Run Away!

Smoke over the Columbia River at Vantage.

We have been planning a visit to our good friends, Don and Caroline, for quite some time. Add in the regional smoke factor and we were on our way! In fact, we had been invited to stay longer but we didn't want to be like old fish. You know, the longer you have fish, the stinkier they become. We didn't want to stink up our welcome.

Look close and you might be able to spot the
meat vending machine out front!

Westport, WA is not a bad drive, but it is in the range where we like to divide it into two sections. Last time we drove over we stayed the night in the Snoqualmie Casino parking lot. It's free and right on the way, but it can be a bit noisy and there are a lot of street lights you have to deal with.

We drove through the smoke to Cle Elum where we stopped at Owen's Meats to pick up an order of meat for Caroline. The meat shop is very well-known and has a great reputation for their smoked meats and fine cuts. As the order was prepared, Linda and I shopped around. We bought some pepper jelly and a flavored meat rub. Out at the camper, we packed the meat in a cooler of ice and drove on over the pass.

Our spot just off Tinkham Road.

Just on the west side of Snoqualmie Pass, we took exit 47 onto Tinkham Road that parallels the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River and I-90. There are quite a few places where you can pull over and stay the night. You don't have to deal with the parking lot lights or traffic, but the campsites are well used and very trashed out.

Beach walk selfie!

Grant and Jacquie, our friends from Pitt Meadows, BC, were also traveling on the same day and we found out later that they stayed at the Tinkham Forest Service Campground located about four miles farther down I-90. Funny how close we came to running into each other.

We got up early Wednesday morning and drove the last leg into Westport with no problems. Traffic was a bit congested through Tacoma, but that is to be expected. We arrived at Don and Caroline's and got set up. Grant and Jacquie pulled in about an hour later. It was good to be back together with all 4 of these friends we met in Mexico so long ago.

For dinner, Caroline made up crab dip followed by clam chowder, Mexican fish, and salads. It was way too much, but we enjoyed it all.

The Green Lantern Pub near Moclips.

Over the weekend we ate a lot, watched sports/news on TV and laughed!

On Thursday Jacquie, Grant, Linda and I drove up the coast on Hwy 109 to the end of the road at Taholah. There we turned around and started stopping at the numerous beaches heading south. At Moclips we stopped at the Green Lantern Pub and ate lunch. The bartender there was a very nice fellow and our meals were all above average. I had a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich that was constructed with ten strips of bacon. It was massive and very good!

One word... Bacon!

Arriving back at the house Caroline fixed a dinner of smoked pork chops from Owen's Meats. The chops were amazing. Probably the best smoked pork chops I have ever had.

The next day we all drove out to Don and Caroline's new lot. They are in the process of building a new home there and we got a chance to look at how it will be played out. Don's son, Chris and his wife Holly just moved into their new home next to this plot of land and she gave us a wonderful tour.

Next Caroline lead us to a trailhead near the Johns River. This was the access point to the Johns River State Wildlife Area and we hiked a path that took us out along the Johns River. At the end of this trail was a hidden cemetery that we found and explored. There were about 16 headstones in amongst the trees and brush. Later we read some historical information about this cemetery and found that the grounds were only accessible by boat at one time. The families would have to float the casket in at high tide by boat and then they could not leave until the next high tide. Our hike turned out to be about four miles total.

Beach pep talk!

Dinner was a scrumptious chicken pot pie. The ladies ate out on the deck as the boys watched the Seattle Mariners beat the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Saturday, after the daily beach walk/run and while the boys watched TV, the ladies drove out to the local winery and looked around. When they came home we all took some time at the house. Later that afternoon, we loaded up and went to dinner at the local pizza place. We filled up with all sorts of good healthy foods. Caroline had taught all the kids that worked there, so they all came by and said "Hello, Mrs. Samuelson!"

The Johns River from the path.

That evening we returned home and played Skip-Bo while watching TV. Later we said our goodbyes. We all were leaving early and didn't want to disturb Don and Caroline.

The drive home was uneventful. We drove the entire distance in one shot; no overnighting on the return trip. We arrived home to rain and a bit of smoke. By morning the smoke was all but gone. Our getaway was so much fun. We love seeing our friends and we also got a chance to run away from the smoke permeating the air around here.

Pizza dinner.

Below are a couple of late entries. Linda was watching the Western Sandpipers while we walked on the beach. They were very animated and ran from and into the surf in such a way that she just laughed.

Then when we ate lunch at the Green Lantern I took a bunch of pictures and Google turned them into a Giff. How funny!