GRANITE FALLS: Goat Lake & Lake 22

Alright, let's do this again because with time you start forgetting all the wonderful trips you've taken. Especially hikes.

This past weekend armed and ready we headed outside of Seattle about 2 hours North to Granite Falls. From there we took the Mountain Loop Highway all the way to the end where we parked at the Goat Lake trailhead. I'd forgotten about this hike but soon remembered its unusually beautiful moss-carpeted path which played like a natural living-room for a family and extended family of mushroom varietals. I'd rename this the Funghi Walk because there are so many.

The 10 mile roundtrip hike was 90% easy-walking, if not a little monotonous in its beauty. That last 10% feels like every other steep switchback hike but it takes you to the source of the amazing waterfalls that you've been hearing for a good part of the hike on your right...Goat Lake. It's expansive and beautifully calm and just around the bend on the opposite end of the lake is the partially melted glacier keeping things cool. The air was especially cooler up there.

We had a lunch pretty much by ourselves as mostly everyone was walking out on a Sunday to get back to their work week. There was a lot of trail maintenance happening in spots but nothing too terrible. Still after the hike we were pretty wiped out...and we don't know why. Maybe it was because I had the full-on heavy boots, or perhaps we just got too early of a start and needed more rest.

Either way we stopped for a bite to eat at Sweet Meats BBQ set up at a vendor booth on Stanley street in Granite Falls. KILLER SMOKED MEAT! Man, that hit the spot...along with a not-so great Americano from the nearby coffeehut...thing...I didn't catch the name but it might be the best place in town, oof. After that we sped to the Cedar Creek Bed and Breakfast. Nice little tucked away house with beautiful gardens and a pleasing bedroom.

Not a lot of choices to stay anywhere up there but this is by far worth an overnighter, especially with another hike in our immediate future. Troy & Michelle were good hosts too.

Next morning after breakfast and some relaxing we headed to a shorter hike at Lake 22 along the Mountain Loop Highway. It's a 5.34 mile round trip with a similar elevation gain of 1300ft as Goat Lake but half the distance...so no real easy stroll but a very nice, and one of the highest maintained trails I've ever seen. Especially at the end when you get to the BOARDWALK circumnavigating almost 50% of the lake. I mean, wow...you'd think they were going to build a resort up there with all the work they've put into it. On top of that the older growth trees and flora was especially attractive in the way that it was growing. A few waterfalls along the way made it seem a little staged and I thought we'd end up walking right into a gift shop or mall because it was a little too perfect.

Anyway good painting opportunities for our next visit abound.

=s=

Road Trippin': Destination Badlands

Once again the Jessie and I are outward bound. This time we're roadtripping it across several states. Our final destination...somewhere in South Dakota.

For the past several months it has been known that we'd be attending a family reunion. Much of those months I was kept in the dark about the whole thing. I knew when we were going and I had an inkling of what we'd be lodging in. Otherwise I've been caught unawares. It's really the only kind of surprise I like...when I know what's coming in the abstract.

It's fairly clear which vehicle we'll take. The PT Cruiser is our weapon of choice. Mainly because it's roomier, and with the added cargo of Jess's brother, Spencer, we needed a little extra breathing room and comfort. The Pontiac Grand Ma would have to stay behind. Which is fine because while I love her to death, she can be an unpredictable mistress.

Packing for this trip is like no other. It's like extended car camping without the tent. We'll be lodging it at some dude ranch...or some such. So pots, pans, towels, clothes, art implements, and anything else is all fair game. Bedding and a roof over our head will be supplied. As travelers however I'm desperate to still travel light, and yet when the details are so fuzzy you really need to be prepared for everything.

Lastly my concern about road trippin' is always about safety on the road. With teenage incidents rising high almost in tandem with gas prices (which have dropped a little yaaah!) my vigilance and hyperawareness will probably exhaust me at the end of each turn at the wheel. Luckily we're about 16 hours from our destination. With maps in hand and adventure on our minds, we'll keep you posted (as best we can) what roadside curiosities are worthy of note.

=s=

NYC: Art Tour

Two places I've been wanting to go to for some time were finally realized on this trip.

