First stop: West Coast (Seattle, Whidbey Island, San Juan Islands, Port Townsend, Warm Beach Horse Camp, Vancouver, Oregon, and northern California for JH Ranch). Of course, we weren't all in these places together. We like to divide and conquer.
We began with jet lag ✈
Seattle as a family for almost three days, then the craziness began.
Jeff and Ellis to Portland and then to Etna, CA.
Mom and Forrest to Whidbey Island and Vancouver.
Taylor and Claire to Warm Beach Horse Camp.
And, this is only the West Coast schedule.
I believe this ice cream SCOOP is the only thing Claire remembers about Whidbey Island. To her credit, she and Taylor were only on Whidbey Island for one day before we drove them off to Warm Beach Horse Camp (off the island).
Forrest and I got completely lost in Deception Pass State Park. He says we did not, but that's only because we actually made it out. As if, coming out alive negates being lost.
Headstands always clear my head. I'm pretty sure we found our way out after this exercise.
San Juan Island Whale Watching. The story behind this trip begins ten years prior when Jeff brought Forrest to Seattle when Forrest was 8 years old (Daddy Trip). They booked a whale watching tour and didn't see any whales, so it's a guaranteed free return trip. Jeff kept the tickets and the company was still in business and honored the free tickets for this trip.
Forrest and I were freezing the entire time. By the end of the day (this is a six hour tour), we were hovered around the only heater of the boat. It was July, for cryin' out loud.
One of Forrest's sweetest friends, Annie, summers in Vancouver. These two had just graduated HKIS together in June. This was a quick trip but such a great time.
After Vancouver, we drove back to Whidbey Island (this was the home base for Forrest and me), we drove to Port Townsend to meet more HKIS friends, the Bryants.
And, while we were touring Washington and Canada, Jeff and Ellis were making their way to JH Ranch, via Crater Lake in Oregon.
JH Ranch - Etna, California. This camp means so very much to our family. The values they teach permeate our home and the homes of many of our friends. It's a blessing to know this place.
While Jeff and Ellis were at JH, and while Forrest and mom were touring around, the girls were happily in horse camp for a week in Warm Beach, Washington. There is nothing warm about this place, even in July. I sorely under-packed for the west coast summers, if they can even call them summers.
And, back to Seattle to reunite for a brief moment.
We had to buy Jeff a coffee cup from the original Starbucks. No one wanted to stand in the line with me, so I was making my sacrifice while the remainder had ice cream. Yes, I'm taking the picture from the line that I refused to leave.
Jeff returned to Hong Kong and we moved on to the east coast.
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