Exploring parks and trails in the Olympia, Washington area. Most hikes are going to be really short–maybe three to five miles. Olympia has some really great places to hike within the city limits. I have a great book I picked up at REI, “Urban Trails Olympia”, published by Mountaineers Books. It has a wealth of information about hikes in South Puget Sound parks, Capitol State Forest, the Shelton area and Harstine Island. I’m slowly making my way through the book!
Sunday, February 9, 2020 Another rare sunny day this winter! I got home early Sunday afternoon after spending the weekend in Seattle and was just itching to get out. I needed Vitamin D and exercise! It would have been a perfect day to head out to River Song. But, according…
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Saturday, January 4, 2020 I headed out the maze of narrow, winding roads leading out of Cape Disappointment State Park, looking for the road back to the resort, and a sign caught my attention. I could visit the North Jetty? I tapped the brakes and quickly turned left onto Jetty…
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Saturday, January 4, 2020 I was pretty tired by the time I left North Head Lighthouse. I’d already gone on two hikes and spent an hour listening to a very disappointing sales pitch. I debated just heading back to my condo, but decided I couldn’t leave without at least driving…
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Saturday, January 4, 2020 I decided to continue heading south after leaving the Worldmark sales office early Saturday afternoon. There was still plenty of daylight left, and there were two lighthouses close by. I love lighthouses. My ex and I spend a whole week lighthouse hopping up and down the…
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Sunday, February 2, 2020 Today dawned bright and clear, the first sunny day since mid November. I debated running out to River Song, but I’ve been trying to cut down on driving since I saw last month’s gas card bill. Between the two trucks and the weekend runs out to…
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Saturday, January 4, 2020 Yesterday had been pretty stormy–rainy with gale force winds–but today had blue skies. Not completely blue, but patches. Patches were good. Patches allowed some sun to shine through. Instead of relaxing in my condo over breakfast, I grabbed my Napapajri wool sweater and headed for the…
View More A Shipwreck at Surfside
Wednesday, January 1, 2020 I needed a break from tiny living. I love living in my little travel trailer, but I just needed a break. I wanted to relax on a sofa with my feet up on a coffee table in front of a fireplace or take a long, hot…
View More A Vacation at Surfside
Friday, January 3, 2020 Finally! The weather I wanted! I’d been checking weather forecasts for weeks prior to my trip, hoping hoping hoping! for stormy weather. I had not come to Surfside for good weather. If I had wanted that, I would have come in the summer. I wanted bad…
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Sunday, January 26, 2020 I signed up for my first snowshoe trip with the Mountaineers! Again, before I signed up, I read the trip description and contacted the trip leader. The six-mile round trip had a difficulty rating of “easy” with a 400-foot elevation gain. I emailed the trip leader…
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January 2020 I said I would give the Mountaineers a second chance after my disastrous North Fork Sauk River backpacking trip, and I did: I signed up for a snowshoe class. Before I signed up, I made sure to contact the class lead instructor to ensure I would not get…
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