Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Hooray For Camping!
Our first camping trip of the year. Finally.
Not that we didn’t try earlier. It seems that pandemic camping is in.
When things began to open up in late May our favorite campgrounds filled up quickly, without us. And last month, when we tried to book a site in Olympic National Park we had to settle for Plan B and stayed at Lake Quinault Lodge instead (which was even better but I digress.)
Still we had a hankering to go camping and looked once more to our favorite spots this week. No dice. So we gave up on Washington and headed south. To Fort Stevens State Park in Oregon, where the Columbia River meets the Pacific; rich in history, beaches, and bike trails.
As we began to get the camper ready, guess who showed up?
“I’m here to help,” he said. “And of course I’d like to come along. I’ll be no trouble. I promise.”
“Sorry Benji, we wish you could come but who’d look after Tiger?”
So we ignored his pleas and sad eyes and set out anyway, with our lodging, food and entertainment with us. About right – in the middle of a pandemic – don’t you think?
I’ll have more to share with you in the next few days but until then; nothing beats having your morning coffee next to a campfire.
~ Susanne
Fishing at Mineral Lake and Mt. Rainier
Though truth be told, I just go along for the ride, Bob does all the fishing. Mineral Lake sits in the Cascade foothills near Mt. Rainier and Bob remembers coming here way back in the last century. I told you about that already in A Fishing Trip Back in Time.
Honestly it hasn’t changed much. We launched our little boat and passed by Mineral Lake Resort – see what I mean?
As we made our way around the lake, the color changed from dark blue and purple,
to milky aquamarine, though I can’t tell you why.
As we trolled, enjoying the solitude, and feasting on our tuna sandwiches, it wasn’t long before Bob got a a bump, and began to wrestle with a trout.
I secretly hoped he would get away but Bob was able to bring him in.
The poor fish didn’t even get a last meal as the bait was a lure. I was happy when he was released back into the lake and survived the ordeal though I wonder what he told his friends about his near death experience. (“Stay away from the bright pink one! It tastes terrible!”)
After a couple hours of fishing we headed up to the Mountain.
I already shared some photos from that part of the trip in a recent post (here) but you can’t have too many pictures of Mt. Rainier, can you? I think not.
And that will do for now.
~ Susanne
Happy International Cat Day 2020!
“Well it’s been quite a year so far, huh boys? But today we’re going to put that all aside – it’s time to celebrate you! So put on your best face for International Cat Day!”
“Didn’t we celebrate that already?” asked Tiger.
“No no,” I replied. “You must be thinking of National Pet Day.”
“Okay. Whatever you say. How’s this?”
“Hmm, caught you with your eyes closed. Let’s try again. With a little more enthusiasm.”
“Sorry Sue. Here you go.”
“Beautiful Tiger! Thank you.”
“Benji?”
“How’s this for enthusiasm?” he said.
“You got it Benji!”
“You boys are the best!
Happy International Cat Day!”
~ Susanne, Tiger and Benji
Cattin’ Around in the Garden With Benji
There’s nothing like spending time in the garden with Benji.
Whether it’s watching him leap effortlessly to the top of the fence to survey his kingdom.
Or watching him hunt a green bean;
It’s a thing of beauty.
~ Susanne
At Paradise On Mt. Rainier with Hike to Myrtle Falls
For the past week or so I’ve been sharing with you the beauty of Olympic National Park, perhaps my favorite of them all. But a short visit to Paradise yesterday to see the wildflowers in bloom on Mt. Rainier left me breathless.
And how we ever missed this sweet hike to Myrtle Falls I’ll never know; an easy trail behind Paradise Inn, one mile round trip to one of the most beautiful views in the park.
I’m so happy to have this Mountain in my backyard. And happy there are still trails waiting to be discovered.
~ Susanne
Ruby Beach at Olympic National Park
Even the name is beautiful.
On our recent trip to Olympic National Park we stopped to enjoy Ruby Beach on Washington’s wild Coast. Kalaloch just south may be more famous but to me Ruby Beach is more beautiful and mysterious. We arrived and walked to the overlook, then headed down the wooded path
until thick shrubs became a canopy over our heads.
