From Oregon to Washington

To identify the people mentioned in the last blog, let me introduce them to you.  Vera’s Oregon family was anchored by Deborah, her beloved niece who died last summer, leaving her husband Ted Morales, her nieces Tamu, Debbie (Bobo) and Vera, and their mother, Tissi Boylen who all live in or near Newport, OR.  Confused?  Me too sometimes! This family is very special to Vera (Piper), who tries to visit often.  It was a joy to be able to spend last week with them.

Below is a picture of Ted and another of his dogs Sidney and Jewel.  Ted and I went sightseeing along the coast above Newport and got these wonderful views.

Last Friday, we spent the afternoon in Portland with Bobo, (picture below) and we went out to the Columbia Gorge – the Columbia River separates Oregon from Washington.  Here Bobo is at the park.  We could see Mount Hood to the east, and Mount St. Mary’s to the north.

After leaving Portland, we went back to the coast to the town of Tillamook, and enjoyed a visit to the Tillamook Dairy Coop there. The coastal mountains are higher near the coast here than at Newport, and make a dramatic view.  Some are even snowcapped.  No pictures – too much rain.

We traveled along the coast up to Astoria, where we crossed into the state of Washington.  We moved inland and drove along the “Hood Canal” and the Babob Bay and camped at Doseywallips state park – what a name.  The campground was visited by a herd of elk, and the young males practiced their fighting skills right in front of us.  Didn’t catch that excitement on film, but here they are grazing.

To get over to Everett (east of Seattle), we had to take two ferries – one from Port Townsend on the mainland west of Seattle, and one from Clinton on Whitby Island, across Pugent Sound.  Very different from our ferry ride in Corpus Christie, Texas.

Finally arrived at the home of Anna and Robert in Everett.  These lovely people were preparing for the adoption hearing on Tuesday for their soon-to-be daughters, Gabrielle and Yolanda who they had been fostering for more than a year.  Congratulations!!

We left Everett on Tuesday and headed East!