WTA Hike-a-thon 2012 The First Week in California

For the start of Washington Trails Association Hike-a-thon this year, I was in Folsom, CA staying with my sister. She just had surgery and I needed to be down to help her with heavy lifting and such around the house. Day One of Hike-a-thon, I hiked 4 miles along the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail (American River Bike Trail) near Folsom, CA. I started at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery and hiked downstream 2 miles and back again. That's the mile marker for mile 22. The trail runs approximately 32 miles from Sacramento to Folsom, CA. The key to hiking in California in August is getting out early in the day before it gets too hot. The weather forecast for this week had the highs in the 100's! Way to hot for this Seattle girl. I was out on the trail at 6am and the thermometer in the car told me it was 68 degrees. Perfect. When I returned to the car 2 hours later, it was already 78 degrees.








You know you are hiking in California when you encounter grapes along the trail! And we aren't even in Napa! :-)

Day Two of hike-a-thon, I was inspired by my successful hike the day before, so I got up even earlier to travel to Auburn, CA and hike to Hidden Falls. Much of the park is undergoing renovation, so many trails were blocked for trail work and restoration. But the route down to the Falls Overlook was open.  I got to see some baby deer and the whole family was there too!





On day Three of hike-a-thon, I made a tactical error and did NOT wake up before the dawn to hike. So there I was in 100 degree heat back on the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail. This time I got on the trail at mile marker 20 near Fair Oaks Bluff and only made it one mile before I started melting....so I barely made it back to the car. I had depleted my water supply and luckily had gatorade in the car to help keep me from passing out. I seriously do not do well in the heat.  I had thought doing a flat trail like the American River Parkway would not be that bad, but I was mistaken!

On Day Four of Hike-a-thon, I made the effort to get up early and I was out at The Monte Vista Trailhead to hike the Old Salmon Falls Loop at 6am. I did 2.2 miles and totally enjoyed the cooler temperatures of the early morning hours. The Salmon Falls is an extinct waterfall. It was dried up when the Folsom Dam was built in the 1950's. The Salmon Falls town site was flooded by the dam construction, but some foundations can be see in the fall and winter when the Folsom Lake has low water levels  Originally a gold mining camp, Salmon Falls was founded by Mormans in 1850.

 Day five of Hike-a-thon and I am happy to say, my last day of hiking  in Folsom. I did 2 miles on the East Natoma Lake Trail near Old Town Folsom. A highlight was this historical marker commemorating the Mexican Land Grant that lead to the creation of Folsom. And Turkeys! I will be headed home to Seattle to hike in  the Pacific Northwest for a few days! And Ryan and I will be traveling to Paris together, might not do anything for hike-a-thon there, but might have to post some photos anyway!

On August 7th (I skipped a day, I know--slacker--) I did 2 miles in Carkeek Park in Seattle. It was so good to be back home and hiking in cooler weather and where everything is GREEN!

I hiked the Piper's Creek Trail and was pleased to see an interesting interactive story trail along the way.I don't text, so I had to wait til I came home to access the info via their website, but I thought this was an awesome way to engage people in the hiking process and you learn something about the area too!
All this activity is for the Washington Trails Association Hike-a-thon. Be sure to check out my WTA page and make a donation, we are almost half way towards our goal of $1000. WTA Hike-a-thon  And while you are reading this, Ryan and I are on our way to Paris. Don't know how much hiking we will do there, but I will be sure to blog about our adventures and I will leave him in France to start his hike of the Way of St. James or the Camino de Santiago!

Monday's Postcard: Marrakech

I love it when my globe-trotting friends send me postcards from their travels! Ryan and I are planning on leaving soon for Europe and some globe-trotting hiking for our Washington Trails Association Hike-a-thon. First stop is Paris! And hopefully we can get in a hike near Versailles or something. I found a wonderful website/blog called the The Easy Hiker that has tons of great hikes in Germany and France and other spots in Europe too! Be sure to check out my WTA page and make a donation, every little bit helps! WTA Hike-a-thon And check back to my blog and Ryan's blog for our adventures from across the Pond! We have over $400 raised on our way to our goal of $1000! Thanks so much Patsy for your contribution.

