We'll it's almost here, A multi-day road trip in Oregon and Washington with Sara and the kids. Yep the kids are going too. We'll be flying to Portland, OR on Saturday the 18th and returning the 29th. The greater Seattle area was my home for over 3 years. I truly love that area of the country. It has a lot to offer anyone who likes to play outside. A person could be standing in knee keep snow around Mt. Rainier in the morning and wading in the Pacific ocean 4 hours later.
I still have several friends and contacts up there, but those numbers steadily diminish as military folks have moved on. I have tried my darndest' to get Sara a tour on a submarine, but this has been shot down with each door I've tried to open. Apparently, I no longer possess the "papers" I once did. Security is so much tighter than it used to be. Even family members of people assigned to the submarines are not being allowed on board. It seems as the missions for subs become less specific, life on board has become more secretive. What is ironic is that I can see aerial pictures of submarines in port by looking at Google Maps or Mapquest. These are the same areas I am no longer allowed to visit, but the world can view it from their desk top.
I was raised in Northeast Tennessee, but I would have to say that I grew up in Washington State. Most of my free time was spent in the saddle of a bike or with a pair of climbing shoes or mountaineering boots on. Being underwater for months at a time, I spent as much time being as far away from base as possible. The two extremes of a large city and mountain ridges somehow gave me a feeling of balance. I once drove 30 minutes and took a 40 minute ferry ride for a delicious Gala Apple at the Pike Place Market in Seattle. The mountains offered even more of an escape. I could go on about my time in the mountains, but I will simply say that it was magical to me.
With the fast living subs forced upon me, It was these excuses to get away that continue to pay large dividends to this day. Sure I would have to say that I enjoyed my time in the Navy, but living at sea or being attached to a submarine for a 20 year career did not interest me.
It will be nice to visit these places of solace with Sara and the kids. Ansley may not remember much of it, but Bowen will probably soak it up like the intellectual sponge he is. As of now our hit list starts in Portland, then two days at Mount St. Helen's and Mt. Rainier. Then we head North to visit a friend who is getting married and tour around Seattle. The grand finale of our trip will be to drive to the Northwestern point of the U.S. then head south along the coast. The trip will end back in Portland.
Iv'e got a full week before we take flight. I have not participated in many races this summer. I have no real excuse. Iv'e just been content with trying to increase my running distances over the last 3 months. I'm aiming for a 13 mile trail run on Friday, but before then I'm gonna' try to squeeze in a decent showing at the Mountain Bike Rally at Bays Mountain on Monday night and at the Wolf 7 mile trail run at Bays Mountain on Tuesday night. It should be a whirlwind week once again.
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