Friday the 31st

I may not have said this before, but totally disregard the date at the very top.
Today was spent at at place in the Olympic Penninsula National Park called Hurricane Ridge. One the way there we stopped at Ruth's office and met all of her park interns, most of them were about our age. We picked up some chinese food from the Safe Way in Port Angeles, and then headed up to Hurricane Ridge.

On our way out I saw the deer again. I think shes trying to hick-hike

After we got back we went down to the beach again. It was clearer durign the day. You really could see Canada.

It was really nice, so I got in the water for a bit. Not too long though, the water was really cold.

We found this really nice big rock. Great for climbing.

Got a few nice pictures.

And of course, my signature.

We went back up the house because people would be arrivign soon. Ruth had invited all of her interns over for dinner. She had bought 6 pizzas and a bunch of topppings, and we did a make your own pizza. Piled higih with sausage mushroom and an insane amount of cheese. It was a thing of beauty. But probably the best thing about it was that two of Ruth's interns were Japanese. Shoko and Marie (ma-ri-eh), and Abby and I spent most of our time talking to them. Both in english and japanese. After supper we all walked down to the beach, and then kind of on a impromptu hike thorugh that part of the park. The entire time Abby and I are askign questions and talking with Shoko and Marie. They said our pronunciation is very good.

To the night off when we all got back to the house there were sundae's involved. I don't think the day could've gone any better.

Thursday, July the 30th

Most of today was spent in the car driving to Meagan's Aunt Ruth's house. Up by Port Angeles and a small town called Joyce. Ruth is a park ranger so she lives practically in the middle of no where. But that just so happens to be no where that is near a beach on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Up her drive way and down the road there is a nice rock beach. That, I am so told, on a clear day you can see clear to Canada.

Obviously from the pictures it was not clear. We were happy about that though. The day before it had topped out at 105 degrees. Bleh. But here we're more north, and near the water. It was a very comfortable 67 degrees. We were wearing pants, long sleeve shirts, and in Abby's case a hat.

Now we wanted to walk further down the beach, but the tide was coming in so our path was kind of blocked off. I tried to weasel our way further down by going into the trees a little bit. Got distracted though. We ran into an area with some fallen trees and live ones. I made Abby go pose again. Then we all just got pictures.

By the time we got out of the trees the fog had become thicker. It gave everything a mystical air.

Burritos for dinner with left over BBQ. Bed Time, I was surprisingly tired.

Due to traveling, packing....being busy and on a bus as well I will fininsh posting when I return home.

Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th

Today was also a Tacoma day. We went to the Glass Museum. Where they had a lot of pieces by Dale Chihuly, a local glass artist whos actually famous. And does tremendously huge work, like the bridge of glass. Which is not actually a bridge made of glass. Its a regular bridge with large works in it. Like this, you walk through a tunnel and the ceiling is glass and you can see through, its supposed to be like looking up through the ocean.

But first we had to park a ways away ffrom the museum. And I discovered that, even with his extensive injuries, Ron followed me all the way to Washington.

Turns out that you're not allowed to take pictures in the museum. So I won't have any pictures of the glass in the museum. They had an exhibit with glass art with inspiration taken from the Native American tribes in the area. All of them were gorgeous, one was imitating wood and bone...and it did look like wood and bone. There was also another exhibit about glass in general. the different ways of forging, molding, and cutting. How its colored, cut, and blown. Its not a very big museum, but they have something called, The Hot Shop. Which is a glass blowing studio built into the museum where they give demonstrations. We all sat in the heat and watched for about half an hour. Abby and meagna had to pull away from it. I wonder if there are any teaching studios in Iowa. ;)

After that meagan showed us ONE of Tacom's TEN libraries. Again very awesome. Supper. More Supernatural. Bed.

Tuesday the 28th

Happt Birthday Dad! Today was spent in Seattle. First stop, the Space Needle. O_o! Very high up! 605 feet up and I was weak in the knees. But the view was spectacular.

Next was Seattle's 10 story public library. Once again, amazing.

On the way back to the car we especially had some fun. And it was necessary, the high of today was 100. So we found a good fountain to play on the way back to the car.

Sunday the 26th

Today was another painting day. But we waited for the later pert of the day for when it was cooler. Cause I guess 85 degrees is hot for Washington. So instead Meagan tooks us down to a park area called Point Defiance. Near the water and shady it was a bit cooler and very beautiful. Right near where we parked near the pagoda there was this small shrine. The trees are Japanese black pines.

Point Defiance also has the countries' largest rose garden. Eat your heart out Ma! Although I took like three pictures and then my camera died. Luckily Meagan brough her's and let me go mad with it. I took nearly 100 pictures, these are the favorites of my favorites.

You wouldv'e given your left toe to be here mom, but then again the entire place was buzzing with bees.

There was also a lot of wooded area with little creeks and pines.

There were also some trails that wound through the area...I ran into some problems.

But I over came it.

There was also a themed park in the woods. It used to be called Never-NeverLand. But it got closed down. And most of the other equipment got taken down. But this giant shoe was left.

I caught Abby in all of the giant ferns.

And Meagn through the trees.

Afterwards we went back to the house and painted the garage. The entire thing in a few hours. So now I'll have the rest of the time here to work on the mural on the retaining wall.

OK I LIED