Travel: Brotherly Love

Philadelphia, PA

Of the 4 main cities we traveled to, we spent the least amount of time in Philadelphia. The lack of photos reflects this fact. Basically we saw the Rocky steps, had a Philly Cheesesteak and got out of town. 

Travel: Nations Capitol

National Mall

Washington DC

I went to the East Coast twice over the past two months. The first trip existed to help plan the second trip. The photos below of Washington DC, and in future posts of Philadelphia, Lancaster and New York, are a combination of both trips. I could explain which were from which trip, but it doesn't matter. You don't care. 

Bellingham: Extended Hours

Waterfrontish Area

Bellingham, WA

The days are so long.

Bellingham: Youth Group

Big Field Games

Bellingham Covenant Church

When you put a group of middle/high school students in the same common area as buckets of colorful powder, great things are likely to happen. 

Northwest: A Garden

Bellevue Botanical Garden

Bellevue, WA

Bellevue has a lot of money. Excessive amounts of money. This is no secret. Bellevue also has a large urban garden. A lot of cities have large urban gardens. Not all of those cities with large urban gardens have excessive amounts of money. Based on absolutely no research I have concluded that there is no direct correlation between cities with excessive amounts of money having large urban gardens. However, there is a correlation between cities with excessive amounts of money and bridges to nowhere. You see, buried deep within the Bellevue Botanical Garden is a beautiful suspension bridge.  It spans a deep enough ravine and is something you don't usually find in a park such as this. However, it basically goes no where. You cross the bridge only to find an 1/8th of a mile loop trail that circles back to the bridge. It's a great walk through a wonderful inner city garden with a bridge that really is a fascinating engineering gem. But the bridge goes no where. Not literally, but basically. 

 

 

Northwest: Tulip Town

Tulip Festival

Mt Vernon, WA

Last year I randomly stopped by the tulip fields a week or so late. The flowers were mostly dead, the colors mostly gone. This year, Ellen and I made it on time. It's a much different, and much better, experience when they flowers are in bloom. I probably didn't need to tell you that though. The weather for our day trip to Tulip Town was just about right for this time of year. Partly sunny, warm enough and no rain. We stopped at a few fields, almost got sucked into having to pay to look at flowers, bought a nice little bouquet, and called it a day.  I'm pretty sure everyone who visits the tulip fields has basically this exact same experience. That's not necessarily a bad thing though. 

Travel: Vancouver

Downtown

Vancouver, BC

For my 27th Birthday I was treated to a day exploring about Canada's glassiest city. One afternoon in Vancouver made me wonder why I don't get to Vancouver more often. Summer bike trips along the seawall will most definitely be in order.  Also, Maple Beer from Granville Island Brewery. Get the Maple Beer.  

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.