A Wonderful Wonderland

On Thursday, Ryan and I drove out to Mt. Rainier so he could start his Wonderland Trail hike. The Wonderland Trail circles Mt. Rainier for 93 miles.

This is not Ryan's first time hiking this trail. He did some of it in 2004 and then hiked the entire trail in 2005. This year he'll be hiking around counter-clockwise and he started from the Sunrise trailhead. I hiked along with him for a while and then returned to the car, so I got in 2 miles for Hike-a-thon. The pictures really do not do it justice. The view of the mountain, the blues of the sky and water, the green trees and all the colorful wildflowers are just amazing. "And live alone in the bee-loud glade" kept running through my mind because the air just hummed with bees among all the flowers.

I had to leave and return to Seattle and work that night. I worked the flight to Philadelphia arriving at 6am and then immediately got on the 7:30 am flight back to Seattle. It was full and myself and another flight attendant had to jumpseat home. This means that there was not a regular passenger seat. There are extra flight attendant jumpseats (from back in the day when we had more crewmembers to do the service on the aircraft. For example. this particular aircraft is worked by 3 flight attendants but there are 5 seats for crew in the cabin) and these seats are available for us to sit on during the flight. It makes the galley very crowded! The other downside is that when I take the jumpseat, I cannot sleep on the flight. By taking the jumpseat, I am essentially an additional crewmember and as such cannot sleep.     

So by the time I got back to Seattle I was pretty much wiped out. But it was such a lovely day, I could not resist getting in some more Hike-a-thon mileage. I was not up for a trek through the woods, but a nice flat stroll along the Alki Beach Trail in West Seattle was just perfect. I started at Jack Block Park. If you have never been to Jack Block Park, I highly recommend it. There is an observation deck that has views of the port and interpretive plaques explain activities at the Port of Seattle and maritime shipping technology.

Walking down along the waterfront on the Alki Beach Trail, there is tons of stuff to see. At Seacrest dock, you can often see divers in and out of the water. This is the dock where the West Seattle water taxi arrives. There is Marination Mai Kai restaurant and bicycle and kayak rentals too!

I hiked around Duwamish Head and after 2 miles returned to my car for a total of 4 miles hiked. Thunderstorms rolled it that night and I thought of Ryan out on the trail around Mt. Rainier!

I drove up to Mowich lake on Saturday to meet him.

A day with a 40 percent chance of rain, so it looked pretty dreary. I did 3 miles of hiking along the Wonderland trail looking for Ryan, but when I heard thunder again, I headed back to the campsite and tent to wait for him under shelter. He arrived before dark and it mostly drizzled and misted all night.

The next morning, we ran into a group of Hike-a-thoners going out to Spray Falls!

I  hiked another 2 and a half miles along the Foothills Trail in Buckley, WA on my way back to Seattle and another day of work.

Home again on a layover and I did 4 miles on the Longfellow Creek Trail in West Seattle. This trail follows the Longfellow Creek through a mostly urban environment.

Ryan and I are still asking for pledges to contribute for the protection and maintenance of Washington State Trails. So far we have raised over $1100 and we are well on our way to our goal of $1500. Please consider making a donation, no amount is too small.  Just follow the link posted below. Thanks so much!!

http://www.gifttool.com/athon/MyFundraisingPage?ID=1468&AID=2449&PID=369509

Monday's Postcard: Happy Birthday!

This day is the birthday of my Grandmother Arkebauer. I was named Amanda after her.














 Ryan and I are hiking in August for the Washington Trails Association. We are looking for pledges to contribute for the protection and maintenance of Washington State Trails. Please consider making a donation, no amount is too small!! Just follow the link posted below. Thanks so much!! WTA Hike-a-thon

1st week of Hike-a-thon 2013

Got a great start to hike-a-thon. I was able to accumulate 13 1/2 miles this week and Ryan and I have raised over $1,100 Woo hoo Thanks so much to Kathy and Lisa who were instrumental in getting us to the $1,100 mark!!  We still have 23 days to raise money to make our $1500 goal and get in more mileage! I am hoping to get to 60 miles this month...which would be a new personal best for me.

