Mount Rainier

On Wednesday Tony and I hired a car and drove to Mount Rainier. If there is one place I've been that has made me speechless it is this. We were heading to a place named Paradise. I think the best way to describe it is in pictures.

So we start out on the average 6 lane A road, perhaps equivallent to Team Valley.

Then we start the arduous journey down Highway 7.

On the way we find a reservoire where you can swim. Note to self for next time, bring costume.

We entered the National Park and decided it was time for a break. But then we were confronted with this choice. It was a tough one.

But the mountain was calling. We had to carry on.

Rainier has one of the most complex glacier systems in the states. This is a full shot of one of them.

All this snow and ice melts. It has to go somewhere. So there are lots of waterfalls too.

We reached Paradise after a lot of photo stops and excited yelps. There is a brand new visitor centre there built in the same style as the original ones made in the early 1900s. Its incredible to think of people driving up there in their Ford Model Ts

So we had to go for a walk, even though I was wearing my sandals. Thank goodness they were waterproof sea kyaking ones or I don't know how I'd have got there!

So on the way back down we pretty much drove in blissful, peaceful silence. Soaking up the atmosphere and the wildlife was about all we could do.

We went back to the waterfalls

And drove past some more snow

And had another break

And stopped at the reservoire

Then headed back into Tacoma via Puyallup

And they returned home tired, but happy.

and another thing...

I forgot to tell you about this:

http://www.fishex.com/seafood/salmon/copper-river-salmon.html

The copper river salmon. One of the most sought after delicacies of the region and we have some in our fridge. Taste report to follow...


And Chaco sandals - they have adjustable straps all the way round so you dont have to put up with rubbing in odd places! http://chacousa.com/Portal.aspx?BO=F9D24528626F&SO=A1DF3FE4A393

We're going to a barbeque tonight with american baby back ribs and beans and beer and fire. See you on the other side.

Produce of the Pacific North West

So this week the Tacoma Farmers' Market started. It is a wonderful collection of fruit and veg, dairy, fish and meet produce as well as flowers and crafts. www.tacomafarmersmarket.com The produce comes directly from the surrounding area and relflects very heavily the local seasons and trades.

There are lots of Tulip fields which are generally farmed by Vietnamese farmers. Their bouquets are a great mix of cultured and wild flowers.

There wasn't much fruit this week, but that's because it's not fruit season here. There was so much to taste, I was in heaven! Here's a small selction of what I thought was the best:

Terry's Berrys www.terrysberries.com/
Rolf's Choice http://www.kpfarmersmarket.org/110708%20TGiving13.pdf - the most gorgeous deep orange colour, smoked to perfection
Blue Rose Dairy www.bluerosedairy.com Goats cheese heaven :)
Happy Mountain Farm www.minicattle.com for beef of the colour and texture I have never seen before.

Oh, and there was a lady doing Henna tattoos so I had to get one!

Some other cool/interesting/useful things from this week:

Bodum insulated tumblers http://www.bodumusa.com/shop/line.asp?MD=15&GID=87&LID=638&CHK=&SLT=&mscssid=TR7PX1HTPKVU8GSE88E69916VCMC99F6
World Market www.worldmarket.com where we bought heinz beans
REI garage sale www.rei.com where the returns policy is so good, they have used stuff that someone just didnt want or was bored of, or wore for 2 years and the sole started to wear (?!) and they can return it. Then it's sold off at knock-down prices. I got a $60 watch for $8!

Some interesting signs

'Children left unattended will be given an espresso and a small puppy/drum to play with.'

'Do not curb your pets on property.'

'Honey bucket' (name of the portaloos!)

And something everyone should try, so long as they're not opposed to doing silly things in public http://www.zumba.com/us/

My first Baseball Game

Talon and Dean, our kind hosts for the evening, looking like they stepped out of the Oakley catalogue.

The Tacoma Rainiers throw the balls, whilst the Memphis Redbirds try to hit them.

The sun sets on the pitch

The money shot! posing with Tacoma Rainiers mascot, Rainiers Reindeer! He was soo pumped about the game his hoof nearly broke my hand when we high fived!

Like watching criket without knowing the rules......people throw balls and hit them with sticks and use words like 'innings' and 'runs'. The rest is a mystery - patiently explained by Dean and Tallon over beer and popcorn. This was a lower leaque pro game where you get to sit really close to the action and risk getting injured by a wayward ball. Exiting! Gill says its just like rounders.

Sunday Evening 16thMay W-S-M revisited

CLICK THE PICS TO VIEW THEM LARGER!

After riding 90 miles with me in the Cascade foothills, Eric drove us to Alki beach to see the sunset. Alki overlooks the City of Seattle and is where all the chavs go to show off thier modified GM Novas.

