Late Summer 2011

Late Summer 2011 Leavenworth and Eastern Washington

The kids and their �forts� in the front yard		The Blatt�s backyard is great for kids


Building at the Adventure Playground on Mercer Island		Peter swimming at Derin�s Birthday party


Camping at Leavenworth - inside the trailer		Peter has �lipstick� on from eating cherries fresh from the trees around the KOA campground


Our next door neighbors had cats		On a hike


Lots of wild cherries!		We rented a bicycle four-wheeler at the Koa


Approaching the Sugarloaf fire lookout near Leavenworth - there was a big fire years ago, that�s why it�s still so barren		We actually got to go inside the fire lookout - way cool!








		We had a picnic just outside the lookout - very windy, but we managed to find a wind sheltered spot











We took a trip to Spokane/Eastern Washington. On a path near the hotel we stayed at was a colony of marmots!		Some views of Spokane





A blurry picture, but it�s the only one so I�m including it nonetheless. I used to enjoy roller coasters, but not any more. Must have something to do with aging!		A bike ride along the Centennial trail





At the Grand Coulee damn, we were able to take a guided tour











Irrigation pipes


		Steamboat Rock State Park


		Each of these layers of basalt columns is a separate lava flow








		At Sun Lakes State Park





I was intrigued by this unusual geological formation, with the dips in the cliffs on the right. I wasn�t able to figure out what caused it, until I looked at an aerial view on Google Maps. It can be best seen just southwest of Sun Lakes State Park. It�s caused by rolling hills being ripped away dramatically and suddenly by the Missoula Floods.		At Soap Lake. Sometimes apparently there�s actually some foamy stuff on the sides of the lake, but not when we were there. The water did feel a little weird and soapy, though.


Peter at the Point Defiance Zoo		Luther Burbank Park