Books I read in July 2012

1963, my Dad, George Arkebauer reading, it's in the genes...


The Newlyweds by Nell Freudenberger (library) a Bangladesh internet "mail order bride" comes to America  I liked it
The Darlings by Cristina Alger (library) Not that great, a rich NYC family caught in a financial scandal---was supposed to be a face-paced novel but I found it slow and much too much lawyer/financial stuff going on for my taste
Dark Places by Gillan Flynn (library) I read this one before...about a girl whose family was murdered by her brother (supposedly) reread it to prep for reading new Flynn books
The Submission by Amy Waldman (library) a 9/11 novel about the memorial -a Muslim created the winning design and what ensues, found it pretty dry and boring. Liked "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" better
In Their Footsteps by Tess Gerritsen paperback spy thriller
The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman set in SFO, I enjoyed the bookstore/book collecting scenes a lot, also a subplot about computer tech IPO, not so interesting
Murder in Montparnasse by Howard Engel cute, reminded me a lot of the Woody Allen movie Midnight in Paris
People Who Eat Darkness by Richard Lloyd Parry (library) about a British girl murdered in Tokyo enjoyed it (true story)
The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones (library) an intriguing English Cosy
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn (library) rereading this one too, dark dark
Crossing the Borders of Time by Leslie Maitland (library) I learned a lot about German occupied France during WWII
Heading Out to Wonderful by Robert Goolrick (library) I enjoyed A Reliable Wife by this author and I enjoyed this one even MORE! Highly recommended
The Expats by Chris Pavone (library) fun spy thriller
Stay Close by Harlan Coben (audiobook-library) for the long car rides to trailheads audiobooks are the best
Elegy for Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear (library) another Maisie Dobbs mystery, great for folks that miss Downton Abbey
Canada by Richard Ford (library) good
These Girls by Sarah Pekkanam (library) If you like Emily Giffin or Devil Wears Prada, Nanny Diaries, that sort of stuff, try this one about 3 girls sharing an apartment in Manhattan

17 books read this month

Ryan and I are participating in the Washington Trails Association Hike-a-thon. Be sure to check out my WTA page and make a donation, we are $385 towards our goal of $1000. WTA Hike-a-thon Thanks so much Kate for your contribution!

Monday's Postcard: Jamaica

One of my cousins sent me this postcard from their vacation in Jamaica. I have been there for work, just flying in and out, but I have not spent any time in Jamaica. Closer to home, I am participating in the Washington Trails Association Hike-a-thon. I start counting my miles in August! Be sure to check out my WTA page and make a donation, every little bit helps! WTA Hike-a-thon So far Ryan and I have raised $365 together! Our goal is $1000.

Monday's Postcard: Tarifa

On the southern coast of Spain, this little spit of land is only a few miles from Morocco across the Strait of Gilbralter. In August, Ryan will be hiking in Northern Spain from France on across to Santiago along the Way of St. James. All his miles and my miles hiking here in the USA will be going towards our Washington Trails Association Hike-a-thon. Be sure to check out my WTA page and make a donation, every little bit helps! WTA Hike-a-thon, many thanks to Sharon for making a pledge!! We are up to $275 donated!
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Wild Card: Nantucket

I love receiving cards as much as I love sending them! This card is from friends vacationing in Nantucket in 2011. Ryan and I are participating in the Washington Trails Association Hike-a-thon during August. I will be blogging about my hikes here in addition to my Monday Postcards. Be sure to check out my WTA page and make a donation, every little bit helps! WTA Hike-a-thon. It has been a whole week with no donations coming in....which has me a little worried. Don't be intimidated by numbers, even $5, $3 or $1 are welcome! If everyone who reads my blogs only gives $1, I would have over $100 from just those people alone!!

