One Of The Many Falls At The Lake Quinalult National Recreation Area.

This just happens to be the fall where Darren fell in.

After Darren had changed, we took out and did a nature trail which had another water fall to see too. (No falling into this one.) The trail had snow and ice on it, and the bridges were completely iced over. So we only did the 1.7 mile trail.

We ate lunch at the Lake Quinault Lodge. Pres. Franklin  D. Roosevelt actually stayed at this lodge  in 1939.(I think that was the yr.)  It was because of this trip that he had this declared a "National Forrest". The lodge was beautiful, and the food was  good, but expensive. I think a hamburger was like $13.00. But it was the only place open for lunch that day. That's why I said next time we go, we will be taking our own food to stock our little kitchen, there at the Lake Quinault Resort Village.

That's another good reason to get a cabin. You can cook your own meals to help save money as opposed to the other lodge up there which just had sleeping rooms. Plus, did I tell you how immaculately clean our cabin was, and how we soooo enjoyed our stay. For just stumbling into this place, we sure lucked out.We found out by talking to Julie at the office/store, that this place was owned by three brother's by the name of Morrison's. Two of the brother's take care of the business end, and one takes care of the maintenance. Let me tell you, you will not be disappointed. They even had daily maid service! (We've stayed at cabin's where you don't get it each day.)

So just in case you need that website again to the Lake Quinault Rain Resort Village  www.rainforestresort.com

Before we lost sunlight we took the drive around the lake. Some of the road is paved and the other half is not. This area has some of the most awesome sights you'll see. It's funny because you're in this rain forest and yet it has snow, barren trees, then the trees that looked like you expected to be in a rain forest.

CAN YOU GUESS WHAT HAPPENED?

I have had a really busy and full day. Too pooped and tired to give the story. But here are some pics. So here is the gist of it. Husband, waterfall, slips, falls into frigid water. I try to help him, I slip and fall flat on my butt. Poor teenage daughter with both arms stretched out-one for her dad and one for me. Who should she save first? Hum, hypothermia? Get Dad out first.




Darren running to the truck to get out of the soon to be frozen clothes. His entire body went down into the base of the waterfall.



It used to be said that my guardian angels took tranquilizers in order to keep up with me. Now, I think we have a team of angels trying to keep up with my family.

THROUGH MARGIE'S CABIN WINDOW

This was a view from our bedroom. We could hear the stream and it just made our sleep so much better.



This is the view from standing at the kitchen sink. If you look hard you can see the lake in the background. Washing dishes with this view can be an actual pleasure. SHHHHHH don't tell my family. Hee Hee



View  from the side kitchen window. Is this not beautiful!? You know how when you're stressed, and you're told to go to a peaceful place in your mind to be able to relax? Here it is.



Our first night there, we still had about an hour of sunlight left, so we walked down to see the the World's Largest Sitka Spruce Tree. It was ONLY  .3 miles from our cabin!

As we walked back up to the cabin the sun was just going down, giving the most beautiful  orange -golden sunset. Because we didn't have food with us to have cooked in our kitchen, we walked up to the Salmon House Restaurant for dinner. The portions were so large we took our left overs back to make another meal with it. The food was delicious.

The next time we go, and I mean when we go, not if we go back, we will be more prepared and take our food in with us. The closest food store is back in Aberdeen. The little store at the resort had bread, milk, and cereal and souvenirs, but I would have liked to really made a nice meal or two while there.

Okay, before I forget, I wanted to let you know this resort is three hours from Seattle, WA, three and a half hours from Portland, OR, and only two and a half hours from Tacoma, WA. Also, here is their website in case you would love to go experience this yourselves. http://www.rainforestresort.com/

Now for tomorrow, let me just say it has a potential for hypothermia, possible chance of "help I've fallen down and I can't get up", and once again another moment of "We could have won a million with America's Funniest Home Video's".

ARE WE THERE YET?

Continuing up the coast we decided to go to Ocean Shores. Here you can actually drive on the ocean shoreline.  You had the waves rushing up to you as you drive along. We saw where you could rent horses to ride along the beach. People were riding mopeds up and down the beach too. Hundreds of cars, RV's, and camp trailers were parked and people were setting up camp for the weekend right on the sandy beach itself!

The sun was shining with clear blue skies and kids were running and playing in the sand. Beautiful bright colorful kites of all shapes and sizes were whipping in the windy sky.

"I want to ride a horse on the beach", I squeal. My husband's says "Me too". Our youngest daughter informs us she only wants to "pet" a horse. And our other daughter is like "I don't want to do any of that, I have to keep myself injury free, for the military".

There was an anonymous vote to rent mopeds and do the touristy thing, like riding them down the beach and back. Because of the time of day, we decided to go get our hotel room first, and then go out and have some fun.

RAIN FOREST RESORT VILLAGE



We went to three different hotels. NO VACANCY. At the last place, the front desk was turning away so many people that they had actually called a 25 mile radius to find anything open or available. Nothing. They suggested maybe we go over to Lake Quinault and see if they had anything. It was an hour away! Turns out that this weekend was not only Presidents Day Holiday, it was also some big clam digging event.

