A little river riding

I was beginning to feel a little "hiked out" by this weekend, so I was doing all I could to think of other fun things to do outside in this beautiful warm weather.  Kayaking came to mind and Jason jumped on the idea and looked up a good river spot to go on.  After a little researching we decided to take our kayaks about 45 minutes from our house to Sultan and kayak the Skykomish river down to Monroe.  Knowing that this was about a 9 mile stretch, we weren't positive on what the water would be like.  Just hoping it wasn't flat enough to where we would have to walk (which we didn't).

Of course a kayaking trip isn't complete without something being forgotten.  One trip we brought the wrong set of keys with us for the end car and had to hitch a ride to the car at the top.  This time wasn't quite as bad and was totally fixable...we forgot to bring our pump (a little important to have considering that is how we blow our inflatable kayaks up).  Luckily I realized this while only about 25 minutes into the drive, so I turned around and went back home to get them while Jason continued on to the launch spot. 

With only the one "whoopsie" in the beginning, the rest of the trip was great!  We agreed that the first half of the river was perfect because there was enough moving water and mini rapids to keep us moving.  The second half of the river was much more calm and we had to do a lot more paddling to keep moving (just what I was trying to avoid by going on a river).  Our total river time was about 4 hours, which was a little longer than we had planned, but now we know for next time!

And just like our day at the beach the day before, everyone else had the same idea on the river!  We saw many different kinds of floatation devices and lots of "colorful" characters too!  Everyone was just looking for a little fun in the WA sun like we were!

Eating some Subway while the river is still calm

Happy kayakers!

Enjoying some sun on the calm river

Summertime has finally made it to WA!

It has finally begun to warm up around here, which has made us all happy!  For a while there it seemed like summer was never going to happen!!  So since we were finally getting temps in the mid 80s we knew we needed to get out of our hot house and enjoy some of the warmth.  So we loaded up Coda and headed out to Picnic Point Park/Beach, not far from our house.  Apparently everyone else had that same idea because it was PACKED!

We got Coda a new water toy to see if that would lure him into the water any better than just a stick, but as much as he loved to get in and retrieve his toy, he still wouldn't go in up to his belly.  So one of us would have to go out and retrieve it if it got out too far.  But let me tell you....Coda LOVES to dig in the sand and watch the water fill in his holes and then dig it again!  It's hilarious to watch!!

We had a fun afternoon watching the very low tide start coming in, playing with Coda and his water toy, and just enjoying some awesome sunshine!

Stretching as fas as he can stretch without getting his belly wet

Playing "tuggies" until he would let me throw it back in the water

Jason found a hard piece of sand that Coda was interested in

Hike to Lake Twenty-Two

As much as I was ready for a day of relaxation after doing so much hiking with my parents on their visit, I still managed to get talked into going on another hike today.  Jason, of course, was happy about this since he missed out on the hike with my parents because of work. 

Our adventures today took us on a hike to Lake Twenty-Two, one of the most popular hikes in WA.  This beautiful 5.4 mile roundtrip hike took us through forests that walked along Twenty-Two Creek.  A hike is always better with the sound of water running along the way!   Our weather started out a little cloudy and cool, but we lucked out by the time we reached the lake because the sun had just popped it's way through the clouds. This made for an enjoyable lunch and a nice walk around the boardwalk of the lake.

We went with our friends Nick and Lindsey along with Coda's buddies, Riley and Roxy.  And since Lindsey's parents were in town, they came along as well.  It was definitely an enjoyable hike to say the least!

At the start of the boardwalk around the lake

Check out that snow behind Jason off the trail!

One side of the beautiful Lake Twenty Two

A shot from the boardwalk of the whole lake

(is bigger than this picture makes it seem)

Our little family at Lake Twenty-Two

Another shot of the lake from our lunch spot

As typical hikes go, this is how Coda drinks his water at the end

Here, there and everywhere...