Monday's Postcard: Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway stretches for 469 miles through North Carolina and Virginia. I grew up on the coast of North Carolina about 300 miles from Asheville and I was already 12 years old and had seen the Rocky Mountains before I made it up to the mountains of North Carolina and the "blue ridge". Several trips to Cherokee, NC and Asheville, NC when I was younger had been cancelled or postponed. When we were driving up there, I was told by my more experienced cousins that we were going to the MOUNTAINS. I expected something a little more majestic, having been to Colorado the previous year. But the Blue Ridge have their own quiet beauty.
Since then, I have been hiking a lot along the Blue Ridge and it is so much fun. In August, I will be doing a lot of hiking for the Washington Trails Association. Be sure to check out my WTA page and make a donation, every little bit helps! WTA Hike-a-thon

For Pete's Sake!!

I just went on my second ever backpacking trip!  Ryan is currently on a week long volunteer trip with the Washington Trails Association to help maintain a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail in the back of beyond near Roslyn, WA. I went out with him to do an overnight hike to Pete Lake the day before he was set to meet up with the trail crew. I have posted about Roslyn, WA in the past. There is tons of great hiking around there and it was great to get back out to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness again. I got to plant 5 letterboxes (and found one).

It was a 4 mile hike out to Pete Lake. I insisted in bringing a tent because all reports said that there were mosquitoes at the lake and on the trail. Well, Ryan made me carry the tent. But my pack was still about 10 pounds lighter than his because he was packed for a whole week on the trail and I was only going for an overnight.

I actually forded a river! I took off my socks and replaced my shoes to walk across the Cooper River. It only came up to about mid shin, but boy was that water COLD! So glad I had dry socks to put back on when I got to the other side!! Here you can also see the remains of snow still on the trail. And here is a shot of Ryan going across the river carrying his shoes.

Once we got out to the lake, we found it was over run with boy scouts. Not really the back country peace that we were hoping for, but we continued a few more yards around the lake and found a nice secluded site for our tent.

Unfortunately, when we opened up the tent and started to put it up, we found out that the tent poles were shot, the elastic inside the poles was totally rotted and we could not put up the tent! I had carried it for 4 miles for nothing! Boy was I upset!! I had to start drinking my wine early. Luckily there was a nice breeze that kept away most of the mosquitoes and by the time it got dark it had cooled down enough that they were not a problem. A flock of bright yellow Evening Grosbeaks kept us company flittering around our campsite. We also had a little fire for a bit after sundown to amuse ourselves and with the smoke to keep the bugs at bay. We had fantastic views of the stars and fell asleep stargazing with no tent or tarp or anything to restrict our view. I even saw a meteor!

The next morning, we hiked out. Me to go back to work and Ryan to meet up with the rest of the WTA volunteers and to get started on fixing that trail. Ryan won't be back home again until after the weekend. And was I glad to have a Jacuzzi Tub to come home to!

Don't forget that Washington Trails Association needs our help to keep the trails in Washington State maintained and protected. We will be racking up the mileage in August for the Hike-a-thon. Follow that link to donate to our cause. :-) And check back here to Amanda from Seattle Dot Com for updates on our hikes and mileage in August. I want to thank Krista, Moira, Diane and John, Jennifer and Ann for already donating via the website! We have already collected $185 for Washington Trails.

Monday's Postcard: Yukon

A postcard from my Granny. Fireweed is usually the first flower to appear after forest fires. It is the floral emblem of the Yukon Territory. In Alaska, they make candies, jellies and syrups from fireweed. This postcard came to me when my Granny went on a trip to Alaska. We don't plan any hikes in Alaska this year, But both Ryan and I will be participating in the Washington Trails Association Hike-a-thon again. Ryan will be hiking the Camino de Santiago across France and Spain and I have several international layovers that will provide me with opportunities to do some hiking overseas. Be sure to check out my WTA page and make a donation, every little bit helps! WTA Hike-a-thon

Books I read in June 2012

Christmas circa 1975 Holly Hobbie doll, Malibu Ken and a Clue game, but a good book is always the best present!


