Seattle, WA

After getting used to being on the internet only once a day, Dave and I are now at an RV park in Bothell, Washington with a wifi connection.  This park only offers one hour a day of free wifi, so I signed up for the unlimited three-day package using Tengo internet.  No more internet withdrawals for me!

Our site at Lake Pleasant RV Park, with lake in background

We are staying at Lake Pleasant RV Park, which is located about 20 minutes from downtown Seattle.  The lake is more like a pond, but is indeed pleasant and is surrounded by RVs.  This park is expensive at $44 per day, but the options for RV parks are very limited in the Seattle area.  The park's monthly rates must be pretty good because there are lots of people staying here.

One of the residents at Lake Pleasant

This morning we took Highway 101 north from Ilwaco, WA, and drove along Willapa Bay and through the small towns of South Bend and Raymond.  Before Aberdeen, we turned off on Highway 107 and headed east on Highways 12/8 to Olympia, where we took I-5 north to I-405 to Bothell. 

The weather was sunny and cold this morning when we left Cape Disappointment State Park.  The temperature at the state park unexpectedly got down to freezing last night, and in the middle of the night we had to get up and turn off our heat pumps because they were blowing cold air on us, and turn on our propane furnace.  We had rain right before we got to the I-5 rest area at Federal Way, just enough to get our tow car all dirty. 

This is going to be a quick stay at Bothell, but we'll come back again, I'm sure.  It's about time for us to see the sights in Seattle again after taking a hiatus for some 10-15 years.  Seattle Center is one of our favorite places, especially the Imax theater.  We used to have a family membership at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle and made the three hour trip each way from Vancouver, WA quite often.  The annual membership was good at science centers across the country, including our own OMSI in Portland.  At that time, the Pacific Science Center membership cost much less than an OMSI membership. 

It's about time that we take a ride up to the top of the famous Space Needle again!

More from Cape Disappointment

I've been lax with my blog posts for two reasons--lack of internet service and rain.  The rain means that I don't have very many pictures to post.  The lack of internet is bearable because we have found three places in town (Long Beach, WA) that offer a good, free WIFI connection (McDonalds, Hungry Harbor Cafe, and Lost Roo Restaurant).  I can also go to the jetty or the boat dock at Cape Disappointment State Park and connect to the internet using my cell phone. 

A morning view from the boat dock

I've realized that as much as I miss having constant internet available, I've become too dependent on checking my email and reading blogs several times a day.  It's kind of liberating to check just once a day. 

One of the tsumani warning signs at Cape Disappointment State Park 

I spent the weekend in Long Beach while Dave made a quick trip home.  The motorhome was parked at Sand Castle RV Park which isn't much of a park, but it is located within walking distance to town, and offers free wifi along with full hookups.  The neighboring RV on our left was very close, but no one was parked on our right side, so we had some breathing room over there.

The drive into the state park

We are back at the state park now and I'm enjoying our last few days here.  On Thursday morning we leave to go visit Jonathan and celebrate his birthday with him on Friday.  We'll get to see his new apartment, the first one he's ever lived in all by himself.

One of the views in the park

Today's rain wasn't quite as annoying as yesterday when it rained all day long.  Today we had some sun breaks in between the rain showers.  Boy, that sun feels good when it's out! 

We're still waiting for news about the birth of our granddaughter, but so far it looks like we will be home in time for the good news!

Cape Disappointment

We get teased when we tell people that we are going to Cape Disappointment.  They say, how could you go to a place with that name?  Well, other people must agree with us, because the full-hookup loops of this park are almost full.  Rain, wind, chilly weather--they don't stop people from camping at this Washington State Park. 

My view of Cape Disappointment Lighthouse while connected to the internet at North Jetty.

The lack of cell signal almost stopped us this time, especially since we are waiting for that oh-so-important call about the birth of our first granddaughter.  If we are willing to drive to where there's a signal, we can still get calls, emails, and read blogs.  So it's not too much of a disappointment to stay at this park.  We'll be here for a couple of weeks.  We're using our senior off-season discount, so the cost is only $6 per night.

Waves and driftwood

Driftwood at Cape Disappointment's Waikiki Beach

On our 3 to 3.5 hour drive from home to Ilwaco, WA, where Cape Disappointment State Park is located, we usually stop half-way at a deer viewing area.  We have never, ever seen deer there!

