Power of a smile

I can't embed this favorite video of mine, but here is a link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbpGl_9rrcA

It is a song by the group, Casting Crowns. It reminds me of the power of a smile or a simple hello. Sometimes a person just needs you to see them. We humans can get caught up in living our lives, dealing with our problems and stop seeing those around us. I try to keep this song in my playlist as a reminder to not let that happen.

Crashing Waves

I tried to head up into the mountains this evening, but the road was closed and you could smell the smoke from the fires that are currently burning in Olympic National Park. As close as I could get to the top was about 2500 ft.

Since I couldn't make it to the top I drove back down to sea level and drove west on Hwy 101 then hugged the coast for a few miles on Hwy 112 until I got to Camp Hayden Rd and a small county park called Salt Creek. It is a place a lot of tourists don't know about, but a place so very much worth a stop. I mentioned before that when the tide is out there are tide pools that are just full of colorful life and when the tide is in the waves crashing are beautiful. Also the park has some WWII history as it had guns that protected the coast from attack. The bunker and the area where the guns were placed are still there. You actually drive through them with your car now.

The view from the bench where I was enjoying my evening.

Sights seen while away

San Antonio's Riverwalk only gets better each time I visit it. The older part is filled with tall trees, hotels, and cafes. A feast for all your senses. In the newer part that just opened in May there is some wonderful new art pieces and water features.

The San Antonio Art Museum saved the brewery keg bridge and it has been turned it into a foot bridge on the newest part of the Riverwalk.

A mural of the missions in San Antonio under a bridge along the Riverwalk.

The mural at the top of the convention center was a gift to the city from Mexico in honor of the worlds fair. It is amazing in its beauty. Only the blue tiles are glazed. The rest are natural stone. At sunset the mural really comes to life.

One of the many fountains under a bridge along the older section of the Riverwalk.

The famous San Antonio Riverwalk

South on a Jet Plane

I've left my corner for a few days and have headed south to my old home, Texas. The flight was clear and allowed for some shots from the air as I was leaving Washington.

Mt. St. Helens

Mt. Rainier

I took this photo as we were landing at Dallas Love Field. The white building in the background is a special place. It is Southwest Airlines Headquarters. I spent many hours there when my mom worked for a VP. There were parties out on the deck on Fridays in the summer and Halloween around that place was amazing back in the 1990s. Departments used to decorate their whole workspace with different elaborate themes. Schools would even come in to tour them. I wanted to snap a photo of the building and it seems just right to have part of the wing of one of their planes in it too.

Officially in Dallas. Well at least for a day or so and then I'll be headed further south. I forget how flat it is here.

Long Days

Summer in the north means long days. It doesn't seem to get dark until 9:30 or 10:00 and this means that after work there is plenty of time for a short road trip or hike. Friday night I found myself in the mood for the mountains. So I drove the 18 miles to the what feels like the top of the world and even found a bit of snow.

Sol Duc

A couple of weeks ago on a sun filled Saturday afternoon I enjoyed a hike to Sol Duc Falls in ONP. The trail was fairly easy, washed out in a few places and there were some fallen trees in others. The easiest and shortest trail was of course in the best shape with the Lovers Lane Loop in a little less than great shape from the winter storms we had out here this past year. It was a good hike though. Here are some photos from the day.

Its been a month

A busy month. I've been given the chance to learn some new things at work and so my work schedule has changed a bit and lets just say I'm WAY out of practice to work full time hours. I've gone soft! The new schedule is giving me the last week of the month off. I am enjoying the idea of a week off every month this summer. It should be a real treat.

I'm managed to get out hike at Sol Duc in ONP, visit the Seattle Art Museum, and I've made a new tradition of heading down to the water for sunset as often as possible. Here are some pictures to share with you from some of my recent adventures.

Sunset at Salt Creek - a local county park

Sunset at Hurricane Ridge - We hosted some gals from the Methodist Church in Tucker, GA and timed a visit to the Ridge on their last night here perfectly. They got to enjoy the sunset and a snowball fight in June. The weather was really warm even in the mountains that night. It was perfect!

Sunset this last Tuesday night at Ediz Hook. It was really pretty!

Last night at Ediz Hook - I got there a few minutes earlier than I normally do and I was able to get a few shots of Hurricane Ridge. Can't believe how much snow has already melted off the mountains. Our weather this June hasn't been normal. It has been warm and sunny instead of cool and rainy. I don't mind though.

Last night is was quite windy and so the waves were crashing out on the Hook. It was a wonderful sunset color wise and also with the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks.

A Rather Large Visitor

On Thursday this week Port Angeles had a rather large visitor, Holland America's Statendam. Her passengers arrived after a rather nasty week of weather. I was so glad that at least the sun came out to greet them. It is always a joy to have a cruise ship docked in town. I only wish they would come more often.

Here are a few more shots as she was leaving the harbor. The one above I took from my deck as she passed the house.

The Statendam passes the City Pier

Statendam heading out into the Straits

Cold Fog Clearing

Finally after almost two weeks I'm getting better and the fog is clearing out of my head. I still have a lingering cough that I could do without, but it could be worse. Right? I'm caught up on my reading. Started a new book last night, Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay. I'm not too far into it however it looks good so far.

One photo to share. The apple trees in the yard are about to bloom. They are such a happy pink color.

What to my wondering eyes should appear?

Off there in the distance. 18 miles across the straits, docked in Victoria, the season's very first cruise ship! My very favorite season of the year has begun. CRUISE SEASON!

It is a bit easier to make it out in the this cropped version of this photo. It is the Holland America MS Amsterdam. Until a bit later in May the cruise ships will be making Pacific Coastal voyages of a few days each before starting the Alaskan cruises. In fact Port Angeles will be visited in the first week of May by one of the Holland America ships. For more info click here http://www.hollandamerica.com/find-cruise-vacation/CruiseDetails.action?noOfFlexibleMonths=1&flexibleMonths=false&pageNumber=1&voyageCode=S929&destCode=L

I enjoy watching the ships go by every week during the summer and I do camp out on the deck with my camera each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening when the weather is perfect. Here are a few of my favorite shots that I've taken the last three summers.

The Norwegian Star and Mt. Baker. I enjoy watching this ship go by as I've been aboard her twice to Alaska and the Mexican Riviera.

The timing was perfect on this shot. The sunset and the ship both! I haven't been that lucky since.

This my second favorite shot. Again timing on this one. A cruise ship and a submarine in the Straits at the same time. Lucky!