Chehalis, WA

Chehalis was our next stop.  Here we are going to catch up with my sister, Michele, and brother-in-law, Gary.  They are on their way home from Alaska.  If you have missed their blog go to www.on-de-go.com.  The blog is exciting, and lots of great pictures.

We spend the next couple of weeks traveling around the Northwest, sitting in the rain talking, playing cards, eating, looking at the pictures, hearing about Alaska, and eating deserts.  We had a great time, sharing our trips and thoughts.  The weather is what I call "typical Northwest weather".  Sunshine, rain, cloudy, rain, wind, and sunshine.

There are two places to see that everyone has heard of, and it was great to learn more about them.  the first place we went was all of the antique stores in the area.  We didn't want to miss shopping.  It was a great place to look at the things in the store.  During our first trip into town we stopped for dinner at the local Mexican Food Restruant.  We all made our choices and Michele kept changing her mind.  She finally chose her meal, and was disappointed.  She wanted what she originally chose.  So we had to go back our last day there so she could have a better meal.

We spend a day at Mount St. Helen's. This is the mountain that blew out the side about 30 years ago, and has erupted a time or two since.  They have a great welcome center with lots of information.  We walked through it, watched a movie on how it happened and how it comes back alive. We walked up to look at the mountain today, and pictures of what it looked like before. So much different.  It was a great trip, I'm glad we got to see it.

My Sister the Governess of Washington

Another great trip was in to Olympia, WA, the state Capitol.  We had a tour through the building, walked the grounds, and had a great time.  Seeing different state capitols is a highlight of any trip.  To see our government at work.  If you can go to any of the state capitals don't miss them.  This Capitol was the first one built with electricity included in the building.  Most of the ones before this had gas lights, or candles.  No power outlets, and all of them were added over the years.

We spent another day on the Mount Rainier Railroad.  It is a great train ride going to a railroad museum, with a location that is great for seeing Mount Rainier and taking pictures of Mount Rainier.  The museum had many railroad engines and cars, and a lot of volunteers that explained what a lot of the equipment was used for.  We had a great day on the railroad.

Our other trip was to Mount Rainier.  This is another active volcano, but has not blown its top yet.  It is a beautiful site the closer you get.  We stopped at the places overlooking the valleys, places we could see the mountain, and water falls.  Michele and Gary walked down to one of the water falls, while Vonna and I looked at it from the top.

We drove up to the welcome center, and could not get a parking place. The road is one way, starting down from the welcome center, and the nearest parking spot was about 1 & 1/2 miles away.  I have never been in a National Park with no parking.  This is worse than Yosemite in the summer.  It is a great place to go, but go early in the morning so that you can get to the welcome center.  We missed it.

On the way back we stopped at a little place that someone had told Vonna & Michele about.  We had one of the best meals there and enjoyed sitting outside even though it was on the main road.  Over all we had a great day.

We had a great time with Michele and Gary, but as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.  They are on their final leg home, stopping to see their  grandkids in San Jose, and then to Gary's family and then home.  We are headed to the beach.  

See you on the road!!!

We will See You on the Road!!!