August found Ilene and me back in Tacoma, this time at the Joint Base McChord-Lewis Northwest Adventure Center’s RV Park.
The drive from Chimacum was short and easy and NW Adventures had us in the same spot we were in last year just around the corner from the office.
As soon as we settled in we headed over to Dan and Juan’s to see them and pickup mail we’d had forwarded. It’s always nice seeing them and Juan was cooking something that smelled AMAZING!
Over the next couple weeks we hung around and worked on the RV, took our first kayak lesson, attended a Rainier’s Minor League ballgame, and visited Mt Saint Helens.
While there we also managed to get haircuts, get Bella into doggie daycare at The Pet Brigade on Ft Lewis, and even pop into Wally’s Chowder House. We discovered Wally’s last year with Eric and Cindy and I promised Ilene we’d stop in before heading South again. I can honestly say Wally’s has the best chowder I’ve ever had. It’s so good that Ilene even has a cup…and she’s not a chowder person at all!
The kayak lesson was one of the highlights of our visit and we both had a great time rowing along the Foss Waterway. Sponsored by Foss Waterway Seaport, the cost was only $20 apiece and we even got into the museum for free. Ilene did real well and so did I, although I do have to work on my dismounts. The Puget Sound is still pretty chilly in August.
As I mentioned we had the opportunity to travel out to Mt Saint Helens and see how well the forest had recovered since the May 1980 eruption. We can both attest to how resilient Mother Nature is. While traces of the eruption are still evident, nearly forty years later the forest and Toutle River have made a magnificent comeback.
We ended our stay with a morning at Madigan Army Hospital Emergency Room. On my birthday I woke up early with excruciating pain in my left toe. Long story short…I got GOUT! The best part of the experience was without a doubt the staff at Madigan.
Everyone we met, from the admittance people, RNs, doctors and interns were helpful and seemed genuinely concerned with my welfare. The doctor prescribed some meds, we were in and out at the pharmacy and by early afternoon we were back at the Audie Rose for a short nap before beginning our prep for departure.
For more photos go here: Northwest Adventures
You must be logged in to post a comment.