The Fray

JULY 28 -- Three bands from Denver, CO played a mellow but entertaining concert Saturday, July 28th, at Marymoor Park. The Fray sounded as good live as they do on CD. The crowd was quiet but defnitely listening to the music. Perfect Puget Sound weather - no jacket needed even after the sun set. Another plus for Marymoor - parking on grass - no dust!

July 28th: Happy Feet

Carillon Point Outdoor Movies move forward after a devastating rain out last week. This week the movie is HAPPY FEET. Movies start at sundown.

There is a small beer tent for those that do. Come early or stay late. Dinner at any one of the restaurants is always great. Reservations are a good idea if the weather is nice.

The night was perfect for outdoor entertainment of your choice, concerts or movies. At the movies the seating on the plastic chairs were hard and uncomfortable. Next time I shall bring softer chairs. The beer tent is missing this year but the popcorn and candy remain. The air was chilly by the end and a jacket is suggested. I will miss the next two Saturday nights, FYI.

Necklace Valley - July 2 & 3

Merle and Doe's Necklace Valley Trip July 2nd & 3rd - wonderful pictures, would love to hear all about your trip.

Lords Hill July 21

Saturday July 21st was a rainy wet day. As the lazy clouds lifted themselves off the top of Lords Hill we decided to go for a morning hike. Grabbing rain coats and one of us, the smart one, wearing long pants we headed out the door. After stopping at Star Bucks for a tasty cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich, we arrived at Lords Hill parking lot. It was a muggy warm day and ladies wearing long cotton dresses were stuffing small children into backpacks to be carried by their silent husbands. Hmmmm interesting way of taking the family hiking. As the family left the parking lot towards the trail we carefully put our water, snack food and rain coats in the trunk so they would be safe.

The trail was nice, wide, well maintained and perfect for talking and being gentle on a tender knee. We had chosen to go to the Devil's Butte and the West Loop Trail. I had remembered being there once before and being able to see my house across the valley.

We came to the end of Devil's Butte Trail first and the trees had grown up so we could not see across the valley where my house was. I wanted to see my house and there was an inviting extension trail that narrowed and continued towards the bluff, then down towards the creek. On the other side of the creek was another bluff, could it be the other trail West View Loop? Maybe, but first along the creek we found signs of a very active beaver that has dreams of making a rather large home. Unfortunately the creek was more like a swamp full of bugs. Being the kind of folks that rather look forward and not backwards we found a path around the beaver’s home and up to the trail on the other side, or so we thought.

This path didn't really go the direction expected, and certainly did not loop over to the other trail. How could we tell what direction we were heading anyway I had no compass? The trail did actually go somewhere. It ended on a great bluff making me wish the water, trail snacks and other picnic goodies were not in the trunk of the car. The nettles along this trail were healthy and were near impossible, the thought of going back through them seemed an unlikely choice. Especially when there was an old logging road heading off from this wonderful isolated bluff, we followed it. Hansel and Gretel would have been proud of our woodland skills with no bread crumbs to follow.

Soon it became clear this road was not going to the West Loop trail as we expected. Instead we noticed that we were on the eastern down hill side of the park looking west towards the park boundary signs about halfway up the hill. Finding another trail of sorts, not walked on by humans for years, we climbed the hill to discover the table at the end of the West Loop Trail, yippee...time to celebrate, Julia with her long pants soaking wet and I in my shorts must have bumped into more then a couple nettles during our adventure. This has sparked a renewed interest to go for an overnight hike to Lichtenberg Lake accessable only by following an old fisherman's trail which includes a log walk over a large growth of Devil's Club. As for this hike it was a fine adventure but unless I remember a brush whacking tool and the picnic supplies I do not think I will revisit this location again.

Wednesday Water Polo - Kirkland

Water Polo anyone?

Every Wednesday there is a pick up game of water polo at Marsh Park in Kirkland. Bring your life jacket and jump in a boat. Bounce the ball off the buoy for the game point. The group brings an entire fleet of plastic kayaks just for the event; all that is missing is you. As an added bonus you will receive an abdominal workout free, why wait come down next Wednesday.

