Traveling Again: Another Up North Adventure

Clouds over Fishermans' terminal

Eric and I are once again traveling. Yes, it's another "Up North" Adventure although this time "up north" refers to the Pacific Northwest, specifically Bellevue and Issaquah, Washington. This time, however, it is without the Maryland Sled Dog Adventures sled dogs or as we like to think of them, the sled pets. We've traded in our Carhartts, denim and polar fleece for tuxes, suits and silk bridesmaids' dresses and we're in Bellevue, Washington for my sister, Jenny's, wedding . The sled pets are spending some time back in Baltimore with their "grand parents."

Eric at Lake Sammamish State Park

Here, fishy, fishy. A "fish eye" view of fishing boats and Fishermans' terminalin Seattle

As some of you might remember, we were in Seattle (and its surrounding suburbs) back in early July for Eric's American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) conference, my sister's wedding shower, and a boat trip on MV Kiawah to Desolation Sound with my parents. While in Seattle in July, I even got to do some dog scootering.

In law school they said: If it walks like a duck, and talks like a duck...it is probably a duck

Don't worry, though, we'll be back to Maryland in time for plenty of dryland dog sledding, dog scootering, and our canicross hike and winery excursion.

Below are a few photographs that Eric took after our walk yesterday at Lake Sammamish State Park (even without the sled dogs along, we like to explore parks and trails) and Eric's jaunt to Fisherman's terminal in Seattle to pick up the MV Kiawah crew. And for good wedding karma, I've included a couple of photos of the Maryland Sled Dog Adventures' sled dogs participating in our wedding back in June 2005.

MV Kiawah arriving at Fisherman's terminal in Seattle

Para-sailer at Lake Sammamish State Park

Up, up and away

Clowning around

A lucky horse shoe?

Lead dog, Sobo, and Dorothy (his escort) at our wedding

Honorary best man, T-Bone, and our friend, Twiggy, come down the aisle
Veteran lead dog, Zoe, and our friend, Tara

Sobo sniffs my bouquet

Seattle, WA: The Sunshine State?!?!

Desolation Sound

As some of you know, Eric and I just returned from a business/fun trip in Seattle and its suburbs. The trip began as a pleasure trip with one week of cruising in Desolation Sound in British Columbia on my parents' Grand Banks 52, Kiawah. After landing at Sea Tac, we headed up to Bellingham where Kiawah is docked.

Bill's ride home? A seaplane at the dock at Kenmore

Flying the colors leaving Bellingham Bay

Great views of Mt. Baker

Cruising to Roche from the fly bridge

Eric on the fly bridge

We had great weather (highs in the 80s, lows in the 40-50s and no humidity) with rain on only two of the seven days.

The scenery in Desolation Sound was spectacular as usual

Clouds over the Mountains in Desolation Sound

While cruising, we visited Roche Harbor for the 4th of July, Secret Cove (on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia), Pender Harbor (also on the Sunshine Coast), Teneados Bay, Toba Wildernest Resort on Toba Inlet, and Prideux Haven. During our time at Roche Harbor, we enjoyed the company of my youngest sister, Leslie and her fiancee, Bill.

Five University of Michigan Alumnae (Mom, Dad, Leslie, Bill, and me) were aboard

Boats galore at Roche Harbor for the 4th

Leslie barbecuing at Roche Harbor

Obligatory engagement ring photo

Leslie and Bill: Fourth of July

Bill (nice hat) and Dad barbecuing (and drinking beer)

At Teneados Bay we swam at Lake Unwin and in Prideux Haven we cruised around in the tender and saw two deer swimming from one small island to the next (I didn't know deer swam!) and a bald eagle (one of many we saw during the trip). We also had porpoises come up and swim with the boat while underway and we saw many harbor seals both while anchored and under way.

Bringing the tender ashore at Teneados Bay

Hiking on shore

Dad and I at Teneados Bay (one of the rainy days)

The cascades at Teneados Bay

Hiking to the waterfall (not a canicross hike thankfully)

Waterfall at Toba Inlet

Eric and I at Toba Wildernest Resort

Mom, me and Dad at Toba Inlet

Mom looking surprisingly chipper after the hike

Clearing skies at Prideux Haven

The Kiawah at anchor at Prideux Haven

The tender is ready to go ashore

One of the many bald eagles we saw

After the week on the boat, we returned to stay a night at my parents house in Bellevue and to attend my younger sister, Jenny's, wedding shower at her house in Snoqualmie. After the wedding shower, we checked in for the American Veterinary Medical Association's annual Conference in Seattle which Eric was presenting some of his research and speaking at, returning to visit with my parents and sisters in the evenings in Issaquah and Bellevue including for my mother's 63rd birthday (Mom received a new Kohler kitchen faucet installed by Eric from us for her birthday).

We Simmonses are good at eating

The computer: A 21st Century Gathering Place

Leslie lighting candles (safety first, she dons protective glasses)

Clearly Mom was quite happy we did not put 63 candles on her cake

Mom's pink pearls (a birthday gift)

While in Seattle, I even got to run dogs (albeit not my own) and go dog scootering.

Flying back to Baltimore, we were happy to find that our sled dogs had been well cared for by our pet sitter, Christine (although they were quite happy to see us).