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:)

10-30JUN26 - Sultan, WA - (⚽soccer & beach soccer⚽🏖️)

On 02JUN back in Silverdale, WA, (while Dan was in TX) grandson Jaxson is chosen as Most Valuable Player for his middle school varsity football team, for his play as Defensive Linebacker and Wide Receiver!

On 05JUN (while Dan was in TX) grandson Jaxson & friends attended Ridgetop Middle School 8th Grade Formal.

Wednesday, 10JUN, back home and unpacked, Dan commences on outdoor choirs:  first getting another ton 5/8th rock for the vegetable garden; then mowing vast expanse of grass that has shot-up during a week of rain; then weed-whacks.

During mowing the drive belt for the mower blade shreds; this happens to Dan about once a year.  He has learned to have a new on standby and is able to change it out in 15 minutes.  Chores continue with buying salt for well; spraying weeds; cutting back overgrowth on driveway (originally cleared at 12 feet wide and is now eight feet in some areas); mow back by the barn.

Saturday almost record heat, Dan catches early evening ferry to go to the Pitres and see how Raymond is doing.  Misses boat by two cars; finally arrives.  Sunday 14JUN, quiet day staying indoors out of sun; some watching of world cup soccer games on Spanish streaming service (no English subtitles).

Monday AM Dan catches ferry to scheduled medical imagining appointment in Bothell, WA.  Bothell is where Sharon and Tim bought their first house.  So Dan swung by to see how the neighbor had changed.  Even had lunch in what used to be a local tavern that Tim & dan had many beer in, and played pool or pinball.  Tavern is now a Bar with pretty good BBQ menus; now The Bison been thru a few name changes in over fifty years.  After med appointment continued driving home.

Meanwhile Corrie driving to Pitres in Silverdale to attend Jaxson’s promotion ceremony from 8th grade middle school to next year’s 9th grade high school.  Then she drove back home; meanwhile.  Tuesday, 16JUN, Dan has medical in AM; returns home and moves RV out of garage and starts prepping for Thursday departure; after dinner more mowing.  Wednesday mostly spent getting RV ready.

Thursday AM, 18JUN, connect Toad to RV and hit the road to Camp Rilea, Warrenton, OR; Warrenton is just south of Astoria, OR.  Camp Riley is a State of Oregon military installation that has been serving the Pacific Northwest since 1927. Comprising of 2,000 acres, it offers both military and civilian users training options because of its location and facilities. Encompassing broad dune and woodland areas, firing ranges, barracks, and other facilities, plus a broad ocean front.

It also has a small RV Park with 10 sites with full hook-ups, and 8 sites with electric only.  $25 a night and best of all - nine miles from the soccer tournament.

Oregon Military Department : Camp Rilea Armed Forces Training Center : Camp Rilea Armed Forces Training Center : State of Oregon

Saturday/Sunday is a soccer tournament called “Soccer in the Sand” in Sea Side, OR, that Jaxson’s team is playing in.  After setting up camp we head to Seaside for a walkabout and something to eat.  Get take out from Finns Fish; then eat on the boardwalk overlooking the beach.

Soccer in the Sand has a mission of growing the game of beach soccer and giving back to the local communities where the tournaments take place.  Soccer in the Sand partners with local soccer club organizations to help raise funds for their program. In 13 years Soccer in the Sand has been excited to give over $280,000 back to local organizations and has no plans of stopping!

Beach Soccer Tournament

Friday (no games scheduled) doing little in the AM; followed by USA vs Australia world cup soccer game on TV.

Then into Astoria to find a memorial plague dedicated Dan’s CG Academy classmate and friend, Dick Lang who died 09 Apr 2019.  Dan and another Academy classmate, Jeff Garrett, attended Dick’s Memorial and Celebration of Life held in Astoria.  The plan was Dick’s wife, Betsey, would have a memorial plague dedicated to Dick installed on Astoria’s Maritime Memorial.  Unfortunately it could not be accomplished by the time of the small Family Memorial Ceremony 2019.  It is now installed; and the plague notes Dick’s Coast Guard rank; being a Scout Master; reference to modernizing local 911 system; avid fisherman; and depiction of his pride and joy fishing boat.

USCGA 1974 Memorial for Richard E. Lang

Then off to the Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival at the Clatsop County Fairgrounds.  The Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival is an Oregon Heritage Tradition which means the festival is more than fifty years old. The Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival is held the third weekend in June at the Clatsop County Fairgrounds east of Astoria

The earliest documented summer gathering of Nordic immigrants in Astoria took place in 1938. Other historical sources refer to Nordic gatherings centered around folk dance in the 50’s and 60’s. The first documented source that refers to the summer festivities as the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival is from 1968.

A little smaller than we expected and Friday was first day of event and some displays/events were scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.  But it was nice diversion for couple hours.  Lots of handicrafts and merchandise from Iceland, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark.

