Comfort Inn & Suites Seattle

... so the whole night was lit up with moonlight and snow! Of course while driving through the mountains, pulling over for photos was an absolute must.


Once we got to Missoula we met up with Teal and her family (and soon to be family as Teal is getting married in July YAY!) and hung out. So you may possibly be asking yourself “what do you do in Missoula Montana at 8 p.m. during a full moon?” Well I’ll tell you what we did and would recommend ...

... Matthew were downing it, and about halfway through the drink, decided that what it really needed was: (1) more bloody mary mix; and (2) a shot of vodka. (Insert pucker face here). The bartender obliged, and Matthew and Jason somehow choked the rest of the drink down. Kudos to them and their iron stomachs.

A few more beers, and one gorgeous sunset later, we decided to find a spot for dinner. We asked the bartender for some ...

... retired. I guess if I want to eat well I will dress up. Hope to get lots of pix to post here.


9/6/09 Map Quest shows about 450 miles from Fruitland, Idaho to Seattle, WA. and just over 7 hrs. drive time. It will take us closer to 9 hrs. to get there because we are planning to stop at North Powder, OR. for breakfast. Restaurant is just off the freeway and has very good breakfasts. Rest stops ...

... more than I could ever be on my own. And for Kai that is exactly what I want.

Please enjoy the attached photos of all the journeys we have been on since I last wrote in the spring. Between graduate school and all of our travels, its been hard to find time to document! We’ve taken Kai to the Tucson desert for long hikes and to experience my favorite desert haunt: the Sonoran Desert Living Museum; to La Push to hang at the Beach ...

... down to Seattle for the long weekend (which seemed lightyears ago!), it was super awesome, lots of cool architecture to see, warning, there might be a ton of architecture photos coming up. We got a chance to check out the aquarium, good food, awesome market, a bit of shopping, lots of walking around to just see the city. Three solid days of ...

... while enjoying my luscious gluten free oatmeal raisin cookie). Went over to West Seattle for some more photo ops and great time walking and talking on Alki with Dash, Jenny and Dennis. Then off to Kathy's cottage for her housewarming where I laughed my ass off with Laurie, Stacy and Cory as we shared our best worst date stories...and suddenly felt a helluva lot better for only having a bit too much drink Friday night! I decided this week is all about ...

... Best items to leave behind: Rick Steve's travel books upon departing France (they are too darn heavy to take any further!) Best transportation: Student coach - Karlovy Vary, CZ; Trains and gondolas - Murren, Switzerland Worst transportation: London subways - London, UK; Overnight train from Krakow, Poland to Prague, Czech Republic (no food car, water - plan on not sleeping for 8 hrs) Best photo opportunities: Schilthorn - Murren, Switzerland; Old ...

... that we'll either stay in Europe hopping from country to country, maybe head back to Central America and kite the volcanic lakes of Guatemala or the country's black sand beaches, then maybe travel to windy South America (Brazil ), maybe go back to the Gorge for the summer or hit the Gold Coast of Australia and beautiful New Zealand. Maybe we'll get stuck in a place we love and will never make it around the world ...

... were here in late July. I don't know when the high elevations melt out, but you can find out easy enough. The map is http://data2.itc.nps.gov/parks/grte/ppM aps/ACF18EE%2Epdf Paintbrush canyon to Cascade canyon can be done as a long day trip or easy o/n. Want something a little wilder? Head up Avalanche canyon on an unmaintained trail, cross over avalanche gap (not technical) and return down Cascade canyon (3 days 2 nights). Jackson, WY is fun. Devil's tower. I also forecast ...