Washington Trip per Beth

I'm not really sure how I came to be this spoiled, but it was my "privelage" to go to fall conventions in Washington this August! Carolyn J. drove me up from Cheyenne to Casper, where I met with Dustin Pilcher. We then picked up Leilani Price in Buffalo, WY and headed West. We spent a night in Billings with Nichole and Eric Moe, a night in Medical Lake with Patty Bible and co., and then on to the Price's in the Olympia area.


Overlooking the Columbia River in Central Washington... me, Leilani, Dustin.
Leilani and Dustin admire the beautiful grey espanse...
Everything here was brown and grey.... including the wildlife. I chased this guy down in my Titanium skirt...(it can do a lot)... even scale eroding rock cliffs above a perilous raging river canyon. ha.
We made a screeching U-turn peel out to arrive here at charming Laura's Kitchen in Kittitas. We all ordered the special...fish and chips. I wish I'd gotten a picture of "Kitchen" but he was a bit piratey. Yaarrrr! (Food was good.)
What's a trip through the Yakima valley without copious amounts of fresh fruit?... Leilani was in search of a peach. We looked at a couple of other fruit stands before this one, but decided they were too commercial to trust. i.e. wrapped 8 piece fruit baskets on tablecloths, and boxes of applets and cotlets. This stand had smushed fruit on the cement floor and free samples. Ahhh... guaranteed delish!

Leilani and I would've enjoyed our peaceful drive through the Evergreen state if it wasn't for the nagging voice in our ear, "free map... mumble mumble...free map. What's wrong with this state....free map...can't find anywhere..." Finally we stopped at this little information center which had, to someone's delight, free maps and information in excess! Guess who's initials were even on the sign!?!



While staying with the Price's we thought it would be fun to explore the ape caves. This is a lava tube created from a 2,000 year old blast of Mt. St. Helens that runs for about 1.5 miles underground. We spelunked our way through the cave, and then enjoyed the hike back across the top to the car. It made for a really fun afternoon! Especially with Jewls in tow! This is the entrance:
Exploring off the recommended trail. It was pitch black in the cave, but some of these pictures appear light...there are more from this adventure in Jewls' earlier post.
Jewls and I try to find the way through this crevass...we thought that it was the only way through. Dustin and Leilani sent us to feel it out, but then when we were almost through they told us that they had found a much easier way. So here we are on our way back out... !

We have huge grins, but this was actually pretty miserable. The ceiling and ground were ice cold, so army crawling through this tunnel was pretty much freezing...

The four of us right at the end...me, Jewls, Leilani and Dustin. You can see the stairs at the exit behind us on the left.

Coming out of the cave... Me...
Jewls.....
Leilani....
Dustin....

The next day Leilani's dad took us hiking up near Mt. Rainier. It was a beautiful day for a hike!

Tiny little wild strawberries!

We also got to spend a little time with pops. He was working in Kelso, so we picked him up and took him to the Mt. St. Helens overlook for an evening. Yay for pops!

The next day we headed out to Sequim for a couple nights with the Sandersons before convention started. We went berry picking and strolled around the waterfront in Port Angeles...

Then went to Lake Crescent for some boating, swimming, tubing, and picknic-ing with the family as the sun went down. What an awesome night!

On the way to Olympia we took the scenic route down the Washington coast and stopped for a little hike and beach time...


Strolling through "tumor forest." At least that's what I called it... these wierd growths called 'burls' were all over the trees.

Mom and dad and Sue and Jason came over for Olympia convention... Mom turned the other way just as we were taking this picture.... oops!
Me and sis at Olympia I.
After Milltown II Jewls and I went up to Bellingham to spend some time with my Buckingham relatives. We stayed with Auntie Ruth... this is on her back deck...and then had breakfast with grandma and some time with the cousins... It was sooo much fun!
Then we headed back down, picked up Carolyn S., and spent a couple of hours together. It was way too short, but I had to drop them off at the ferry so I could move it back to Wyoming. Here's me and Care just before we were nearly missed by a train. haha... we had to make a run across the tracks so they wouldn't miss the ferry... yikes!

I had a long, but great drive back to Casper, WY... where I met up with Carolyn J. and Heidi. Heidi and I traded cars, and then companion Carolyn brought me back to Cheyenne. I really enjoyed my trip, but it's nice to be back here in the field. Now to make the most of our time here before convention in Kansas toward the end of September!

