Washington

We took 2 days to drive up to Millersylvania State Park, just south of Olympia Washington. The first night we spent at Valley of the Rogue State Park near Grant's Pass Oregon. The drive up was uneventful for the most part. The campground was really nice, and right on the river so there was more fishing to be had, and more ham and cheese to eat. There was a lovely riverside trail and so we all hiked a few miles that afternoon.

Once up in Millersylvania, we had a grand time. My family came to see us, and brought us dinner, no less! There was more fishing to be had in Deep Lake, where, believe or not, actual FISH were caught. Pictures of Mikaela kissing her fish follow, thanks to Anna K. long ago who started her on the tradition. There were also great bike trails and several family bike rides were had. We caught up on laundry and groceries (and I visited the best Yarn store in the Pacific NW) before we headed down to Ike Kinswa SP on Mayfield Lake.

We met my brother and his lovely wife and boys there; party of 10 please. The campground was really lovely, in the forest next to where the Cowlitz River runs into Mayfield Lake. The was lots more fishing to be had, but only Mikaela ever caught anything the 5 days we were there. Better yet, the lake, and the particular corner we were on, was home to Osprey, Bald Eagles and Blue Heron. We practically carried our binoculars with us 24/7, with eagle and osprey sightings becoming so frequent that we almost grew bored with it. Almost. We watched them fish, we watched them quarrel, and we watched them soar about majestically. I found an osprey perched above me on a snag during a short walk.

On Sunday, we all trekked to the Johnson Observatory at Mt St Helen's. On the drive up, it was very overcast, and I lamented what I expected to be a poor view of the mountain. But eventually, we drove up out of the clouds and the mountain suddenly appeared before us. The ranger told us it was the clearest day at the mountain they had had in weeks. We listened to the Ranger talk about the biology of the area before and after the 1980 blast, and we even saw Elk down on the pumice plateau. We watched a really interesting movie about the volcano, and looked at all the interactive exhibits. Then we drove back down to another visitor center and had a late lunch, and watched a helicopter take off for an aerial tour of the mountain. Back at camp, we made scone and had a lovely supper of strawberries and scones.

On Monday, my brother's family had to head home, so we reluctantly waved goodbye and headed over to Lewis and Clark state park. Except the cool trail through the old growth forest, Lewis and Clark was a bust. We packed everything up, to head east early the next morning, on our way to Yellowstone. Eastern WA aside, the drive was spectacular. We made it all the way to Missoula, MT, though the last bit wasn't that fun in the car. We happily discovered that MT has Cracker Barrel! So we've eaten, and caught up on laundry, ready to head down to Yellowstone!