Linda Finch
Traveling Cougars

Well, it took awhile but we finally found the sun while sightseeing on Lake Union. The “ice cream boat”, the MV Fremont Ave, was great fun and the sun came out to make our day. Our Captain gave an interesting and comical narrative as we cruised past the “Sleepless in Seattle” houseboat, under the University Bridge, close to Gasworks Park and back to our dock next to the Virginia V.

The Mystery Trip went out to the little town of Rainier to the Monarch Sculpture Park. This is truly a hidden jewel; 10 acres of natural beauty with over 125 works of art sprinkled in amongst the trees and bushes. We just might do this another time for a picnic and a slow walk.

In the middle of June we rented The House at River Run, in Winthrop, the heart of the Methow Valley. With 6 bedrooms, a large kitchen, spacious living room with gas heat stove and an indoor pool, we were more prepared to just stay in rather than explore. But, explore we did: fields of wildflowers, the North Cascade Highway, which recently opened but remained high with snow, Rocking Horse Bakery and oh so much more.

Next month I will tell you about the Cannon Beach trip and the International Sand Castle competition, which came right on the heels of the Winthrop trip.

In July we start off with a trip on the Chehalis Railroad. We’ll take a ride on a 1916 logging locomotive as it chugs through the Chehalis River Valley. Later on in the month, we’ll drive the Mountain Loop Highway through the Mt. Baker-Snoqualamie National Forest on 55 miles of back roads. We’ll end the month with a Lake Washington Cruise on board Queen of Seattle, the largest steam powered paddle wheeler wet of the Mississippi, including a “Live Klondike Cabaret Show”.
Remember, we are still taking reservations for the New England/Canada Princess cruise in October ‘11; Copper Canyon in Nov ’11; Panama up close and personal in February ‘12; Eastern Caribbean with Princess in early April ‘12’; Panama Canal with Celebrity for late April ’12.

Don’t have someone to travel with…. we always help find roommates. For reservations or further information contact Linda Finch at (253) 927-8207 or get on the email list at linda.finch@gmail.com.