Hikes and Activities July 2025

 This is the tail end of June and all of July. 

My dad came to visit the last weekend in June and start of July.  

On Sunday we went for more of a walk than a hike on a section of the Iron Horse trail that starts in Garcia. It was an easy lovely walk, a joy to just be out in the nice weather and a good opportunity for my dad and my partner to meet each other and be able to easily talk instead of huffing and puffing. After our hike we went into Bend for a much needed trip to Volition brewing for a post "hike" drink.  We finished off Sunday with a dip in the pool. 

Monday dad and went down to Pike (he always has to ride the pig) and we strolled the market, I got a glass of Rachel's White Peach Ginger Beer and we each got bowls of chowder at Lowell's.  I remember eating here the first time I visited Seattle, about 18 years ago after my senior year in HS. It was a great day to sit on the 3rd floor and enjoy the view. We hung out around the market for a bit longer before heading over the the ferry terminal. 

From here we took off for Bremerton. It's about an hour long ferry that provides views of downtown Seattle, Mount Rainier and the Olympics. I lost count of how many times dad said WOW- so I'm calling this a success. In Bremerton we visited the Puget Sound Navy Museum that highlights the use and effectiveness of the Bremerton Ship Yards in WWI and WWII. It's a small museum that can be done in 60 minutes, however if you like to read every single placard I'd given yourself an hour. Behind the museum is the Harborside Fountain Park--which looked like a great place to hang out with kids on a hot day like today was.  These huge fountains spray water straight in the air and back down just over small wading pools. I walked around the pools on the sidewalk and stayed totally dry. At the end of the park you are greeted by a view of the ferry if in port and the water. 

From Bremerton we drove north to Pouslbo and stopped for a pastry at Sluy's and a walk about town to stretch our legs. I went with a donut this time and while still wonderful- not nearly as good as the Viking Ship cinnamon roll I got when I came here with Mom in May.   Finally we drove north to Kingston to catch the ferry home.  We finished the day by having a later supper in the courtyard. 

For our 3rd day we went Kayaking on Lake Union- we rented through Agua Verde Paddle Club near UW on the north side of the lake. We each got our own kayak and spent about an hour on the water- which is as much as my arms could handle, but it made for a really cool experience and I'm just sorry I hadn't do this activity before after being here for 8 years.  Post water sport, we strolled around the campus- dad got a new sweatshirt from the bookstore and we had lunch at Big Time Alehouse. We both had the TBH- I just got mine without guac (because anaphylaxis is no joke) and a side salad as part of the lunch special.  Good meal for $13 each. 

For day 4 we took to the mountains.  Alpine Lakes Wilderness to be more specific and hiked to Talapus and Olallie Lakes.  The majority of the climbing was between the parking lot and Talapus- after that Olallie was a pretty easy yes for us- but if you are looking for a shorter hike you can certainly turn around after Talapus.   I don't do backpacking trips I am a glamper camper but I can see the allure of backpacking these lakes.  Certainly a great way to get out on another beautiful PWN day.  

We ended our day by having a WONDERFUL Italian Dinner at Sansonina Italiano. I split the Caprese Salad with my partner and got the Linguine con Pollo al Limone for a main course and the 3 of us split a wonderful Tiramisu for dessert.  I could not have eaten the salad or dessert on my own so I was more than happy to split those. Also while the two men I was with finished their plates, I have enough left overs for lunch tomorrow too!

Spent the day of the 4th on a friend's houseboat and did some paddle boarding on Lake Union. No photos this time- I am WAY LESS confident on a paddle board than I am in a kayak. I didn't watch fire works this year, Just didn't feel up to it.  Took the weekend to do some kitchen organization and food prep for the week before going back to work for Summer school. 

I am teaching summer school this year, not because I particularly want to, but because I financially have to. My school district screwed up. They spent money they didn't have on resources and non-public agency placements that they simply could not afford. We like many districts found value in all of the ESSR funds during the pandemic, but when then funding ended, we kept expensive programs without balancing the books, the impact is the state being forced to step in to take over. The impact is also a new contract with no raise, while cost of living in my area sky rockets (my rent going up nearly 18% with no other real viable options for the next school year, I will have to pay it) So I will take all the extra pay where I can get it.  Next fall I will be asking for all the classroom coverage positions I can pick up. But for now I will teach summer school for the first time in my career. And who knows I may like it. 

2 weeks in and I now have a bicycle. It's a good improvement; and frankly a long over due one. I'm struggling to remember if my bike moved out to WA with me, if it did, I didn't own it long, but I really think the last time I was on a bike was pre-2017. With that in mind I'm really proud of myself for my first ride being 10 miles. It was a very quick realization that a bag and bike shorts are a need so hopes are to remedy that quickly. 

Weekend number 3 is a busy one. An Ordination, A Tiki Party and some time on the Islands makes for a lot of driving, but honestly it was nice to have things scheduled when the weather was decidedly not pool friendly. Not horrible but with temps in the 60s not spend all at the pool either.  Saturday was lovely the ordination was a great expression of Zach who I wish nothing but the best at his new church home in Olympia. It was so nice to catch up with Madi and her family at the Tiki party, but after a long day I'm glad I did only 1 drink.  

Woke up super early (early than wanted or planned) on Sunday and decided if I was awake I should just got up to the Islands early. So after a 80 minute drive and 70 minutes on the ferry I made it to Friday Harbor. I got myself a wonderful Raspberry peach smoothie and breakfast sandwich at Riptide cafe and had brunch dockside, before setting off on a stroll to Jackson Beach a little less than 2 miles from the ferry terminal. 

I spent some time relaxing at the beach, strolling for driftwood and shells and just breathing in fresh ocean air before heading back into town.  I met up with Will and his dad who had been on an adventure of their own for the day before boarding the ferry and heading back to the mainland. It was a very long day for such a short visit to the island, but a reminder to go back more often and spend more time out there. It's worth the time on the ferry. 

The work week was more work, summer school is interesting and I've been really grateful for sunny days by the pool.

Last weekend in July and it was time for another bike ride.  This time we started in Kenmore on the tail end of the Burke Gilman trail and biked out to Woodinville on the Sammamish River Trail. We capped off our ride with a stop at Post Doc Brewing.  They had a wonderful Lemon Blueberry slush sour beer. I'm sure some of you are totally turned off by that, but I'm telling you for me it's a total treat. 

The last few days of this month should just be more of the same, work and pool, so I'll wrap it up here.

-C