I’m a liiiittle behind in posting some of my adventures over the last couple weeks, but I think with everything that’s been going on, it’s forgivable.
I think. 😀
So, I’m gonna do a longer post with some quick little recaps and a bunch of pictures of some of the stuff I’ve been doing!
The first week of work was pretty chill. It was orientation. I drove to Tacoma for a few days, got a quick reminder course in how to use Epic (which is legitimately my favorite charting system so far), and was officially introduced to some of the people I will be working with! My afternoons were free, so Cody and I took a couple days to get used to our surroundings, and hike a bit.
The first hike we did was the Cal Magnusson Trail, an up-and-back up a steep hill in Enumclaw. I have to say, I was a little winded at the end there. It was my first time working out in awhile. Most of the trail was uphill, but it was beautiful. Lots of green, lots of moss, and a couple decent views. Unfortunately, there isn’t really a great view at the top, but there are a couple log benches to rest at for awhile. The trail was a little crowded, which tell me that it is more crowded in times when trails are more open.
Big ol’ slug 
Basalt rock, caused by rapidly-cooled lava 
Cody at the top! 
It’s a jungle out there. 
The next day was incredibly beautiful and the mountain was out!! Mt. Rainier is basically in my backyard. If the weather is nice, I can see a little sliver of it from the balcony. After getting out of work early, we took a drive and found some gorgeous views.
Mt. Rainier was originally called “Tacoma” or “Tahoma” by the Native American tribes. 
Mt. Rainier is considered an active volcano! The last time she erupted was in 1894. 
Mt. Rainier is the tallest mountain in the northwestern Cascade Range. 
25 named glaciers feed many rivers and streams in the area, which is partly what makes the contrast between the Mountain and the rest of the temperate scenery so stark.
On May 30th, we took a drive to Seattle. I was excited to go to the Public Market, maybe grab a coffee from Starbucks, and hopefully get some fresh local food! Unfortunately, Starbucks was closed, but we would go another day! We did do some walking around the Market, because some of the booths were open. We bought some pasta, and then decided we needed some fruit. As we were checking out, the fruit vendors were packing up to prepare for what was going on downtown. A few blocks away, a riot was breaking out. As we left the fruit vendor, we saw some black smoke rising into the sky and decided to check it out, from a safe distance. The Black Lives Matter riots were in full force by this time. We were safe, we were observing, but we were experiencing it. It was kind of unreal.
Seattle skyline from Kerry Park 
❤ 
Cody in front of the gum wall. He was super excited about this. 
BLM Riot, May 30th. This is only a short walk from the Public Market. 
On Sunday, we decided another hike was in order. We did the Fenceline Trail, a trail that combines four different trails (River, Katie’s (!!) West Pond, and Sewer Line Trail) for a 3.1 mile hike near Green River Community College in Auburn, WA. It was muddy, wet, and super fun! My boots are still covered in mud, and I love it.
The next weekend, we drove to Hansville, WA to check out a lighthouse. Lighthouses are one of my favorite things. I think they are romantic. They are the silent guardians of the sea, watching and protecting. This particular lighthouse was called Point No Point, named by Charles Wilkes because the point it is on looks less like a promontory from close up than it does from far away. It is the oldest lighthouse on Puget Sound. It was built in 1879 and completed in 1880. The keeper’s quarters is now the national headquarters of the United States Lighthouse Society, and you can also stay there for vacation!
There was a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Auburn on our way out of town. 
So, those have been my adventures over the last couple weeks! Once I have the photos edited from this weekend’s adventures, I will post those. I am planning to be on more of a weekly posting schedule as the weeks go by, so keep an eye out for more posts.
Stay safe, stay healthy, and take it easy.
ShutterbugRN Travels 