POST 1209; JANUARY 09, 2014; SEQUIM, WASHINGTON

Last night we parked / slept overnight in the Safeway Supermarket.  Early hours after dark were spent inside the grocery store for 3 hours preparing yesterday's blog.

Please say HELLO to MAGGIE, who occupied the table next to our computer...she working on advanced algebra problems for her Sophomore College class.  After finishing her studying, Maggie kept me company until finishing the blog, which she - as a writing whiz - proofed and passed judgement on my effort.  Leaving, I received a lingering hug and a reluctant goodbye.

This morning, I set out before daylight walking West on US 20.  It was very cold still, and the air filled with moisture- but, no rain.  The various pains from the past few days have nearly gone, so I enjoyed a stimulating walk, even tho there was quite a lot of traffic, including large logging trucks...something that will become common in the next few weeks as we make our way into California.

An unidentified antique car from Port Townsend.

We are now passing through heavily forested foothills of the Olympic Mountains.  The road is excellent, with a good berm for walking safely.  Not too much to see with the 100 foot tall fir trees encroaching on the highway.  We will continue through the fir forest...also lots of Cedar, Hemlock, etc. etc. and not a few redwoods.  In a few days we will reach the Hoh Rain Forest...the area which receives the majority of the rain filled clouds rolling in off the Pacific Ocean...allowing the San Juan Islands and Bellingham areas to enjoy a nearly dry micro-climate.

Please say HELLO to NITA, manager of a local U-Haul business.  I stopped in to warm up, use the facilities and chat.  Very learned and interesting young lady.  She and her hubby have been nibbling at the bait to embark on a walk to somewhere.  Nita has already completed the Cascade Mountain Crest Trail (which begins in Canada and continues well into California).

U-Haul yard.

Part of US 20 has a bicycle path running parallel.  A couple narrow bridges were necessary to cross walking west on US 20, so I took the bike path on my return to Port Townsend.  Completed something like 20 miles this morning upon returning to Port Townsend to fetch our MPV.

Please say HELLO to TYLER.  Tyler works at the U-Haul with Nita.  Upon leaving them, I forgot my water bottle (which I always carry when walking), so Tyler hopped into his car to drive out US 20 to find me...so as to return my water bottle...and surprised me with a sac of chocolate filled eclairs...which became lunch.

Thank you both Tyler and Nita.

Leaving Port Townsend, I drove our MPV some 25 miles to the SKLALLAM TRIBE business district - museum, casino, gas station, food center, and a number of other beautifully designed and constructed buildings...an interesting and restful place to stop, find out about our ancient forefathers culture.

Please say HELLO to MANDY...proprietor of the Sklallam Indian Art Center, where I spent more than a few minutes chatting.

POOK OOPS Mask of the Sklallam Nation.  Click the image to enlarge to read the inscription which given background history.

SOUL CATCHER:  Again, please click the image to read the inscriptions.

The small lower left tubular "pipe" is an actual "Soul Catcher" manufactured by Dusty, the Son of Mandy.

Dusty Humphries...carver of Soul Catcher in the above image...Mandy's Son.

Mandy's Art Center.

We then drove the final 5 miles to the "locally" famous town of Sequim.  I was astounded upon driving into town to find all the big box companies have moved in.  Sequim is now a BIG town, offering just about everything the tourist could desire.

Tonight, we are parked at WAL-MART.  To complete this blog update, I have driven to the local Safeway Grocery Store, where tables for computers are available.  In a few moments, will return to WAL-MART for the night...another cold night along the northern flanks of the Olympic Mountains.

Tomorrow, will attempt to walk the 17 miles from Sequim to Port Angeles.

Sequim Wall Mural.

I must admit that I have been DRAGGING all day today.  Perhaps the cold has finally caught up with me...perhaps too, the boo boo's sustained have taken a bit of the starch out of these old bones.  In any event, I am pooped.

At least, I have been sleeping well...in groups of 6 hours or so for the entire night.

Hopefully tomorrow will warm up a bit.  I could use a lift...

POST 1207; JANUARY 08, 2014; PORT TOWNSEND, WASHINGTON

Another day...another few miles...

After receiving good news from the Emergency Room, walked some 10 miles back toward Oak Harbor, taking some time to browse through the 1800's village of Coupeville.

Front entrance of the Coupeville / Whidbey Island Hospital which was so pleasant to me today.

From Coupeville, a view onto Penn Cove.  Coupeville is on the opposite (southern) shore from where we stayed last night.

