1,2,3 and we're back where we started

Last day before we travel back and it's a final visit back to Pike Place market, this time Dad caught a picture of the iconic market pig.  Speaks for itself really.

We had looked at visiting this shop, "The Crumpet Shop", on our first visit, but as it was weekend the place was packed out and we never got to sit down.  They make crumpets from scratch and top it with whatever you might wish, savoury or sweet, - riccotta cheese and lemon curd was popular.

The chef just had to pose with his creations for us..........

 .......butter and Marmite. The drinks were rather good here as well.  If the shelf life had been a liitle longer we would have got some to bring home.

Anyway, Snowflake approved of both Mum and Dad's crumpets having said she didn't want one!

And that brings us to the end of our independant travels, as we have just returned our rental car with an extra 4,156 miles on the clock.  Apparently, the car was immediately retired from the rental fleet!! 

Leaving the hotel at 6.00am tomorrow to catch our plane back to our lovely family, after nearly 6 weeks of a fantastic holiday.  There were times homesickness nearly took over, and Calgary was very nearly a victim of the need to get back, but we're glad that we did it and saved us the need to retrospectively rename the blog!

Hope that everyone has enjoyed staying in touch with us on our travels - blogging and Skype have really changed the face of doing something like this.

With lots of love from the three of us.

Kampsite Entertainment

On a tree at Ellensburg KOA kampground just outside the kabin, we caught a mother woodpecker feeding her baby. They stayed on the tree even though we were packing the car to leave for Leavensworth.

This river ran along the lower end of the kampground in Leavensworth. There were signs saying Swim At Your Own Risk as the river was too fast flowing.

This is the bright young thing that has just recieved the news via Skype from Natalie that she recieved a 2:1 for her degree. Great delight both sides of the pond.

Brought back down to Earth with an Elvis impersonater. I think this picture says it all. Mum couldn't stop dancing and clapping all the way back to the kabin.

There was great excitement round the camp when the kids were promised a hayride. Mum and Sophie were excited too as it was yet another Gilmore Girls reference brought to life. Everybody cheered and waved as the tractor towed families and children around the kampsite on a hay wagon. The kids were obviously having a great time.

Alberta Bertie stuffed with Mum's well travelled camping pillow and looking too cool for school! He's made from left over wool from a long awaited blanket for Natalie. He might well be used as an aeroplane pillow (we'll all be fighting for him!)

From the Bear's Den into the Snake Pit

Innocent until proven guilty, we say. Dad made us do it!

Behind us people were actuallly having breakfast while we messed about.

We left Spokane and headed towards Ellensburg (100 miles or so to Seattle). Another long driving day. We drove along singing along to Adele which kept us all chirpy.
This rest stop is the Columbia River. There used to be a tribe of Indians who lived here that were peaceful but they no longer exist.

Straight from the bear's den into the snake pit.

At the Kampsite at last and oh so relieved that the Kabin has air conditioning! It's 27 degrees Centigrade at 6pm. We're not used to this type of Kottage Kabin though because it seems a bit more up market than the others we've stayed in.

There is a Farmer's Market in the historical old town on tomorrow which we're hoping to go to. Then on to the Bavarian town of Levensworth (a bavarian town in America seems a bit odd but you've got to give these things a go, right?)

Nearly KOA VIPs

It was an all day drive from Whitefish to Spokane. This bridge was at one of the rest stops along the way.

The landscape changed to very dry and hot. It was a relief to be by the river.

We were all hot and tired after the long drive so we treated ourselves by going out to dinner. We went to the Outback Steakhouse where the server recommended the Bloomin Onion, a giant onion that was shaped into petals and seasoned.

 
Back at the KOA, Sophie was caught in the act of checking for more insect bites.

Having been to so many KOAs now, we're getting some big discounts and being treated like VIPs.

Swift Drift Down the River

Breakfast at the KOA. Can you spot Dad?

We know how to have breakfast in style.

Driving up to the newly opened Logan Pass, we came across a few of these beautiful waterfalls.

This particular waterfall doubled up as a car wash.

Can you make out the road carved into the side of the mountain?

They hadn't quite freed the visitor centre from the snow when we got up there. They'd just carved a pathway so that it could actually be used.

After driving up to Logan Pass in the morning, we took a Scenic Float and Dinner raft trip.

Rocking the windswept look. Don't they look glamourous?

Our guide told us about how the swifts make their nests in the side of this bank (if you can just make out the holes). We watched the birds swoop in and out of them for a while.

Is that Mum or Dad? It looks like Mum but the hat is very misleading.

Another glamourous shot of Mum and Sophie. What a beautiful backdrop as well.

The water looks calm but there were actually quite large waves which would eventually make us very wet.

Just after this bridge, we stopped for our steak and chicken dinner. We had chocolate brownie with cappucino cream for dessert.

Us all standing around, letting the young tour guide do all the work.

Sophie pretending to be Kala.

Fresh elk tracks in the sand.

Also along the river we saw a coyote on the river bank watching us. We drifted down the river for 10 miles (it really didn't feel like we went that far).

West Side Story

We carried on exploring the park. This is Sophie testing the temperature of the glacier ice melt water.

The equivalent of brain freeze for the feet as it turns out...

Dad paddled out to a little island. We're still waiting for his feet to thaw now.

Mum safely on dry land but not for long...

She didn't believe me but...
Stepping in.

Turning around...

And back out again.

The sign says it all.

The sign at one of the entrances. It heightened our excitement about what we might see.

100 yards later, we saw this sign...

Just to show how something so ordinary can look so lovely.
One of those bundles of wood has our name on it.