I must have turned a point in the healing process because I have periods where my knee feels practically normal.

So I have this confluence of greater mobility and a developing case of cabin fever which has created a wicked strong case of wanderlust. It’s so strong that I want to leave town on Labor Day weekend which I never want to do (everything is too crowded and the traffic coming back is horrendous).

So many things make me think of places I want to go. Friends are going mushrooming tomorrow somewhere along 410 and I immediately want to go to Federation Forest State Park. I hear “Let It Be” on the radio and it’s Larabee State Park I want to go to. Or “Long December” comes on and makes me want to go to the ocean even though it’s not December. [Once, many years ago, the radio alarm clock turned on just at the line "it's been so long since I've seen the ocean, guess I should." so we went to the ocean that day.] And, of course, my calendar makes me want to go to Fort Worden since it is the state park of the month. And the glutton for punishment side of me thinks a day trip to Cape Flattery would be keen (I do not have the road tripping endurance of when I was there last and, even then, thought that was too much for a day trip.)

For now I will have to satisfied witch shorter excursions. But as soon as I have a working car again, I am outta here.

As some of you may be aware, the worlds largest Zeppelin is in town and offering rides out of Paine Field in Everett, WA.

I run with a crowd that thinks this is extremely awesome and also devastating that tickets for rides are so expensive.

Today, in the Aurora Village Costco parking I looked up and there it was. I excitedly told Llyra to look. Then we called Sean to tell him to look. He couldn’t see it so we went to get him. Llyra had a theory that it was traveling south down the lake to downtown and would come back up along the sound so we planned to head to a park along the sound. Sean hopped in the car and off we went.

Heading towards Richmond Beach Park we crossed paths with the Zeppelin as it passed over our heads at 185th and Aurora. So we took a right and followed it up Aurora. All the while I’m sticking my head out the window to try and get pictures. We started to lose it as we had to stop for all those stoplights so we headed to I-5 and Paine Field. We saw it briefly again but then lost it as it made it’s descent.

We drove around Paine Field and just as we were about to give up, we saw it starting to take off. Llyra parked the car and we piled out like we were in a clown car. And just in time, as the Zeppelin was heading our way and flew right over us. SO COOL.

I’ll post links to the pictures when Llyra uploads them.

Then we headed over to the Paine Field Community Park which has a really neat playground with some wacky climbing structures and a really neat merry go round. I sat while Christopher dragged his parents around the playground.

And, yes, we listened to Led Zeppelin when we got back to the house.

Best quote came from Christopher, age 3, as it was starting to pull away from us: “Stay in the sky buddy!”

How awesome is it to have friends you can go on a zany, spontaneous Zeppelin quest with?

Today is the beginning of two journeys. The first is a metaphorical one – today is the five year anniversary of my cancer removal surgery. This journey is noted by the absence of things in this new future. No frequent pelvic exams and no more counting the months and years I am cancer free. I am DONE.

The other journey is that I’m leaving later today for Ocean Shores. Three days of oceanic bliss, pampering, and a whole lot of slacking.

When I first planned this trip, I had envisioned I would spend my days at Roosevelt Beach with my sweet Tito. He would dig while I read trashy sci-fi novels. His absence will make some of this trip a little bittersweet. But I will stroll the beach and recall treasured memories of our many trips there.

Geekily, I will be dorkumenting my trip with a GPS track and lots of pictures.

I can’t leave yet though. For one thing, I have to wait until the laundry is done; I’m washing all my bedding so I’ll come home to a nice clean bed. For another, I still have to pack.

If someone were to ask me where my favorite beach was my head would simply explode from the dizzying array of choices. Then my poor questioner would be no more enlightened and my brain would be splattered all over them. However, if the questioner were wise enough to allow me to list my favorite beaches for different regions then, well, I would regale them with some tales of beachy joy and my brain would remain unsplattered.Why this regional distinction in beach rankings? Well, first of all, there are too many wonderful beaches in this world to narrow it down to just one. That’s like asking a parent to pick one child or a dog to pick one tennis ball. Secondly, there is variation in the types of the beaches which lend themselves to different kinds of activities. And, thirdly, I really prefer to keep my brain intact in my skull and not splattered every which way.

Today I’d like to talk about my favorite beach of the Washington State’s South Coast.  Many of the beaches along the central coast are flat and firm sandy beaches. What is the importance of firmness? Well, it means you can DRIVE on it. Now, there is always the possibility of getting stuck in the sand if you drive in the wrong spot so it’s a bit of a rush. But this ability to drive on the beach means you don’t have to carry all that wood you brought for your beach burn very far. And one of the best things to do at a beach is to have fire. fire! Fire !FIRE! Not a wild, uncontrolled, pyromaniac blaze but a wild, barely controlled, pyromaniac bonfire.

