The Happy Ending to The Gleason Vacation July 7, 2016

Mountain bike day for the Gleasons!  It was overcast but not raining on Thursday.  We had beautiful weather the whole trip.  We decided to take an eleven mile ride round trip up to Mazama for lunch.  The trail started at Brown's Farm.  We couldn't find it.  We actually just stumbled on it by turning down a random road.  The trail really didn't start at the farm.  It started across the highway.  We went across the highway and parked.  We didn't notice any bike trail.  We saw a trail that was for winter use.  We asked and there it was...the winter use trail.  We started off on it and it was extremely rocky and narrow.  It was supposed to be a double track so you could ride side by side.  We both thought we were on the wrong trail but knew Mazama was just up the highway.  Mike went back and got his helmet and we rode on the highway.  Not fun, cars, lots of them.  It was a slight uphill ride to Mazama.  

 We have arrived!

 Water, water everywhere!

 Mazama has one grocery store and a sport store and that is it!  A few homes too.

 The one and only store and coffee shop.

 Mazama=Goat

 This is the patio area of the store.  The building you see in the back is the sports store.  After we had a sandwich we asked the clerk about the trail.  She told us we were on the right one and it only stayed bumpy like that for a few minutes.  We found the trail head and headed back to Brown's Farm on the mountain bike trail.  Not the highway.

 Much better!

 Over the river and through the woods...

 The landscape changed a lot in the 5+ miles back to the farm.

 Love these suspension bridges.  So much better than the highway.

 More water!

 The ride was complete!  It was a spectacular mountain bike ride.  Made me want to do it more!  Car loaded up and back to Winthrop.

 We walked through Winthrop many times on this trip but never noticed this.

 Mike made new friends.

We had a great time on this trip.  Mike and Jackie style!  Out in nature and enjoying each other and God's handiwork.  We feel grateful to live in Washington.  Until next year!  Gleason vacation over!

North Cascades Vacation July 3, 2016

Let's plan our vacation talk started in January.  Lots of talk but no action.  Finally, we got it done.  Let's go to the mountains and let's stay close to home.  I got it! The North Cascades National Park.  Great idea and the plans began.  Our home base was Winthrop, Washington.  Mike had never been to Winthrop.  Hard to believe because he grew up in Washington.  A small western tourist town with lots of things to do! 

We stayed at the Chewuch Inn.  Great place to stay.  

 We got a late start leaving Spokane which is no surprise.  We arrived in Winthrop around dinnertime.  We rode our bikes on a nice trail into town.  Maybe about 1/2 mile ride.

 Here we go!

 Deer everywhere!!!

 Over the Chewuch River and into town for dinner and some site seeing!

 Down the main street Mike goes!

 I took a few pictures of this western town before we ate!

 Everything sweet here! The hot spot.

 And here we are sticking our heads through holes to make us look totally different!

 The recycle bin!

 Dinnertime.  As we walked into Three Fingered Jack's a couple was walking out and said the wait for food was long but it was worth it.  It was a long wait but the food was good.  We had dinner here another night and the wait wasn't long at all.

Here is the story about how Jack's got its name. Poor Jack!  

We had a nice dinner together!  

 Another one on the bike ride home.

 Back to the cabin to get ready for the 4th of July festivities!