Phoenix: Part 5

Random Others
Phoenix, AZ

I guess these could have gone up on an earlier post. But they didn't, so here they are. The first came about due to a torrential desert rain storm. What was normally an open fairway of a municipal golf course was naturally turned into a mirror-like reflective body of water. The other two came from two separate hikes. The catch is, both hikes were hiked in the same day. We furiously biked the numerous miles that exist between the two trailheads. We are so healthy and physically fit.

Phoenix: Part 4

Camelback Mt

Scottsdale, AZ

Summited this sucker about 5 minutes before the sunset. Stuck around up top until it got mostly dark. The treck back down was a little more interesting. Thank the sweet Steve Jobs for iphone flashlight apps. 

Phoenix: Part 3

Mostly the Greenbelt

Scottsdale & Tempe

I guess we can call this the architecture and lines post? It turns out Phoenix is more than just cacti, scorpions and rocks. There are also buildings, bridges, tunnels and paths. The desert is far more evolved than I ever gave it credit for. 

For those curious where these locations can be found, all but the pool trellis shot were taken on the greenbelt trail. The first two were up in Scottsdale and the last bridge shot down in Tempe. The trellis shot was 10 yards from our condo at the pool. 

Phoenix: Part 2

Hayden Butte Preserve

Tempe, AZ

Life Lesson: Never pass up a hike that takes less than 10 minutes & spews out delicious views like the ones below. Especially if it's a sunny day. 

Pheonix: Part 1

E Minnezona Ave

Scottsdale, AZ

Hopefully these shots of deserty things will put you in the mood to see even more shots of more deserty things. After a trip to Phoenix that is really all I have to share. These first four shown below were all taken within 75 yards of our condo. The first three were during the day. The last one was at night. Those are the facts. I guess that is all I have to say at the moment. Stay tuned for more deserty shots!

Seattle: Touristy Things

Smith Tower

Seattle, WA

You live in a town long enough and you begin to think you've seen it all. I naively thought that of my former city. Then, as life would have it, Ellen and I found ourselves 38 floors above South downtown Seattle looking at a view 9 tourists out of 10 would gladly say rivals that of the Space Needle. For less than half the price! If you've been to Seattle you've probably been up to the top of the Space Needle. You enjoyed yourself and said, "what a nice thing that was". You figured that was the best you could do in the view department and decided to never again look for an observation deck in the Emerald City. You've made a huge mistake. Get down to Seattle, go to Pioneer Square, ride up the last man-operated elevator this fine city has to offer and take in the wonderful views of the Smith Tower observation deck. You owe it to yourself and the hard working people of Seattle to experience this satisfying view you've so selfishly neglected. 

Seattle: Book Learnin

Seattle Central Library

Seattle, WA

When we were in Iowa, Ellen and I partook in a visit to the historic library of the State Capitol building. When we were in Seattle, Ellen and I partook in a visit to the modern library of downtown Seattle. As it turns out, we are scholarly folk. Who knew an afternoon in a library could be so fun?

Seattle: Ferry Boat

Washington State Ferries

Seattle to Bainbridge

I can't count the exact number of times I've been to Bainbridge Island. Too many to know for sure. The best I can do is figure more than 25 and less than 100. What I can count though is the number of times I have been to Bainbridge Island for Thanksgiving. A week ago that number was zero. Now it is one. Guess what I did for Thanksgiving.  

Northwest: Orcas Sunset

Camp Orkila

Orcas Island

Sunsets are great wherever you are. But the best sunsets happen when you're on an island. 

Northwest: Camp Orkila

Camp Orkila

Orcas Island, WA

The pictures that follow do a horrible job of showing what transpired while I retreated at the YMCA camp named Orkila. These were digitally created up at a large field where the camp owned zip line exists. Fun fact; this camp claims it is the state of Washingtons longest zip line. Though I saw no substantial facts to back this up, I believed them. I'm a trustworthy guy. The zip line in question was not a part of our weekend events however. No one but me went up to the field. I went up there for about an hour just because I could. It was beautiful. It was scenically wonderful. But it really had nothing to do with what our weekend entailed. Also, these pictures make it seem like it was warm. Don't they look more warm than they do cold? It was cold. These pictures are lies, nothing but lies. 

Wedding: T&A

Tyler & Amanda

MoonDance Inn