On August 1st, Ryan and I hiked in Discovery Park together which has not happened in several years of hike-a-thons. Usually Ryan is off hiking a long distance thru hike and I don't get to join him very often.  We got to reward ourselves with a Red Mill hamburger too!!

August 2nd, I hiked in the Soaring Eagle park and saw evidence of trail work....probably suspended due to the rain that day. They were building a turnpike on the Pipeline Trail.

August 3rd, I hiked the Interurban Trail in Milton, WA.  This is part of a Rail to Trail line that follows the original Puget Sound Electric Railway that operated from 1902 to 1928 along this route, connecting Seattle and Tacoma. 














Then I had to work a few days, but I was back out on the trails on August 6th with a 2 mile hike at Mercer Slough in Bellevue. I did the Bellefields Trail and the Heritage Trail around the Blueberry farm there, practically right in the heart of the city!!

I saw a bunch of folks doing the "canoe trail" and the best part was checking out the farmer's market for dinner fixin's :-)

Ryan and I are looking for pledges to contribute for the protection and maintenance of Washington State Trails. So far we have raised over $1000 and we are well on our way to our goal of $1500. We only have 23 more days or so to hike our miles and raise the rest of our money. Please consider making a donation, no amount is too small.  Just follow the link posted below. Thanks so much!!

http://www.gifttool.com/athon/MyFundraisingPage?ID=1468&AID=2449&PID=369509

Monday's Postcard: Colorado 1938

"Longs Peak, Altitude 14,255 feet, from the Big Rock Point, On the Trail Ridge Road"




"Road down the western side of Flagstaff Mountain, Boulder, CO"
These postcards are from 1938 according to their postmarks.

Trail Ridge Road is the name for a section of US Hwy 34 and is the highest continuous highway in the United States. It is also known as the Beaver Meadow National Scenic Byway, it goes through Rocky Mountain National Park from Estes Park, Colorado to Grand Lake, Colorado and crosses the Continental Divide at Milner Pass.

Flagstaff Mountain is located just west of downtown Boulder, Colorado.
It offers stunning daytime and night-time views of Boulder, Denver and the surrounding mountains. There are hiking and bike trails, picnic areas, the Summit Nature Center, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Ryan and I are looking for pledges to contribute for the protection and maintenance of Washington State Trails. So far we have raised over $1000 and we are well on our way to our goal of $1500. We only have 25 more days or so to hike our miles and raise the rest of our money. Please consider making a donation, no amount is too small.  Just follow the link posted below. Thanks so much!!

http://www.gifttool.com/athon/MyFundraisingPage?ID=1468&AID=2449&PID=369509

July Reading

 

Books I read in July:


Lonigan by Louis L'Amour -- Western short stories
DB by Elwood Reid --ficitional account of the D.B. Cooper story (library)
The Case of D. B. Cooper's Parachute by William Sullivan (library) another fictional D. B. Cooper story, fun, a little convoluted, but we love this author for his Oregon Hiking Guides!!
The Grass is always greener over the septic tank by Erma Bombeck --just for fun
When you look like your passport photo, it's time to go home by Erma Bombeck- fun I have not read these since I was a kid nice to revisit and still funny
The Secret Life of Objects by Dawn Raffel (library) loved this, highly recommend!!
Silken Prey by John Sanford (library) big fan, love these fast moving thrillers
Six Years by Harlan Coben (library) big fan, this is a fun thriller, quick read with a happy ending!!
Then Again by Diane Keaton - A memoir by Diane Keaton enjoyed it Thanks Julie for giving it to me
Rivers West by Louis L'Amour -another easy read by L'Amour with some nice Louisiana Territory history...always fun when Pittsburgh, PA is considered a "western town" 
Horns by Joe Hill (library)-- Stephen King's son does it again with a creepy book!!
Murder After Hours by Agatha Christie-- a Hercule Poirot one
If I Stay by Gayle Forman (library) YA Yes I cried!! I recommend
Am I Alive? by Sandy Purl- story of a flight attendant who survived a crash in 1977
Big City Eyes by Delia Ephron NYC lady relocates to Maine
Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson A prequel to the Anne of Green Gables books, I loved it and if you are a fan, I highly recommend it.
The Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway Volume II (audiobook) enjoyed it while driving around Lake Tahoe
Trouble at Lake Tahoe by Carolyn Keene A Nancy Drew mystery set at Lake Tahoe, cracked me up!!
Djibouti by Elmore Leonard (audiobook) about a documentary filmmaker doing a piece on Somali pirates-okay
Bacchus and Me by Jay McInerney a collection of articles about wine by McInerney. I learned a few things
The House at Belle Fountaine by Lily Tuck (library)Short stories, loved it
The Night Gwen Stacy Died by Sarah Bruni (library) two kids on the lam take on the personas of Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy, I really liked it and will look for more by this author
God's Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question--why We Suffer by Bart Ehrman (library) I really enjoyed this book about Faith, mainly because I agree with the author's view--would be a great book club book, could raise so many questions to debate!!
The Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel (library)non-fiction about you guessed it, the astronauts' wives
Winterdance by Gary Paulsen (library) about running the Iditarod, a true story good for dog lovers
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery had to reread it have reading the prequel earlier this month!!
The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett have seen the movie, but never read the book til now

