Kayaking Seattle, Roses in Portland and Helen's Volcano

Seattle's awesome Pike Place Market (9 May 07, Seattle, USA)
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After 3 days on the ferry it was great to be back on dry land. And Tom and Linda's wonderful hospitality in Seattle was very very welcome! We spend a fantastic few days in the city, in the market, the original Starbucks, the Museum of Flight and the old underground city (Seattle was raised around 10 feet about 80 years ago, meaning the old ground floors in the old city are now underground!). Aside from many good eats and beers, one of the highlights was a day kayaking round the main city with Tom and Linda - a great way to see the famous Frasier view and also nose around the many house boats on the lake.

The first ever Starbucks - the original logo was deemed too racy to roll out to other stores! (9 May 07, Seattle, USA)
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On the way to Portland, we headed across to Mount St Helen's volcano and monument. I just about remember seeing the huge eruption on tele in 1980 - it's an eerie space scape 27 years later and the blast hole is still plain to see. We got within 5 miles of the volcano and decided that was quite close enough - especially as I was sure I could see it still smoking!  After a night in Olympia, a tiny town which is the state capital (?!) we headed on south.

Portland, just south of Mount St Helens, is another great city although with towering snow capped volcanoes on many sides a bit scary! The home of Nike and the stunning international Rose test gardens, it was a good place to spend a few days. We stayed in the converted Kennedy Elementary school the first night (a few beers from the onsite microbrewery were drunk in the onsite bar!) www.mcmenamins.com which was a great fun place.

A new career, perhaps! Rob at the museum of flight (11 May 07, Seattle, USA)
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So enough of hotels and cites and time to face the big outdoors in the national and state parks that America is justly famous for. With our 26 dollar tent (no, not a typo - we'll see how long it lasts!) we have been braving the elements and Rob has been rediscovering how fun building campfires is. We've been working our way southwards and have made it to Bend, having stopped briefly in Hood River (we hope to return there on the way back up north for some kitesurfing lessons!). Bend is a very cool mountaineering type town just by mount Bachelor, famous for its excellent Mirror Pond beer from  the DeSchutes brewery and rock climbing. Just north of the town is Smith Rock, widely acknowledged as the birthplace of sportclimbing in the US. Should be amusing for me to do my first ever attempt at rock climbing there tomorrow, then!!