Saturday, August 7, 2010

Lake Sammamish State Park

It is raining here today. This is the first appreciable rain that we have had since our arrival at the end of June.

The folks here in the Northwest are a hardy bunch.
Lake Sammamish State park is a day use park only with no camping. We have lost our beautiful view of Puget Sound.
As I stated it is raining, and there are still a lot of people in the park.
We went out this morning and picked up trash and there were several groups having picnics, volley ball contests and there were outrigger canoe races about to begin out on the lake.
I just drove through the park and there are several groups still picnicking, although many have left.

This is a huge park about 20 miles from downtown Seattle between the Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains. It was a farm that was donated to the state for a state park back in the early sixties. It is several hundred acres in size, and has 8 rangers on staff. The Park manager, a ranger, lives on the property in the old farm house. The office is in the old barn along with the parks maintenance shop. There is a large part of the park that is undeveloped, but has many trails running throughout the forested areas.
There is also a 4 bay boat ramp onto the lake. This lake is very large and very deep. This is one of several glacier lakes here in the Seattle area.

There is another camp host here. They have been here since July and will leave a few days before we do in September. They have showed us the ropes here. They have learned from experience and from the hosts that we replaced.
We have a free hand in what we do and there is no monitoring of our time.
There are 3 vehicles, 2 Gators and one electric cart foe our use, but we have to share them with the park aids. So sometimes we are on foot as we were this morning.

Becky's pregnancy is moving along nicely. She is now 32 weeks and everything seems to be in order. She is feeling fine, only the baby keeps her up at night with her moving and kicking Becky in the ribs.
The office has been relocated downstairs, and it is being prepared for Lindsay to move into that room.
Brenda helped Lindsay go through her clothes and toys, so that they can be put away or disposed of as needed. Gracie will be moving into that room, when Becky and Fred decide that it is time. She will be in their room until that time.

Gracie's room is next to be painted and prepared for her arrival. We have been helping them with these projects. Heather has been very helpful in helping them in the rearranging and preparations.

Tony and the girls came up from Portland yesterday and spent about an hour with us.
It has been along time since we have seen them, over 2 years. Boy, have they changed.
The girls are so sweet and polite.
Their car is small,and Mag took the train up, so she was not with them. We will see her tomorrow. They are going over to Becky and Fred's house for a small gathering.

Ta ta for now.

1 comment:

Carol said...

Sounds like a beautiful park and that you have it pretty easy - another host AND rangers there - oh we wish!!! We are leaving early due to the death of my brother and I need to go home and take care of my mom. Looks like our full time life is over for awhile - but we do what has to be done! Take care and hope to see you on the road sometime!