October 12, 2012

Peshastin Pinnacles State Park: Rattle and Hum

This week, Bergen and I went on a short hike at Peshastin Pinnacles State park near Leavenworth, Washington. Our hike veered away from the typical green filled excursions that we are used to in Western Washington, as the trail was mostly sand and not lined with trees, but thistle and dry grasses. The pinnacles that give the park it’s name are impressive rock formations that seem to jut randomly out of the ground making quite a spectacle.

Sandstone Spire

While we did hear the occasional chirp or caw from the birds hanging around, the overwhelming noise heard around the park was the hum of the airblast sprayer and tractor. Surrounding the park, you’ll see one of Washington’s most recognized claims to fame. Based on location of the park in North Central Washington, can you guess what you might see?

Apples!

As we reached the end of the easily navigated base trail, I heard some rustling coming from the corner ledge of a nearby rock formation. I was actually a little frightened, but my curiosity overcame the fear, and I did some investigating. I watched as a snake shimmied it’s way in a crack. Bergen could care less. He was actually mad. The pause in our hike was apparently ruining his time. I was able snap a few photos, but didn’t want to get too close. I wasn’t sure what kind of snake I was looking at, but figured I’d do some more research once I could take a look at the zoomed in photos.

As I turned the corner though heading back on the trail, the snake gave me no reason to speculate. We heard shaking and knocking sounds like Bergen had picked up his maraca and was waving it around. That thing we were looking at was a rattlesnake!

Seeing and hearing the rattlesnake did not put an end to our wildlife viewing though. As I took in the distance scenery, I also spotted a couple of mule deer frolicking along the hills.

Not bad for a 30 minute hike.

Info to Know:

Peshastin Pinnacles State Parkis located between the towns of Peshastin and Cashmere (off Highway 2), near the more well known Bavarian town of Leavenworth.
- 7201 N Dryden Rd, Cashmere, WA 98815
Cost: $10 for a day pass OR annual discover pass ($30)
No strollers. You’ll need a carrier for this one.

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October 2, 2012

Seattle’s Volunteer Park Dahlia Garden

Here in Seattle we really can’t believe it’s fall. I keep waiting for things to change (and the rains to come), but here we are again with sunny skies, and 70 degree temperatures. I’m honestly worried. Am I overreacting? Nevertheless, we are certainly enjoying ourselves.

Our parks are still hanging on to summer as well. Just a few days ago on one of our afternoon walks, we visited Volunteer Park in the Capitol Hill neighborhood (just East of Downtown). We love Volunteer Park for it’s beautiful conservatory, water tower giving you unique views of the city, and wide open space. New to me this summer is Volunteer Park’s Dahlia Garden. The Dahlia Garden has been around for many years though, and given the fact that dahlias just happen to be my most favorite flower, I can’t believe I’ve missed the garden all this time! Where have I been? Why hadn’t anyone told me about it?

So many colors, shapes, sizes, and styles are represented in this modest garden located across from the conservatory and in front of the rhododendrons. I could have stayed for hours inspecting each and everyone. Lucky for Slaed and Bergen, who were not so fascinated, there is a playground hidden among the trees just a short distance away. So when they were bored of looking at flowers, they escaped to slide, swing, and climb. Norman and I were left alone to admire.

Info to Know

The Volunteer Park Dahlia Garden is located in Volunteer Park (near the conservatory), and maintained by the Puget Sound Dahlia Association.
- 1247 15th Ave East Seattle, WA 98112
- Hours: 6 am-10pm
The dahlias are planted every May, and dug up the following October. Peak viewing is in the month of August, though the season is July-September.
A visit to Volunteer Park makes a great outing. Some of the other features include, the Seattle Asian Art Museum (SAAM), the water tower, wading pool, playground, and conservatory.

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September 21, 2012

Friday Dreaming: Harrison Hot Springs, BC

Today on this International Day of Peace, I wanted to honor our neighbors to the North, one the of the most peaceful nations in the world: Canada.

