Washington National Parks - Day 10 - August 18, 2014

Day 10: August 18, 2014:

Well this was the last day but I have to blog because the coolest thing happened.  We got up around 6:30 and I decided, quite on the fly, to just take a quick 25 minute walk because I have a 2014 exercise streak going (25 minutes at least, of exercise every day) and I would otherwise have to walk the airport.  I headed down the street from our motel, towards Ecola State Park and then walked past Les Shirley Park.  Then at the last minute decided to walk up the steep hill at the end of the street, not sure of what was at the end of it.  To my surprise, a herd of six elk were at the end of it – two male, four female.   

I got within 10 yards of them and took their picture.  It was truly amazing.  They were eating the bushes by some condos.  I texted Nick, who had been on a mission the entire trip to spot Elk, and he and Grant came running down.   

They only caught a glimpse of two of them as the sprinkler system had come on and scared them off.  But it was truly one of those small, miraculous moments in life, as was my final view of the coast...

We got in the car a little before 8:00am and drove four hours to the Seattle airport.  We stopped at a Starbucks along the way and grabbed lunches for the airport.  After checking in, we ate lunch at the gate then boarded the plane.

Much to my surprise, our flight attendant was a friend of mine from College, Janice Coffee.  She lived with Mary Weir Mary’s sophomore year.  She remembered me and was so kind.  She brought the kids cookies, free snack packs and at the end, gave them little passbooks signed by the pilots, and the pilots let them go up into the cockpit and have their picture taken.  It was awesome.   

I said something like, “Wow guys.  This is so cool.  I’m 40 years old and haven’t ever done that.”  Attention Bucket List:  check!  The pilot let me get in next.  It was totally cool.  

We got back to our car via the Parking Spot shuttle then drove home via the Taco Cabana drive through.  The diet starts tomorrow!  The house and pool were in decent shape.  Life will be back to normal once Nick and the kids get Hooper from the vet tomorrow morning. 

What a trip.  I can’t believe at ages 6 and 8, my kids have been to 11 national parks.  So glad we are doing this as a family.  This is my favorite thing in the world and I’m so proud of those damn kids!!!