 This view pretty much gives one the impression of this park. I know, I know, there are other areas that maybe impress but I didn't see that.  OK, this was interesting. All those skeletal remains of trees, spread as far as I could see on this beach.  We tried to get into one of several entrances to the park but the wait was 2 hours so we found a pull out and walked a short distance into the woods. Yeah, not too far cause if you got turned around, you'd be lucky to get out.  Another pull out presented this nice view!  Setting aside some drama, lol, I headed back to southern AZ.  It's a moist climate to produce these moss laden branches.  I stopped for the night in southern WA and visited a winery. Simply incredible as I walked the grounds which included.....  ....a 9 hole golf course. Clubs were given to use freely and now, I wish I had taken advantage.  One amazing scene after another as I covered the grounds. Frankly, I was tired of hotels and thought I'd try to drive straight through and so......  ....I began my journey.
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 This is a cute, seaside, small town.  You can drive all the way....  ....to the shore. We walked along the shore and observed hundreds of crabs and.....  ....other marine life or in this case, death.  One of life's mysteries solved, this is what happened to the Scooby Doo van. For dinner, we found a golf course with outdoor seating, lol.  The following morning, we headed north as the tide had receded significantly. Beautiful views during the drive and....  ....arrived at Olympic NP. The national parks I've visited have mostly been amazing. Certainly the GC, Zion, Glacier, Grand Tetons but was disappointed with Yellowstone and this. I can't say I saw all of Olympic but what I saw of it was mile after mile of forest except....  ....where maybe there had been a fire and they were managing the area or perhaps, as a fire containment strategy, were creating fire breaks.
 I departed Portland and will make a point to never drive through there again, lol. Beautiful, morning drive to Seaside where I had a route loaded on my Garmin for a good bike ride. Alas....  ....WTF!!! A local said this was not forecast and it could be hours before it lifted.  The birds were grounded. I searched for an alternative route which took some time but finally....  ...got on the Lewis & Clark Road. Could only do 20 miles because I was to meet Claudia, who was in her RV, in .......  ....Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia River. She picked out a nice restaurant where we sat outside with a nice view of the river and bridge.  Thought this was interesting as we prepared to leave.  Onto the 101 and crossing the river, following her as we headed to Olympic NP. She was going to travel western Canada and eventually loop down to MT, while I returned to AZ before heading to MT. That was not going to happen.
 We cruised down the Columbia River. Quite impressive with a distance of 4 miles at its mouth and pretty wide here too.  A cool falls but you an no longer walk in and look. Now a time must be scheduled so we had to leave.  I think this is Wilsonville. Pretty town.  We hooked up with friends and began a day of wine tasting. Again, the quality of the wine is very good and so too are the tasting rooms.  Another pleasant view.  We visited a second winery and...  ...a third although the final one was quite different from the others. Rather low key.
 We heard about a boardwalk around a lake and with a little research, discovered Trillium Lake. Beautiful with lots of people enjoying the water.  Departing from my normal story telling....if you wonder why I keep this silly blog going, it's because probably, some day, I'll be living in an assisted living place, having a poor memory and I'll enjoy looking back on these posts. OK, it's also an outlet for my writing interest. I don't see me authoring another book so I have this and occasionally, revealing things outside of outdoor activity. I know, this is confusing but....  ....the dog has become an existential threat to the relationship. Every prior vacation the dog stayed with family but not this time and it was a problem too large, for me. The dog can never be left alone. The implications being, dining to always on a pet friendly patio, hiking only dog friendly trails which usually are lame and no alternative. Trust me, I explored. We were scheduled to meet in MT to spend time in Glacier but viewing Glacier solely from the inside of a vehicle, unacceptable. I was thinking of a way out and a day or two later, it was presented to me. It sucks as she is a super nice person and I really should have realized that a yappy dog, never to be left alone is a huge problem.  The walk continued and f course....  ...the views....wow.  We passed through a small village and hey! Mt Hood Winery, gotta check it out.  Probably the best view I've seen from a tasting room's patio. The wines in OR are really good too. So as not to leave you hanging on the issue I raised, it's over, I returned to AZ. I found a new partner in crime who has a dog but I made damned sure, it can be left alone for extended periods. See, you're never too old to learn things, lol.
 We departed a very congested Portland to head to Mount Hood. Rarely do you get a good look at the mountain due to the thick tree cover but above was an exception.  Thick, yes, like this.  The climb to the parking lot is pretty steep and of course I wondered about riding it some day. The final mile has an average grade over 9%.  Looking in the other direction, I could see one of the "Three Sisters".  Oh! Quite an impressive network of mountain biking trails here too.  An impressive lodge where inside....  ....relevant stats are shown. Only 3.6 miles to the top but note that's with 5000' of elevation gain. I was interested in hiking that but learned it's not really a hike. More mountain climbing with ice axe and other gear needed.  We did do a short hike above the lodge and the views are amazing.  Lots of skiers and snowboarders headed up to be dropped off and begin a long....  ...descent on snow that was freshly treated.  Two skiers approach and pass rapidly by us. Fun time and because it was relatively early, we headed to another site.
