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Wednesday

Sweet Sorrow

We have been very lucky folks these past few months. Brad's friend, Yessi, has been visiting the United States (more specifically Whidbey Island) since May. Yessi and Brad met in New Zealand near the end of Brad's Te Araroa tramp in the spring of 2012. They met up again in China in November of 2012 when Brad traveled to China for dental work, a Nepal trek and, of course, to see Yessi. Then Yessi came here this spring where she completely wiggled and giggled her way into all our hearts. Thursday, August 15, Yessi returns to China. Missing her will be prominent in all our hearts, but especially prominent for Brad.

During Yessi's visit she and Brad hiked and camped and hiked and camped and hiked and camped some more. When on Whidbey they lived in a sweet little cottage in the woods. They traveled from Washington to Oregon to California and back again -- from the Canadian border to the Mexican border. They hiked Big Sur, Mt. Rainier, Glacier Peak, San Juan Islands, Olympic Mountains, Whidbey Island and even made it to the PCT kickoff in California's desert.

Yessi at the Pacific Ocean, CA

Brad & Yessi travel to their hiking and camping destinations
on the BMW bike

Brad and Yessi at Mt. Rainier

Brad and Yessi celebrate Brad's birthday at Hamma Hamma, Olympic National Park, WA

Saturday evening Yessi generously treated us to dinner at the Wild Ginger in Seattle. She also hosted us to a tour of Boeing's Everett Plant, which Ed had done years and years ago but I never had, nor had Brad. Boeing, being an interesting and integral part of Seattle's history, probably should be toured by all of us so we understand more about our economic reliance on this region's huge and important company. Thanks to the influence of a wonderful young woman from China, our family has learned more about one our region's most influential companies. Like, for example, for just a few million dollars I too could owe a Boeing plane. Between Boeing and dinner, we made a stop at Ibex in University Village where Yessi purchased a new outfit at their 50% off sale.

Yessi at Boeing

Yessi & Brad shopping at Ibex in University Village

Brad and Yessi showing off their Ibex labels

Ed and Fran took a dinner-out-turn and treated Yessi and Brad to dinner at Cafe Langley on Tuesday evening.

Brad, Fran, Yessi & Ed at Boy and the Dog Park in Langley

“Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say goodnight till

it be morrow.”

William Shakespeare

Monday

Celebrating Brad!

Camping marks a huge percentage of Brad's birthdays. For 45 years of Brad-B-Day celebrations we usually find ourselves at some camp spot. This year, with Brad and Yessi needing to hike trails in the Olympics for Green Trails Maps, that's where we headed for two days of restful car camping before they took off again for higher GPS trail mapping backcountry adventures.

This outing was the first "major" diversion from my surgery recovery. Tent sleeping was a bit more difficult than usual and my diet took some interesting turns but that's what diversion is all about, isn't it?

We had a wonderful time, even though I couldn't hike and felt like I was a bit of a drag on the activities.

Last year in July Ed and I were meeting Brad at high passes in California where the PCT crosses the road. Finding ourselves at Lake Tahoe on July 13, we enjoyed a wonderful sushi dinner, for his birthday, giving him a great break from trail food.

Ed, Benton, Brad & Yessi at Hamma Hamma Campground

Benton, Fran, Brad & Yessi gathered around the fire pit.

Benton Ed, Brad & Fran in camp

The tradition continues -- German Chocolate Cake!

The sun coming up at Hamma Hamma to start another beautiful sunny, warm day.

Yessi with flower in her hair.

Yessi, Brad & Ed

Wednesday

The Olympic Mountains

For Brad the Cascades in Washington always topped his favorites list, but he had not yet done much hiking in the Olympics. He's one smitten guy. A week (July 5 - July 10, 2013) of beautiful company, beautiful weather, beautiful wildflowers, beautiful lakes & streams, and beautiful meadows makes for one pleased hiker. It's strange that the Olympics have remained so unexplored because we see them from Whidbey Island and have said for years, "We must hike and camp the Olympics." But, with a crowded and irregular ferry to get there it's always been easier to go east to the Cascades. Still a ferry away but the Mukilteo-Clinton ferry runs often (every 1/2 hour) so it doesn't seem to be such a barrier.