Ready for the weekend!

Not a whole lot going on this weekend.  Tomorrow morning I am installing a trailer hitch on the truck getting ready to pull my dad's camp trailer on vacation.  Tomorrow is also Sandy's company picnic, and from what I hear, we get to do some pretty fun things there - and free food!  I was supposed to be helping a friend with a leaky roof but I never heard from her so I think they got it covered.  Other than that, just gonna chill and go see the kids :)  Good stuff!

Enchanted Valley

This past weekend, Sandy and I  stuffed our backpacks and headed out early Saturday morning for a hike up the East Fork of the Quinault River to a place called Enchanted Valley. 

We made it about 10 miles up the river to a place called Pyrites Creek, where we set up our camp on a nice beach and settled in for the night.  Sandy is quite a trooper! Its fun to hike with her because the chatter is always fun and she doesn't seem to mind that I stop frequently to check things out.  The Quinault rain forest is really something to see.

Sunday morning we got up and hiked the remaining 3.5 miles to Enchanted Valley, where we met up with the ranger that lives there periodically through the summer.  What a job that must be!  There were a few people here and there, but no overwhelming crowds of honyockers. 

After lounging around, eating lunch and napping in a meadow, we hiked back to camp, we decided to pack up and walk a bit to get us closer to the trailhead for Monday.  We ended up hiking about 6 miles and found a campsite on the river just as it was getting dark.  We slept really well, but woke up to rain Monday morning. 

After an easy 4 miles or so out on Monday morning, we stopped for lunch and headed home.  A good weekend for sure! 

Heading out...

ahhh, almost time to shoulder the pack and head out.  all packed and ready, just waiting for my turn in the shower and then head to bed for a good nights rest before an early morning drive...enjoy your weekend! 

News From Nathan

Nathan sent a couple of pictures this past week.  This is his sunrise view from the apartment they found in Hongzhou, a quaint village of about 6 million people.  He and Breanne are doing good, and are happy to have found a place with a western bathroom.  He is enjoying teaching in China, although some of his classes are hard he says.  I am proud of that boy! 

Good Work!

Today I got kudo's from co-workers and peers.  It was nice to have them say that my work was making an impact and we all tried to think of ideas about how to make more of an impact.  Some good ideas were thrown out and I am hoping that it will turn into a full time gig here in the next few months.  

On another note, I am looking forward to this weekend.  A long weekend in the backcountry is what I am in need of I think.  I am lucky to have a partner that doesn't mind shouldering a pack and getting out with me.  I normally don't go anywhere on long holiday weekends, but we chose a destination far enough back that hopefully there won't be hordes of people there. 

I will be posting pictures of my knitting projects here pretty soon, those pieces that I haven't given away at any rate. 

Monday Monday...

I have Monday's off, and today I am home relaxing eating leftover thai food that my baby and I cooked over the weekend.  I started this blog this morning, just for kicks.  I think it will be a good place to put my poetry and musings.  Should be fun! 

Flying up side up...

Flying up side up
All wobbly like
An old biplane crashes
Like a chick takes flight
Not at all like the pheonix.