●☆● A Day of FUN! ●☆●

Again Thanks to my newest followers.... Debbie & Rod from Keeping up with the Kendals and MidLiFe CrUiSeR. Thank-you so much for becoming followers.

We loaded up the car with our daughter, grandsons and headed out for a day of exploring and fun. The very first stop was at the Aunt Thelma’s Gift Shop right here in the park. We looked at many items made by the Artisans who visit the park and teach or display their crafts

We then made a stop at the Riverside Cemetery in White Springs. Now some of you may think that is not a great place to explore and gruesome to visit but we LOVE going to them and looking at the different styles of headstones and the dates. It is amazing reading the very old headstones and seeing that a lot of people born in the 1800’s or before did in fact live a long time.

Soon we were on the road again and came upon some horses in a pasture that the boys and my daughter wanted to see… so we stopped and did the horse whisperer with them and then back on our adventure!

We rode and rode down the road and before long we came to an old church that we just had to pull into and explore. Falling Creek Methodist Church was built in the 1800’s as a log structure and in 1880 they replaced it with the present wood frame. When first built it was a Baptist Church but in 1866 it was change to a Methodist Church. The church continues regular church services today and is open for visitors to see.

Right behind the church was a cemetery which had headstones from the early 1800’s…

Just down the road a little further is one of Florida’s fabulous but little know waterfalls called Falling Creeks Falls. On a short walk is a spectacular root-beer colored cascade, which plummets more than 10 feet over a deep lip of limestone and flows away over limestone boulders at the bottom of a ravine. Falling Creek is the site of the first settlement in this area. It has a short boardwalk through lush forest which offers easy access to the falls. There is also a longer trail which extends your walk in the woods past rapids in the creek and where you can see more of the local vegetation in this area. Falling Creek is a hidden treasure which has old building to explore, nature trails, picnic tables and a children’s play area.

Have Fun, Travel Safe & Stay Healthy!!!

Where do I begin???

Hi all my bloggin' friends… It has been a while and I am trying to do a couple of catch up post to let you know where we are and what we’ve been up to. As suspected we are having trouble with internet coverage so this is a BIG post. We are loving our trip and are half way up in British Columbia, Canada. What a beautiful country this is with its majestic mountains, Ragging Rivers and farmlands. But I want to start at the beginning since I last posted so here it goes….

While we were in Blaine, Washington preparing for our entrance into Canada we had visitors from Canada…. My bloggin' buddies Sue & Doug at BIG DAWG AND FREEWAY, along with their wonderful dog Tucker, came all the way down here to spend the afternoon with us. What a delight that was for not only me but also all of us! It was great fun getting to know them and they also were so helpful with all of their information on Canada. I just know we’ll be friends for a very long time. Sue came loaded with gifts for me, which wasn’t necessary, because we would have loved them any ways… Included was a cute little moose, which we named Morris, now resides in the front window of Tassie and shares in all of our adventures…

The day had finally arrived for us to go into Canada, cross the border, face the customs cops and bring Tassie safely over into another country. I had did so much research on what you could and could not bring into the country and heard so many different stories that I had myself worried… I just knew they were going to take all my food and booze… should I hide stuff, throw it away or just face the customs officer and tell the truth about what was aboard? By nature I am not a worrier so I decided to tell the truth and what will be, will be. Sue had told that she makes a list of all they have in their rig and it works, so since I already keep an inventory list I printed it up to present to them if asked. Well we pulled up and after a few questions like where are we from, where are we headed, where did we work, any veggies, any booze (which I truthfully answered) we were let into Canada… No worries, no problems.

Our first top was at Cultus Lake Thousand Trails Park near Lindell Beach. We stayed there about 4 days and visited some really great sites. Bridal Veil Falls and Harrison Lake. Plus we took care of a few more errands while there.

From there we moved onto Yale, just north of Hope, on Canadian Hwy 1. We actually stayed at a lovely RV park in Emory called Emory Bar RV Park. They just couldn’t do enough to make us happy there… While we were there we went and visited quaint little city of Hope, Hopes Slide and Hell’s Gate.

