Part Two - Northwest Tripping

And here's the rest of the story . . .

My eldest sister Wendy lives in the Northwest ~ Spokane, Washington, to be specific. That was my next destination. After hugs & goodbye waves to the Canadians, Vic and MJ, before they continued north.

Wendy honored my arrival with a delightful dinner including asparagus bathed in shrimp as a side dish! (I had thirds.) Her son Karl, wife Kate plus two kiddos joined us and we supped on the back deck, chatting as the evening enveloped us.

Wendy & Byron live on 13 acres of paradise with horses, mules, chickens and a host of wildlife. Here's a shot of the river that runs below their property. I roamed the countryside with Wendy on her early morning hike through the woods. Simply couldn't believe the beauty of it and her good fortune to actually RESIDE there. She enjoys it to the fullest!

After breakfast,
we picked up Karl's daughter
and toured some of Spokane's gardens and parks.
Nishinomiya Japanese Garden
was our first stop.

I felt like I was back in Japan
with these stone pagoda lanterns
amidst the Ponderosas of the Northwest.


We also strolled through Manito Park and Riverside Park
where they held the 1974 World's Fair.

Everywhere we went,
a group of Hutterites showed up.
These 'cousins' of the Amish were taking a fieldtrip!
We finally made friends
and were asked to take photos of the teenage girls
. . . with their cameras, not ours.

When we saw them for the 3rd or 4th time
at the old-fashioned carousal by the Spokane River,
Wendy took shots of the girls.



Wendy's little three-year-old granddaughter (BELOW)
was okay with a seat, but not ready for a pony-on-a-pole.
She insisted on a second ride and I was game.



Even more thrilling than the carousel
was the chance to see the Spokane Falls
at the height of the spring run-off.

That evening, we had another round of dining alfresco,
near Wendy's home.
This photo was taken from our picnic table . . .
MADE OF MARBLE.
No kidding.
Some little non-profit group put a gorgeous marble table
alongside a rarely-traveled back road.
I should have photographed the TABLE!


The next morning,
we went to another one of my sister's favorite hiking spots ~
the Rocks of Sharon.

It's a rather steep climb to get to these incredible rugged rock outcroppings with top-of-the-world view of the 'Palouse' region of the Northwest . Wendy and Byron are super-trekkers. I was seriously pushing it to keep up their pace. These two are redefining life in the SIXTIES.

Here's Byron,
the Ultimate Scouter and Water Skier.

Here's Wendy,
happy as a lark after hoofing up the mountain.
(You'd never guess that she bore nine kids
and raised ten!)

Here's me,
smiling because I was able to keep up with my sister.
Barely!