Bristol to Seattle: a journey of scientific curiosity and christian faith

In the forest around Mt. Rainier

Look at that lovely green canopy

National Park Inn among the firs

My first Saturday back in Seattle we headed for Mt. Rainier. My landlady kindly drove all the way there and back a round trip of 4 -5 hours if done in one go but we took a day. We got on the way at about 8am We drove down to the South West corner of the park where you drive through ancient tree groves as you first enter the National Park. Our first stop was National Park Inn and Longmire Museum. This used to be a lodge attracting visitors to the natural springs. We took a little walk around the lodge and looked at some of the old photos of the women mountain climbing in long skirt ! Then we had a little walk (around a mile) through the woods and around the area of the mineral springs.

There be beavers here!

Wetlands

Old hot spring - a natural Jacuzzi!

View from Longmire Lodge

Up stream of the waterfall

At about 11:30am we stopped at one of the lovely waterfalls - Christine Falls. We took a short steep walk down to see the waterfall a little better then walked back up the hill to the car.

Christine Falls

RAINBOW!

View across from Paradise lodge towards the Tatoosh Range

Lamp shades at the lodge

Our next stop a little after noon was the lodge at Paradise. It was really busy, people were parking all over the place. I did a little shopping then we headed over to the lodge for food. After lunch we started up the mountain through the alpine meadow. We didn't go really far as it was a surprisingly hot day but on our way up we passed a group coming down who had 'summited' that day which is a little scary in the summer because the glaciers are likely to have hidden crevasses.

Note the lack of nails, all notched together!

Paradise meadow

The lodge at paradise

The bees were busy doing their thing

Our next stop later in the afternoon was reflection Lakes

Then Box Canyon...

To the North West - Mt Rainier

Box canyon

To the South East Mt. Adams?

Finally we stopped and walked to the the Grove of the Patriarchs - some really old trees...

Root system from a fallen giant

Some of the largest trees

looking up through the branches, green with moss

Younger trees making use of a nurse log to get a kick start on growth

Rope bridge - one at a time please!

Another nurse log now totally covered by the younger generation

Or by its slightly longer title Seattle to Heathrow to Bristol to Saltford to Bristol to Oxfordshire to London to St. Ives (via Bristol) to Oxfordshire to Windsor to Oxfordshire to Bristol to Reading to Bristol to Oxfordshire to Heathrow to Seattle.

View from the window at work

As usual I spent my August back in England catching up with friends and family whilst traveling along the 120 miles between London to Bristol in the least sensible fashion possible. Whilst I complain about the company who run this train line and the majority of the buses in Bristol whenever seems appropriate (which is basically every second of every day) I am grateful that I do have a way to get from A to B.

Real fish and Chips!

It started on Saturday with an 10.5hr trip to Germany, then a quick hop back from Frankfurt to Heathrow. My Sister came to pick me up on Sunday and we met my parents briefly for a coffee at a motorway service station (because we so obviously know how to live the high life!). My first week in Bristol was a busy one arriving back on Sunday afternoon/evening and having a day at the zoo with my sister and nephew on Monday. Tuesday I was back into work in Bristol, Wednesday was a meal out with work, Thursday another chance to see my family at the Bristol Balloon fiesta and Friday food with friends at the Clifton Sausage. I did manage to fit fish and chips in though!

Saturday breakfast with friends, lunch with family and friend and evening meal for a friends 30th and laser quest. Sunday it was time to catch a breath at Church and then. Monday was back to work, Tuesday bible study group. A quieter week when I got lots of work done!

Rainy day in Bristol

Saturday was a grueling morning taking my sisters cat to the vets (don't ask) but the day was saved by a lovely afternoon with friends in Saltford including finishing a jigsaw - joy. Sunday was a busy with music for the morning service and then an afternoon of lunch and playing games with friends. Monday was a dentist appointment, Tuesday a visa appointment in London, later on Tuesday we set off for Cornwall, Wednesday was St.Ives, Thursday was Bodmin and Tintagel with a little Boscastle thrown in. Friday was off to Trebarwith Strand for a bit of beach and an unexpected encounter with another friend, and later a trip to Port Issac (aka Portwenn for DM fans) .

Despicable - Hersheys chocolate on UK
Supermarket shelves.

Saturday was a wonderful day at Padstow; mini golf, crabbing, swimming. Sunday was a day to pack up the tent, a little cliff walk to Boscastle headland and a nice lunch. Back to Oxfordshire and then to Windsor on bank holiday Monday to meet a very small new friend and catch up with her parents. Monday evening was another dinner with a friend in Bristol then four more days of work and a lovely evening with friends eating good food and playing great games. A final Sunday at church and it was back to Oxfordshire. A trip to "Didcot minus three cooling towers"in the afternoon. Monday was a trip to Beconscott model village and some packing... Tuesday was a trip to Heathrow with my Mum and then... back on a plane with August a distant memory.