2 years ago, right around this time, Slaed and I traveled to Harrison Hot Springs located in British Columbia about 2 hours East of Vancouver, and 3 hours North of Seattle. This was no ordinary road trip though as we drove separately. I drove the car. Slaed rode his bike.

Hanging with the goats at a pit stop: Birch Wood Dairy in Abbotsford, BC.

Slaed and his biking buddies traveled from Seattle’s Magnuson Park to Bellingham, Washington. After a good night’s rest in Bellingham and some refueling, they were back on the road, and cycled their way to Harrison Hot Springs. The cyclists were rewarded with spectacular views of Harrison Lake and the Coast Mountains. More than that though, I think they were looking forward to unwinding after 2 days of all-day riding by soaking in the therapeutic waters of the hot springs. After such a feat, they certainly deserved it!

Harrison Lake

I like to ride my bike a few miles here and there, but I’m certainly not a cyclist. Watching Slaed’s crew was motivating though, and I was feeling quite lazy rolling up in my car while they conquered mile after mile. Lucky for me, the Terry Fox run was happening that weekend, so I got in on the action, and ran my first 10 K!

Norman joined in the fun too!

I’m all for a plan. I like to know what to expect, and what to look forward to on a journey. But sometimes, the best travel memories happen when you’re not planning at all. I loved picturing all of the runners across Canada, from our small gathering of about 15 runners to thousands in places like Toronto, all paying tribute to such an inspiration.

Speaking of inspiration, hop over to RWeThereYetMom?, and find out what’s happening with other traveling families around the world.

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September 14, 2012

An Afternoon at the Fair: Baby’s Top 5

Last year at less than a month old, Bergen missed the Puyallup Fair, our Western Washington State fair held every September. Even for us, that would have been a little too adventurous. So as the fair rolled around again this year, we were more than ready to check it out with the little guy.

In order to avoid the weekend crowds, Slaed went to work even earlier than usual so he could leave earlier and we could get a head start on the trip down. We timed Bergen’s nap to coincide with the drive, and took a longer route to buy him some more time.

While the fair is a whole different experience with a baby in tow, we still managed to introduce Bergen to almost all of our favorite fair amusements. He was quite content with just about everything, but there were some that really stood out.

Baby’s Top 5 at the Fair

5. Ride Watching. The lights, the music, the movement. Bergen isn’t a fan of just standing around so I was surprised at how content he was as we waited for Slaed to ride the roller coaster. Then I realized that he was totally mesmerized by the overload of sensory stimulation.

4. Looking through cut-outs. Who knew this could be so much fun for a baby? Bergen just loved looking through and waving to the people he saw “on the other side”. And to think we actually hesitated to get him out of the ergo for this!

3. Checking out the animals. This one’s a no-brainer. Ducks and goats seemed to be favorites, but we saw it all: pigs & piglets, chickens, horses, cows, rabbits, dogs, and even pigeons.

2. People Watching. Bergen has a reputation of being a “noisy-rosy” & a “rubber-necker”, and these traits were out in full force at the fair. Endless interesting people to look at everywhere we went!

1. Taking in all in on the Sky Ride. Manufactured in Switzerland, and originally installed at the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, this piece of history took us up a whopping 55 feet in the air for a bird’s eye view of all the action! Believe it or not, this was the only ride Bergen was allowed on, so we rode it twice: once at the beginning of the afternoon, once at the end. We thought for sure he’d be able to get on the carousel. No luck, but that was just fine with him.

Info to Know:

The Puyallup Fair (September 7-23 ’12) is located in Puyallup, Washington, about 40 minutes South of Seattle.
We drove so that Bergen could nap in the car, but our friends offered a great tip of taking the Sounder Train to avoid traffic & parking hassles. More info on alternative transportation here.
We used the ergo to transport Bergen around, but many were navigating the fair with strollers easily.
It’s a good idea to check exhibit schedules before you go (or talk about what you’ll see with the kids) to avoid disappointment as certain barns can be closed.

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September 10, 2012

3 Quick Lessons Learned from our First Family Bike Ride

Bergen put his first bike helmet to good use this weekend on his very first bike ride!

