MT. RANIER

                      EVEN WHEN HIDDEN BY CLOUDS RANIER IS MAGNIFICENT.  THE GLACIATED (25) VOLCANO PEERED THROUGH THE WISPY CLOUDS FOR US AT THE SUNRISE VISITOR CENTER.  THERE WAS TONS OF SNOW ALONGSIDE THE PARKING LOT AND IN THE MEADOWS.  IT LOOKED LIKE THE GLADES SKI SLOPE IN LATE JULY. THERE ARE ZILLIONS OF PINES IN WASHINGTON AND ENORMOUS WATERFALLS ARE VISIBLE AS YOU DRIVE INTO THE MOUNTAINS.  WE TOOK A WALK WITH A PARK RANGER FROM OREGON AT SUNRISE VISITOR CENTER AND LEARNED ABOUT THE FLORA AND FAUNA IN THE PARK.  WILDFLOWERS BLOOM AS THE SNOW RECEDES AND MARMOTS COME OUT OF HIBERNATION.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

                   BACK IN KENT,WASHINGTON WE HAD WOOD FIRED PIZZA AT THE ROCK.  IT WAS VOTED BEST IN WETERN WASHINGTON.  TOMORROW WE BREAKFAST AT BLACK DIAMOND ,A FORMER COAL MINING TOWN.  THE NEXT DAY WE ARE OFF BY BOAT TO THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS FOR WHALE WATCHING.    IT IS SUNNY IN SEATTLE NOW WITH SHOWERS COMING BACK IN  A FEW DAYS.  RANIER WAS FULLY VISIBLE IN THE MORNING BEFORE THE AFTERNOON CLOUDS ROLLED IN.