Seattle... area

The thick smell of smoldering marijuana hung heavy over the woodland trail. Green light filtering through the lofty ceiling of evergreens played upon an empty path. Only glimpses of color flashed between the massive trunks of the stately trees ahead. But, there could be little doubt, the youngster in the red dreadlocks was burning green.

The imagery above, while not typical of the Seattle area, does fit an entertaining stereotype. The strange sureness that when hiking in the mountains of the pacific northwest you will chance upon a lad of Irish descent burning leaves of dubious legality.

I myself take daily a dose of prescription medication. I do so, however, at home as it is a rather inconvenience to be popping pills while strolling beneath the trees and sky. I would like to remind any of you folks out there that the presence of dreadlocks does not in anyway imply that the careful dose, being self administered by the lad, was not strictly medicinal.

My only concern is that, like estrogen in my glass of water, I would prefer if I were not the secondhand recipient of someone else's "health habits".

Humorous encounters aside, day hiking in the Cascades can be quite rewarding.

Sam's Summary

• I have taken several hikes in the cascades.
• A very very low percentage of the other hikers smoke pot on the trail
• ......So breathe deep when you get the chance......
• It is a lush rain forest out here.

Hawai'i

When there is not much to blog about I usually don't write very often. When there is much to write about I don't have the time. Thus I apologize for not keeping you, my gentle readers, up to date. Truth be told I could have written yesterday, but alas I was recouping from the rigors of my last adventure (read lazy here if you must).

Ah Hawaii! They call it paradise. Honestly it is no more paradise than Nome is. It is, however, a reasonable approximation. If you like ninety, sunny, and a bit humid then the weather was perfect. If lush jungle covered mountains are your thing then the terrain is superb. If azure blue seas tickle your fancy then you are in luck. And if happiness to you involves tearing your feet up on the coral, well they have that covered also.

I spent the greater portion of the time in the pleasant company of my friend from Washington, his sister, brother-in-law and parents. Most days involved a short drive, a long hike, and a bit of sun on the beach. I my limited experience I declare the north shore of Oahu the better swimming area during the calm summer months. The beaches are a bit sandier, and there are more inlets and coves.

The best hikes on the island involve mountains. If you neglect to schedule a mountain on your path you will, in all probability be going for a "sweat" rather than the intended hike. The views from the mountains are magnificent. The sides are shear so it is almost like flying. The most entertaining hike we took had rock faces that we had to scramble up using ropes that were handily affixed to the trees.

The rest of my time with my friend and his brother-in-law consisted of good food, losing at poker, and a healthy dose of the video game 'Rock Band'. All-in-all Their house in Ewa Beach has to be the best stay on the island. Where else does friendship flow so free?

My friend, being an important engineer living at the beck and call of the Boeing Corporation, had to fly out a few days early. Thus I found myself, for the last two days, in the company of my cousin. For those of you outside my family, I do indeed have a cousin on Oahu. At least for another week or so. He just graduated. For the moment he is living in grand style in a luxurious, to my humble eyes, apartment building.

From his swanky pad I struck out into the tourist jungle of Waikiki. It is a fine array of hotels, towers, and merchandise. Anything money can buy, if only anyone could come by enough money. Not my style but it was fun to see.

On my final full day my cousin took me surfing. Very nice of him. I got a nice huge beginner board and hit the surf. I would happily report that was haning ten in green pipes all day if it were not a lie. The truth be told I never got fully standing and for the most part was pummeled by the waves. I became exhausted in ver short order. The push of the wave is exhilirating though. I will return. The last time I fell, I got into some rocks. The water was quite shallow and I did a number on my feet.

The gaping hole in my foot convinced me to find other pursuits for the remainder of the session. Luckily the pretty girl sitting on the rocks turned out to be a friend of my cousins. She became both tour guide and free taxi service for the rest of the day. We had a nice hike. We ate lunch, A big happy shout out to my cousin for picking up that tab before I even knew there was a tab. Then we toured a few of the blow holes along the coast. The most amazing was "spitting rock" a feature that when a wave hits it, it spits hundreds of gallons water horizontally 40 or so feet away from the cliff face.

That is probably enough for now. Hiking about the Seattle area has resumed and I need to start more serious contemplation fo where to go next. Thanks for reading. I will try to get pictures up later.

Sam's Summary

• I was in Hawi'i
• I am not any longer
• 'tis a hot, humid, green place
• I learned how to surf
• I just didn't execute
• I cut my feet on coral
• I hiked quite a bit bot before and after slicing my toes
• The guards at the stores for rich people always stand just to the left of the entrance and slightly out of view.
  

20 th State

Yesterday found me skimming through the air; suspended above thousands of miles of sharks, orcas, and fearsome giant squid prowling the depths far below the gentle waves. The world was a giant deep blue clam shell with only a band of pearly white clouds to mark it's middle. Between up and down there is no difference. The sky a flattened blue dome above and the sea a curved blue basin below.

By some good fortune and better planning my 20th state is Hawaii. The sun is just now climbing above the rooftops I can see from my window. I can't claim that Hawaii is a wonderful state, or beautiful, or friendly. I have not been, done, or seen as of yet. If you give me a chance to stop typing I will be off finding adventures soley so I can relate them here.

Sam's Summary

• I am in Hawaii
• I have not done anything yet
• I just thought you should know that I made it here
• Staying with my friend's sister and her cats
• I am mildly allergic to cats
• So don't be envious
• I guess I wil have to spend my time at the beach
  

General Laziness

I seem to be getting very lazy in my posting. Sorry about that. At last check I was in Santa Monica California. I am no longer in Santa Monica. In fact I am no longer in California. I am not even in a State that borders California. For the past four days I have been in the Seattle area. I happen to have a friend up this way.

Now how did I get here? Well, I drove. I drove the Pacific Coast Highway. I recommend it for anyone who has the time, the car, and skill necessary to navigate such a convoluted route. It is flat out awesome. The road takes you all the way from the urban desert that is L.A. to the lush rain forests of the pacific northwest. In between are rocks, mountains, seas of flowers, a red bridge, tight curves, and the most majestic trees ever planted by the hand of God.

I can't describe every feature that took my breath away or every hairpin turn that gave it back, but I can say that every place on earth that I have so far seen has it's charms and the pacific coast is not remotely in the running, as the exception. I camped at dunes, inlets, and lush jungles. I drove through sun, wind, and driving rain. I visited an aquarium and wandered amidst the trunks of stately redwoods. I marveled at crashing waves and hillsides awash in wild flowers. I have now driven the PCH and would very happily do it again, but there are other wonders to see yet and I am on my way to see them.

After a brief hiatus in Seattle that is. As I said, my friend lives here. He works so he is leaving me in charge of his fifty odd inch HDTV, Playstation 3 and impressive movie collection. Other than that, we climbed most of a mountain (We sort of lost the trail beneath the snow), and we went to the horse races. Luckily I know that I was not born to gamble, having taken statistics in college, so I only lost $4.00 before quitting. My friend came out $4.00 up so I could have just given him the money and stayed home. It was fun though. Carefully reviewing the horses with a practiced eye and selecting the one with the best name or coolest coloring and then watching your horse come in dead last.

I actually only had one pick come in last. My other pick came in second to last. Now I am spending my days working on a top secret project and planning for thrusday when I depart for my next top secret location. Check back friday for details.

Sam's Summary

• I have been shirking my duties as a travel blogger
• that does not mean that I have not been traveling
• I have in fact been traveling
• Up the pacific coast since you asked
• It was cool
• You should do it too
• but only if you are cool
• I am in Seattle
• I am horrible at picking horses
• I am busy doing vacation type stuff