September 16, 2016 Mt Rainier

Woke to a nice but chilly day. Drove to Paradise to catch the sunrise. As a bonus I captured the full moon setting.

I then drove further up the around the mountain and found a few more places before turning back to make breakfast.

Later I drove down to the camp store and another lookout. I then returned to camp and rested until five.

I then drove out of the park and around the mountain to attempt to capture the full moon rising over the top of Mt Rainier. Getting intermittent sprint access I had a app locate the best spot. I then set up and shot the sun setting and the moon rising.

The clouds covered the mountain and behind me the clouds covered the sun. I waited for an hour for the clouds to part just for a moment, didn’t happen. Though I did get a nice blue light photo with the moon backlighting the clouds over the mountain.

Then I had an hour drive back to my campsite.

Went straight to bed.

September 15, 2016 Lacey to Mt Rainier

So I have sprint again and I set Waze to escort me to Mt Rainier, good to know they know every backcountry road to get you where you want to go. Just hope you are not in a hurry.

Lost the Internet in the mountains, again.

It is beautiful up here, driving around to see as much as I can. They are doing road construction up here, so again one delay after the other.

Checked in with the Ranger station to find the best view for the moonrise on Friday. Then drove around looking for the best sunrise location. Tomorrow I will scout out some more locations.

I am finding that I have not allotted enough time for this trip and I am going to have to come back to many places I have visited.

May have to spend the next few years traveling so I can hit these places at different seasons. Sounds good to me, it is great to be out on the road.

Tonight I have my first steak since I have been on the road, I am going to cook it over the open flames of my campfire, can’t wait.

Time to cook see you later.

September 14, 2016 Coeur d’Alene to Lacey

Not much to say today drove and drove some more.

One construction zone morphed into to the next. They blocked off 6, 8 or 12 mile stretches and actual work covered maybe 200 yards per zone.

Then I got to Seattle in time for rush (4) hour traffic. Then it was one accident after the other, do these people know how to drive.

Finally just pulled off the road and found a place to stay.

As the sun set I watched the moon rise over Mt Rainier and decided to go up there for the full moon on Friday. Hopefully it will be clear.

September 13, 2016 Glacier to Coeur d’Alene

Woke up to temperature in the 20s, put on 50 layers of clothes and shucked my sleeping bag. Packed up and headed west.

The temperature steadily increased as I left Montana and entered Idaho.  I slowly started removing layers. I got a far as Coeur d’Alene and decided to stop for the night.

Found a nice place with a pool hot tub, and sauna, nice and relaxing.

Going to move into Washington today and see what I can find. The weather is perfect and is getting warmer.

Finally, I have sprint service again.

Hope you all have a great day.

September 12, 2016 McDonald Lake

Time to dry out.

So I paid for another night. The day is supposed to get warm and the skies clear. It was trying to, the clouds kept coming and the temperature crept up to the 50s. A steady wind blew all day.

So I went exploring, finding all the back dirt roads that they allow you to drive on. I think I found them all. I saw a couple of deer at the camp and that was it for wildlife.

The clouds and the dusting of snow on the higher elevations were beautiful.

I didn’t get the kayak out because of the wind.  I did find another back road that I had been searching for and took a long drive; there is still one road I have yet to find.

Had a nice day the tent is all dried out and tomorrow I will head further west.

Tonight a fire and some campfire cooking haven’t been able to do that in awhile due to weather and fire restrictions.

Bundling up tonight as the weather is going to drop into the 20s.

September 11, 2016 McDonald Lake

Rain, Rain and Cold! Winter weather arrived for the day. Temperatures dropped and lots of rain.

Went out to take some pictures between downpours. Mainly drove around checking on places to come back to and I had to recharge my electronics. The Ranger said that the weather would improve tomorrow, so I decided to stay another day.

After awhile I gave up and returned to the camp and read.

Went to Apgar Village for dinner and then to bed.