Wandering Spirit

From La Conner, Washington

Seems like there are as many thoughts as there are raindrops.

Raindrops…on my little WS are somehow very comforting…very sedating…very peaceful.

Odd picture, I know. Rain on the side of WS.

The dogs sleep.

Joy on the bed.

Shiloh on their floor bed.

I sip coffee and write.

Coffee paraphenalia.

There has been a lot of rain here in northwest Washington. Mostly soft “female rains” as the Navajo say, but also we experienced a couple of storms with downpours, lightening, thunder and the power went out once.

When that happens the dogs don’t sleep…

Having been in so many areas of drought I’m glad for the rain and the green and the full, flowing rivers. I hope that it’s helping the people who are fighting fires.

So many innocents (animals) losing their homes and lives to the smoke and the flames…but nothing, compared to the slaughterhouses that are generally accepted and not questioned…

I’m a melancholy person and my mind has a tendency to wander to sad thoughts, but too many sad thoughts are self-destructive, so I’m learning to self-correct (this is lifelong learning), a daily, hourly, moment to moment challenge sometimes.

It was a simple truth from Louise Hay that made me aware of what my tendency is, and how to fix it. So simple it’s embarrassing, but it’s just this:

“I am in control of my thoughts.”

No one else has this power over me…no one else can control my mind. If my thoughts are causing me sadness, fear, or anxiety, I can change them. I can think about things that are good, lovely, pure, joyful, peaceful, etc.

It’s a moment to moment exercise. Sometimes the thought corrections need to happen nonstop for awhile. Sometimes I give up. But generally remembering it’s up to me what I think, and for every negative there is a positive, is very helpful.

Drip Drop

There are so many unknowns in life – and life on the road is full of them. Projecting peace and joy into the unknown, instead of fear, is an art. At least it is for me. I need constant practice. Living in this very moment and not projecting at all is even…umm…artsier.

Not that we shouldn’t plan ahead. I think planning is a good thing. But when the plans become a lot of scary ‘what if’s’, it’s time to get back to remembering “I am in control of my thoughts.”

These are some of the kinds of things that make every day a learning experience…every day a new adventure!

I am so loving this life!

Back in 1990-91 there was a one-season TV series called Twin Peaks. Do you remember? It was written and directed by David Lynch, and like him it was a…umm…very eccentric series which developed a cult following, but was not popular enough to continue to season two…not at the time anyway. They did make a follow-up movie, “Fire Walk With Me”, which was apparently more irritating than helpful as it left more questions than it solved.

(oops. Error! Jason told me there were 2 seasons. The first had 7 shows and the second had 22 shows!)

I never got into the series because I never understood it. My son Jason was a devoted fan, however. I liked the setting though, which was a tiny town in Washington, close to the Canadian boarder. I thought, since I’m in the area, why not visit? I set out to find Twin Peaks. Hmm. Not on the map. I asked Jason about it and he reminded me it was a made up name, and they did a lot of filming in the Snoqualmie area.

So here I am, in the Snoqualmie area! First I wanted to check out the falls here.

Snoqualmie Falls

Here the water falls down 268 foot granite cliffs in the setting of forest and mountains. Just beautiful. Gentle rain falls mixing with the mist from the falling water, but it seems like the perfect setting. There are excellent trails through the woods and dogs are allowed. We are all soaked by the time we come back to JR.

Back to Twin Peaks. The three towns where much of the filming took place are Fall City, a few miles SE of that is Snoqualmie, and a few miles SE of that is North Bend. Checking out the Washington Benchmark Road Atlas I discover that there is a mountain not far from North Bend called Twin Peaks, part of the Cascade Range, so I’m presuming they took the name from the mountain.