A map of Whidbey Island.  About 50 miles long, situated some 40 miles north of the city of Seattle, this urban landmass is home to gentlemen farmers, U.S. Navy Naval Air Station, one large town of Oak Harbor, a handfull of small villages, and hundreds of "residents", many of whom take a ferry boat to the mainland for their jobs at the Boeing Airplane Company factory at Everett, Washington, where is manufactured the 747, 777, and soon to be the 777X.

Main street of Coupeville.

Coupeville downtown building...150 years ago, Coupeville was a major shipping port in the SALISH Sea (Puget Sound).

Town pier at Coupeville.




Walking from Coupeville to the ferry landing was only a 5 mile stroll.  The ferry boats are only one year old and of superb design.  On the ferry boat seating area tables lie some half-finished puzzles...to keep passengers entertained ???

The small harbor where the ferry boat docks on Whidbey Island for the 35 minute cruise to the mainland town of Port Townsend, Washington.  As we crossed the SALISH Sea, a large nuclear submarine crossed in front of us, as did a huge container ship on it's way to the inner Puget Sound to unload.

The salt water bay lying in front of the town of Port Townsend, where SAM and ME are parked in the lot of SAFEWAY Supermarket for the night...open all night...what a treat; and a place for computers, too.

One of the three (3) new 75-car ferry boats which serve the Whidbey Island to Port Townsend route.  We sailed on the above boat, named SALISH.  The other two are named CHETZAMOKA and KENNEWICK.

Port Townsend main street.  A shopper's dream.

* * * * * * * * * *

We have many more images available.  The internet service this evening is, however, acting up, not allowing normal procedures of our computer.  Have had to reboot a number of times to get this much work done.

In the morning, we will walk and roll West toward the small city of Port Angeles, Washington, some 40 miles distant.  Hopefully the extreme cold and intense rainfall is finished for the moment.  This afternoon has been clear, but very windy ( + / - 35 miles per hour).

My chest is a bit better after taking the Ibprophan (sp), the pain has digressed.  Now only the serious pain is the groin pull...oh, fun fun.....

POST 1206; JANUARY 08, 2014; COUPEVILLE, WASHINGTON

Whew...it has warmed up a bit...but still raining with a thick cloud cover overhead.  The sound of thunderous jet engines roar throughout the day and into the night...U.S. Navy A-6 Aircraft Carrier training base from the local Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.

The distant hills are the Chuckanut mountains, which we walked three days ago...and where I fell onto the ice covered bridge.  I was injured more seriously than at first thought.  Also scrapped a rib under my right breast.  Today, Wednesday, four days after falling, it is excrutiating painful.  For that reason, I have checked myself into the Coupeville Whidbey Island Hospital Emergency Room.  Dr. Plastino, MD examined me, took an X-Ray, and gave the good news that nothing is broken; however, a large bruise is showing, proof that I did a good job.  Dr. Plastino advises that this type of injury does not "hurt" until 4 or 5 days after the injury...then hurts like HE double toothpicks for a week or so.

So, I continue walking...

Highway 20 bridge over the man-dug canal leading to LaConner - where local boaters often travel for a weekend cruise (I have done so for the past 25 years or so).  The building adjacent is the local Indian Tribe Casino, where I stopped in to warm up while walking a couple days ago.

Before sunrise a couple days ago, walking US 20 toward Whidbey Island.

Deception Pass Bridge.  Whidbey, the second largest island in the continental United States, some 50 miles from end to end, located some 40 miles north of Seattle, Washington, is second in size only to Long Island near New York City (another island I have had the pleasure to visit many times...in fact, the island where I first taught myself to sail...so many eons ago ).

Crossing the Deception Pass Bridge, I met these workmen replacing a steel barrier which was taken out by a careless vehicle driver.  

Deception Pass as seen from the bridge.  This pass was first discovered in 1795 by the English Explorer, Captain Vancouver.

Adjacent to US 20 as it approaches the Deception Pass Bridge is this pristine Trout Fishing lake, Pass Lake.  In the summer time, Pass Lake is a favorite for fishermen and boaters.

7 miles south of Deception Pass lies the small city of Oak Harbor, which is home to the U.S. Navy A-6 Fighter Bomber training base.  Two days ago, I enjoyed one of the finest Chinese Buffet in all of the USA.

As I type this, two A-6 aircraft screamed low over the hospital - some 15 miles from the base.

Little used today, Penn Cove (a rather large salt water bay some 5 miles south of Anacortes, is home to many suburban living communities.  150 years ago, Penn Cove was a thriving deep water sea port.

