour apiece. We had plenty of time to admire the beauty.

Gary

We forego’d our traditional stop in Crescent City at Starbucks and continued on. But we did find the Jedidiah Smith State Park Visitor Center for relief. But that was it. Then onward to Cave Junction. We got there about 1 and decided that Taylor Sausage sounded good. Sherri had a Bratwurst with Sauerkraut while I had a Roast Beef French Dip. Both were satisfying.

Before we hit the road, I needed to get gas. David and I had discussed where to get gas. He had noticed that gas in Roseburg was the cheapest. But I would not have enough to get there. Actually a few miles before Cave Junction, the low fuel light came on. So I put 10 gallons in to get to Salem.

Lawrence

Andrea

The trip to Salem was uneventful, but warm. Since leaving the coast, we have been seeing temperatures rise to 100 degrees. I commented to Sherri we traveled all of this way for this heat? We could have gotten it in Fresno. We get to Lawrence and Andrea’s house a few minutes before 6, tired, but safe.

I do not unpack the car until it cools down a bit. Their house does not have AC for the few hot days they get each year. But they do have a basement. We spend some time down there, in the coolness. When Lawrence gets home from the gym, we go out for ice cream at Dreamies Creamery. Their ice cream is made out of goats milk. Maybe a bit smoother texture than cow’s milk. Still pretty decent. By 10, I am ready for bed.

July 20, 2026 - Eureka

Title: July 20, 2026 -  Eureka
Hike Info : Description

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking 

Trail head: McKay Tract Parking area

Trail: Perimeter Trail, Bob Hill Trail

Destination: Loop

Distance:  1.15 miles ¹

Elevation Rise: 289 '

Descent: 269‘

Maximum Elevation: 334'

Minimum Elevation: 256'

 ¹Route was plotted on Google Earth, not with an actual GPS.

Description:

David&Sherri walking to skyway

I got up at 6:15. David is just finishing his morning limbering up time. I see that there is nothing to report as far as lightning is concerned. So I have my breakfast. Sherri did not sleep well last night, so she will be sleeping in.

David is working on providing a redwood worktop for his neighbor. A couple of years ago, there was a couple of redwoods in his backyard which needed to come down-they had become dangerous. He has kept the wood and has been making things such as benches out of the slabs. Much more talented in that regard than I am. Anyway, I provided a little bit of help this morning for him. He still has a ways to go before he installs the finished product.

Before we left Fresno, my cousin Susie had sent a video asking if I had been there. It was on the skywalk at the Sequoia Zoo. We had been to the Zoo several years back, but not the Skywalk. We decided to go to the zoo this morning and walk around. Then walked the Skywalk. These are permanent walkways among the redwoods. They certainly give you a different perspective being up there. While we are not at the top of the trees, more mid-way or at the bottom third mark, you see things differently.

Seems like I have done some skywalks recently. There were the urban skywalks in Minneapolis, and these among the redwoods. Sherri reminded me that there was one in Atlanta as well at their botanical gardens. Upon reflection, I think I like walking among the redwoods the best. Each has their redeeming factors.

Forest View from Skywalk

We came home and had lunch. I took a nap-the body needed it. Sherri watched a movie, The Seven Dials, an Agatha Christie mystery. David and I decided to go for a walk at McKay Tract. When I looked for Sherri, she was asleep.

So David and I went by ourselves to McKay. We got to the parking lot about 3:15. To start with, we walked the Perimeter Trail. We did this in reverse from before. David and I talked about things-you know how brothers talk. Kevin, David’s good friend, called him, describing how he got injured. David and Kevin talked for a while. A good thing is that David slowed down while talking with him, so I did not get into my huff and puff mode. Once the conversation ended, David and I resumed talking. I noted that my left knee has arthritis and at times can have pain when ascending, such as going up stairs. He suggested a knee brace, such as what Rachel suggested a couple of weeks ago in Minnesota.

Gary playing wingspan

Sherri  in the Park's Garden

We made it home by 4:15. Sherri is now up. By 5, David has dinner on the table-a repeat of last night. Sherri says that this is not left overs. All which I know is that I am content. We talked for a while. While David is showering, Sherri and I watch our TV addiction: Jeopardy! Don, David’s friend, and mine, comes over and we talk about an incident which happened to his family involving a bat.

After Don leaves, we sit around, mostly in silence. I take a shower. David goes to bed before I get out. I follow him to my own bed by 10.