Last Sundays 90miles

We rode into hicksville USA, where people in pickups shouted random phrases out of thier windows at the sight of grown men cycling in leotards. Go figure!

The roads are so quiet out here though, just awesome, riding into the middle of nowhere...

Happy Belly

5 Months after the first taste; With happiness in her heart and The Worlds Best Wheat Free Cookies in her belly, Gill contemplates the good life..... 15mins before the sugar crash!

House Waring

The Americans love fighting.

This was clearly demonstrated at our all English Gentlemens (and ladies) House warming soire.

No sooner had we finnished serving the arrousing menu of Pimms, G&T, Cider and Boddingtons than we found this group of americans wrestling in the corner of our house.

A wonderful weekend

Yesterday was a day of so many firsts, I was exhausted by the end. I saw so much wildlife and beauty that it nearly made me cry.

I went for a walk in Point Defiance park, in amongst the trees and ferns. In 5 minutes I saw a woodpecker (huge with a bright red head), a chipmunk and a dear. All less than 5 metres away. The ferns and fungi were incredible.

We also went to Alki Beach, which is like the Weston sea front of the area with Miami trees and mountains in the background. Pictures later...

We had our housewarming on Saturday evening with full English menu including Bangers and Mash. The spooky thing was, everyone turned up on time at 7pm, and everyone left by 10pm as we had written on the invite. Very odd. We know it was good though because we ended up with more booze than we started and none of it is the same!

Today Tony has the day off and we're going to Seattle on the train.

Pictures

Im having a few issues with the picture uploader! Tony did it last time. If you click on this link it should take you there.

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/corker16/NewFlat?feat=directlink

Home sweet home

So here she is. The Buckingham Palace. This is the view looking up from half way down the street. We are the windows on the left just poking above the trees. Im going to upload some more pictures to see on the right.

This week has been even more perfect than we could have hoped for. The shop is going from strength to strength, beating all expected targets. The reports of the effects of an English accent on American women were all true. Tony has them falling at his feet and opening their wallets. We are thinking of opening an 0898-TALK ENGLISH line at premium rate.

I am sitting in a cafe called the Spar at the waterside. It has great coffee and free internet. We are still setting up things at home so this is it for now.

Things we have found that we love: Marlene's bulk buy dry goods, the two dollar cinema , our new blender which we got for $49 at the sale and has really sharp blades (see picture for the damage) and can mash anything you like. Now I see how the Youtibe craze started. Gooeyducks which are the most disgusting thing you have ever seen, but strangely mesmorising, Mount Rainier on a clear day, sitting by a brazier fire in a garden until midnight, walking by the waterside looking at the mountains... It's just pretty darn wonderful here :) I will return to this post mid-November to see if I still think the same!

We are thinking about you all lots and can't wait to show you around. The exchange rate is currently 1.5. Flights through Expedia are at $637 from Expedia US with a May/June arrival and departure and about the same for Oct/Nov. I know that it's cheaper from Expedia UK though.

Tony is out on a ride right now, but I'm sure he'll write soon and give you his take on it all. Lots of love xxx

Congratulations!

Just a quick note to say congratulations to my pupils who took exams last term. Well done Verity, Agnes, William and Sophie. I'm very proud of you :)

Shock Sighting - American caught READING a book!

The pasenger in this car was sighted apparently using the previously though extict human skill of 'Reading'.
This once widely used form of self development was thought to have died out with the advent of the TV in the early 13thCentury. 'Reading' was thought to have been devloped by comunists in the early stages of the Cold War as a means to spread propaganda. Fortunatley the Americans won the war(Flip YES!) and the television saved us from such mind controling devices.....Yay America!

Big Tom

Easy E (Eric) picked us up from the air port in Big Bob the F250 and yes those are real horns on the hood (bonnet).
Big Tom has about 400 brake horse power in the form of a v8 small block. I nearly cried with delight at the sound of the engine. It scares small children...

Buckingham Palace

Flat hunting in America is pretty much the same as in the UK, except that the buildings are all called different things and you have to walk twice as far between them. Tony and I now have peachy little bottoms from all the trekking up and down hills!

US Glossary:
Duplex = 2 flats stuck together or a converted house with 2 flats
Triplex = 3...
Fourplex = 4...
Apartment = flat
Condo = smart flat
Craftsman style = bungalow with a deck
Townhouse = two story house
Cute = small
updated = c.1999
Highend = Ikea
Yard = yard

So we've seen pretty much seen everything Tacoma has to offer for under $1000. And its not all pretty. Thankfully, we did manage to find a beautiful place with the most stunning view http://www.buckinghamaptstacoma.com/ We've got a 2 bed one overlooking the sound. Come stay!