Whistler, B.C. Day 2

Today was an amazing day that started with a kayak trip down the River of Golden Dreams (I'm not making this stuff up)

For dinner we had a delicious meal at Araxi. We had some wonderful food finishing with this tasty little raspberry-chocolate tort:

To cap our evening we stumbled upon a free concert in the Olympic Plaza featuring one of our favorite bands growing up...Barenaked Ladies!

Whistler, B.C. - Day 1

Today was a day full of sweaty palms, high blood pressure and adrenaline rushes as we decided to ride the Peak-2-Peak Gondola [the world's longest span (1.9 miles) and highest off the ground (1,430 feet)].

Getting up to the first peak was probably the least scary part:

We were then faced with the decision of whether or not to take the lift up to the peak of Whistler Mountain even though neither one of us is fond of heights:

We went for it! I kept my eyes closed most of the way up. On the way down Brandt shot this picture as the ski lift stopped not once, but twice! (the second time for at least 1 minute):

The ski lift up to Whistler Mountain was probably the scariest but the Peak-2-Peak Gondola from Whistler Mountain to Blackcomb Mountain was also not for the weak of heart:

Here's what 1400 feet off the ground in a little gondola looks like!

We enjoyed a delicious Prime Rib dinner on the top of Mount Whistler before posing for one last picture and heading back to our hotel for some rest and relaxation!

Squamish, BC

Brandt and I are enjoying a nice little Canadian vacation in Squamish, B.C. Here's a picture of the view from our balcony yesterday afternoon:

By the time we ate our dinner on the patio, we were treated to some live entertainment down below...an adult black bear!

Today, we checked out some local scenic spots. The first was beautiful Shannon Falls:

It's hard to get a grasp of scale in this photograph but Stawamus Chief is nearly 2300 feet of near-vertical granite. We could see a few climbers making their way up...

Finally, we had a nice picnic lunch at Alice Lake:

Long Beach, WA

Brandt's family's annual trip to the coast was to Long Beach this year. The highlight had to be spending time with our new 6-week-old niece, Mielle!

We had great weather--Brandt and his Dad took advantage by playing some beach baseball:

Dad chasing after some seagulls and cranes:

We made the short drive up to Oysterville to buy (you guessed it) for the grill:

Paul made his delicious paella:

Ohanapecosh

It wouldn't be summer without our annual trip with Brandt's family down to Ohanapecosh in the Mount Rainier National Park!

We were pretty proud of our Macgyver-skills on the canopy construction:

Brandt and his Dad at the visitor center:

It also wouldn't be an Ohanapecosh camping trip without a hike up to Silver Falls:

California Rolls

Brandt and I tried making California rolls recently and they actually turned out pretty tasty!

Step 1: Prepare sushi rice by rinsing it several times until water runs clear; drain in a colander:

Step 2: Soak the rice in water for 30 minutes prior to steaming it in a rice cooker:

Step 3: Fold in sushi vinegar (rice vinegar, salt and sugar):

Step 4: Cover nori with a thin layer of prepared sushi rice:

Step 5: Place sliced avocado, cucumber and crab in the middle:

Step 6: Roll, slice and serve with wasabi and soy sauce!

Kalaloch Camping

Brandt and I spent a few days camping at Kalaloch Beach west of Olympic National Park on the coast. It was rainy the first day we arrived but the following day it was beautiful.

'Baby bump' in its early stages...

Brandt almost got caught off guard by the tide...

Brandt pretended he was 'Survivor Man' and used some seaweed to tie his beach wood bundle to take back to camp for kindling.

We drove up to the Hoh National Rain Forest to check out the 'Hall of Mosses.' It lived up to its name!