July 19, 2026 - Eureka

 Title: July 19, 2026 -  Eureka

Roadside Flowers

Hike Info : Description 

Hike Info:

Type:Walking

Description:

When I went to bed last night, I knew there was some lightning to report on. I thought I saw about 15-20 strikes, but they must have been old, because this morning there were only three. Two of them on the upper part of the Middle Fort of the Kings River and one of them just south of Trail Crest. It still took me until 7:30 to finish the report. I think it is mostly a slow lap top.

At 7:30, I had my breakfast. By that time David had come in from this walk. I lounged around for a while. Sherri got up at 8:00. David thinks he will be doing security duty at his church. Sherri and I decided to do YouTube with our church at 10:00. But first, Sherri wants to make a Dutch Brother’s run for some white mocha coffee.

Big Foot Roams the Neighborhood

At 10:05 we start watching the service on First Presbyterian Church. We have been going through Revelation. But this month the various pastors are giving sermons called By the Spirit. Today it is Jon Jo’s turn. I must be tired as I pretty much slept through about 40 minutes of the 60 minutes of church.

Even after church Sherri and I are not active. Finally around 11;55 we went out for a walk. Sherri and I just walked the neighborhood, about 45 minutes worth. When we were almost home, Don and Denise, who live right down the street from David, passed us. They stopped and talked for a while.

When Sherri and I got back, David already had the TV on and was watching the World Cup Finals of Spain vs Argentina. Some people might call this a boring game after all it was scoreless until the early second overtime when Spain scored. Being a former goalie, both David and I appreciated all of the saves the Argentina goalie had. The score against him, he did not have a chance to defend against.

After awhile, David and I went to Safeway and picked up some Tillamook ice cream. After that I laid down for about 45 minutes until dinner. David fixed jambalaya for dinner, then we have our ice cream.

At 6:30, Andrea came on Zoom. Steven was busy with Rachel. We talked for about an hour before Andrea signed off. Then David, Sherri and I read and talked about our 9:30 bed time.

July 18, 2026 - Go to Eureka

 

 

 

Title: July 18, 2026 - Go to Eureka

Hike Info : Description 

Hike Info:

Type: Car

 

Description:

Today is the start of our planned 17 day trip to Canada which includes a stop at my brother’s place in Eureka and our daughters in Salem. We will spend a week in Canada on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. It will be a long trip with lots of miles driving.

I got up at 6 and looked for lightning-there was none. I do tell the lightning report recipients that I will be traveling for the next two plus weeks, Then I have breakfast and move stuff into the car. Sherri moved some of her stuff last night into the car. I throw my stuff in as well. So things are not efficiently or well packed. But neither do they need to be on this portion of the trip. We just need to make sure we have everything in

Sherri is still getting ready, so I take a short walk, made shorter when I talk with one of the neighbors. We have had an old neighbor die and I was letting Steve know a bit more. This led to neighborhood gossip.

By the time we leave it is 9:50. I drove up to Turlock. Turlock is our new stopping place to get the car washed at Costco. It had not been washed since before the dusty road up to Delilah. It needed it. I suspect Sherri did not want to go into Canada with a dirty car.

Traditional Sundae picture on a Saturday

After Costco, Sherri drives to Modesto. A fruit stand which used to be in Turlock is now close to Vintage Fair on Pelandale Road. She stops to get peaches and watermelon.

From the fruit stand, I take over driving to Elk Grove and Leatherby’s. We arrived a few minutes before 1pm. This definitely is a stopping place for us. We each have a Cowboy Bacon and Cheese Burger. Then share a white and tan sundae with a dark chocolate ice cream sundae. It tastes so good!

We stop at the Costco in Elk Grove for gas and continue on with me driving. The tea I had for lunch and the liquids I had while driving hit me and based upon previous experience it is a long way to the Clear Lake rest stops, so we stop at the Dunnigan rest stop outside of Sacramento. Then on to the Lucienne Harbor Park in Clear Lake, about an hour and a half later.

We changed drivers there. Sherri drove out to 101. 101 at that point bounces between being a really fast highway with two lanes in each direction, to a windy two lane road with cars constantly coming at you. Sherri drives to the Empire Camp Rest Stop where I take over driving.

We had thought about stopping at another ice cream place in Loleta called Jersey Scoops. But we got to that place at 8 when it closed. We continued on to David’s house, arriving at 8:30. David is already in bed and asleep. We unpack as quietly as we can. Then do a few things. I get to bed at 10pm. Sherri sees David a few minutes afterwards. They exchanged greetings and then they retired as well.