Hurricane Ridge

    

Thanks Clyde for the "proof" pictures...looks like Christmas Card material.  

Blyleven Retreat

..  

Good morning everybody 

It's another beautiful day at the Blylevens. I survived another all up hill hike to Hurricane Pass yesterday. No life insurance money for Shannon yet !

 I almost out hiked little Hanna, Clyde and Debbie's Granddaughter. Lots of deer and beautiful scenery. 

Today were a off to  Crescent lake in Olympic National Park.  Clyde has a picture of us for proof, both Shannon and I forgot our IPhone's so no pictures of this monster hike.  UPDATE:  Clyde's picture below, living proof! We made it!!!

You can see the mountain we hiked in the picture with Sandy (Debbie's horse).  We got the grand tour of their gorgeous property, they have their own National Park, no need to travel anywhere else.  Sol Duc Hot Springs, Walmart and Maryme falls coming up.

Purple Haze

 

The view from our house, we are parked in the Purple Haze Lavender Farm.  It is through Harvest Hosts, people who let you stay at their farms, wineries 

Museums and such.

   

Jimmie and John

 

Just sittin on the front porch...swinging..

  

They grow all kinds of flowers and artichokes, John is jealous of all their "free" water.

 

Chickens, bunnies, rooster and a peacock too.

Next stop "Camp Blyleven".

From Waterfall to Waterfall

 MT Rainer 14,410 feet , Whitney is highest, 3 more in colorado and then Rainier.  The wonderland trail encircles the mountain, it is a wide shady trail with 18 backpack campsites (defineately on my bucket list).  We hiked about 6 miles to Carter, Madcap and Narada Falls.   

So, I don't know what happened to this post, some pics are missing and it should be before the next post.  I have had some technical difficulties, mostly with wi-fi signals.  Ahhh, I am trying not to give up, I will say we had one follower comment about the bonus offer of a souvenir, she said she would take dollar bills or ice cream whichever was easier to mail to DC (now who could that be). Let us know if your out there, maybe you have forgotten us already, the name is Fitzmaurice.  Love ya'll

 

Resting from our BIG hike

 Actually this picture was taken "Before" the Big Hike! 

 

Lots of fun walking on the fallen trees in our campsite, no one to play don't touch the ground with :(

 This is a leftover picture from the hike, there was snow and the higher we went, the more snow there was and the river was raging by the end of the day from all the melt.

 

Getting ready to roast hot dogs, I'm slaving away opening up that can of chili.

   

The grand finale...2 dried up old marsh mellows ( I did have a new bag but they were miniature marshmallows, not sure how those would do).

Headed up towards Port Angeles  to see Clyde and Debbie, we hear they have a really good campground, the hosts are very friendly:)

A Christian Ministry In the National Parks

  

That's our worship leaders from Sunday Mt Rainier, Cougar Rock Campground.  The name of the organization is " A Christian Ministryin the National Parks".  These young people work at the parks to pay for their lodging and spread the good news of Jesus on Sundays.  We were really impressed and moved by their dedication to Christ and the love and joy they had for the Lord.   

John was in heaven because they sang "How Great Thou Art" .  You can see that loving Jesus is not boring, these kids had it going on and surely they will bring many to Christ with their fun loving personalities.  We loved them immediately and wanted to bring them all home!  We reserve all rights if this is the picture for their first album. Thank you the wonderful message and being able to worship while traveling!

 How cool, so glad to know about this ministry!

 

Bridges and bears

   We left Cascade Locks KOA at 6:30 am to beat the crowds at Multnomah Falls, boasting an awe-inspiring 620 feet.  It is the second highest year-round waterfall in the nation.  (What is the first?).  

 

  

 1.2 miles of switchbacks to the top of the falls, good way to get your heart rate up first thing in the morning, John was all smiles at 2 of 11, 10 of 11 well that was a different story.

  Looking out over the Columbia River from the top of the falls, and the top of the falls looking down.  

  

 Mt. Saint Helens Visitor Center, it was 37 years ago it erupted, now that can make you feel old.  We didn't realize people had been evacuated 7 weeks prior to the eruption. Then off to Lewis and Clark State park for lunch, which wea could not find, but they found us, we were parked in the equestrian trails and a ranger said $10 for the Washington wilderness pass.  OK, even though we didn't find the park, we did see a cute little fuzzy black bear along side the road, well worth $10.

 Almost home!  LOL but I am sure there are hundreds in the U.S.  Beautiful drive to Mt Rainer National Park.  Where once again there was no room at the Inn, but when we drove through the campground there was this beautiful flat campsite with no tag for that night, wonderful, God is so good.  We are having a great time, it will be nice to see some familiar faces, hopefull to see Debbie and Clyde on Tuesday.  We were at Rainier Sat and Sun, left Monday Morning for the Lavender fields of Sequim WA. 

 

The Fruit Loop Trail

    

The Mt Hood scenic byway is known as the fruit loop trail...cherries, plums, nectarines, apricots and Pomegranates just to name a few.  We purchased a couple honey crisp apples from Draper Girls Country Farm.  They had miles of the picking bins (on right); today John's helper picked our Reed Avocados, he had 1 bin LOL.   

 

 This is Mt Hood at 11,249 feet, just across the river you can see Mt Rainier at 14,410, we will be there in the next few days for a comparison photo.  We almost made it to the top but the road ended and there was only a trail.

 

Instead we went to the lavender fields and played purple cornhole.   My husband is doing a terrific job driving us all over the place and making good use of the backup camera he bought before we left.  Now he has it hooked up so that when he is in reverse it automatically comes on.  Just like a new car.

I am blessed.   

 

 

Some of our berries we picked on the side of the road.  Don't see that our ice cream is not organic.  We had face time with the Grand Kids yesterday, just a few more weeks til we see them in Bend, oh and our daughter too.  If you want a souvenir let me know in the comments section:).   XXXOOO

 

The Always to be remembered bike ride

Well the Ainsworth State Park was full, can you believe it, all is well KOA had room and actually pretty nice.  I am liking electricity (I brought my mini Kuerig along!) They have showers and the swimming pool is heated!  OK not so bad.    We are at Cascade Locks in Oregon, we arrived Wednesday night. On Thursday morning we set off on our bikes to see some waterfalls.  This is the bridge of the gods, not sure which gods or how it got its name.  The bridge crosses the Columbia River into Washington. The Historic Columbia River Highway is a bike/pedestrian only trail that follows along the 84 highway.  Tunnels bridges and even stairways (they have a well for your tires so you can push your bike)  

 We hiked a few miles to Elowah Falls

 The problem with this is then you hike back out.  John was getting pretty tired, the grades were 1/4 to 1/2 mile uphill, his bottom was giving out.  He was a good sport...I'm sure his version of this bike ride will be a little more colorful. This is where John sat while I hiked to the next falls about 2 miles along a rushing creek, he was happy to just see the picture.    

The ride was fantastic (a little long) we left at 9 and got back at 5 and sat in the jacuzzi at the KOA.  

 Along the way we picked wild berries and ate them on our well deserved ice cream.  John went to bed at 7:30.  Today (Friday) we are driving up to the Hood River and get a look at Mt Hood.  Tomorrow he says he will be ready to hike.   Thanks for coming along, until next time, our love. J & S