A residential home overlooking Penn Cove.

Highway 20 as it makes it's way around the end of Penn Cove.  

Gentleman farmer lives here.  I have driven past this beautiful home since 1953, when my parents first moved to Whidey Island...and yesterday, I, for the second time (once 2.5 years ago also), have walked past.

This fence is interesting...it is constructed of  two opposing screens of "chicken wire", filled with the sea grasses lining the beaches of Penn Cove, only one block away.  Makes an effective nice looking fence.

An historic brick building from the turn of the 20th century (1900), which has been well maintained and recently remodeled into a retail / museum outlet for local artworks of clay and stone.  In the parking area is our MPV, parked where we were allow to spend the night.

* * * * * * * * * *

Today, we have reservations on the Washington State Ferry from Fort Casey (Coupeville) across the Puget Sound (the indian natives call these waters:  SALISH  Sound), leaving at 1:15 (noon) headed for Port Townsend near the Olympic Mountains...our local Pacific Ocean Side range - purported to be the youngest mountains in the world - complete with 10 active glaciers...plainly and clearly seen from downtown Seattle as well as all the way into Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, some 100 miles north of Coupeville, where I sit toasty warm inside the hospital.

It is now 11:00 am.  I have a few miles to walk this morning to reach the ferry landing.  Best be on my way...boo boo's and all.

Thank you again to the fine folks at this hospital...breakfast was quite nice, thank you very much !

POST 1205; JANUARY 06, 2014, FIDALGO ISLAND, WASHINGTON

At least my toes were toasty warm last night.  The door handle broke when I tried to open the back car door this morning, forcing me to climb over the front seats to extricate myself from the MPV...and the covers and pillows were not sufficient to keep me covered during the night.

Yesterday, the roadways were covered with Black Ice...very slippery...and yes, I slipped while walking across a concrete bridge, fell flat on my fact onto the curb, cutting my left knee, bruising my right hand, right leg just below the knee, and my left arm just below the elbow.  Did a rather job.  This morning, my left knee was swollen the size of a good size apple.

Also, the computer would not accept photographs

...and, I lost ALL my maps with my route detailed state by state.

So, decided to drive back to Bellingham at daylight to fix all the above...which I accomplished OK.

Following are selected photographs of yesterday...taken from the new Panasonic camera which offered some 75 images to choose from.  The procedure to capture the images into the computer is different from previously, but in time, will get the hang of it.

Main Street, Edison, Washington ... a delightful village to visit...only 15 miles south of Bellingham.

Please say HELLO to JEFF and DAWN...breadmakers extraordinaire.

Shuffleboard tournament in full swill...eight local villages challenge each other...using local beer halls ...

a very serious challenge

Before sunrise as I set off with frozen toes from Edison on my morning walk.

Completed some 16 miles in the morning...then another 12 or so miles in the afternoon.  The morning stroll was to and along some miles of the beautiful CHUCKANUT Bay; the afternoon stroll across the low-lying farmland of the SKAGIT Valley...said to be the second largest world-growing region of TULIPS outside Holland.

The Bamboo:   A Japanese Tea Garden at the beginning of the Skagit Valley.

The Japanese Garden

Please say HELLO to VI.  VI explained to me that she has no idea why she was named 6.

VI is pronounced "Vee"

The icy bridge on which I met my demise...and I knew it was slippery.  The AMTRACK train passes under the bridge...I was rushing to get into position to get a photograph as it passed below...didn't make it !

View from Chuckanut mountain side roadway looking across Puget Sound to the distant oil refineries in the charming town of ANACORTES...destination of ships carrying crude oil from the Alaskan North Slope.

Please say HELLO to Ben...Ben and his wife just completed a drive down the Alaskan Higfhway.  They first took their camper on the Alaskan Ferry Boat, which leaves Bellingham each Friday evening for a number of ports in Alaska.  Most passengers take passage on the open deck of the ferry boat, which provides outdoor heating and a limited number of reclining chairs.  Very few lucky ones get space inside the ship.

The San Juan Islands in the front yard of Bellingham...172 island group, many of which are so dry that cactus is growing on them.  This entire region is a MICRO-CLIMATE ... a closely guarded secret.

This tiny (about 25 foot square) home over looking the magnificent view...is for sale (Sale is Pending) at the price of $285,000.00.

The distant mountain is the launch point for a large number of high flyers; i.e., they launch from on high and pilot their craft to the field on the right...notice the wind sock to aid in landing...must land INTO the wind.