Totally disappointed, we knew we would figure out something to do over at  "Lake Quinalut". Besides, we where on an adventure and our plans had no plans.



As we are approaching this place we realized it was part of the rain forest. My goodness it was so spectacular. Even in Feb. Darren had called ahead to the Rain Forrest Resort Village and found the last cabin available and we took it.



As we drove up, tired from driving all day, hungry, we walked into the store where you check in and were greeted by the most welcoming woman you'll ever meet. Her name was Julie, she was so informative and gave us all kids of maps of the different trails to hike. We asked her alot of questions about the area and she was so sweet answering all of them.



 When we opened our cabin door, the fireplace was already on welcoming us. This place was the best surprise of a great adventure you could ask for. We suddenly were not tired at all. And there was much we wanted to do. 

 We had a two bedroom cabin. Look how nice these beds are! 



CHECK OUT OUR JACUZZI !



Tomorrow, I'll show more pictures and of course another moment in our trip that will tickle you. Because, we all know that wherever we go things happen!






TOO BIG OF A TRUCK-FOR A LITTLE DRIVE-THROUGH

 So off we go on our trip. We decided to drive over to the coast and go check out the town of Aberdeen, WA. When we arrived in Aberdeen, it seemed to be a good time to stop and get some tea for a little pick-me-upper. A Starbucks Coffee Shop was right off the road there.  Turning into the drive-through I actually had to back up and try to straighten out, to fit into the lane. First I thought maybe I had taken the turn to wide, and that's why I didn't fit. Now you have to know, I drive a BIG 4-wheel drive Silverado  full-size, 4 door truck. It is big and lonnnnnng. Anyway, as soon as I entered the drive-through lane it immediately had a 90 degree left turn where you placed your order. So I just figured I was a BIG truck I could just drive up over the curb to reach the speaker box. Of course, my husband sitting on the other side is saying things like "stay to the middle of the curbs, and don't drive up on the curbs you might hurt the wheels. But, at this point, there was two cars in front of me and now two more cars behind me! I had to keep going. It was so sad I just started giggling. When the lady took our order, Darren was trying to give me directions on how to drive through this obstacle course.

Have you ever been to Disneyland or an amusement park where you drive the little cars, and they have bumber rails on the outside of your tires? Then in the middle of the track runs a line of metal that if you aren't staying in the middle it will force you back to the center? Well, that is how I felt, minus the metal rail in the center of the road. But, because there was a curb on each side of my tires I just kept hitting them!!! And once again just as my tires were finally on the ground, here was ANOTHER 90 degree turn! So I had to go up over the curb with my right front tire, and as soon as it dropped back down on the pavement, my back left tire went up over the curb, by this time I was laughing so hard I couldn't breathe! My eyes were watering like I was crying, and I couldn't stop laughing.  So with my back left tire on top of the curb I had to keep pressing on the gas to get my back right tire up on the curb too. Have you ever seen a truck straddle a drive way before?

By this time, my teenage daughter's in the back seat were laughing, yet mortified at what the people around us were thinking but I was laughing so uncontrollably that by the time I finally made it to the window to get our drinks, I couldn't even talk. It just happened as I opened my door I saw the occupants faces in the car behind us, and they were laughing as hard as I was which made me laugh even harder. I actually was holding my stomach because of the pain. The poor girl at the window didn't know what was so funny, but she started laughing because we were all laughing and couldn't talk.

Once the truck was straight again I was able to drive on out of that poor place.  I did however, leave them with major tire tread all over their curbs and some good hardy laughs. I bet they wish they had a camera to have shot this and then sent it to "America's Funniest Home Videos'.

Now you all come back, ya hear. Because, this trip just kept on getting better, and better, with more surprising adventures.

ROAD TRIP



Guess where we went this weekend?

 We decided to do a three day weekend road trip. There was to be no planning on where we were going, how long we would stay in any one place or make any plans. It was suppose to be "let's see where the wind blows us".

Now to pack for such a trip. What do you pack? The Pacific Northwest has a very diverse weather and landscape from the ocean coast, to rain forest, Mt. Rainer, desert, lakes, and rivers. This time of year we have snow, rain and sometimes even sun.

For me, who had a father as a scoutmaster, and all my flight training, I knew to pack for all scenarios and always "be prepared".  So which of these shoes do you think I packed? Huh? Yep, it was all three pairs. And I have to say it turned out that ALL of these where needed.

As always, life is an adventure, and where ever I go things happen. So come on back and I'll finish telling you the story and where we ended up going. But for now I need to unpack those shoes and get to bed.

NIGHT OWL PARTY

THIS HAS TO BE THE BEST OF THE BEST FOR A PARTY.

You'll have to go to this blog to see ALL the things she did. The owls she made are sooooooooo cute. You cannot afford to not read the whole blog, on this party or you will miss some great ideas you can use.


Follow this link to the SnowyBliss blog.
 http://snowybliss.blogspot.com/2011/02/night-owl-party.html