 27 books read this month

Ryan and I will be hiking in August for the Washington Trails Association. We are looking for pledges to contribute for the protection and maintenance of Washington State Trails. Please consider making a donation, no amount is too small!!  Just follow the link posted below. Thanks so much. We are already over halfway to our goal of $1500 Thank you Holly, Rejan, DeAnna, Jennifer and Steve for those latest contributions!! And I will be listening to more books on tape during those drives to the trailheads!! :-)

http://www.gifttool.com/athon/MyFundraisingPage?ID=1468&AID=2449&PID=369509

Those of you who know me well, know that my favorite pastime is just laying out in the sun and reading. This past July, that is all I have done. I have had Seattle layovers at home and I have sat out on my deck and read books in the sun. Heaven! Now with August approaching, I will have to get off my duff and start hiking for my WTA hike-a-thon. Clearly this will be a concession for me and I hope you guys will reward me for this by contributing to my WTA hike-a-thon!!!

wta hike-a-thon

You guys know that I would rather be home, reading a book with a cold beverage in my hand, but for the month of August, I am going to be out there hiking the trails to gain the mileage for the hike-a-thon. Have pity on me and please contribute to my hike-a-thon goal!!!

Monday's Postcard: Los Angeles

When I purchased these postcards as a child, I was attracted by the colors and lights. Now, they remind me of LA Confidential, the book by James Ellroy and the 1997 film Especially the last card which depicts the Fox Carthay Circle Theater, which hosted many epic movie premieres during the 1930's and 40's. By the 1960s the Carthay was considered obsolete and it was torn down in 1969; today, two office buildings and a city park occupy its former location at 6316 San Vicente Boulevard.

Ryan and I will be hiking in August for the Washington Trails Association. We are looking for pledges to contribute for the protection and maintenance of Washington State Trails. Please consider making a donation, no amount is too small!!  Just follow the link posted below. Thanks so much!!

http://www.gifttool.com/athon/MyFundraisingPage?ID=1468&AID=2449&PID=369509

Monday's Postcard: Cliff Walk, RI

Can you believe that I have never been to cliff walk?? Yes, I am fascinated with these huge mansions, and the trail is a designated National Recreation trail. Some day I will go...it is on my bucket list.

Ryan and I will be hiking in August for the Washington Trails Association. We are looking for pledges to contribute for the protection and maintenance of Washington State Trails. Please consider making a donation, no amount is too small!!  Just follow the link posted below. Thanks so much!!

http://www.gifttool.com/athon/MyFundraisingPage?ID=1468&AID=2449&PID=369509

Monday's Postcard: Large Letters Cities

I posted earlier about Large Letter Postcards. Here are more from my collection. Not states this time, but cities! And I am still on the lookout for many states to complete my collection of all 50. :-)

Ryan and I will be hiking in August for the Washington Trails Association. We are looking for pledges to contribute for the protection and maintenance of Washington State Trails. Please consider making a donation, no amount is too small!!  Just follow the link posted below. Thanks so much!!

