Thursday, September 20, 2018 to Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Thursday, September 20, 2018
Everett, WA
Drove from Warrenton/Astoria to camp in Bothells, WA. We drove through Olympia, Tacoma, Seattle...oops, we forgot to call for a reservation so we camped about 30 minutes north from Cheryl's apartment in Maple Grove RV park in Everett, WA.  Stinkin' wi-fi doesn't work which is a bummer because we will probably spend 5 days here. Cheryl came by after school and we had a nice dinner together in white box. So good to see her.

Friday, September 21, 2018
Everett, WA

Spent the day with Cheryl in her classroom, Wilma from 9:15am to 2:30pm and Bill from 9:15 to 12:00. Cheryl asked if we would tell her class about Lewis and Clark!  Of course, so we used the USA map to teach a few lessons in outdoorsmanship and perseverance.

Wilma helped Cheryl in class and Bill went to Edmonds Marsh and Olympic Beach to bird a bit.  Got back at 2:30 and stayed around with Cheryl as she prepped lesson plans to 4:30pm for Monday's (vacation day) teaching. Shopped a bit with Cheryl, then back to camp at 8:15pm.

Saturday, September 22, 2018
Everett, WA

Notice Boeing's Contribution to USA Space NASA: Mercury,
Gemini, Apollo and the Space Shuttle.

Cheryl picked us up for the Boeing Manufacturing Plant tour.  

The Future of Flight and Aviation Center and Boeing Tour, Mukilteo, WA. Wow, how incredible the entire operation is and how well planned and organized the tour is but... HOW HUGE is this building, starting with 747, 767, 787 all inside one 8 hanger building!  Incredible. I believe the guide said its the largest roofed manufacturing plant on earth.  

Selfie at Paine Field, Boeing Corp., Maklita, WA

Boeing has an incredible manufacturing history beginning with William Boeing and supported NASA's space efforts through Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle Programs.

We then visited Cheryl's Woodinville, WA farm called Tonnemaker Farms. She worked there last summer and a few times this year doing field work as well as selling at the outdoor farm stand.

Lunch at Connors in Woodinville, WA, shopped for groceries, then back to Cheryl's Seattle Apartment for nice dinner of squash, green beans, potatoes and pork tenderloin.

Sunday, September 23, 2018
Seattle, Lynden and Bellingham, WA
Went with Cheryl to the 10:30am service at Cross and Crown in Seattle.  We're so thankful for this Church community, her Community Group Bible Study and her Youth Group.  All allow her to serve the Lord as well as provide Biblical and people support and encouragement for her.

After church, we were off to Lynden, WA to visit with Don/Jeannie Aupperlee. We're good friends with Don's older brother Jim/Ruth Aupperlee in Wyckoff, NJ.  He's a small animal Veterinarian and she's a Special Education Coordinator for Lynden Christian Schools. We had such a great visit with them and so good to connect.

Don is a big birder so he recommended we go to the spit at Semiahomoo, WA for some shore birds.  WELL, the spit where we birded and watched the sun set was a birder paradise (and seals).  I was able to identify six new species, 4 Lifers.  It was a beautiful cool evening with Wil and Cheryl.  We slept overnight in Bellingham, WA.

Monday, September 24, 2018
Bellingham, Whidbey Island (Oak Harbor and Deception Pass, WA), Seattle, WA
We drove from Bellingham, WA along the northern coast.  The weather was sunny, cool and just beautiful to see the islands and water and Pacific northwest at its finest.  We drove along Chuckanut Drive, south to Whidbey Island (at Oak Harbor) to the Malcolm/Jill Hustons house (Cheryl's roommate Emily's parents).  We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and such a nice lunch. Whidbey Island is the 2nd largest island in USA, after Long Island, NY.  Malcolm and Jill were very enjoyable company.  There is a US Navy Air station runway just over pass so fighter jets were roaring over every 15 minutes or so so that was interesting too..  

Then off to Deception pass where we walked over the bridge, both sides, as well as under the bridge.  There were hundreds of visitors on both sides of this incredible bridge over the island.  Wow, what currents and beautiful water, but at 150 ft above the pass with a 3 foot walkway and a 22 foot, 2 lane highway over top was a bit unnerving. The currents in that beautiful water were amazing to watch, swirling and churning water, blue green and 8-10 mph current.

On the way south, we saw Mt. Baker, Mt. Rainier covered in Snow;  We then got back to Cheryl's place and loaded up for laundry. Afterwards, we had supper with Cheryl and got back to camp at 9:00pm. Temps didn't go above 70degrees all day. 

Tuesday, September 25, 2018
Everett, WA
Had an easy AM to shop at Walmart for groceries, then drove to Edmonds Marsh and Olympic Beach again, this time to spend some time together without Cheryl who was back to school.

On the fisherman's pier, we met an older man named Terry who helped me identify seagulls: Heermanns, Mews, Glaucous-Winged, Western!  We walked the beach and watched the Ferry as well as the marina boats come in and out. Sunny, breezy day, but quite lovely.

We went to Shoreline Christian School to wait for Cheryl to get out of work at 4:30pm. We then had a Thai dinner together, then for a 3 mile walk walk around Green Lake into the dark.  At 8:00pm we said our goodbyes and we drove back to Everett.  We had a wonderful 5 days with Cheryl Lynn.  

On the ride home we got discouraging news from Wilma's twin brother Dirk in Canon City, CO.  They will NOT be home this weekend but will be (get this)... in Pendleton, OR to drop off their travel trailer for repair.  Pendleton, OR is where we are camping tomorrow night, Wednesday, September 26th!  They had this planned for months.  Wow, all four of us were so disappointed that we can't see one another, but it just won't work..