The most popular of these beaches is around Ocean Shores, WA. You can either do it as a day trip from Seattle (2.5 – 3 hours each way), if you have road trip stamina, or there are many places to stay. For those traveling with their canine companions, I’ve found The Sands to be reasonably priced and have basic, but clean, rooms. Tito and I stayed there several time. If you are not traveling with your canine companion and wish to indulge yourself a bit, the Best Western Lighthouse Inn is really quite lovely and you get a great view of the ocean from many of the rooms.

Now the beaches adjacent to Ocean Shores are not my favorite beach of the central coast. For one thing, it can get crowded and the traffic can be heavy. For another, the soft can be trickily soft in spots leading to getting stuck. Yes, I’ve gotten stuck twice in the sand. One time I was driving, one time I was not. People are friendly and will help you get out. Whatever you do, don’t slam on your accelerator or you’ll dig yourself in deeper (I did not do this but I’ve seen it happen.)

Between Ocean Shores, WA and Pacific Beach, WA there are several beach entrances off of Hwy 109. About 15 miles north of Ocean Shores you will find MY favorite beach of the Central Washington Coast – Roosevelt Beach.

Roosevelt Beach Road is about 250 feet of paved road between Hwy 109 and the beach. On the right, as you drive in, there is a restroom (vault toilet). The convenience of this to the beach is a minor factor in elevating this beach to the best. Once the paved road ends, you drive another 100 feet to 200 feet and then take a left. You don’t want to take a right because there is a steam there and the sand is squishier but the sand to the left is pretty firm (firmer, for sure, than around Ocean Shores) and I’ve never seen anyone get stuck.

The east side of the beach (opposite the ocean edge) is buffeted by tall, eroding bluffs. It is a fine example of geology with the different layers of soil in a variety of colors. Atop the bluffs are many tall trees that are home to, what else, birds! (And I’m sure other woodland creatures.) It is rare that i have been there and not seen a bald eagle or two. There is a moderately narrow strip of sand dunes with dune grass between the bluffs and the flat part of the beach. A testament to the firmness of this beach is that you can park pretty close it.

There is a small scattering of large driftwood that are great for putting your beach towel over and leaning up against. Or, if you are a great digger like Tito, it is a great spot to dig a mighty large hole. There is one GIGANTIC piece of driftwood that is the root structure and trunk of a tree that washed up. It is a primo spot to get but is often already taken.

With the bluffs buffeting the beach from Hwy 109 and the beach being in between towns, it feels more remote from civilization than it actually is. It is this detachment from the rest of the world, along with the soothing sound of the ocean and the beautiful scenery, that brings me a serene, inner calmness.

“Got no time to for spreadin’ roots, the time has come to be gone.”

the view from richmond beach park

As of late, I just haven’t been rambling very far away.    Part of it is winter and part of it is time constraints and part of it is I can ramble less than five miles to this.

There all kinds of birds flitting about, showing off their goods, chirping flirtations to prospective mates.

It’s not just the birds trying to get a little procreation action. The plants are in on it too. Blooming trees, blooming plants, and blooming bushes. The cheap, tacky slut of the plant world, scotch broom is out in full force. Everywhere you look the hillside is covered in bright yellow. This is, of course, bad news for allergy sufferers. There’s a reason I like to joke its taxonomical name is “saxifrageitchyeye”.

invasive species ... invades!

We’ve got that weird thing of a record warm day and a gray sky. It is really quite pleasant out but I keep looking for the sun to show up.

Last night was the first meal this year where we dined “al fresco”. It was so relaxing until we were chased in by the mosquitos.

Even though it would be 4 to 6 weeks early, I am eagerly anticipating planting tomatoes.

the puppy of my heart

Tito, my sweetest bestest doggie friend, passed away this afternoon. He brought me so much love and so much joy, I could not have asked for a better companion these last 12 years.
His digestive system had started to give out and though he still was very engaged and loving, he made it clear to me today that the suffering was too much. His passing was peaceful and quiet, surrounded by people who loved him.

a million smiles

There is a pudldle nearby that has grown in the rain but is still fairly shalllow. A crow walked up and has been lying the left side of his head down in the water drinking. He’s been doing this for the last five minutes.

The other crows are being more crow like, they’re harvesting worms out in the grass.

Nibbling on smoked salmon pillows, yum!