The Spellman's Strike Again by Lisa Lutz (library) These mysteries are by a San Francisco Author and quite funny
Inflight Entertainment by Helen Simpson (library) great short stories by British author
Nightwoods by Charles Frazier (library) I liked it better than Thirteen Moons, but not as much as Cold Mountain, Like Sharyn McCrumb, Frazier does a good job of evoking the Appalachian Mtns of NC
The Odds by Stewart O'Nan (library) HUGE fan of this man's work. If you have never read anything by him, go now and get something anything by him. Very eclectic, he has something for everyone. Nonfiction, fiction --mystery, drama  READ this Author!!

The Rope by Nevada Barr (library) Much like John Sanford did with his Prey series, Nevada Barr is looking back at an adventure that Anna Pigeon had when she was a new ranger. I think this is a great way for these authors to get some more mileage out of their aging protagonists!
My Long Trip Home by Mark Whitaker (library) the author is a successful journalist and a bi-racial child born in the midst of the civil rights era to a black american man and a white European mother. He was always labeled "African American" but he tries to come to terms with his identity when he is part of both black and white society
Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult (library) so-so I'm a fan, but I might be getting tired of Picoult
Ghost Flower by Michele Jaffe like the Pretty Little Liars series if you like that sort of thing
A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron  recommended to me when I loved The Art of Racing in the Rain so much. Told from the Dog's Point of View, have hankies on hand!!
Hush Now, Don't You Cry by Rhys Bowen (library) the latest Molly Murphy Mystery
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (library) great fun, if you like 80's pop culture and/or video gaming
Trail of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz (Library) Opp's last in this series,  now I gotta wait for her to write another one!
Friends Like Us by Lauren Fox (library) love triangle ruins a friendship
Sisters by Nancy Jensen (library) a misunderstanding divides the sisters
The Cove by Ron Rash (library) If you like Sharyn McCrumb  and Appalachian stuff like Nightwoods I read earlier this month! Also reminded me of Summer of my German Soldier
The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan (library) Titanic if Rose were convicted of murder because she was the only survivor from her lifeboat, I liked it
The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes (library) another love triangle story reminded me of Friends Like Us
This is Your Captain Speaking by Jon Methven (library) super over the top humor like Carl Hiaasen or Bill Fitzhugh
Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones (library) the story of a girl in Atlanta whose father is a bigamist
Murder Follows Money by Lora Roberts rereading an old favorite
The Shelters of Stone by Jean Auel rereading in anticipation of her new book, The Land of Painted Caves
21 books read this month

abandoned book: Dear American Airlines by Jonathan Miles-I always like airline related stuff even derogatory, but I started this one and in the first few pages, he keeps stopping to smoke or complaining about not being able to smoke at airport (having to go all the way out to the curb) and my sympathies just were not with him anymore. sorry all you smokers out there...


Ryan and I are again participating in the Washington Trails Association Hike-a-thon. Be sure to check out my WTA page and make a donation, every little bit helps! WTA Hike-a-thon We will be doing all kinds of hiking in August and of course I will be blogging about our adventures and progress here :-)

Monday's Postcard: Skerries

Skerries is a fun day trip from Dublin. Lots to do in this village. There are windmills to visit, a lovely walk along the beach with views of a lighthouse and Martello towers. Lots of great restaurants and pubs on the waterfront.
And news closer to Seattle, I am again participating in the Washington Trails Association Hike-a-thon. Be sure to check out my WTA page and make a donation, every little bit helps! WTA Hike-a-thon

Monday's Postcard: Guatemala

When I first met Ryan, we were separated for several months while he studied Spanish in Central America. He wrote me lots of postcards during this time and here is another one. This is Lake Atitlan. I visited Ryan in Guatemala, but I missed seeing Lake Atitlan. His adventures hiking around Lake Atitlan can be found HERE

Monday's Postcard: Florida

This is a postcard from my Dad circa 1975. It is from the Miami Seaquarium and has a 13 cent stamp on the back, but no postmark. The note on the back says, "This looked like me looking for your loose teeth--Love, Daddy" I would have been about 9 years old a the time.