http://www.gifttool.com/athon/MyFundraisingPage?ID=1468&AID=2449&PID=369509

Hike-a-thon History

I thought I would fill you guys in on a little Hike-a-thon History. My first Hike-a-thon was in 2005 and I did not even take photos!! I did hike 45 miles and raise $900. And I wrote up my adventures on my website. www.amandaarkebauer.com




The following year in 2006, I did take a few photos. www.amandaarkebauer.com And this was the year that I started my "Amanda from Seattle" blog, so there were lots of blog entries, although the best one is probably Beach Logs Can Kill!! Beach Logs Can Kill!!
I hiked 45 miles again and raised  $1,181
In 2007, August started with my car giving out while my sister and I were camping on the Olympic Peninsula!!  But I was still able to hike 50 miles and raise $1, 005 dollars.  2008 was memorable for my hike along The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Walk in London. And I was able to hike 50 miles again, which seems to be my steady contribution!! We raised $1,600 that year!!




One of my favorite Hike-a-thon years was 2009, when my sister and I went camping at Fort Stevens. I hiked 54 miles that year and raised $1, 425.  2010 was memorable because Ryan was thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail that year. I hiked 50 miles AGAIN and raised $1, 120.  2011 was my first ever backpacking trip! Here in Washington State at the Baker River Trail. We raised $1, 175 dollars and I hiked, you guessed it, 50 miles!! Last Year, I was scrambling to get my miles in because I took a break to fly out to Paris with Ryan while he continued on to start his Camino de Santiago hike! But I did make it to 52 miles and we raised $1, 075 dollars. This year, we had to scrap plans to go to Colorado. Too many wildfires threatening the Colorado Trail. Now, Ryan plans to hike the Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier.






 I have lots of Seattle layovers to hike around the Puget Sound area and later in the month we hope to go on a camping trip here in Washington.

Please consider making a donation this year, no amount is too small!! Just follow the link posted below. Thanks so much!! http://www.gifttool.com/athon/MyFundraisingPage?ID=1468&AID=2449&PID=369509

Monday's Postcard: Colorado Bridge

I am fascinated with these three different postcards of the same bridge in Colorado. The Royal Gorge Suspension Bridge was constructed in 1929 at a cost of $250,000 and at the time, was the highest bridge in the world at 1,053 feet above the Arkansas River.


It is that time of year again, Ryan and I are getting ready for our August Hike-a-thon for Washington Trails. Ryan will be leaving soon to begin his thru-hike of the Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango and I will be doing Trail Angel duties along the way. This will continue into August, so the first part of our August hiking will be in Colorado. Then we return home and start hiking trails in Washington State that benefit from our fundraising efforts. Please consider contributing to the cause--Just visit our fundraising website at the link below and pledge a little or a lot for Washington Trails. Thanks so much!!  


http://www.gifttool.com/athon/MyFundraisingPage?ID=1468&AID=2449&PID=369509

Monday's Postcard: Florida Oranges

Believe it or not, I lived in Florida for several years. I am amazed by the history of the state, it fascinates me. The postmarks on these postcards are all from the 1950's.