A high school contingent, Stoughton Norwegian Dancers from Wisconsin, travel USA in summer displaying their talents at Scandinavian fairs/festivals.  They give a demonstration of dances from all five Scandinavian countries, along with cultural info on the differences.  Very talented and entertaining group of teens.

And Dan was one of the first in line for the Laksloda Dinner when it opened🙃  A five course meal of Finnish recipes.   Way back in early 80’s Dan traveled several times to Finland and the meal reminded him of those visits.  Then we wave goodbye to the Festival Queens and back to the RV.

Astoria Scandinavian Festival

Saturday AM daughter Rebecca brought here dog Roux by to stay in our RV while Soccer in the Sand games were played.  The Pitre family (daughter Rebecca, husband Raymond, and grandsons Jaxson & Mason) had checked into local hotel.  And discovered that dogs were allowed; but could not be left unattended☹️   Roux and our dog Rocket will be left in RV while we go back to Seaview for Jaxson’s first game at 1030.

The games are five vs five on small sand courts and is exciting to watch; the sand stops most balls dead in their tracts; small courts mean defensive players are always near; goalies can throw ball entire length of field; no throw-ins for out of bounds - ball is kicked.  And a few more rule changes that make the game non-stop; Jaxson’s team won and he had a hat trick!

Then lunch at Norma’s Seafood and Steak (highly rated on roadfood.com); followed by ice cream at Zingers Homemade Ice Cream.  Then back to RV to tend to dogs and then back to beach and second game in afternoon.  Jaxson’s team wins again and Jax has two goals; Rebecca drives us back to RV and she gets Roux for the night.

Sunday morning (summer solstice and father’s day) Rebecca brings back Roux, pick us up and back to Seaview beach and Jaxson’s third game.  Opponent was the toughest one in their bracket.  Jax’s team fell behind by four goals but fought their way back and even led by one point.  Unfortunately two mistakes allowed two goals and Jaxson’s team were knocked out of tournament.

After the game we all head to Pig n Pancake for Father's Day late lunch/early dinner.

We said our goodbyes to Raymond and boys; Rebecca took us back to RV, got Roux.  Said her goodbye and hit the road.  We chilled out for rest of day to prepare for tomorrows departure.

Monday, 22JUN, AM fuel the RV and hit the road home.  Traffic on I-5N not to bad and we make good time.  Park the RV, but don’t really empty it, since grandson Mason has soccer tournament in Puyallup this Friday and we will need RV.

Seattle area in middle of heat wave so Dan starts never ending mowing Tuesday and Wednesday more mowing.  Thursday after Corrie medical appointment we fire up the RV and head to Puyallup State Fairgrounds RV Park and our RV spot for the weekend.  This is to watch grandson Mason’s team compete in the Rainer Challenge Cup.  After setting up camp we head to local Costco, followed by Mama Stortinis our usual dinner place to take advantage of their happy hour meal prices.  Then back to RV to catch USA vs Türkiye world cup soccer game.

Rainier Challenge - Washington Premier Football Club (WPFC)

Mama Stortini's Restaurant & Bar - Federal Way, Kent & Puyallup

Early Friday morning, 26JUN, off to Washington Premier FC Complex for first game of tournament.

Then to Fred Meyer for groceries and RV to veg out.  Late lunch/early dinner at Wicked Pizza (21 and older only) in old town Puyallup.  Start with arugula/pear salad, Corrie has Twisted Hawaiian pizza, Dan orders Traditional Calzone.  All excellent with leftovers for tomorrow’s breakfast.

Saturday at 11AM head WA Fairgrounds for “The Taste NW” event.  Event is free but parking $20 so we walk from RV park.  The Taste NW celebrates 5 years at the WSFEC, June 26-28! Enjoy this celebration of summer     days with FREE admission, live music, more than 150+ food and shopping vendors, the 2nd annual Puyallup Paddle Battle Pickleball Tournament, plus NEW locations, fuzzy friends and more! With $6 Tastes offered by food vendors, you can truly Taste your way through the South Sound's premiere food festival.  Dan has Washington famous Fisher Scone!

The Taste NW | Washington State Fair Event Center - Puyallup, WA

Then to Mason’s second soccer tournament game.

Back to RV to take care of Rocket and relax and plan was to go back to the Taste NW; but no energy left.

Sunday is 330PM soccer game, so we get RV mostly ready in AM to hit the road right after game.  At lunch we head back to Taste NW.  Dan starts with bone marrow; Corrie has pickled pork rind salad; then Corrie tries three small dishes from ??????-meh; next is pari pari chicken from Kenya; Corrie finishes with elephant ear; and finishes with honey cones.  From Leward drive-in Hawaii; cone is shape like large “J”, made from honey, and stuffed with soft serve vanilla 😊

Head to Mason’s third and final soccer game of tournament.

As soon as game over rush back to RV, hookup Toad and two hour drive back to house in Sultan, WA; park RV, empty it and veg out.  Monday wake up to rain, stay indoors and don’t do much; afternoon weather clears some Dan works outside on cedar fence and trimming overgrowth on edges of driveway.

Tuesday (last day of June); cool, no rain.