At the end of August, we traveled to Dillon, Montana to look at UMW (the University of Montana Western). On Sunday before our campus tour, we drove to Bannack State Park to look at the ghost town. Gold and other ores were mined from 1862 through a time in the 1950s, then the town and surrounding area were made into a state park.
The buildings are restored structurally rather than decoratively. Only one house contains assembled furniture (wood burning stove, cabinets, etc.) and decorative items (plates, wall hangings, etc.). It seems to me that the emptier buildings better challenge the imagination, allowing one to imagine making a place for oneself.
Besides houses, the town has a hotel, a Masonic Lodge and one-room school, a church, a saloon, two tiny jails, several store fronts, and some storage sheds and barns. Outside of town there's an animal corral (cattle? ponies?). There is exactly one road, running east to west through the town.
R wanted to visit his sailboat, left in La Paz, Mexico from an earlier trip, and W needed a chance to relax from the pressure cooker of his lab at work. So off they went.
Apparently it's easier to sail south, with the Pacific coast currents, than north. At some point R will need to have his sailboat shipped north with a larger boat but, in the meantime, it's 'stuck' at a marina in La Paz.
R knows a lot about sailing and sailboats, and W was willing to learn and to hang out. Between them, they also know a lot about people and aeronautics, but not so much about geology or biology. La Paz features a bleak landscape and odd sea creatures, about which they hope friends at home will provide insight
Relaxing and hanging out with family was the point, and we were with the program.
An afternoon at Fort De Soto Park beach.
And we spent an afternoon at the Museum of Science and Industry, followed by another at Celebration Station with go carts and miniature gold.
When we visited Florida during spring break, we stayed at W's sister's condo. It was so comfortable that we briefly entertained thoughts about retiring to Tampa.
The fuzz-ball trying to get W's attention is the boy-dog, Gizmo.
Resting inside. The gray dog on E's back is Sailor, the girl-dog. Gizmo is sleeping on the floor.
J in dining area.
J's granddaughter, O, who is 1/2 year younger than E and a grade behind in school.
O's grandfather, T.
J's daughter S.
J and her other daughter, C.
C takes a picture of me, W, and J.
Sailor, in a comfy spot.
We stayed in a largish cabin that looks better here than on the inside. And don't get me going about the 'kitchen' - I think the utensils are unappealing so that guests will go to the restaurant.
The scenery is stunning.
And light over the lake changes constantly.
We hiked short trails on the south and the north side of Lake Quinault.
The first day it rained all day, but on the second day it was sunny. W walked with me through the rain and, by the end, we both were quite wet. On the 2nd day E and I walked with a pleasant older couple.
On the north side of Lake Quinault is an abandoned (Kestner) homestead, founded in 1889. The deer is munching leaves on the homestead grounds.
The range of light on the sunny day was too extreme for my light-weight photo correction software, so I apologize for the washed out areas.
We drove into Mt. Rainier National Park, stopping at the White River Campground to hike part of the Glacier Basin Trail. Alas, heavy rain in 2006 washed out large sections. We walked as far as we - as a family - could, which wasn't far. We did see plenty of moraine (lots 'o rocks dumped by melting ice).
Next we drove up to the Sunrise rest stop, and wandered about. The snow covered mountain is Mt. Rainier.
W took our 'tourist picture,' with Mt. Rainier in the background.
Of the trails near our resort, this was the easiest to find. Near Mt. Rainier all trails go up and down, and most cross or follow one or more creeks. W wasn't into hiking, but liked the scenery.
The hike to Goat Head Falls takes 2 - 3 miles. E and I nearly made it but, toward the end, E decided he'd had enough and we turned around. It didn't help that, on one stretch, we wandered off in a wrong direction. 
Later G and I drove closer to the falls, then hiked to the end.
The large rock on the far right forms the 'goat's head,' but we weren't convinced. Perhaps in the Spring, when there is considerably more water rushing by, it looks more like a goat's head.
These were taking while hiking, either close to Mt. Rainier or in Washington's rain forest.
This year, as catcher, E has run down and tagged runners coming from 3rd base, caught popped up fouls, and made outs at home after catching long throws from the outfield.
Ball for game MVP.  |
He played catcher, and sometimes right outfield.  |
A base hit.  |
At the end of the week we took family portraits. T and I traded picture taking and cameras, so every camera owner would have pictures.
Unfortunately when we were at the beach, seawater splashed my camera and now, under certain lighting, my camera blacks out part of the picture.
Above, from back-left, is my husband, me, my younger and older sons, W's niece S, niece C, W's sister, mother, and father, and niece C's daughter, who is holding Sailor.
Below is the same grouping, except I'm taking the picture and T stands between his daughters.
Niece C bought land and put a big house on it, to sell. Then the market turned. Someday it will be a hot property.
Our fishing expedition.
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You can't see them, but there were wasps. They turned out to be mellow, so we ignored them.
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Besides fish, there were turtles. They ate one or two of the worms.
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The first catch went back into the water.
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E's is bigger. It went back too.
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Almost big enough, it went back as well.
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Some of us just watched.
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Or helped with the messy stuff.
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It was a quiet afternoon.
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We arrived in Tampa late on Sunday, went to W's sister's condo, stayed up later, then slept till 8 am California time, which we kept explaining was early. As it was nearly noon in Tampa, nobody was buying.
Looking from J's patio.
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Grandpa and Grandma stayed in the recliners. The mini-pup is Sailor, perched on a favorite spot. The TV is on.
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Sitting on the patio.
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From the left-rear, niece S, G, niece C, E, and Sailor.
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We hiked along a section of trail, about 3 miles.
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Every so often along the trail are coolers of icy water. A pet bowl on the ground captures drips.
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Saw palmetto is a formidable weed. Controlled burns keep it down.
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Taking a rest.
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The trail is paved and shared.
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Unlike many California bicyclists, Floridians heed their non-wheeled travelers, slowing and maneuvering around them. Maybe the heat contributes to a sense of leisure.
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Vines.
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