Vancouver----Washington that is!

We have enjoyed 3 weeks already in Vancouver visiting Terry's mother.  She is recovering quickly from foot surgery on April 11 and is already getting out and about.  Terry's Aunt Jean is here visiting from near Mt. Ranier where it snowed the last few days before she left.  The blooming redbuds, azaleas and rhododendrons here are a welcome sight to her.

We had a week of bright sunny weather soon after we arrived and the Cascade Mountains were more visible than we had ever seen them from all over the city.  Most days you can't see them at all and then with the sun comes views of Mt. Hood to the south, Mt. St. Helens to the north and Mt. Adams to the east.  It's enough to make us repeat the question we find ourselves asking each other all the time,
"Where are we now?"

This is Mt. Hood, so often photographed with a view of Portland, OR and about 50 miles southeast of Vancouver, WA.

This is what's left of Mt. St. Helens' after it blew it's top in 1980.  The city of Vancouver was the first to be notified as the eruption was happening.  Sadly, the reporter did not survive the blast.  If you ever get a chance to visit the National Monument, the observation area nearest the volcano is named for the reporter who gave his life there.


We will be here until April 23 when we go to our 4 day training for Oregon State Parks in Salem, OR.  On April 27 we are looking forward to an overnight visit with Greg and Jennie in Corvalis.  It will be great to see them again and see their new place.  We will include pictures in our next blog.  On April 28 we will get set up at Washburn Campground next to the Lighthouse where we will stay for 2 months.

I love this picture Terry took of Kate and I at Scotty's Castle before her tour.  So here it is.