Happy Birthday Mia- Sweet 16

Happy Birthday to Thermopolis \ Minnie Ha Ha we love you. Hope you have an awesome day!
Love Beth and Jewls

Julie: Last Few Weeks

Well the last couple of weeks have been crazy but lots of fun. Beth and I were together for the majority of the first three weeks in August. Other than a couple days here and there we tried to get in as much time together as possible. Sorry Sue I know that I have been totally spoiled. Sue and Jason also flew out for a couple of days of Olympia 1 so it was so fun to all be together again. August has also been a month of conventions with Olympia 1, Milltown 2 and parts of Boring #1. Now I am looking forward to a relaxing Labor Day weekend at Lake Roosevelt before actually settling down and getting a job. We will see if I can actually make this happen though.
Gail and Mousie
After Boring #1 we had quite the party with Tanner, Amy, Cody, Uncle Glen, Tim,Carolyn, Leah, Mia, Mera, Brian, Gail and I. The boys played girls night out Jenga....quite interesting
Beth lifting weights....Cody and Caleb loved this

Apparently some members of the family were not informed that we were supposed to wear, black and red on Sunday of Milltown # 2
Sue and Jason...thanks for coming! It was awesome to see you. Miss and love you lots!
Hey Girls! do either of you know who has the picture of us in our roomate jacket? Could you send it to me please?
Mouse and Nanners at Lake Cresent
Dad, Mom and I enjoying the last bit of summer heat

Jewls: Sequimming...Reunion Part 2

Beautiful Lake Cresent

Well after our wonderful weekend of spelunking, hiking etc. we decided home to my parents for a couple days of rest and relaxation before heading to Olympia convention. We went berry picking, made raspberry milkshakes, looked at sand sculptures, walked around Port Angeles and finally made it to our actual goal of swimming at Lake Cresent by about 8pm that night. It turned out to be a beautiful night eating hamburgers on the beach while watching the sun go down.

Berry Picking

Sand Sculptures
Beth, Mouse and I on the pier in Port Angeles
Sean and Teana braved the cold and went tubing
Beth and Nanners

Jewls: Beth and Jewls Reunion- Part 1

Well Beth was so kind as to make the long trek out from Cheyenne, WY to the great state of Washington (or maybe it is Dean we should thank). I drove up and met her on friday night at Leilani Price's parents home in Olympia, WA. Beth had a couple of days before she had to appear at Olympia convention so we decided to make the most of it. The following are some pictures of the entertaining times that followed.Sorry the pictures are a little backwards!

Hiking up by Mt. Rainier

We picked up Uncle Bert and took him to Mt. St. Helens for a few hours

Climbing out of the cave

Beth sneaking past the fee sign at Mt. St. Helens. Unfortunately it was a cloudy day so we could only see the base of the mountain.

Back in the sunlight

Dustin, Leilani, and Beth

Beth climbing an 8ft wall in the cave

This picture is us about to descend into the Ape Caves down by Mt. St. Helens

(Julie, Beth, Leilani)

Saturday morning found us rousted at 9 am after missing our alarm. Beth had been awake all night listening for the sound of a car leaving the driveway which would mean it was time to get up. She woke up instead to the sound of a car returning and realized it was time to get going. We were supposed to be leaving at 9 to drive down to the Ape Caves and go Spelunking.

Beth and I decided it would be fun to spend the night sleeping in the hay barn. Yeah bad idea!!!Now Beth can say what she likes about my bed and I will admit she spent the night in some extremely large cracks...well needless to say I don't think either of us were anxious for a repeat performance.

Julie: Return to Montana

The Lazy JC Melstone, MT

Driving Brandon's new vehicle off the trailer.

Me with the boys

Josh

Leah at the Spring


Huckleberry picking

So the saga continues...after our weekend in Chelan we made a quick trip over to Thompson Falls to spend a couple of days at the Buckingham family residence. Aunt Jay and Uncle Bert took us up in the mountains where we enjoyed a beautiful day picking rocks, driving around, and eating a picnic lunch. We also hiked up behind the house and went huckleberry picking. Tuesday morning found us back in the car we made a quick stop back in Great Falls to see the people I used to work with and then on to Stanford to spend a couple of days with Brandon and his family. We got to move a couple of bales around, sit in the new bale wagon, play with the twins etc. Friday we headed to Melstone to spend the weekend helping clean Brandon's house and classroom. Unfortunately we were not much help as it was too hot to function. After a quick lunch at the Buzy Bee in Roundup we headed back to Sequim. We arrived home at 2:45am which has now created the state of exhaustion in which I am exhisting at the moment. So about that nap time...Driving along...singing some songs

Sorry the pictures are way out of order but you get the idea!