Since I last posted, I have been busy with a number of hikes and trips around the west coast. In November, I took advantage of dirt cheap tickets ($39 each way) and flew to San Francisco with Roy for a fun long weekend in the city and a night
in Sausalito. On our last day, while everyone else was working and it was pouring in Seattle, I rented a bike and rode from Sausalito to Tiburon and back under sunny skies in shorts and a t-shirt. Poor Roy was stuck in bed with some sort of ugly cold. 
The following week, I headed back east to family Thanksgiving in Cleveland. I missed it last year due to recovery from knee surgery, so it was great to see the extended Dingledy family and friends, all 35 of us.
The weekend before Christmas, Roy and I took the train down from Portland to enjoy a long weekend at the Nines hotel, a gret place right in the downtown core above Macy's. We discovered it last year and loved it. It was a great chance to explore the city, do some tax free shopping, and be car free for a few days. Although the city was all decked out for Christmas, the weather was rainy an
d bleary.
A few days after we got home from Portland, Mom and Dad drove up from Indio, California to share the holidays. We had great holiday meals, and a fun white elephant party on Christmas nig
ht, complete with a wide variety of exotic and interesting gifts. Mom, Dad and I spent a day up north, checking out the snow geese and trumpeter swans on Fir Island. I don't know how many geese we saw congregating in the field, but it was in the tens of thousands. The din from their honking was incredible. And, when they all took off at once, it looked like a snowstorm. We also saw a pair of bald eagles and their giant nest and a 
short eared owl hunting in broad daylight. After our wildlife experience, we spent the afternoon in LaConner eating lunch and exploring the town. Caught a great sunset 
along the channel before we made our way back home.
After Mom and Dad left, I was still in the mood for wildlife viewing. That following week, I finished morning court early and took a field trip before afternoon court, heading up to Rockport to check out the bald eagles. None were feeding in the river, but a bunch were hanging out
in the surrounding trees digesting their salmon breakfasts. I also saw a beaver or otter hanging out in the river below me doing it's thing. I couldn't figure out what it was at first, as I've never really seen one in action before, but that had to be what it was. It disappeared before I could take it's picture.
The weekend before Christmas, Roy and I took the train down from Portland to enjoy a long weekend at the Nines hotel, a gret place right in the downtown core above Macy's. We discovered it last year and loved it. It was a great chance to explore the city, do some tax free shopping, and be car free for a few days. Although the city was all decked out for Christmas, the weather was rainy an
d bleary.A few days after we got home from Portland, Mom and Dad drove up from Indio, California to share the holidays. We had great holiday meals, and a fun white elephant party on Christmas nig
ht, complete with a wide variety of exotic and interesting gifts. Mom, Dad and I spent a day up north, checking out the snow geese and trumpeter swans on Fir Island. I don't know how many geese we saw congregating in the field, but it was in the tens of thousands. The din from their honking was incredible. And, when they all took off at once, it looked like a snowstorm. We also saw a pair of bald eagles and their giant nest and a short eared owl hunting in broad daylight. After our wildlife experience, we spent the afternoon in LaConner eating lunch and exploring the town. Caught a great sunset 
along the channel before we made our way back home.After Mom and Dad left, I was still in the mood for wildlife viewing. That following week, I finished morning court early and took a field trip before afternoon court, heading up to Rockport to check out the bald eagles. None were feeding in the river, but a bunch were hanging out
in the surrounding trees digesting their salmon breakfasts. I also saw a beaver or otter hanging out in the river below me doing it's thing. I couldn't figure out what it was at first, as I've never really seen one in action before, but that had to be what it was. It disappeared before I could take it's picture.The first weekend in January, we had a girls trip to Whistler. 
Laura, Rachel, Haley, Cassie, Anna, Sonja, Sara and I drove up Thursday afternoon for two full days of play in the snow (actually rain). Despite the uncooperative weather, we had a great time. I tried out the new ACL for the first time and it was fine. I also went for a nice snow walk with Laura. We used the snowshoe trails, but the snow was so consolidated that there was no need for 
snowshoes. At least it didn't really rain on us!
Laura, Rachel, Haley, Cassie, Anna, Sonja, Sara and I drove up Thursday afternoon for two full days of play in the snow (actually rain). Despite the uncooperative weather, we had a great time. I tried out the new ACL for the first time and it was fine. I also went for a nice snow walk with Laura. We used the snowshoe trails, but the snow was so consolidated that there was no need for 
snowshoes. At least it didn't really rain on us!We spent MLK Jr. weekend near Lake Wenatchee for the 11th Annual Dinglerama. Again, the weather was not optimal, but we still had a 
great time snowshoeing and cross 
country skiing around our house on the Chiwawa River and at Lake Wenatchee State Park.
great time snowshoeing and cross 
country skiing around our house on the Chiwawa River and at Lake Wenatchee State Park.At the end of January, Roy and I visited Camano Island and stayed at a great cabin in Cama Beach State Park. I first saw the cabins in Sunset magazine. They are really popular during the summer, bu
t we were able to get a reservation for the January date in September. I guess the motto is plan ahead. The cabins are tiny, have no bathrooms and no bedding, and were built in the 1920s. They do have heat, running water, a coffee maker, and a microwave oven. And, they are 
right on the water. Roy was a bit skeptical at first, but is now sold. Truly incredible views right out the window, a great beach, and nice walking trails just out the door.
In addition to my mini vacations and day trips, I've been doing a bunch of hiking. Training for my Shasta climb officiall
y started after New Years with a hike up Tiger Mountain 3. Since then I've done a number of training hikes around Tiger Mountain, Mt. Si, Wallace Falls State Park, Discovery Park, and Mercer Park, most with 30-35 pounds of weight on my back. Thanks Amy for being my training partner.
t we were able to get a reservation for the January date in September. I guess the motto is plan ahead. The cabins are tiny, have no bathrooms and no bedding, and were built in the 1920s. They do have heat, running water, a coffee maker, and a microwave oven. And, they are 
right on the water. Roy was a bit skeptical at first, but is now sold. Truly incredible views right out the window, a great beach, and nice walking trails just out the door.In addition to my mini vacations and day trips, I've been doing a bunch of hiking. Training for my Shasta climb officiall
y started after New Years with a hike up Tiger Mountain 3. Since then I've done a number of training hikes around Tiger Mountain, Mt. Si, Wallace Falls State Park, Discovery Park, and Mercer Park, most with 30-35 pounds of weight on my back. Thanks Amy for being my training partner.