I set out to find some of the tv show related places, and it was pretty fun. I had to search the internet to learn what to look for. Turns out the hotel by the falls, The Salish Inn and Spa was used as The Great Northern Hotel in the series. FBI Agent Cooper stayed there as I remember. I think about having dinner or lunch there but wow, the prices are outrageous, and in reality if Agent Cooper were to spend time there now it would cost the FBI $300 a night.

Next I want to find the place where the “Welcome To Twin Peaks” sign was. Not a hard task as it’s marked on Google Maps! The sign is no longer there but they put it up when they have their yearly Twin Peaks Festival, I’m told.
When I arrive at the spot the mountains in the distance that the town is named for are so shrouded in fog that I can’t see them at all. I go back later when the fog clears a bit and take this picture right in front of the spot where the sign used to be located.

Site of the “Welcome To Twin Peaks” sign.

Heading back towards North Bend, I stop at what used to be a railroad bridge that was part of the follow-up movie “Fire Walk With Me.” It’s no longer attached to a railroad, but is used as a footbridge for hikers.

Footbridge across the Snoqualmie River

A tidbit of info here…26 years later, which will be next year, season 2 of the Twin Peaks series will air. David Lynch will again write and direct and he’s already been here doing whatever directors have to do in advance of filming. I know he talked to the mayor of North Bend and had a chocolate ice cream cone at his ice cream store.

Sooo…I learn from the locals that just today this sign had been erected at the restaurant famous in the series because of it’s Cherry Pie and ‘a damn fine cup of coffee.’

Known in the series as The Double D Diner, I believe. It’s been called Twede’s since Mr Twede bought it, but that’s started to change for filming.

Well, I have to go in. “Do you really have cherry pie?” I ask. (well duh). “We sure do!” the cute little waitress tells me, wearing her Twin Peaks tee shirt. “Could I have a piece of cherry pie and a damn fine cup of coffee then?” 🙂

The pie? Yum!
The coffee? NOT damn fine! Yuck.

I go into a gift shop to get some Twin Peaks souvenirs for Jason and Mandy. (Made locally I might ad!) The shop owner lived here during the original series and shares some of her memories. She says she thinks filming of ‘season 2’ may start in October but she’s not sure because they are keeping it hush-hush.

I also ask her about hair salons. My hair is too long, which I’ve realized today as it’s raining and my hair is all plastered to my head and driving me nuts. She recommends a couple. it turns out they are all booked up today since school starts tomorrow, but I make an appointment for tomorrow afternoon at “Another Hair Place.”

The whole area seems pretty other-worldly to me, perfect for the Twin Peaks series, which is frankly…weird. 🙂 On the way back to my campsite in Fall City, we see this through the sun and the rain:

Rainbow!

Next day I go back for my haircut.

Came back for my authentic Twin Peaks haircut. 🙂

One thing I can tell you about western Washington: Always bring your raincoat and/or umbrella. Don’t leave home without them!

The one that allows me to back up a trailer.

I don’t talk about my problem with backing up very much here because, well, it’s been a year and I feel like I should be a pro at it by now.

NOT.

My back-up gene seems to be missing? I become anxious and agitated every time I try, so…I don’t practice much, unless I have to. My bad.

If you’ve been around for awhile you may remember last year when I visited my friend Elinor on Bainbridge Island, WA. I made her famous for her narrow, winding driveway through the trees, that eventually leads to a carport that WS would not fit under.

This year we had another plan, to avoid having to have guys come in and back WS down that 1/4 mile road (with ditches too!). Come in on the other end of the driveway, and only have to back up a short distance. Easy, right?

HA.

Easy if you don’t happen to be me with my missing gene. Also it turned out that the driveway was SO not level, and I had to prop the front end up way more than I was comfortable with. Scary.

We had a pleasant few days of visiting, farmers market, playing with all five dogs, shopping in Poulsbo, I washed WS…and yes, Laura and Joel were on the island again this year, so the three of us had a nice relaxed outdoors lunch at Market Place.

Then it was time to leave….Time To Back Out.

