Olympic Peninsula and Whidbey Island (WA)

We had a fantastic time exploring the northwest corner of the U.S.

See all our photos in one Flickr set - Click Here.
View a Slide Show of all photos: Click Here

Map of Route (795 miles)
We spent 1 night in Langley, WA on Whidbey Island (Langley Motel - great place) and 1 night in Sequim (outside of Port Angeles).

Our route took us north on scenic Route 101 along Washington's Hood Canal (gorgeous scenery and plenty of people clamming and fishing). Prior to boarding the ferry from Port Townsend to Whidbey Island, we had a picnic lunch at Fort Worden State Park (great panorama at the bottom of the page for this URL).

After arriving by ferry on Whidbey Island, we drove north to Deception Pass where we enjoyed some amazing scenery. After visiting Deception Pass, we walked the beach at Deception Pass State Park. We had dinner at Toby's Tavern in Coupeville.

We spent the night in the town of Langley (a great little town situated on a bluff with nice views). Breakfast at Useless Bay Coffee Company was outstanding. After catching the 12:00 ferry the next day (we didn't realize the ferry would be booked, but we jumped on a cancellation and made it back to the mainland). Prior to departing Port Townsend, we visited Mount Townsend Creamery for some cheese and a tour (a great place to stop).

After leaving the creamery, we headed to Port Angeles, had a picnic lunch (bread, cheese, salami, figs, dates, apricots) and drove up the mountain (4700 ft elevation), through the clouds, in Olympic National Park to Hurricane Ridge. Hurricane Ridge offered some of the most spectacular scenery we'd ever seen!

After leaving the park we drove into the town of Port Angeles. Let's just say that one visit to the town of Port Angeles was enough. We stayed at a hotel in Sequim, east of Port Angeles. (Our hotel stay got off to a ... rocky start after some heated debate at the front desk regarding our resevation and their pet-friendly policy (limited to certain rooms - not the one we had). Score: Robert & Jenny = 1, Hotel Manager = 0.)

After leaving Sequim, we drove west past Lake Crescent and on to the Hoh Rain Forest (annual precipitation: 12-14 ft). It was dry when we were there - the lichens / moss just seemed to be waiting for rain. After leaving the Rain Forest, we headed south towards home via Route 101 along the coast (if you were looking for a place to hide from everyone else in the country, this area should be under consideration).

By the way ... based on the forests we saw in WA, the U.S. has plenty of wood. Great Trip!

OHSU Internal Medicine Resident Class of 2009 Graduation

(Jenny and Julie)

(Jenny and Lu Lu)

At yesterday's graduation ceremony, Jenny was selected by the OHSU Faculty and Housestaff of the Department of Internal Medicine to receive the The John A. Benson, Jr., M.D. Humanism Award.

Click Here to learn more about Dr. Benson.

(inscribed in the book "Better" by Atul Gawande)

(Video of Jenny receiving award - sorry about the lighting)

Jenny was also selected by the Interns and Residents of the Department of Internal Medicine to receive the Medical Housestaff Teaching Award.

I (Robert) could not be more proud of my wife and her accomplishments. I am SO PROUD. She is my rock star.

At the reception, Jenny introduced me to the following faculty from the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension:

Dr. Anderson
Dr. Bagby
Dr. Watnick

Post reception, we enjoyed drinks and views at Departure Restaurant and Lounge followed by some great Portland food cart cuisine.

REE-LAX-SA-SHUN in Kauai, HI

(Click above to link to Flickr Photo Set of Kauai)

Sheraton - Poipu
Na Pali Coast (Capt Andy's Sailing Adventures - Sunset Dinner Cruise)
The Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility


FOOD
Korean Style Poke Ahi

TOURISM WEBSITES
Kauai Explorer
Kauai Hawaii

Morning at Council Crest Park (Portland)

Council Crest Park

Robert originally set out at this very early hour hoping to photograph more than fog..., but when life deals you lemons, make lemonade.

Spring

Boston Trip

We had a productive few days in Boston- sightseeing, walking, walking in the rain, visiting with friends, did I mention "walking?" (we did get a rental car for one day). Jenny had good meetings and enjoyed meeting many of Robert's fraternity brothers. We explored many areas in a short period of time - Cambridge, Charlestown, Beacon Hill, Back Bay, South End, South Boston, Jamaica Plain, and Brookline. (Brookline was our favorite.) We also made a trip out to Medway to visit Steve and Diana Perlman.

Here were some highlights:

• Lunch (after walking around Cambridge is the absolute pouring rain) at Mr. Bartley's Gourmet Burgers (The smallest table we ever ate at!)
  

• We saw a great Play - A Bronx Tale at Colonial Theater

• A FANTASTIC Thai dinner at Dok Bua Thai Kitchen in Brookline

• Coffee and a phenominal chocolate chip cookie at some Cambridge coffee shop that didn't even have a bathroom for patrons! Huh?

• Several beers Friday night at Boston Beer Works (on Canal St.)

So, where are the pictures you ask? Well....the weather was significantly sub-optimal, so there weren't too many photo occasions. Here is a photo of Brigham & Women's hospital and an interesting contraption use to protect one's car bumper ...

In Memory of Marietta Klug (Nanie) - July 20, 1915 to February 27, 2009

I'M FREE

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free

I'm following the path God has chosen for me.

I took His hand when I heard him call;

I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day,

To laugh, to love, to work or play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way;

I've now found peace at the end of day.

If my parting has left a void,

Then fill it with remembered joys.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss;

Oh yes, these things, I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow

Look for the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life's been full, I savored much;

Good friends, good times, a loved ones touch.

Perhaps my time seems all too brief;

Don't lengthen your pain with undue grief.

Lift up your heart and peace to thee,

God wanted me now, He set me free.

Shannon Lee Moseley

Rainbow over Rose City Golf Course

Merry Christmas (from snowy Portland)

Our hound has low ground clearance (but he is a brave boy)

Okay, we really miss the rain

We miss the rain.

Portland Snow Storm 2008 Did we mention that more precipitation is on the way? :( Unfortunately for you, we haven't figured out how to portray the wind - last night we saw gusts to 35mph. With the temperature around 18 degrees, wind chill was near zero. As the freezing rain came early this morning, pieces of ice eventually started blowing off our Douglas Fir trees and making interesting sounds as they hit the house.

NO, this is not typical Portland winter weather.

The good news, Mt. Hood Meadows (ski mountain) has received 72" of snow in the past 4 days!