Weekend in San Francisco, Aug 26-28th

Ok, we're a bit late here, but we'd still like to fill you in on our trip to San Francisco a couple weekends ago. As some of you know, Rob had a summer internship with Alaska Airlines. The internship ended about 2 weeks along with it's great benefit - standby flights to where ever our hearts' desire... for FREE! So where to go?* We flew to San Francisco to visit the Edwards family. Kristen is a dear friend from way back when in Oak Park. The bonus of the trip was that Maggie, another of our OP running friends, was visiting too.
*the flights to Chicago this summer have been over booked, otherwise we would have visited our family and friends there too.

FRIDAY night we arrived and had dinner out at a great Thai place, named something I don't remember in a neighborhood I could never find again since I was so turned around—but still very nice. We stayed with the Edward's on Friday night at home in Concord, which I think I know were it is on the map.

SATURDAY was their son Blake's 3rd birthday. He loves snakes so "Martha" Kristen and Maggie got creative and made this snake cake. Very impressive!


This is Blake and his birthday breakfast french toast.


After breakfast and presents we journeyed South of San Fran to Half Moon Bay, for a picnic and relaxing on the beach. Here is Kristen, Cory, their 1 yr old Rachel and Maggie (in the middle).


The boys played well together.

On the way back to Concord Kristen and Cory dropped us off at our hotel downtown in the Embarcadero area, which was just steps from Chinatown. We ventured out for dinner and some late night window shopping in Chinatown.



SUNDAY we did a whirlwind tour of the city. We started the day off at Fisherman's Wharf. We had breakfast at the Boudin sourdough factory and walked around Ghirardelli Square. We checked out the historical ships docked at one of the piers as well as viewed Alcatraz from shore. We then biked the Golden Gate Bridge and took a ferry back from the other side. Three were some amazing views of the city from not only the bridge, but the boat.

More pictures to come..... and keep posted for our Alaska trip—we might post those pictures by Christmas.

Camping at Mt. Rainier

This past weekend, Brother John and Rob's old roommate, Dave, visited us in Seattle. We took them, along with our local Rockfordian friends, Lesley & Eric, to Mt Rainier. Saturday we picnicked, hiked and camped out.

Dave, Lesley, and John at our campsite.
The boys on their hike to Panarama Point
They were up to their old games, to say the least....boys will be boys.

Sunday we returned to the city to continue a very nice visit with both John and Dave. And, since we can't get enough of beautiful Mt Rainier, here's another picture of it.

Coldplay Concert

This past Tuesday night we went to the Coldplay concert. We decided to save some cash and see the show from the "cheap" lawn seats. At first we weren't sure if we were going to go, but after a month of deliberating, we decided to because we really like the new album. So we picnicked in the lawn and played cards waiting for the concert to start. We started wishing that we could see the concert up close and without binoculars. And POOF! Down comes a fairy to grant us our wish! Actually he was a punk kid with a busted eye brow. He offered to sell us the event bracelets that get you into the front standing room pit area for $25 each. I laughed at him and said, what do you think, we look old enough to have money? He said he thought so. Rob said that if the bracelet worked and got him in, he'd give the kid what he had in is wallet. Me being the city girl and thinking everyone is out to scam you, didn't believe it would work. Well sure enough, it worked, and the kid only got the 20 that was in Rob's wallet, for both our bracelets! So here are some pictures we took from up front at an amazing Coldplay concert.

A Trip to Alaska for 24 Hours

On Monday afternoon we escaped Seattle (yet again) and headed North to Ketchikan, Alaska. Rob was asked to take care of setting up Alaska Airline promotional materials for some big wigs at Salmon Falls Resort (it was a pricey fishing resort). Since it doesn't cost a lot more to throw a wife into the deal for the night, I was given the opportunity to tag along! Ketchikan isn't too far north as you can see it was only an hour and a half flight. Because Ketchikan isn't too far North, is was dark around 10-10:30 pm, and we didn't see the Midnight Sun.

This trip was a big landmark for Rob. He has now been to 40 states!
I'm behind with 31... I think. I can't remember if I've been to Delaware. Either way neither of us can say we never saw the US.

Monday night we had a fish dinner (thanks Alaska Airlines) looking out on the water and islands across from the resort. There were a bunch of salmon jumping out of the water, but to get them to pose was a little hard so you'll just have to trust us. *

*Camille forgot the digital camera. We wish we would have been able to show you video of the jumpy fish, so the disposable camera shots will have to do.

Here's 3 of the 4 cruise boats docked in Ketchikan, a town of 8,000 people. Each cruise boat lets off about 2,000 people. So do the math and it equals tourism chaos! The downtown was filled with people and jewelry stores. If we had planned it right, we would have gone hiking.

So salmon....It is the time of year that they make their way up stream to fresh water to lay their eggs. This is one of the many streams. It was only about 1' deep, yet there were hundreds of fish clammering over one another in an effort to get upstream. Perhaps a parallel could be drawn to the tourism chaos going on in town.

There is a gate that prevents the poor fishies from being swept down stream. If you double click on the picture you might just see all of the poor fish piled up flapping around at the far end.

Rob at the totem poll museum.

The preserved old part of town. Actually it was the redlight district for this fishing town about 65 years ago.

The North cascades in Canada from the plane window. On our return trip we were able to get first class tickets. It was a perfect end to a mini get away that only cost us $40, including the disposable camera.

Blue Angels In Seattle

After hearing the Blue Angels practicing and performing for 3 days, we voyaged out on Sunday to get a glimpse of them. The Seafair air and water show takes place over Lake Washington here in Seattle and unlike Chicago, it's not free. So we saved $50 by watching some of the performance from a parking lot at the University of Washington. They're very fast and hard to photograph, thus I stole this picture.

Ross Lake camping trip

This past weekend we took the latest guests at Resort Yocum, Jerome and Megan, camping at Ross Lake in the North Cascades National Park. It is about 3 hrs North of here near the Canandian border and we traveled the senic Highway 20 to get there. We had a great time hiking and eating. There were spectacular views coupled with culinary delights!

Ross Lake was created by one of the many dams in the area that generate energy for much of the NW. Here are the bandana boys looking at the HUGE dam.

Here's Jerome cooking his famous egg in the hole breakfast on Sunday morning.

Sunday we headed out for a big hike at Rainy pass. I think Rob and I agree it was one of the toughest hikes we've done, but it was well worth the views and definitly an area to return to for backpacking. It was a 7.5 mile hike that looped through a couple of mountain passes and glacier lakes. At the beginning there was a sign that said it was only 700' gain, not bad. After the first mile it seemed we climbed that 700' plus more. So, as true Midwesterners that have no clue how to gauge elevation, we debated the total gain and distance the rest of the hike. By the time we summited the mini mountain, there was definitely less oxygen and we were above a couple glaciers, so you make your best guess on how high up we were. Personally, day dreaming about the down-hill is what got me to the top.

This is one of the avalanche meadows that we hiked through. (Mom's: I think they mean snow avalanches, so no worries)

Lake Ann

The glacier peaked mountains in the distance range from 6-9000'.

THE TOP! (~7500ft)
Note the black spot just above the left side of Rob's head is a big fly. The mountains were full of them and didn't let us sit in one place too long.

The long awaited and rapid descent.

FRESH START

Last November I tried starting this blog after being inspired by our friends Kristen & Cory Edwards. After frustration with Mac compatibility and posting pictures, I gave up. There have been some up grades in the blogger capabilities, so I thought I'd give it another try on the PC.

I found a blog is a great way to keep in touch with the Edwards and their growing kids, so hopefully people will find it fun to follow the Yocums in their Northwest adventures.