Summer is such a wonderful time to play. We can take time out to enjoy a beach, ride a steam train, wander through the mountains or cruise on the lake.  We definitely live in God’s Country here in the Pacific Northwest.  There is so much variety in what we can do.

The Cannon Beach trip may not have had the most perfect weather, there is always that drizzle of the ocean, but we had a perfect setting.  We rented two houses, side by side, just off the boardwalk in Seaside.  One night we had a barbecue in our yard and the next we enjoyed the Elks as a guest of one of our group.  The Sand Castle competition was extremely interesting.  We walked back and forth down a long line of competitors watching the progress as castles and creatures developed image and personality.  It is absolutely amazing how these teams of artists work and build.  Teams were composed of “little ones” with their buckets and shovels to the professionals with scoops and trowels.  Only the showers of the day forced us off the beach and on our way to Tillicum for lunch and ice cream.

July also brought us a ride on the Chehalis Railroad, a 1917 steam train chugging through the countryside for 90 minutes; a drive through the mountains out of Darrington and into the Mount Baker foothills’ and a Klondike Show onboard the Queen of Seattle as she cruised around our spectacular lakes.  The Mystery Trip took us to the Key Peninsula with places like Lake Bay, Home and Key Center; the Dinner Date went to Ranch House BBQ for the “Best Rack in Town”.

August brings with it a trip around the Olympic Peninsula with overnights in Port Townsend and the ocean beach.  We will explore Forks and see if we can find a “vampire” and learn what our grandchildren see in all the “Twilight” movies, which have been filmed in that tiny town.  There is still time for you to make plans for an Alaska trip in September or join us in October as we drive down the Oregon/California coastline.

A nice group has developed for the October cruise with Princess out of New York, along the coast on New England into Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and down the St. Lawrence River to Quebec City.  We have found roommates for several participants and perhaps could find one for you if you are still interested in joining us.

The future holds great promise for an Eastern Caribbean cruise or even a trip through the Panama Canal in April.  Plans are being made for Elizabeth to escort a group to “Music City” and we are looking into a Disney cruise to Alaska in the summer  (bring the grandchildren and family).  There is even some talk about getting out of the winter and heading for Hawaii for a week or so.

For further information as to what might be going on, or to make reservations contact Linda Finch at 253 927 8207 or get added to her email list at linda.finch@gmail.com