Elinor wanted to help of course. People usually do…but after at least half an hour of being directed and getting at a worse angle than ever, I requested that Elinor go in the house and not look. I needed to do it my own way. Go ultra slow, get in and out of the truck about 50 times (no exaggeration here!) cry, fret, breathe, pray, and just work on it.

And guess what? After a total of over an hour later,

I DID IT.

Ask me how. I don’t know. Oh sure, I know you turn the steering wheel the opposite way of normal, OR, put your hand at the bottom of the wheel and turn the normal way. Sorry, for me it’s just not that simple. Maybe it’s because of the anxiety level I feel at the time, that causes me to forget which is right and which is left. Maybe it’s that missing gene.

Whatever.

I’ve gone to large parking lots and worked on it. I’ve been directed by pros who tell me which way to turn the wheel and how far. (That works.) I’ve done it myself when time and traffic are not issues, and I’ve let lots of other people in the drivers seat to do it for me.

The process just doesn’t seem to absorb into my brain. Well, it hasn’t yet.

I’m not giving up!

Sitting here with Joy and Shiloh looking across the way at Mt. Olympus at 7980 feet. There is still some remaining glacier on it, though it’s fading fast, as the planet warms…and I don’t mean because it’s August. I mean because the yearly snow average is decreasing regularly. The glaciers won’t always be here if this continues.

For now though, it’s still beautiful and inspirational. Mountains
usually are, aren’t they? What is it that they set free in our spirits? That wildness…freedom…an awakening? Why do they seem magical to me?

Trees and mountains and ocean all come together here.

This earth is beautiful in so many ways. Beautiful beyond words…beyond reason…beyond understanding. Certainly beyond these pictures. Sometimes the only way you can know it is to feel it. Knowing and feeling become one, and the beholder becomes one with that which she beholds…that which she knows and feels.

This is the bigger picture. If everybody meditated on the bigger picture, would we still have war and hatred and bitterness between countries and races and religions and people? Would we still be hell-bent to be the richest, the best the most powerful, when we witness what it’s doing to our precious earth…our home…and all the fauna and flora upon it?

If we could know and feel the bigger picture, would we focus more on compassion and kindness and peace and love and joy to earth and all the earthlings?

Or….are these just the ramblings upon meditations of an old hippie?

A couple years before I began this lifestyle, while I was in the planning stage, I was thinking about what to bring along. I spent a LOT of time thinking about that because it was fun, and it was a way of preparing for my travels.

Where I lived before was not large by any means, but kitchen storage was cavernous compared to the storage I have now.

What to bring along? Or…what NOT to bring was a bigger question. The idea would be to keep it ultra simple. After a year on the road, here are a few of my favorite kitchen items:

Wonderful coffee!

**This is my number ONE kitchen item that I can’t live without! A coffee maker! It’s simply a silicone cone on a plastic base. I put a #4 coffee filter inside, along with two measures of coffee, and set it on top of my mug. Pour in recently boiled water and in a few minutes…walla! Coffee! Actually I use about 1/2 soy milk to 1/2 coffee, so first I have the milk heated and in the cup.

This gadget takes almost no room, because when I’m done with it, I can rinse it out and squish it down. It comes with a plastic lid to cover it.

**Probably my next favorite item is my toaster. I really like this because it makes just one piece of toast at a time and it’s quick, too. Lay the bread on top and WATCH CAREFULLY. When it’s toasted, turn it over and continue to WATCH CAREFULLY. It doesn’t take long and if you turn away you will end up with a lot of smoke!

Bread becoming toast!

The redness that you see under the bread is a small screen. The fire from the stove heats it, and the screen toasts the bread. This gadget also folds up flat and comes with a cloth case to keep it in.

**I have a small electric hot pot for heating water. If I’m somewhere without electricity I use my tea kettle (that pinkness that you see behind the toaster). A tea kettle would not be necessary if you have a small pan, but I have a soft spot for that tea kettle.