As soon as Slaed received word that the Yepp Mini baby seat had come in at REI, he raced over with his bike to have it installed. He was thinking it would take a couple of days or maybe even a week. No. 20 minutes.

We just needed Bergen to wake up from his nap so we could take the seat out for a spin. For our first family bike ride, we rode from our house to Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood with a quick stop at Gasworks park.

After dinner at the Red Door, which included their famous mussels, we headed home to ensure we wouldn’t be pedaling in the dark. Bergen had a blast, from what we can tell at least. He was all smiles, and seemed to feel like a celebrity waving at those walking by us on the trail. He also liked it when I came up from behind to pass him, and the same for when he and Slaed raced past me to get ahead. I can still hear the giggles now.

3 Quick Lessons Learned from our First Family Bike Ride

1. Just like if he was riding in the stroller, Bergen isn’t doing any work accompanying Slaed on his bike, which means he’s not working up a sweat and getting as warm as we are pedaling away. Towards the end of the ride, Bergen started to fuss, and we realized it’s most likely because he was cold. The sun was going down and the temperature dropped. We should have brought a jacket for the ride home.

2. I had high hopes of riding all the way to Ballard (probably another 3 miles, 6 round trip). Lucky for us, Slaed is a little more reasonable, and suggested we stop in Fremont. It was smart to keep the first trip short and sweet. I’m glad we didn’t push it and end up riding home in the dark (very unsafe if you are not equipped).

3. We are fortunate to live just 2 blocks from the Lake Washington Bike Loop, which links up with the Burke-Gillman Trail, a multi-use path for walkers, runners, skaters, cyclists, etc. that runs across the North end of the city east/west. It’s important for the route to be safe and bike friendly. I’m glad most of our ride was on the Burke-Gillman clear from motorists!

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August 30, 2012

Running on the Road: Keeping up with Training while Traveling

While training for a half marathon this past spring and early summer, I realized that if I wanted to reach my goal of finishing around the 2 hour mark, I’d need to keep up with my training during our travels. This meant thinking ahead, and not always going out for a run at my ideal time. In the end though, I scored some (well-deserved?) alone time leaving me feeling refreshed and accomplished, and I also set a personal record for my half marathon time!

Here’s what helped me get going away from home:

Bring your gear. You’ll be sure to skip out on a run if you don’t have proper equipment. You don’t need much for running, but the littlest things (like the right socks) can throw me off, so I go through a checklist of what I’ll need, and pack those first.
Research places to run. Before you leave for your trip check out places that might work for the distance you need. This gives you a chance to explore somewhere new too. In Denver, it was Cherry Creek State Park. In Portland, I ran along the Willamette River. On the Washington coast, Norman and I sneaked away for a 4 mile run on the beach. If you are visiting family and friends, ask them for ideas. Sometimes I even use “Map My Run” to calculate the mileage.
Plan ahead. Look at your trip itinerary and your training schedule, and determine the best days and times to fit in your run.
Communicate with your travel companions. If I am traveling with Slaed, just before the trip or even on the plane or in the car, I go over my running intentions with him. That way, he’ll know when he’s on “Bergen duty” while I’m off on a run. I also make sure to plan the run around our activities. This also keeps me honest! Solo travel with the baby or kids can be trickier, but while I was visiting my cousin in Connecticut (without Slaed), she was nice enough to watch Bergen while I went on a quick run. I made it easy on her though, and went just after I put him down for a nap!
Think about destination environment and weather. The clothes you wear in your hometown may not work for wherever you are traveling, so make sure to bring gear that works for the climate and weather. Being aware of humidity and altitude levels is also important. I prepped a lot by drinking tons of water before our trip to Denver, and lowered my mileage expectations because of the thin air, and high altitude.
Consider waking up early. Sometimes you just can’t fit a run in any other way. In Portland, I woke up super early before Bergen was even awake, and got my run over with by 7:00 am. Certainly leaves you feeling accomplished for the rest of the day!

Celebrating after a 2:05 finish!

What helps you keep up with your training while traveling? Share your tips!

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