Vista de Rainier Casa October 11-18

Out of our motorhome and into the gorgeous home of Paul and Katie Bauer! For the last 7 days we have been house/doggie sitting for our friends near Yelm, WA. Lucky us!!!

We had time to relax in a larger space with the most spectacular view of Mt. Rainier. What fun for all of us. Katie and Paul spent the week with their kids and grandkids in Disneyland while Paul and I kept watch over their Washington homestead. Foster spent his days hanging out with Luke and Abby two of the sweetest dogs around and they all had walks with Paul every morning and evening. The view of the mountain is stunning and we were fortunate to have it in full view most of the days we were there. But we did get a real sense of Washington weather too as the skies turned gray and the temp dropped the first couple of days we were there.

Staying put for the week also gave Paul a chance to putter on the motor home which kept him very happy. He added 2 lights in our living room, exchanged the ugly hanging road guard with new mud flaps and replaced the water heater for one with a little larger capacity. He'd be working outside while I kept busy inside on the laptop researching ideas for our future travel, or cooking in Kate's beautiful kitchen. After the first 2 days we decided we should also venture out to see more of this beautiful area.

Saturday we drove to Tacoma to visit the Tacoma Art Museum but due to a Gala Event that evening it was closed, so I found us the beautiful Conservatory to enjoy.

Inside was a lush garden of autumn color , chrysanthemums, and tropical plants. I loved the featured exhibit: Deadly Plants. Tucked in amongst the plants were signs telling of the dangerous effects of certain plants.  I never knew so many of my ordinary houseplants had such a nasty side to them.

The air was crisp but the sun was shining so we decided to visit the little village of Gig Harbor, a quaint little town with wonderful art galleries and shops.

After stopping along the waterfront for coffee we walked a few more streets then headed back home to walk the dogs.

Sunday we tried the Art Museum once more and had a wonderful time wandering the three galleries, a varied mix of paintings, crafts and performance art. Paul loved this particular one...created with cardboard, sheet rock screws and glue. Meet  Leroy, The Big Pup!

There was also a new exhibit being installed for Dia de Los Muertos and on the entry floor were these two sand paintings. Beautiful work.

From the art museum we drove to Defiance Park out on the peninsula for a walk in the Rose
Garden and a lovely drive. Some of the most beautiful dahlias on one side of the garden, as tall as me!  It was dusk as we were finishing the drive with raccoon and deer along the roadside.

Monday we woke to a sunny sky, what a welcomed sight. We frittered away the morning then took off for Olympia for the afternoon where we had a personal tour of the Capital building, one advantage of traveling off season.

It was in the Governor's Reception Hall that Paul got to play a beautiful piano for a few minutes.

I loved the architect who planned a raised entry 42 steps tall to commemorate Washington being the 42 state of the Union. The building is exquisite with marble, granite and detailed dome. Interesting fact about Washington politics...when a bill is introduced it must contain only details pertaining directly to the topic, no added side bars or additional issues. Our guide told us this insures a vote that often garners support for issues from both sides of the aisle.  Such a novel idea...

It was so pretty out we took the bikes off the car and road for about an hour all around this beautiful lake just north of the Capital.

We passed the "Occupy Olympia" tent area along the way.

Our day ended with a visit to Tumwater Falls

and the Falls Terrace Restaurant.

Tuesday was again a lovely, warm day; morning fog cleared off by mid morning and the mountain shone brilliantly. I had an enormous box of apples we'd picked up in the Wenatchee area the week before so I got busy making apple pies and apple sauce.I made it half way through the box and gave up, the rest will be snack apples. Katie and Paul were flying back in that evening so it was time for us to our things back in to  the motorhome. That was a busy afternoon!

We said our 3rd set of Good Byes to Katie and Paul on Wednesday morning. Time to get back into Oregon, and the motorhome,  and on to our southern routes.

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