Unfortunately Jason had to head back to work bright and early Monday morning after the wedding.  My parents and I took the slow drive home from Portland and made a stop on Anderson Island to visit their property.  Although they still haven't done anything with their property, they still enjoy stopping by to check on it and explore a little more around the island.

My dad, me and Coda standing on their property

This is their street!!

Enjoying a little quiet time by the Sound

Coda liked to watch me anytime I got out of the car on the ferry

After spending the afternoon on Anderson Island, it felt good to finally be back at home.  My parents then stayed with us for the remainder of the week.  A whole entire week with my parents?!  Life couldn't get much better than that! 

We never seemed to stay put on their visit.  While Jason worked all week (sorry Jason, wish you had summer vacation like we do) Coda and I managed to enjoy sunny days with my parents.  Our biggest adventure on their stay in WA was hiking to Barclay Lake, Stone Lake and Eagle Lake (yes, all in ONE day).  Let me just tell you...my plan was to just take them on the short little 4.4 mile hike, roundtrip, to Barclay Lake.  But anyone who knows my dad well enough knows that if he is aware of another destination past that, he'll want to go (I like to call it the "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" effect)! 

Hiking the trail to Barclay

My parents at our lunch spot at Barclay Lake

Unaware of how hard the hike was to Stone and Eagle Lakes, we continued on our adventure to find them.  Basically there was no real trail to follow past Barclay Lake.  You just have to look for the little colored flags in trees.  And since there was no real distinct trail, we were basically just bushwhacking our way up through the forest.  Talk about a STEEP climb (and I am not using the word STEEP loosely either)!  After pushing ourselves to the limit through forest, bushes and steep boulders (parts of where I would have to carry Coda) not knowing how far our destination was, my mom and I were ready to give up MANY times!  But does my dad ever stop?  NOPE!  He would hike on ahead of us to see where it went and then come back and tell us, "it's just right over there a little bit further".  A "little bit further" never seemed to be quite accurate, but 2.5 hours later we made it to our first destination...Stone Lake (far from impressive with the amount of bugs that were flying around).

Treking through the forest looking for little colored flags on trees

(does this look like a trail to you????)

Carrying Coda across the boulders

(not sure this even does justice for how steep it actually was)

We made it to Stone Lake!!!

After making a pact with my mom that we would NOT go further than this, my dad set off to find Eagle Lake.  Not much longer after he left us, he came back saying, "it's just a little bit further and the trail gets better".  We weren't sure we believed him, but decided to follow.  What ever happened to our pact we made?!  But much to our surprise, we made it to Eagle Lake only about 15 minutes past Stone Lake.  It only took one soaking wet muddy shoe, one dripping wet dog from falling into a creek and two sour attitudes to get there.  Not bad, right?!  2 miles seemed like it was about 6 miles by the time we got there, but we were all glad to say we reached our FINAL destination (not like the movie, but our actual destination).  My dad of course had to take a swim, while my mom, Coda and I waited by the creepy old cabin (it seemed like something from a horror movie if you ask me).  Visions of it getting dark and someone trying to lock me up in the cabin ran through my mind while enjoying a beautiful lake surrounded by mountains.

Eagle Lake (not as big I expected, but still pretty)

My dad taking a swim in the cold Eagle Lake

The creepy cabin at the lake

We were all thankful that the hike down the STEEP mountain didn't take nearly as long as we had predicted it would take.  A little rough on the joints for most of us, but when we saw the "toilet" we were happier than you would have ever believed!  The "toilet" meant we had made it back to Barclay Lake!!!

Now do you believe me when I say it was a STEEP climb?!

Overjoyed to finally see the TOILET!!!

Needless to say by the end of this hike, I have decided that it would be fine by me if I never see Barclay Lake again. 

On my parents' last day in WA we all woke up feeling quite sore from the hike the day before.  So we took it a little easier and headed down to the Mukilteo Beach for lunch.  Much to our surprise the tide was super low, so we got to walk much further down the rocky beach than we have ever before.