As one moves west toward the water and away from the Cascade Mountain Range, more and more of the delicious looking snow capped peaks are visible...as are the "Three Sisters"  seen in the distance.  Our local Volcano, Mount Baker is hiding behind the foreground hills just to the left of the sisters.

* * * * * * * * * *

This afternoon, I braved another cold day and a very sore left swollen knee to walk once again.  After driving back to Bellingham to fix all my boo boo's, I returned to the same parking spot where I slept in the MPV last night, where I once again parked.  From there, I walked back toward the town of Edison, from which I walked yesterday...from where all the above images originated...

Walked from 12:30 (noon) until 4:00 pm, covering some 14 miles.  Must admit to not much to photograph in this stretch.  Also, I got quite chilled.  It is now 6:30 pm.  Have been inside the local Bar and Grill, who has graciously allowed me a table to use to complete this edition of our blog...even so, I am next to the front door which opens and closes every couple minutes keeping me very much chilled...in fact, my entire body is shaking trying to warm up.

I will once again sleep in the MPV.  This time, I have retrieved two more comforters and a 4 foot long pillow (I now will sleep with two such 4 foot pillows plus three regular queen size pillows...plus two thick-woven cotton blankets and three comforters.  Hopefully, I will keep warm tonight.  At daylight in the morning, I will walk to DECEPTION PASS Bridge, which is the start of WHIDBEY ISLAND, from which we will catch the ferry boat in two-days time to the Olympic Penninsula (sp?) where lies the small world famous town of FORKS, which we shall reach in about one week.

POST 1204; JANUARY 05, 2014; ANACORTES, WASHINGTON

We shall call today DAY 2 of our new walk and roll.  Having already completed Blaine's Peace Arch to Bellingham, we have today walked from the small nearby village of EDISON, WASHINGTON, back some 16 miles along the steep rocky coastline of Bellingham Bay along CHUCKANUT .  This afternoon, we have walked south from Edison, Washington, to near ANACORTES, WASHINGTON, where we have taken a parking spot at the business district where the highway to WHIDBEY ISLAND heads south toward our next destination, FORT CASEY, where we will catch the ferry boat across Puget Sound to the town of Port Townsend near the Olympic Mountains.

Today has been a bitter cold day.  Last night, sleeping in our MPV, I froze my toes.  It took 30 minutes of intense before daylight walking to warm up the toes enough to return feeling.  Tonight, blankets have been re-arranged to give the feet ample warmth.

My computer Guru has modified our computer to "enhance" photographic" manipulation.  In so doing, he also changed the "access set-up" which has blocked loading images from our camera.  We have many photographs to post...but regrettably must contact our Guru to find out how to reprogram the HP.

For the record, we have photographs of:

Hall:  of the Shuffleboard Tournament
Jeff and Dawn of the "Breadboard"... argueably the best bakery in the area.
Ben:  who is, together with his wife, returning from Alaska in their motor home
VI:  Waitress in the Bamboo Japanese Garden, serving up killer beverages
and surprise of surprises, my old friends Bill and Nancy who chanced to meet in a local Edison Eatery...who treated me to lunch / din din.
...and Walter, a self-proclaimed cinematographer, who wants to make a movie of SAM and ME...fat chance

Tonight, we have driven to Anacortes intersection with the roadway onto Whidbey Island, where we will spend another frigid night...then walk to Deception Pass tomorrow.

Apologize for the lack of images...got some nice selections.

I have NO ill effects from the recent heart surgery.  Departure from the apartment was not without some considerable consternation(s).

POST 1203; JANUARY 02, 2014, BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON

A MARATHON A DAY....what is so unique about such an accomplishment ??

Since setting out on March 20, 2010, SAM and ME have completed something over 19,000 miles crossing America some five times coast to coast, at an average of somewhat in excess of 30 miles per day...this across mountains, deserts, and swamps, and just plain ole' grasslands.

This, we have accomplished at the age of nearly 80 years old.  This we have accomplished without support of any kind.  This we have accomplished with the goal to continue into the indefinite future.  This we have accomplished without sickness - and until North Dakota, without injury.

In the next 48 hours, SAM and ME once again take to the roadways of America...ALONE.

Our goal is not one of speed.  Our goal is one of remaining healthy and completing a full counter clockwise CIRCUMNAVIGATION of America without injury or incident, taking many on a adventure - through the magic of our blog - dreamed by many but so far, done by none.