June Reading

Books I read in June

Salt, Sugar, Fat, How the Food Giants Hooked Us  by Michael Moss (library) this book really has me looking at my eating (and cooking) of processed/canned foods from the grocery store.
The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen reading more in the Rizzoli and Isles series
The Sound of Broken Glass by Deborah Crombie (library) this book got great reviews and it is part of a series, I might have to check out more by this author
The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan (library) great story about the ballerinas who inspired Degas
The Third Son by Julie Wu (library) about a Tawainese man who leaves during the time after WWII when   the Chinese and Japanese were fighting  for control of Taiwan, for a better life in the US. I enjoyed it
Truth in Advertising by John Kenney (library) enjoyed it, I am a fan of Mad Men and this is an advertising story from present day
Snapper by  Brain Kimberling (library) great, memoir type story of a boy from Indiana. He is also a birder, loved it
Dirt Work by Christine Byl (library) great book about a woman doing trail work in Glacier National Park and Alaska much better than wild by strayed
All But My Life by Gerda Klein (library) a holocaust memoir made into an HBO film
The Last Runaway by Tracey Chevalier (library) loved this book about a Quaker quilter who is involved in the Underground Railroad in Ohio
Kinsey and Me by Sue Grafton (library) short stories loved it
Finding Betty Crocker by Sue Marks (library) nonfiction about the creation of Betty Crocker as a marketing tool very interesting
The Sunshine When She's Gone by Thea Goodman (library) father runs off with infant daughter okay
The Edge of the Earth by Christina Schwarz (library) story of an 1800's lighthouse keeper's wife I enjoyed it
The Dogs of Bedlam Farm by Jon Katz very sweet
Waiter Rant by The Waiter (library) after reading Heads in Beds and Kitchen Confidential, this was the obvious next choice :-)
Bay of Fires by Poppy Gee (library) murder mystery from Australia okay
We Need New Names by Noviolet Bulawayo (library) I liked it
Southern Cross the Dog by Bill Cheng (library) story of a black man during the Jim Crow era. Interesting
Last Ape Standing by Chip Walter (library) about human evolution very very interesting, quite enjoyed it

20 books read this month

Monday's Postcard: Shanghai Girls

Shanghai Girls were very popular in advertising through the 1920's and 30's. I have also read a great book by Lisa See called Shanghai Girls It is a fictionalized account of sisters who are calendar models in China during the 30's.

Monday's Postcard: California Desert

The California Desert is so exotic. Both of these postcards are postmarked from 1942. "Spring Time on the Desert, Cholla Cactus and Daisies in Bloom" and "Date Gardens on the Desert."

Monday's Postcard: One of my Oldest

The undivided back of this postcard says "This side is exclusively for the address"


This is one of my oldest cards. It is from Niagara Falls, Canada and features the Legend of the White Canoe.
It is a postcard with an undivided back. The entire back of the postcard was for the address and stamp. The front of the card would have the picture and a space for writing your message. Although, not always would there be space for your message, this is why you see many postcards of this era with writing on top of the photo or picture of the card. In 1907, they began producing divided back postcards which made it possible to put the address and message together on the back of the card. It prevented the face of the card from being written on and used cards became more collectible as a result. So I can date this postcard as being pre-1907.

Monday's Postcard: Victoria, BC

Victoria, BC, Canada.

May Reading

Books I read in May



Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner (library) I enjoyed it --about two literary professors and their wives tracing their marriages from when they first meet til the end of their lives
The Patriotic Murders by Agatha Christie  a Hercule Poirot originally titled An Overdose of Death
To Sleep with the Angels The Story of a Fire by David Cowan and John Kuenster An elementary school fire in the 1950's in Chicago, very tragic
Life after Life by Kate Atkinson (library) interesting way to tell the story (downton abbey era family) with alternate timelines--
The Next Time you See Me by Holly Goddard Jones (library)--great mystery, highly recommend
Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell (library) Great short stories by the author of Swamplandia
Dear Lucy by  Julie Sarkissian (library)   Poignant

The Under Dog by Agatha Christie short stories
Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline (library) still with my fascination of the orphan trains, this is a fictional account and I loved it, made me cry
America's Cheapest Family gets you Right on the Money by Steve Economides (library) great advice for saving money in your day to day budget
Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys (library) YA and very entertaining, although somewhat predictable. I hope to read more by this author
Murder at the Gardner by Jane Langton Boston Mystery I read, since I was spending time in Boston at the end of the month :-)
The Kingmaker's Daughter by Philippa Gregory (library) I enjoy reading about English History from Philippa Gregory, she really makes it come to life for me! lol
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult (library) a holocaust story, not my favorite Picoult, but entertaining none the less
Flora by Gail Godwin (library) I loved this book, it really spoke to me. I think I am going to buy it so I can read it again and again. It just touched something in me--very summer of my german soldier or something
The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory (library) More English History from Gregory, this one had ties to the Joan of Arc story, pretty interesting
The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen books that the TV show Rizzoli and Isles are based on

17 books read this month