Wild Card: Sagamore

A postcard from my stepmom from last year while she was visiting Lake George, NY. It is of the Sagamore Hotel. The name is the title for the chief of  the Mohicans, Sagamore was a featured character in The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper. The book has many scenes set in the Lake George area.

Monday's Postcard: Thailand

Another postcard from my Dad during his time in the Far East. This is a card of street vendors selling dried salted fish on a footpath near Wat Po. The salting of fish is one of the oldest forms of preserving food and it is still very popular in Asian and Scandinavian cuisine.

Monday's Postcard: New Hampshire

I love these "BIG LETTER" postcards. My sister sent me this one in 2005. Very Retro and I love it!

Books I read in May 2012

A postcard from the Tattered Cover Book Store in Denver, CO.




That Woman by Anne Sebba (library) The woman who said, "You can never be too rich or too thin" First time I have read anything about Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor. Photos
The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl (audio book) very gory descriptions of the murders--listened to in car on our CA roadtrip
The Italian Secretary by Caleb Carr (audio book) A sherlock holmes story--soso
The Price of Murder by John D MacDonald
1493 Uncovering the New World Columbus Created by Charles C Mann (library) loved it so much, I went right out and bought:
1491 New Revelations of the Americas before Columbus by Charles C Mann loved it too
How it All Began by Penelope Lively (library) liked it
The Flame Alphabet by Ben Marcus (library) so-so
Tempest by Julie Cross (library) The Time Travelers Wife for the YA set. Also reminded me of the movie, The Butterfly Effect.
Snobs by Julian Fellowes -the guy who wrote Downton Abbey, enjoyed it
Working the Skies: The Fast Paced, Disorienting World of the Flight Attendant by Drew Whitelegg -one of the best books I have ever read about being a flight attendant. If you want to know more about my job, read this book.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (library)  YA This is definitely a 10 hankie weeper. I bawled my eyes out. Glad I did not read it at home in front of Ryan. Kids with Cancer, Fall in Love, you've seen Love Story, you know what happens. Really enjoyed it though

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill (library) spooky, made into that movie with David Radcliffe

Death comes to Pemberley by P. D James (library)--Jane Austen as a murder mystery

Franny and Zooey by J. D. Salinger rereading for the umpteenth time. It is still a favorite. I like to check back in to make sure I still love it. :-)

Hemingway's Boat by Paul Hendrickson (Library) I tend to read more ABOUT hemingway than actual hemingway!! Great, with photos, it's about his life while he had his boat Pilar.

Heads You Lose by Lisa Lutz and David Hayward--gimmicky mystery where one author writes a chapter and then another author writes a chapter. so you get the mystery and you get the conversation between the two authors. Not as good as the Spellman books by Lutz, but kinda fun

Only 17 books read this month, busy busy, almost too busy to read :-)

Monday's Postcard: Lisbon

Yet another favorite layover....really are there any that aren't my favorites??? Lisbon is a fun city with lots of history and great weather!! USAirways only goes to Lisbon in the summer, so I have to take advantage of these layovers while we have them.  This is the Belem Tower, a symbol of Portugal's great age of exploration. It was built in the 1500's as a fortress at the entrance to Lisbon on the Targus River and it is a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Monday's Postcard: Falling Water

Another place that I have not been to YET! This card is from my Granny.  I have visited several Frank Lloyd Wright properties all over the USA, but I have yet to visit Falling Water.  I can highly recommend the book, Loving Frank by Nancy Horan.

