Fireworks and Favorite Places

This year was the first in many that I did not go down to Portland for the Blues Festival.  Several important events precluded that.  On the 3rd. was my social group's potluck for the Poulsbo fireworks.  On the 4th, I helped at the Photo Club's annual show, then hopped a ferry for Adrian and Ariana's wedding.  He, being the son of my dear friend Elizabeth, grew up with my kids and followed Kyle to Harvey Mudd.  Sadly, on Saturday there was a memorial for Don Normark.  He was a partner in the first land we bought on Bainbridge Island, a fellow photographer we had known for 42 years, and was like a big brother to me.  It was a celebration of his art, life and community.  It was a huge reunion - some folks I had not seen since the 80's.

July was a month of mountain activities, too.  I volunteered for trail maintenance with the WTA. This year we worked on the north side of the Olympics. Besides working with great people, I learned new trails and camping spots.  The food was good, too.  A week later my friend Cathy and I back-packed on the north side of Mt. Rainier - Berkeley Park.  As we returned we fought 50 mph winds with a storm coming in.  The next day we hiked up to a glacier in mist and rain.  The last day we did a road-trip tourist round of the south side of the park.  The sun came out & canceled out the effect of the bone-chilling cold the day before.  Photos of the back-pack with the FABULOUS wildflowers are at the bottom of the background on this page.  At the end of the month, two great Louisiana bands came through & I had some wonderful Zydeco evenings.