01-31JUL26 - Sultan, WA - (day of the triffids; aka blackberries)

01JUL Wednesday, cloudy and cool in AM; but after lunch clear sky and sunshine.  Dan starts working on yard chores.  Jumps on ride’m mower and starts cutting grass that has been growing in the rain for last four days!

Most of July spent mowing and mowing due to exceptionally sunny weather.  And doing battle with invasive blackberry bushes.  There are three types of Blackberry in WA – 1) Trailing/wild; 2) Himalayan; 3) Evergreen/cut-leaf.

The Trailing are native and highly prized for their taste.  They only grow if conditions are just right and their thorns are mere a nuisance.  Usually found in small clearings with not too much sun and not too much shade.  People are known to be very protective of locations of “their” secret patches!

Himalayan are invasive and will take over any land (even marshes) once they get established.  Their thorns will penetrate denim fabricate and easily pierce your skin.  Evergreen are also invasive but not as aggressive as Himalayan, and denim and heavy shirt/sweater will protect you (somewhat).

Himalayan are what you see along all the roads/freeways and any open/vacate land.  WA state used to spray but not anymore.  Plus spraying leaves the vines/stems still standing to dry out into natures perfect barbwire.  Even if sprayed, eventually the plants comeback in couple of years.  And the Himalayans easily use other plants or even trees to climb up and umbrella out to kill/crush everything below them.  Dan thinks this invasive species is the basis for the classic 1963 British SciFi/Horror movie - "Day of the Triffids".

Dan used to manually remove the vines every winter when all native plants lost their leaves and he could see the invasive blackberries easily.  But last couple of years with health issues and long RV trips he neglected the chore.  The following pics are what he removed over nine different days in July after three years of neglect (along with battle scars).  After the vines are laid out on ground, he runs over them with ride’em mower.

Tuesday 07JUL Corrie has girls’ day out with Jan Formisano. Thursday, 09JUL granddaughter Coraline breaks a bone in her foot and will be in a walking cast for awhile☹

Wednesday, 15JUL, watch England vs Argentina World Cup Semi-final.  Then Dan heads to grandson Jaxson’s JV HS football scrimmage at North Manson HS in Belfair, WA.  Scrimmage involved four area HS JV teams; not full teams but enough players for 7 vs 7 scrimmage plays.  No blocking, no tackling, walking speed (pretty boring.   Then back to Pitre’s house.  Thursday, 16JUL, early departure and drive home in pretty heavy rain which we haven’t seen in about month.

Tuesday, 21JUL, first of two days that have been labeled Weather Warn days by weather forecasters.  Means both days record heat in the 90’s.  Limited outdoor work and rest of time spent in AC.

Wednesday after lunch Dan heads to Pitre’s in Toad to spend the night.  This will allow him to easily drive to SeaTac airport to pick up a CG Academy Classmate tomorrow AM.  And take him to bi-monthly gathering of Pacific NW area Classmate luncheon scheduled for Thursday.

Thursday, 23JUL, off to airport to pick up Classmate; flight is delayed for three hours.  So Dan goes to luncheon alone, and his friend barely makes connection on to end destination.  As always great gathering of old friends/classmates.  Then home to Corrie and Rocket.

Wednesday, 29JUL, prepping RV for tomorrow’s departure.  Thursday spend relaxing morning finishing loading and hooking up the RV.  Start drive after lunch to RV park in Mt Vernon, WA.  A little congestion on I-5 North but no real delays; set up camp and relax.  Purpose of road trip is to be close to grandboys’ (Jaxson & Mason) soccer tournament starting tomorrow in Burlington, WA (Washington Rush Cup).  Go to dinner at excellent Italian restaurant, Il Granaio.  Back to RV and early to bed.

IL Granaio Authentic Italian Restaurant | Mount Vernon Restaurant | 100 East Montgomery Street, Mount Vernon, WA, USA

Rush Cup

Friday (last day of July) first soccer game is Jaxson at noon; sunny and 80 degrees.

Then off to Camping World half an hour away to get few items needed for RV.  Back to RV and Rocket.  Relax a little and off to Mason’s soccer game at 6PM.  Then back to RV for the night.

Sometime during July Joe, Bethany, granddaughter Coraline, and step kids, went to the Gulf Beaches in Florida:)