To a Lavender Festival we go

A couple of weeks ago Fran wanted to go to the first annual Lavender festival in Grand Junction. There was to be a tour of lavender farms in Western Colorado. Low and behold, they sold out the tour before we had a chance to reserve a space. So........ by chance Fran came across a Lavender Festival in Sequim, Washington (on the Olympic Peninsula) at the very same time! We packed the truck and off we went on a whimsical, spontaneous trip to the NW.

Our trip turned into lavender bookended by geology with a lot of bike riding in between.

So much beautiful lavender-there are 350 different kinds!
So, we got a little wet riding to the farms....Olympic Discovery Trail is awesome!
We also road through Craters of the Moon National Monument-Staying on the road is critical there!
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument in Oregon was next on our Geology Tour.

Ahhhhhh........The the Lavender Fest! Three fun-filled days picking lavender, eating lavender, looking at every conceivable thing that can be made out of lavender, and enjoying the company of lots of ladies who are entranced with lavender! The farms are beautiful!
More riding on the Spruce Railroad (Rails to Trails) trail in Olympic National Park. It is obvious that the rain truly makes a difference in the vegetation in the NW!
Ed cruising down the fabulous bike trail around Lake Crescent.
On to the coast for a walk among the tidal pools. So many sea stars!
Then a trip into the Hoh Rainforest. Look closely and you will see Fran hiking among the trees.
Two days later on our way East in Lewiston Idaho riding in the tree-less plains!

After that was 30 miles of mountain biking near Missoula, MT in the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area.
Our last day of our adventure before driving across Wyoming into Utah then Colorado was spent riding the few trails that Yellowstone allows bikes on. We slept in the Tetons and then up early for the long drive home. All in all a great adventure in the vast, beautiful West!

Where is everyone

A few years ago we had a set of clocks in the living room with times set according to where our far flung family was living. Well, the clocks were not of the greatest quality and one by one they stopped working. We then converted the clocks to National Park posters and lost that connection...until now.

Our first thought was to make a MASH like directional sign but we didn't want to have a post in the middle of the back yard. Then as happens so often, a brilliant idea sprang forth and the signs have now found a home.

We are once again connected via skype, face time, email, facebook, cell phones and signs in the backyard to remind us where all the kids and other family members are spending their day.

A visitor from the past

Way back in the mid-70's a couple of newly minted 18 year olds started school at CU in Boulder, Colorado. Four years later, one was a Michigan Wolverine alum (Susie), the other a CU Buffalo (Fran). Even though one wears the blue and gold and the other the black and gold they have remained friends through the years and even get to see each other "in person" once in a while. Thanks to Susie and Laura for the hours at the airport in GR, on the plane and in the car making their way to our abode in Montrose! We had a great time :)

Stroll down memory lane with us in this little photo montage.....

Susie and Fran now.....

Fran, Susie and Laura (Susie's lovely daughter) picnicking up Camp Bird Road in Ouray, CO.

Susie and Fran-Halloween 1975

Yum! We did like to cook and eat goodies back then!

Climbing in Ouray with the girls.