Off the Beaten Path

Day 259: Before they arrived, I had warned my New Zealand guests that there wasn't a lot to do here in the Back of Beyond unless you were an avid hiker or a mountaineer. The skies have been cloudy, and they've only seen the tips of Mount Rainier's three summit peaks poking up above them. In the hopes that we might get above the clouds for a Mountain view, I decided to take them up to Paradise yesterday even though the webcams showed the area blanketed in fog. There was little chance they would actually get a view, but I thought I could offer a little excitement en route with a brief visit to a little-known area. Obviously, Rob enjoyed the diversion! In exchange, he was able to provide a trip highlight to me: he found a slime mold (it will appear in a subsequent post). We paid Kevin a visit at the office, and as predicted, Paradise was a rainy, nippy washout. With two days left before they start the trip home, there's still hope that my visitors may both see the Mountain and the night skies of the northern hemisphere. It's supposed to clear up.

Boom Box

Day 311: I've featured this sign or one of its several companions a few times, but every time I see it I either think of Angry Birds or wonder how many of my readers could find something similar even if it did happen to be behind a fence (which this obviously is not). I also can't imagine anyone with a camera stumbling into proximity and failing to take a photograph. It's certainly not an everyday sight and definitely trumps cute little squirrels and chipmunks, although I have been known to crawl around on my hands and knees behind it, examining lichens. To the best of my knowledge, there have been no mishaps associated with the "boom box" in the distance, and I'm sure the healthiness of the surrounding forest is a testament to the relative safety of the area. Still, a measure of precaution is prudent when entering these woods, so don't be making campfires in unapproved locations unless you like your marshmallows toasted very dark.