Shoes in a Blog

Today I would like to tell  you about a new blog that I've been following.  A young friend of ours who lives and works in Washington D.C. has started a new blog called A Reason to Put on My Shoes.  He writes his blog each week from the perspective of his shoes.  Take a look at his blog when you have a chance.  I think you will enjoy his sense of humor and his style of writing.  He calls himself "Quite the Guy", so I won't reveal his true identity.  He is, indeed, quite a guy!

Quite the Guy

Anonymity

Thank you all for your nice comments yesterday.  Dave and I both had to take our posts down after hearing from our son that it might endanger him.  They are told not to put any pictures or any stories about themselves online unless it's sent as an email, so in the future, we won't be referring to him or what he does for a living, or showing any pictures of him.  If it helps keep him safe, we are happy to comply!

Fort Flagler (1897-1953)

The rain abated enough to take some pictures of Fort Flagler State Park today.  Due to its location on the northern tip of Marrowstone Island off of Puget Sound, this is a cold and windy area but it is steeped in military history. Fort Flager(1897-1953) was a coastal fort located on Marrowstone Point in Jefferson County, Washington.  The fort was established in 1897 and activated on 27 Jul 1899. It was named after Brig. Gen. Daniel Webster Flagler, Chief of Ordnance, U.S. Army, who died on 29 March 1899.  The fort was closed 7 Jun 1953.

One of the batteries with Puget Sound in the background.

Part of the Harbor Defense of Puget Sound. Fort Flagler, along with Fort Worden and Fort Casey, guarded the entrance to Puget Sound. These posts, established in the late 1890's, became the first line of a fortification system designed to prevent a hostile fleet from reaching the Bremerton Naval Yard and the cities of Seattle, Tacoma and Everett.

Initial construction of barracks and support facilities (12 buildings total) was complete in June 1899 and the Post was activated 27 Jul 1899. The first garrison was a detachment of 86 enlisted men and three officers from Battery B, 3rd U.S. Coastal Artillery. Fort Flagler was made Headquarters of the Harbor Defense Command of Puget Sound because Fort Worden did not yet have permanent facilities complete. On 4 Sep 1904 the headquarters of the Harbor Defense Command of Puget Sound was transferred from Fort Flagler to Fort Worden.

Part of the parade grounds

Looking over the parade grounds, the volunteer campsites have a wonderful view of Puget Sound and the ships that pass by.  Judy, who writes a popular blog called Travels with Emma, volunteered at Fort Flagler for a month when she first started full-time RVing.

During World War I eight of the fort's guns were sent to Europe and converted to field or railway guns and 2 were sent to Canada. After World War I Fort Flagler was used as a ROTC training center. 

Fort Flagler map--click to enlarge

During World War II and the Korean War the fort was used for training in amphibious warfare.  At the end of the Korean War Fort Flagler was deactivated.  The property was purchased by the State of Washington as a state park in 1955.

Henry Bankhead Battery, where outdoor concerts are held during the summer months

Our Fort Flagler State Park campsite has full hookups including 50 amp power.  Because we have a Washington State Parks Off-Season Senior Pass, (available for WA residents only, sorry) we are paying $6 per night for this wonderful, spacious waterfront site.  The regular price is $28 per night.

Fort Flagler campground, site #113

Fort Flagler State Park, Washington

Dave and I have been home from Pismo Beach for 2 1/2 weeks, and I've been itching to get back out in the motorhome again.  After many negotiations with the Norcold, they finally agreed to replace the cooling unit in our motorhome refrigerator.  Now that it's repaired, it's time to take another short trip. 

The weather forecast is for rain, rain, and more rain, but somehow I don't mind the rain as much when we're on a trip and out exploring new areas.  We decided to  drive north to Fort Flagler State Park.  The park has a seasonal camping area that opened up on March 1 and closes again on October 31.  We were here on a day trip last February when we were staying in Port Townsend, and saw that the campground looked like a fine place.  I'll take some pictures if and when it stops raining.  In the meantime, here are a couple of maps to show you where we are.

Washington State

A more detailed view of the location of Fort Flager. 

An online spiel about the fort:

Fort Flagler State Park is a 784-acre marine camping park surrounded on three sides by 19,100 feet of saltwater shoreline. The park rests on a high bluff overlooking Puget Sound, with views of the Olympic and Cascade Mountains. Many historic buildings remain at this 19th-century-established military fort. This historic fort offers gun batteries to explore and guided heritage tours. Panoramic views of surrounding mountains and Puget Sound add to the attractions.