**Pressure cooker! These are no longer scary like in the old days. I love having a pressure cooker because I cook a lot of legumes, beans, rice, and other grains. It cooks quicker than a regular pot, so I use less propane for those items which otherwise could take a lot of time. When I ordered the cooker I also ordered a normal glass lid to fit the pan, so it doubles as a regular large pot. The glass lid also fits on the following item…

**Frying pan with a folding handle. It takes up just a little less room with the handle folded.

Non stick pan with the handle folded.

See the little button at the base of the handle? Just hold it down and open out the handle.

The coffee cone, toaster and pressure cooker I ordered from Amazon. The frying pan was one of those “as seen on tv” items.

**Other useful items are 2 collapsing bowls (similar to the coffee cone idea) for making salads and mixing, and a collapsing colander. The collapsing idea is great because they take up minimal space.

I also have a small and a tiny cooking pot, and a tiny frying pan. I have a small crock pot from Camping World, but so far have only used it twice. I’m carrying around an iron dutch oven that I haven’t used at all! I thought that I couldn’t live without my toaster oven, but honestly, I rarely use it. Amazing.

I’m posting out of order because we had this adventure yesterday, and I just wrote about our walk today….

Yesterday we had plans with my son Brian and his wife Sharon,and their nephews Trent and Trevor, to meet them in Edmonds at the dog park. We had a great time at that same dog park last year because it’s right on Puget Sound and the area that is fenced goes clear to the water so the dogs can swim.

To get there from Port Ludlow on the Olympic Peninsula we need to cross two large bodies of water. First is the Hood Canal. The Hood Canal is not really a canal, but a fjord…an arm of the sea. It’s 55 miles long, has tides, heavy currents, and giant waves at times. Still, they decided to build a floating bridge over it. The bridge is 1 and 1/5 miles long and floats on 23 floating hollow concrete pontoons. (I don’t get it, but it does float). (Well, it usually floats, except once during a storm in 1979 when half of it sank.) These days if winds are 40mph or more for at least 15 minutes they close the bridge. It is also a draw bridge. I didn’t get pictures but if you Google “Hood Canal Bridge” you can see it.

When we arrive in Kingston, we need to catch the ferry to cross over to Edmonds, which is north of Seattle by about 30 or so miles. The ferry boat holds about 188 vehicles, and the ride across the Puget Sound takes about 20 minutes and is about 5 miles.That doesn’t include the time we wait for the ferry and then the time it takes to load 188 vehicles and then unload them on the other side. With my old person discount and driving my 18 ft long truck, it costs me slightly over $15 each way.

I have no pictures of the ferry either, but I did take pictures while on it.

This was taken on the way back so we are looking back at the little city of Edmonds. Not that you can see it.

We were just in time to catch this ferry so we were very near the back with just one car and a motorcycle behind us.

We drive to the dog park and I notice there are only a few dogs there. Upon approaching the water I see why…the water level is low and rocks and green mush cover the area between the beach and the water.

The green that you see in this picture is actually a combo of algae and seaweed.

No matter, Joy and Shiloh had fun playing with the other dogs that came and went, and oh happy day, they didn’t even roll in the slimy stuff.

Brian and Sharon and the boys arrived. It was so nice to spend time with them.

Thats Sharon holding an umbrella for the sun. Joy and Shiloh were practicing being king of the castle on one of the agility toys.

Brian and the boys.

After spending time at the dog park we go to lunch. I find a shady spot to park, (I always leave the windows open when the dogs are in the truck) and the dogs take naps while we eat.

After lunch and visiting, Joy, Shiloh and I make our way back across the big waters.

Brian and Sharon are holding a picture that my mom painted. I brought it to give to them.

We will visit with Brian and Sharon again in early September, when we are off the peninsula.

We take our regular morning walk today….before the rain started.

This trail actually joins with Port Ludlow RV Park, the small RV park where I’m staying.

