Pacific Northwest 2000

Saturday, August 26

Joan and I began the drive back to Seattle at 8 A.M. The rest of her family stayed at the lodge. We had planned on making some stops along the way. But made an unscheduled one at Brandywine Falls—just saw a sign for the park and decided to stop. Neither of Joan's sisters who had been to Whistler before had seen or even heard of it. It was spectacular. The falls dropped 211 feet. It was one drop all the way. There was a sort of circular bowl around it. Can't really describe it—hope the picture will help some but I know it doesn't capture much of the splendor. On the way back to the car, Joan noticed some swifts flying overhead. I didn't get a good look at them at first, but saw them later. Black Swifts—another lifer for me. We also found a very, very beautiful Townsend's Warbler—second sighting of this bird for me. And then we saw a Northern Goshawk overhead.

Made some other stops—another unscheduled one at another falls that didn't compare to the first. There were also too many people there. We planned on stopping at a local fair but were running too late and skipped it. We did stop to look at the magnificent scenery on the drive down the Sea to Sky Highway—especially the Sea portions that were colored green by the glacial silt.

Went on to Vancouver where we got lost a little and got stuck in traffic on a road we shouldn't have even been on! Made a brief stop in Stanley Park—it was crowded and we didn't stop at many of the spots in the park that we were planning on either. Got lost some more and stuck in traffic at the border.

We were planning on visiting my Seattle niece, Laurie, at about 4:30 but didn't arrive until 2 hours later. Her baby, 10½-months old, Shira, is a little doll. Very, very cute, friendly. She let me hold her without crying. Joan, too. Very sweet and playful. When she sees a camera she smiles and poses. It was good to see Laurie also.

And that is how I spent my summer vacation.

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