Click to enlarge

T-day... Runners

ON HOLD ---- Seafair and the California trip will slow this running down.

T-day Runners are making a commitment to run on all the days starting with T. What are T-days you ask? Tuesday and Thursday are T-days of course. Runs should start in the evenings between 6:30 and 7:30 pm. We, or should I say I have chosen Bridle Trails State Park as my venue of choice. The trails are cool and shaded with nice soft tread for our older knees. The park is laid out in a series of loops so a run can be short or long to match your personal need for the day. Running both loops will chew up about 40 minutes of your life. The trail will be a series of gentle ups and downs with the power lines as your center guide. Walking around horses and talking in a friendly manner to the rider is a must.

To access the State Park main parking lot take the 70th street exit on I-405 get to the east side of I-405 and go south on 116 Ave NE to the parking lot at about NE 53rd. Please let us know if you will be running with us so we can wait for you, or more importantly so we do not wimp out and not show up.

Mail Box Report

Mail Box trail is a magical treasure hunt of sorts for the hardy.

In addition to the beautiful views and steep trails the Mail Box at the top of the hike holds the secret of life.

Julia, a daring adventurous sole, broke free of the crowd of panting exhausted hikers, slowly crawling towards the mail box, delirious with thirst she was driven by an unexplainable need to know what was in the Mail Box. After what seemed like an eternity she took firm hold of the mail box door handle. Eyes closed, breath held and her strength dwindling she tugged at the flimsy mail box door. It yielded to her vast strength and opened. At first the blazing sun and sweltering heat created an illusion of dark shadows in the mail box. She feared the box to be empty, the meaning of life lost. Slowly her eyes adjusted to the darkness and a fuzzy object came into view. Was this it? Could it be? Her hands searched the object top to bottom. Then between the hard horizontal planes she found the soft pages of knowledge the world seeks.

Yes ... she had discovered the answers to her questions.

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr Seuss.

Of course why didn't I know that? Now if she had only read the book aloud to the forest creatures, next time maybe.


See Julia's comment for the more accurate description of this hike, I had to work and I can not tell you how disappointed I am as I bet you are that a great time was missed. Before reading on you should know Woody is not Larissa's boy friend.)

Oh and which way was that trail head?

Ross Lake Campout?

Looking for group interest and frankly a weekend that is warm, sunny and good for all interested in going.

There are nice camp sites at either Cat Island or Big Beaver Camp, Cat Island is in the photo on the header of this site and Big Beaver is in this posting. More great sites are also available just not visited yet.

This trip can get expensive quick but we can share resources to help reduce the cost. $20 pp for the City Light Ferry Ride up to Diablo Dam, $85 a day for a small boat with motor. That can haul the ice chest with the steaks and red wine, and pancake mix and beer. Canoes and Kayaks are less money but good people movers.

Camping is free but requires a Wilderness Permit from the Ranger Station that you can only obtain in person 24 hours before you go.

Summer Outdoor Movies

Carillon Point Summer Movie Nights Benefit Hopelink

Saturdays, July 21 through August 25, at Dusk Kirkland’s Carillon Point will present the second annual outdoor summer movie series with proceeds to benefit Hopelink. $5 suggested donation per person. Guests may bring a blanket and low back seating/chairs, and enjoy popcorn and other concessions. Carillon Point, 4100 Carillon Point, Kirkland. For more information call 425.822.1700.

July 21st: My Big Fat Greek Wedding
July 28th: Happy Feet
August 4th: Top Gun
August 11th: Casino Royale
August 18th: Goonies
August 25th: The Sandlot

Ross Lake Report

Ross Lake Update.

Fishing success was had by most all. Poor TOM got skunked, not a keeper in the bunch. Corey limited at least once. Others regularly sweet talked 2 fish into the boat that were keepers.

Corey and Arron had their own boat and stayed on Cat Island by themselves. They had camp fires and morning sleep fests. They were not the early riser kind of fisherman.

Click here to see the exciting Ross Lake Fishing adventure photos.