Along the way, we will promote AWARENESS of our LYMPHATIC SYSTEM.  Implementing the full scope of our bodily IMMUNE SYSTEM and BODILY CLEANSING SYSTEM, which has been for us, the key to total health.  There is one DAILY requirement:  The body must be exercised continuously and thoroughly each and every day.  We choose walking some 10 hours daily, effectively exercising the range of bodily muscles which POWER OUR LYMPHATIC SYSTEM.

Discovering America, it's people, it's animals, it's grandeur, at 4 miles per hour.

Of course, we have...and will continue to daily fill this blog with the treasures we find along the way.

We are pleased that so many have chosen to join us.

It costs NOTHING to activate and maintain one of our most important bodily systems...OUR LYMPHATIC SYSTEM.  All we must do is:

 M - O - V - E

Our  LYMPHATIC SYSTEM...our Immune System...DOES NOT...CAN NOT...function on it's own.

WE must MOVE to activate our muscular groups BODY-WIDE to stimulate our LYMPHATIC SYSTEM to do it's job.

There is nothing anyone can do to purchase the benefits of our LYMPHATIC SYSTEM.  Money means nothing.  Our LYMPHATIC SYSTEM gives us unlimited health totally FREE...there is nothing to buy...the benefits come from one and only one way:  FROM OUR

 M - O - V - E - M - E - N - T

We have all heard for most of our lives that we really benefit by getting off our tush and move a bit.  Nowhere have I discovered any advice as to WHY our movement is beneficial.  We guess that it is good for our heart or some other such thing.  NOT (Necessarily) TRUE.

We must MOVE and MOVE A LOT solely to stimulate our LYMPHATIC SYSTEM to do it's job.

...and it's job is to keep us healthy...to move liquids throughout our entire body...always from our extremities toward the primary central organs...and by so doing, suck up body invaders such as virus, bacteria, poison, toxin, and yes, even CANCER CELLS...all of which intruders are identified, combated, and DESTROYED by our LYMPHATIC SYSTEM.

But, our LYMPHATIC SYSTEM does not...can not...function by itself.  IT HAS NO PUMP TO MOVE THE FLUIDS AND THEIR DEADLY CARGO THROUGH OUR BODY.  Only we can do that...how...by

M - O - V - I - N - G.

SAM and ME have graphically demonstrated how our body - even "OLD" Bodies, such as mine, remain healthy through stimulation of our body muscle groups to stimulate our LYMPHATIC SYSTEM into action.
This by WALKING endlessly.

One not need to walk to the degree achieved by SAM and ME.  Enough to begin to become aware that we do indeed have our own health in our own hands...that we have a magical LYMPHATIC SYSTEM within our body...crying out to be allowed to do the job it has been given...to keep our body healthy...and to know that our body itself is charged with the responsibility to power our LYMPHATIC SYSTEM into action.

This is life which cannot be purchased...This is life which is FREE.

The internet is full of details about the LYMPHATIC SYSTEM...what it is, where it is, what is i'ts job, and how each of us must stimulate it into doing it's job.

It has become the goal of SAM and ME on our new trek, to inform all who will listen...to make each person aware of our LYMPHATIC SYSTEM...to take our our lives and health into our own hands....

...it is so very easy

...M - O - V - E

and it cannot be purchased...it already belongs to each and everyone...for FREE .

Today, I completed move of all large items from the apartment to a 10 x 10 storage unit ($67.00/mo).  Tonight I sleep on the apartment floor lying on a thin foam pad, tucked in by my king-size comforter...and, of course, with my 4 pillows...a trial run of the "bed" I have prepared in the rear of our MAZDA MPV, which will protect SAM and ME each night (SAM will be snug beside me, also inside our MPV) for the next year or so as we travel on our walk and roll skimming the edges of America.

In the morning, I will aggressively attack the dirt and muck seemingly always left in a just-vacated-home.  Will hopefully clean well enough to obtain a "release" of my $500.00 deposit.  On Saturday morning, January 04, 2014, SAM and ME plan to walk and roll out of Bellingham, heading south by way of the Pacific Ocean Coastline, to the city of San Diego, which we should reach in early March 2014...then east for another few thousand miles or so...at the rate of somewhat more than a MARATHON A DAY...thanks to the symbiotic relationship we will maintain with our LYMPHATIC SYSTEM.

At 10:00 am, I have a "follow-up" appointment with the Cardiology Unit at the hospital...follow up to the operations last week to insert the two stents into my heart.  I feel fantastic.  Have worked my tush off all day today moving HEAVY furniture items...hopefully not damaging the recent incisions, etc.

In the morning, we shall see......