We left the tunnel and arrived at the beach, greeted by drift logs.
Morning fog hung low over the trees;
and giant rocks looked like sleeping giants.
We walked up the beach
until the fog began to lift and blue sky appeared.
Can you smell the ocean air?
After we had our fill, we headed back to the tunnel and onto the wooded trail to our next adventure.
Shared with Sunday Stills, Beautiful Beaches.
~ Susanne
A Walk to Dungeness Spit
Did you know that Sequim is home to the longest natural sand spit in the U.S. and one of the longest in the world? Neither did I! Until we stopped at Dungeness Spit on our recent trip to Olympic National Park. Better late than never!
It was a misty summer morning as we made our way through the woods.
The trail was quiet and dreamy, especially with the accent of color from flowering shrubs. I could have sat there forever and pondered the beauty of nature.
Instead we continued to the bluff where we got our first view of the Spit below,
then followed the trail down.
Dungeness Spit was created roughly 10,000 years ago when melting glaciers left thick deposits of sand and gravel along the coastline here. Extending over 5 miles into the Straight of Juan de Fuca, the New Dungeness Lighthouse (no there never was an old one) has been operating on its tip since 1857.
Perhaps someday we’ll make the hike to the lighthouse. Then again, maybe not. 😉
Either way, we’ll be back.
~ Susanne
No Festival this Year but No One Told the Lavender
The Pandemic may have shut down the Lavender Festival this year but we stopped by Purple Haze in Sequim to enjoy the show anyway.
We were not disappointed.
~ Susanne
Tiger’s Bravado
This is Tiger and I may be old but I’m not dead yet.
I watched with interest the last few years as Benji tried to take over my place in the household. I let it go as he’s small and has a chopped ear. My ears are both intact. No bravado, just fact.
But there are limits and at times I must be assertive. Take for instance the boxes Sue put out for us. I refuse to use the tiny one, instead leaving it for Benji to squeeze into.
I’ve found mine and the message is clear.
And the perch that Benji thinks was purchased exclusively for him?
I am finally asserting my right to use it –
whenever I please –
though mostly when it’s unoccupied.
I remain,
~ Tiger
Note from the Editor: I admit I’ve taken some liberty in giving Tiger more bravado than he usually exhibits. I had to laugh when I noticed the advertising slogan on the box he claimed for his own. And I was equally happy when he decided to try out the perch, previously used exclusively by Benji. Fortunately there was been no pushback from his little brother.
~Susanne
Chasing The Big Trees of Olympic National Park
Did you know that Olympic National Park is home to some of the largest trees in the world? I didn’t until I found this brochure in the lobby of Lake Quinault Lodge, where we stayed on our recent trip. Of course we went chasing the trees.
Largest Sitka Spruce in the World!
Just a few minutes drive from the Lodge, we found the giant Spruce after an easy walk through the rainforest.
We crossed a footbridge and saw its massive girth reaching high above, its trunk looking like a prehistoric monster.
The Largest Western Red Cedar in the World!
This proved to be more challenging to find as we looked on the north side of Lake Quinault for the one listed in the brochure and learned it had been toppled by a storm. Not to worry. On our travels the next day we found two other giant Cedars that seemed to be vying for the title.
We found The Duncan Cedar down a narrow, winding, gravel road and according to the sign it’s the winner.
Honestly it didn’t look like a Cedar tree to me with its strange shape and lack of bark. But I guess if you were 1,000 years old you’d look different too! Anyway, it was still alive and had green growth so who am I to complain? We found the other Cedar looking rather strange too, a previous record holder that lost its standing when it was split in half by a storm.
Many of the other record trees were too far into the wilderness to get to easily. But we saw so many other beauties on our walks that it didn’t matter. So I’ll close with this Douglas Fir that we found standing tall and proud on The Rain Forest Nature Trail.
And that will do for today. 🙂
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 