Monday's Postcard: Silver Lake

Lovely camping in the Sierra Nevada's in California, this postcard was from friends who were here in 2001

Wild Card: Alaska

A postcard from friends of mine on a cruise to Alaska July, 2011.
I still have not been on a cruise to Alaska, maybe next summer!!

Monday's Postcard: Kentucky

A postcard from a visit to Louisville, KY in 1991. Did your favorite win the Derby this past weekend?? My pick was Gemologist.

Books I read in April 2012

Books with a view! A used book cart at a store in the Ferry Building, Embarcadero, San Francisco.

The Curse of the Spellman's by Lisa Lutz -more fun mystery, I read the first of this series in February and am totally enjoying these. They were recommended by my friend, Lea.
A Box of Darkness The Story of A Marriage By Sally Ryder Brady (library)

The Good Thief's Guide to Vegas by Chris Ewan --I'm on a roll reading all of these!

Seven by John D. MacDonald (short stories)

Below Stairs by Margaret Powell- A kitchen maid's memoir that inspired UpStairs/DownStairs and Downton Abbey.

Crossed by Ally Condie YA dystopian fiction, I loved the first one in this series, this one not so much...

End of the Tiger by John D. MacDonald (short stories)

Nancy Drew Girl Detective Close Encounters by Carolyn Keene

The Flying Saucer Mystery by Carolyn Keene I am comparing and contrasting new Nancy Drew books with older Nancy Drew books

The Good Thief's Guide to Venice by Chris Ewan
Never Eat Alone and other secrets to success, one relationship at a time by Keith Ferrazzi (library)

The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide by Andrew Skurka (library) This was actually Ryan's book and I did not mean to read it, but it was sitting on the coffee table and I would pick it up and found myself fascinated with it. Ryan and I have seen Andrew Skurka do a talk here in Seattle about long distance hiking.
Judge Me Not by John D MacDonald
The House at Tynesford by Natasha Solomons (library) for fans of Downton Abbey and stuff like Sarah's Key. I really enjoyed this one about a Jewish girl from a wealthy Vienna family who is a refuge in England, her family sends her to be a house maid at a Manor house along the Dorset coast.

Believing the Lie by Elizabeth George. I am a huge fan and this is her latest, loved it
Wild: From lost to found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed (library)

Ed King by David Guterson (library) this was the writer of Snow Falling on Cedars
No Angel by Penny Vincenzi (library) Downton Abbey fans, this one is for you!! I enjoyed it.
The Crown by Nancy Bilyeau (library) if you can't wait for the next Phillipa Gregory about the Tudors! This would be a good one. I quite enjoyed it.

abandoned books:

Hour of the Hunter by J A Jance--Jance is always being recommended to me, I started this one, but did not get into it--it is still sitting around the house, but I do not know when/if I will get back to it.

Hidden Star by Nora Roberts--found on airplane after I had finished all the books and magazines in my possession. Got home and threw it in the "used book store" pile without finishing it!!

19 books read this month

Monday's Postcard: Costa Rica

Another postcard from Ryan while he was learning Spanish in Central America.

Monday's Postcard: Chester

In April 2010, I got stuck in Manchester, UK for 9 days while the Icelandic volcano erupted. One of those days, I took a day trip to Chester, a walled city and did the usual touristy things.

Wild Card: La Jolla

This postcard was sent to me in 2004 from my stepmom while she was on a Quilting Cruise, they were leaving out of San Diego and she sent me this postcard before she left while she was visiting La Jolla, CA

Monday's Postcard: Stockholm

One of my all time favorite places to layover. Had a fantastic time in this city and can't wait to go back!

Monday's Postcard: Grand Teton

Grand Teton

Monday's Postcard: Cats

The Alfred Mainzer Company has published these cards for 50-60 years. These funny cats are drawn by European artist Eugen Hurtung. The images were popular and used on postcards which are still sold today. They are usually called Mainzer Cats after the name of the publisher. I received this postcard from my Grandmother Arkebauer, who lived in Fort Wayne, IN. She often sent Mainzer cards to me and my sister.