 After too many mind numbing hours of driving (with my bike of course) I finally reach scenery.  And, lots and lots of trees.  Multiple piles of trees as an effort is underway to thin the forest. I wonder if the piles are burned or do they just leave them.  Oh and then mountains begin appearing on the horizon. This is Shasta I think, part of the Cascades.  The drive along Crater Lake was amazing. At last I arrives at my hotel where....  ....I see this, lol. Claudia and I reunite as she had been staying with friends and on our first full day together....  ....we head to Mount Hood.
 The day before my drive to OR, I visited Sabino to see if water was flowing through the canyon. At the head water on the mountain, the water was gushing but between ground absorption, filling pools, etc... had the water reached the bottom....  ....no, after two days. Some small pools were filled so that's good but no water flow.  Having driven from OH a few weeks ago, I wasn't all that thrilled about undertaking another but at least it was driving over new territory for much of the drive.  I reached NV and a glimpse of water.  Then through Vegas which went well, good traffic flow.  From this point forward, new scenery but I must say, I had no idea that between Vegas and Reno, there is a vast area of almost nothing.  When a pic of the Clown Hotel is a highlight, you know how scenery dry is the drive.  Oh, interesting. the Crescent Dunes Solar Energy project outside Tonopah. I flew over the site a few years ago and was piqued by what I viewed now here I am driving by it. Kind of a troubled history  Wow! More awesome scenery.  And at last, the scenery changed but alas, I arrived at this point having just missed a pilot car so sat for 17 minutes before resuming what became a very picturesque drive.
 I've had a Bianchi, Lemond and two Trek bikes and none of them was nearly as durable as this BH. I think about buying a new bike but having just returned the bike from Sabino Cycles following a tuneup, well, there's nothing wrong with it. So, I'll keep it for awhile.  I drove past Sabino Canyon and curious, decided to see how many vehicles were in the lot on this very hot, summer afternoon. Maybe 10 at most. Probably all employees/volunteers but no. Just then, a family of 5, including an 18 month old child, were being rescued. Yikes and then another hiker the following day.  Storms to our east and south created a lot of wind but alas, the rain did not reach us.  I joined the Cactus Club's group ride out Sunset Road.  And then, the storm clouds build and at last, about half an inch of rain fell over most of the region.  A beautiful sunrise the following morning followed by.....  More Rain!!!  Whoa, so much rain this neighborhood provided sand and bags.  Things "greened up" considerably as sheep munch away.
 A saucer shaped cloud makes an appearance as we scan the forecast and look for the monsoon rains to arrive.  More clouds than normal as it is raining in NM.  Afternoon clouds build but nothing, yet.  Sabino Canyon Road offers a good, 4 mile climb and cyclists are allowed on this newly paved road as long as we're off it by 9am. That's not a problem as most of us are off all roads soon thereafter.  The scenery is awesome on the ascent and descent.  Having driven past Sabino Mountain Road many times, I was never the less oblivious to the quality of the climb. Wow, a good one! The descent is an issue as it ends at a stop sign at the bottom of the steepest ramp.  New Shoe Day as I sought to break in a pair and have them ready for a trip to OR. Leaving in a day or two.  The Savbino Canyon dam was dry of course but somehow.....  ....there is a tiny rivulet of water feeding a small pool. Bet at night, this is a crowded place with creature visits.
 Wild fires near Silver City, NM caused smoky views as the smoke dropped during the night but also stayed aloft in places.  Of course, the smoke influenced the view of the rising sun!  More nice scenery.  Not much of a mountain, more like a hill but it was nice to see the typical AZ type mountain!  And there it is, the border!!!  First morning back, I joined a 40 mile group ride which is about the most you can get in before it gets too hot.  OK, small problem. The keys I was given for my condo didn't work on the patio door leading into a closet. $160 later, this guy picked the lock.  The gap at the bottom of the patio wall, seems like a design flaw and bothers me. I bought a 1x4" and....  ....opps, the saw skipped out of the cut but no worries, a quick rinse and fortunately, I'm not a bleeder!  A snug fit and with caulk and paint, no critters will get through there. Actually, a rattlesnake was found on a neighbor's patio recently and while I enjoy the challenge of rounding one up and transporting it, probably I should avoid that.
 I drove the GF to the airport in the morning and planned to do a group ride but alas, they cancelled it due to rain. That's ok, worked in the woods, spent time with Chris while Ben was at a Columbus Crew soccer game, attended Anthony's soccer game the next morning and meanwhile....  ....the GF arrived in Boise to spend time with her sister, reunited with her dog than on to Portland to stay with friends. I'll be there in a week and so, with that.....  ....I departed Ohio. Claudia's visit was a success but will she want to summer in Ohio other than when we're traveling?...don't know, have not had that conversation yet. I'm repeating myself but gotta spend more time with the grandsons, sooner rather than later. They ask about me frequently.  The only onerous point of the drive is that through St. Louis. It sucks but at least I got a good pic of the Arch. OK, it's not the only onerous part, just the most due to all the lane switches and off ramps. OK City, Indy, CMH, Amarillo, quite straightforward.  OK, this part sucks too, mile upon mile of nothing but miles of...nothing. NM mostly sucks and how it got the "Land of Enchantment" moniker is beyond me but trying to change things up....  ....I went through Ruidoso, NM. I've heard it's a nice summer destination and as I left the city, got a different look at White Sands NP. Interesting. I dropped into Alamogordo and headed southwest but....  ....whoa, sand was aloft from high winds and rather than try Tucson, spent the night in Las Cruces. Good idea since I learned I10 had been closed due to dust storms.
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