Me and Coda on the beach after lunch

A cool jellyfish that my mom found washed up on the beach

I LOVE my parents!!!

Coda found a dead crab on the beach that looked like fun

I always hate to say goodbye, but the good news is that we will see my parents again in Sept!  It was a great long week together and we got to do many fun things.  Exploring WA with other people that appreciate the outdoors is always fun!  Thanks for taking some time to come stay with us Mom and Dad!!!  We love you!

Hiking, Friends, and Wedding...Oh My!

On July 9th my parents set off on their LONG roadtrip from CA to OR and we set off on our mini roadtrip from WA to OR.  Thank you Andrew and Natasha for getting married so we could see my parents!

We met up in OR and were all ready to embark on a funfilled weekend together, beginning with rehearsal dinner (we were invited because we were family) the very first night!  Coda settled in nicely in the hotel and quickly made it feel like home.  How can you not love this little guy?!

Our very first full day in Oregon was spent hiking Multnomah Falls.  This beautiful falls stands at 620 feet tall and is the second highest year-round waterfall in the United States!  Jason and I visited here on my Spring Break on a VERY rainy day, so we were determined to come back on a sunny day.  And sunny was what we got this time!  It was quite crowded at the falls until you reached the top where only the determined continue on around the loop...and that would be us!  The 4.8 mile loop around the falls is a beautiful hike where we got to see about 5 or so other smaller waterfalls along the way.  But this was for sure not an easy hike, where you have to continuously climb up for a majority of the way.  What a view you get from high up though...well worth the climb!

The top of Multnomah Falls, looking down

The five of us at the top of the falls...what a view!!

The first mini falls on the hike

The next falls (couldn't get down to this one)

My mom, Coda and I at another falls

My dad and Coda at yet another falls

Jason and I at close to the highest point on our hike with an amazing view!

Wahkeena Falls, the last one on the hike

Back to Multnomah Falls, yet still crowded

After a very tiring and sweaty hike, we cleaned up and met up with one of my old high school friends, Kalina, and her husband Travis and son Isaiah (they live in Oregon).  We enjoyed catching up on the last few years while also enjoying a yummy Spaghetti Factory dinner.  Lets not make it so long until the next visit Kalina!!

Kalina, Travis and Isaiah, my parents, and us at dinner

Jason, me, Isaiah, Kalina and Travis outside by the river

The next day we all woke up a little sore from our steep hike, but that didn't stop us!  We got ourselves out the door and headed to the Rose Garden in Portland.  For all of you flower lovers out there...this is a must see if you are ever near Portland!  I have never smelled so many amazing smelling roses before!!

Me and Coda enjoying all the roses

My dad smelling the roses (the purple ones were the best smelling)

This was my mom's favorite rose

Love all the roses!!

Luckily we didn't get too caught up in being tourists for the day.  We didn't want to forget the whole reason we came to Portland...for a wedding!  So after the Rose Garden we went back to the hotel to change and then headed out to downtown Portland for Andrew and Natasha's wedding.  They got married in The Old Church, which had NO air conditioning.  Needless to say, it was a warmer day in Portland, so we were all a little hot by the end of the ceremony. 

Natasha walking in with her dad

The ceremony

Meet the newest Mr. and Mrs. Andrew and Natasha Geigle!

The Old Church

The reception was a nice place to cool off by the river at The Riverview Restaurant in Troutdale, OR.  We enjoyed catching up with extended family and celebrating the bride and groom's special day!CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU BOTH AND WELCOME TO THE FAMILY NATASHA!!

Me and Jason with my parents at the reception

Me and my second cousin, Alicia (sister of the groom)

Me and my handsome husband

It's amazing to look back at all we were able to do in just one wedding weekend!  Many memories were made in Oregon, yet there still seems to be so much more to do!