#12 Checked Off

Continuing on our State Park Geocache mission we headed just out of town to where old growth trees still tower above.

Olallie State Park #12

Pyper with a rather impressive Red Cedar which sometimes she likes to call a "Maple Valley Tree"

Pyper captured me with a good sized Spruce tree.

Kodiak

Pyper has arrived!

We made it to Kodiak. There was lots of fair food because it was Crab Fest. A little more rain than we wanted. I did the Pillar Mountain 9.3 mile race. Andy made it up for a couple of days. We hung out with new and old friends.

Part of the Crab Fest Craziness. We were on a scavenger hunt.

Up Pillar Moutain.

Beach Time

Too many good photos, there will be a photobook of this trip, sorry for the abbreviated version.

Little Big Adventure

Trying to get some caching and dirt biking in, we decided to head over towards the Hood Canal once more, but this time we took the easy way across the ferry. 

Ferry from Seattle, at least there is a view at all. 

We hit up Ilahee State Park together, then dropped off Andy for a cross mountain trek to the summit of Green Mountain and onward to Belfair. 

Ilahee State Park #10/100. 

Dropping off Andy at the trailhead then he sends us a picture of the next one. 

We had some successes and failures, but we all made it home. 

Mancesher State Park #11/100, this cache was particularly heavy. 

New Mission

Well, there's always something...

After foregoing this mission in 2013 when the challenge started, I've decided that it's now or never! There are lots and lots of Washington State Parks, and for their centennial celebration they created a geocaching challenge encompassing 100 of those parks. There's also a 50 park challenge, but what's the fun in going small right?!

So we did the closest parks to us back in 2013, which was only 3, and today we added number 5 after adding number 4 yesterday. So we are on a little roll at this point. 

Squak Mountain State Park #4/100

Always making hiking stylish!

Dash Point State Park beachside 

Dash Point cache #5/100, one huge stump!!!

Before this post was published we made a little, kinda big 4 park run yesterday. We are up to 9 parks now. 

Flaming Gyser State Park #6/100, the bubbling sulphur smell doesn't leave a good impression. 

Federation Forest #7/100, more huge trees!!!

Nolte State Park #8/100, lakeside. 

Kanasket-Palmer State Park #9/100, one last view for the day.

May Happenings in the Backyard

With all of last month's good weather and everything warming up, we are busy outside all the time now. 

We put in three raised bed last month and are slowly adding too it everyday. The beds are completely planted except where Pyper's construction site is, though it does spread throughout the garden. We have a little flower garden where we hope sunflowers will take too. The first "real" sowing of radishes is harvestable, and trellises are ready for the big verticle growth when we get it. Plants that look similar are starting to grow their third leaf that is characteristic of its self and it is just super fun to soak up the sun in our own space! It's also fun to share it with friends. 

Putting in some black gold!

Our truck takes about a yard of dirt, so three loads later we had three piles and some extra to give to the neighbors. After a successful/unsuccessful first attempt at a trellis, Pyper and I did the old school way and hiked into to the woods for some saplings, which we hiked back with and made super pinkalicious. First attempt was with some made in China powder painted bamboo that coated your hands. Since we couldn't get any good info on the product ingredients, we decided we didn't want it on our skin or in our food. 

Trellising Pyper-style. Daddy has good taste in colors, they match her shoes. 

Fun in the back yard. I didn't tell her she didn't have to water the plants when it rains.