Trip to Whidbey

At the end of August, with Joseph and Jack settled back in Palo Alto and Boulder respectively, John, Mary Jo, and Henry spent three nights at a house on the water on Whidbey Island. The weather was a bit dreary, but it was wonderful to be right on the water - with the tide lapping up at the wall to the deck. 

We walked along the beach, took kayaks into the Sound, ate some famous local Penn Cove Mussels, and played some board games. There were lots of birds around, and we even got to see an Orca go swimming by on our last day there, as the sun came out for a few hours. A very nice and relaxing trip!

Fitz and the Tantrums at Chateau Ste. Michelle

John and Mary Jo attended their first concert in a few years at the lawn at a local winery in Woodinville. Fitz and the Tantrums played a great two-hour set - we brought in a picnic and got some wine there as well. All in all a very nice evening!

Jack Leaves for Sophomore Year

After a three-month stay at home over the summer, in mid-August Jack loaded up his car (including two pairs of skis), pulled out of the driveway, and headed back to Boulder. He had a safe drive and is geared up for his second year!

Wilson R.I.P

After a battle with kidney disease, it became clear that Willie was not enjoying life, and we made the always difficult decision to put him down. August 19, 2021 was the date, six-plus years after we picked him up from the humane society. He was a very sweet cat who we all loved. Except for that time when he licked my steak while it was sitting on the counter before I cooked it. 

Backpacking in Mt Rainier

John took off a Friday in early August, and on Thursday afternoon he and Henry secured a permit for a backcountry camping spot at Lake Eleanor at Mt Rainer. 

Access it required going 10 miles down a steep forest road, and then we backpacked a mile in. There were a few bugs but the site was great - right on the shores of the lake and, while there were three spots, we were the only ones there. We cooked a freeze-dried feast for dinner, and then retired to our tents. Shortly after doing that, the stretch of 51 straight days in Seattle without rain ended! 

In the morning, we woke up and had breakfast. It was fairly overcast, but we continued our hike, leaving our packs and tents at the site, and went about 3 miles in to Grand Park, which was a beautiful meadow with what should have been gorgeous views of Rainier, but instead was fairly fogged and misted in. Then we headed back down to our camp, and then the car.