Murals on 54th is part of the Warwick hotel in NYC. It houses murals by Dean Cornwell from the 1930s and impressive ones at that. If you tour around the site you can get a sense of the scale of these things. He's one of my favorite illustrators from that period along with a handful of others. When I showed up the restaurant wasn't going to be open for 3 more hours, but they graciously let me in once I told them, "I came all the way from Seattle to see these..."

The other place I visited was The Hispanic Society of America Museum and Library . My motivation for checking this place out was to see Joaquin Sorolla's huge paintings. He's primarily considered a colorist I think, because his bravurra use of color is what first and foremost grabs you. The finishes of the pieces I saw at roughly 10' x 20' were still rough and not nearly as polished as someone such as John Singer Sargent. However the example below shows that he definitely has breadth to his work. For more examples of his work check it out here . Be patient the long downloads are worth the wait.

=s=

NYC: Soooo...cold!

Despite best laid plans to document such things, one can never under estimate the power of weather and the need to travel light.

The flight into Newark was cake, and the bus to Grand Central was smooth, and the train up to my sister's in Connecticut was a walk in the park. I was only briefly going to be there until the next day when I'd head back down into New York City for the Comicon show.

When I arrived on Friday it was rather cold especially with the wind gusts. I thought I'd try walking from Grand Central Station to the Javitts Center. It started off okay, as I was walking south, but as soon as I started walking west the winds did everything to hold me back. I got about six blocks away from my destination before I hailed a cab and admitted defeat...de feet were tired too! My new shoes that I had purchased and worn for a week or so before the trip did not favorable support my arches on concrete. The shoes all around rubbed me the wrong way and made for difficult going. It's easier to jungle trek when the ground is softer it seems.

The New York City Comicon show was good because it was warm inside, and despite not having enough room for my big old camera in my day bag, I didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Well I did see overweight stormtroopers, and infantile Princess Leia's being carried by their Obi Wan Kenobi fathers but that's par for the course. There was a lot of great art and I met a few people I had conversed with online. So for the most part it was a recon mission at best.

I checked into The New Yorker Hotel later that day. It's a very simple typical hotel, nothing special really. A remodelled lobby, less than attractive rooms, with incredibly warm hallways, oh, and the same piece of art on various walls throughout the place. I hit a few cafes over the next day or so and didn't really make the effort to seek out fine dining. I think after so much travel in the last few days I was winding down.

More later...
=s=

NYC Solo

Well I'm heading out tomorrow to NYC. Like the title says, The Jessie is not accompanying me. The reality is I've really only got a couple of days downtown, the other part will be wandering around Connecticut where my sister and brother-in-law live. I'm always curious what kind of pictures I'll capture each time I go. I debated again, whether or not to bring paint as it's been quite cold outside.

There are cafe's and other indoor areas I can explore...I'm sure of it.

Also I'll be attending the New York City Comicon, my first time. I like to dip in and get a headful of inspiration from time to time, and put faces with names. Not quite as exotic as Thailand but you'd be hard pressed to find an odder group of people crammed into one building.

Let's see what kind of blogging I'll be able to accomplish in the states, shall we?

=s=

Last Post From Abroad

This is out last chance to post before a leisurely journey back to the Bangkok airport for a Friday morning flight back to Seattle. We'll be splurging on a short flight out of Chiang Mai tomorrow. Tonight we'll be checking out the commercial overload of the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, and getting a real pair of designer running shoes, or maybe an authentic tribal carving, or maybe finally try those UFBs (unidentified fried bits). Talk to you all soon and thanks for the comments - made us feel less homesick!

SHARKTIP #3: Putting the Gain in Bargain

As Americans we have only a few opportunities to bargain with people in everyday life. But we've noticed it's a practiced art in some of our travels. Even at a general store that sells a variety of merchandise learn the phrase, "Is that the best price you can give me?" In most cases they can do better.

Sometimes, like in Guatemala, we often offered half the price they were asking and most would concede to that or somewhere close. You may also want to have in your hand what you're willing to pay for an item. Seeing the money is a sensory thing, that the merchant has to consider losing if they don't accept a reasonable price.

But be forewarned, never bargain if you don't intend to buy. The game can turn sour quickly.