Off we go! So much sniffing to be done!

Moss grows thick on the trees…on most everything that doesn’t move.

Hmmm…fork in the road. Which way shall we go? We keep right…follow the river….

It’s a stream really, and it forms a gentle falls that sounds so nice.

We leave the woods and head into town. This is pretty much the size of it.

In the parking area is the town recycle center. I haven’t seen much action at the stores, but it’s the recycle center where folks seem to meet and greet.

We head back to the RV park….

I pick some breakfast on the way.

Our cozy home in the forest awaits us.

I never knew there were so many shades of green.
Green is restful to the eyes and the soul…very relaxing.
Very peaceful.

This is our camp at Port Ludlow

And then there is blue…

First Beach, La Push, WA

First Beach

Pink in the fog…

Flowers by the side of the road

(All the above pictures were taken on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington…somewhere.

And don’t forget golden….yesterday was Shiloh’s birthday. He was 9.

When he was younger…

Just a few days ago

Ok, and I found Jacob!

These cardboard men…so much easier for me to deal with. (no offense to the men reading this. It’s me, not you) 🙂

This sign is on the road about half way between Forks and LaPush. I kid you not!

I have to tell you, I am SOOOOOO glad I chose this path for my life! It’s been an amazing journey so far….yes some bumps in the road and some boulders too….but things are smooth again now. And that’s how life is, no matter what path we choose, isn’t it?

I’ve been without a decent connection for awhile now, but finally we are in a spot with phone service AND my internet works! WhooHoo! I sure do miss those two things when I don’t have them.

I will get it together soon and write a decent post, but just wanted to let you know all is well on this ONE YEAR anniversary, here in Port Ludlow, Washington.

Peace! Will write again soon!

And that would be tonight.

I meant to post this early in the evening, but I’ve been having little luck with the internet here where I’m staying in Forks, Washington. I’m posting in the middle of the night, so this Blue Moon post will be obsolete when you read it.

I feel like I’ve gotten behind here. But then I thought, how can I be behind? This is not a job or a business or some kind of requirement. It’s just me, saying what I want to say, when I want to say it (as long as the Internet cooperates), so I can’t really be behind.

I can relax about that.

I can ‘be here now’.

So here and now in Forks, I’m celebrating one year of retirement with a Blue Moon.
Forks is in the midst of the rain forests on the Olympic Peninsula, so you would think it would be cloudy…gray…cool. Rainy even.

Not.

I’ve been here for two days and have seen nary a cloud, and it hit 90 degrees both days. This is the hottest, driest year they can remember in these parts. Still, it is the greenest, most lush place I’ve seen in a long time, despite drought. Friday we head for the coast to beat the heat. We visit Cape Flattery on the very northwest corner of the state. There the fog rolls in and out and the temperature is between 55 and 65. Joy, Shiloh and I, coast dwellers that we have been, prefer that temperature range to the 90 degree range.

We walk the Cape Flattery Trail, through trees and ferns and blankets of greenery, till we reach the dramatic views where rock and tree meet sea. It’s a beautiful convergence with sparkling, crashing waves below towering rocks covered with further towering trees. I take a few pictures but can’t share them due to the iffy Internet.

Joy and Shiloh arent interested in the views. I’m sure they think we were there for the sole purpose of greeting the other folks who are walking the trail. As we approach view areas I’m sure that they are thinking the people already there are just waiting for a warm, wiggly, welcome. Since we are often walking on narrow, slatted walkways I have my hands full at times. I forego the walkway to view the lighthouse though…just too many people coming and going to deal with the joyous greetings in that precarious setting.

When we get back to Forks in the late afternoon it’s still hot so we relax with the air conditioning in Wandering Spirit. The dogs sleep. I read and sip wine. Sorry but yes, I’m reading “Twilight”. And I’m not reading it for the first time! Silly me. ☺️