Hope is nestled in deep wilderness at the base of the Cascade Mountains and sits on a wide sweeping curve of the mighty Fraser River, at the entrance to the Fraser River Canyon. This is truly the Chainsaw Carving Capital of Canada, with over two dozen large wooden sculptures scattered throughout downtown. These carvings feature local wildlife, including eagles, bears, mountain sheep and cougars.

Hope Slide is just east of Hope on Highway 3 is an awe-inspiring testament to nature's power. In January 1965, most of an entire mountain called Johnson's Peak came sliding down into the valley. Over 45 million cubic feet of earth, rock and slate travelling at 95 mph, tumbled down to bury the highway, an entire lake and mark the valley forever. Now known as the Hope Slide, the remaining half of Johnson's Peak is an irresistible draw.

This is becoming such a HUGE post that I will continue on another post in a few days… So keep an eye out for the continuing saga of Our Canadian/Alaskan Journey.

Have Fun, Travel Safe & Stay Healthy!!!

Snoqualmie & Snoqualmie Falls, Washington

We were driving around a couple of days ago and found the cutest little town of Snoqualmie. Just outside of town are the Snoqualmie Falls is one of the most stunning waterfalls we’ve come across on this trip. The crashing falls are a sight to behold -- The waterfall is on the Snoqualmie River dropping 268 vertical feet over volcanic rock and sending a thundering mist back up the canyon walls and into the fir-covered hills. The Falls were also featured in the popular cult television show "Twin Peaks".



At the top of Snoqualmie Falls, there is a luxury mountain lodge hotel -- the Salish Lodge. Renowned for 4 star service and Northwestern style, the hotel features a famous dining room looking out onto the falls. A great place for lunch!



We then drove through town and first thing we saw was all the old trains on a track. Lots of them! There were many old engines & cars all waiting for someone to restore them. Also there was the Victorian Snoqualmie Depot. The Snoqualmie Depot was built in 1890 as an arrival point for tourists coming to hunt, fish and view the already world-famous Snoqualmie Falls. Just down the road from that was a train museum which we didn't go into but will when we come back next year

Train Depot and one of the restored engines

The town of Snoqualmie was built on the route of the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway (SLS&E). The railway started on Seattle's waterfront and wound around Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish (now the route of the Burke-Gilman Trail) on it's way to a planned crossing of Snoqualmie Pass

train museum

When the Snoqualmie Falls Lumber Company (now Weyerhaeuser) began it's operation about a mile north of town, the mill was set up to handle the huge Douglas-fir, sitka spruce, western hemlock, and western red cedar trees which covered the hills and mountains of the region. On display today is an example of those type of logs. Unfortunately, time and uncaring people have defaced this log. Logs 10 to 15 feet in diameter were carried by train to the mill, through a huge band saw, cutting timbers up to three feet square for trestle bridges and warehouse floors.

Sample of the logs processed in the lumber factory

The Snoqualmie Falls Lumber Co. Powerhouse and Brick Stack are key surviving components of an innovative, early 20th century milling operation that was the most expansive of its kind ever to operate in King County. The brick powerhouse and 211-foot brick stack functioned as the heart of the all-electric plant. According to the Weyerhaeuser Co., the Snoqualmie Falls Lumber Co. (SFLCo) mill was only the second such all-electric mill operation in the nation, and the first of its kind to employ electrical powered cutting operations in the woods. Today, the mill complex itself has all but disappeared. A large open space remains on the level valley floor previously crowded with buildings and structures containing machinery and operations for log cutting, planing, processing, and lumber sorting. Today the power plant serves as the last tangible symbol of the community of Snoqualmie Falls and its social and economic legacy. The Snoqualmie Falls Lumber Company Powerhouse was designated a King County Landmark in 2005.

remains of the old Snoqualmie Falls Lumber Co

Until Later... Have FUN, Travel Safe & Enjoy Everyday!