Category: Day Trip

Is there a chiropractor in the house?

Bull riding! My back hurts just watching these guys. This is another one of those rodeo events where a cowboy climbs on an unwilling ride. . .in this case a 3,000 pound steer that isn’t happy about the turn of events.

And here’s another example of testosterone meets resistance. There’s money to win at rodeos, but from my perspective a few of life’s bumps and injuries have taught me not to go looking for more.

I usually don’t fuss much with my photos but couldn’t do much about the background here. What do you think of this effect?

Barrel racing

Barrell racing is where the cowgirls shine at the rodeo. The rider and horse circle a course of three barrels and then tear back to the starting point.

Seconds count so winning teams maneuver close and fast. Mind you, the rider may talk to the horse but the real communication is through body language and teamwork. It’s all about trust and practice.

The home stretch is where they really pour on the speed. Each racer clocks in around 15 seconds or less. I love to watch, but my camera allows me to take in and appreciate the beauty of the ride.

Tomorrow: Bronc and bull riding.

I love the rodeo

The Clallam County Fair last weekend featured a rodeo on Saturday and Sunday. I caught the action on Sunday and it did not disappoint. Here’s an example of bareback riding, where a cowboy climbs on an unwilling horse, keeps one hand in the air, and takes a ride. There are finer points, but suffice it to say that it’s quite a ride.

A visit to Hurricane Ridge

We’ve had visitors lately and one of the “must see” places to go is Hurricane Ridge. We visited two weeks ago. The wildflowers were so breathtaking it wouldn’t have been surprising to see Julie Andrews cresting the hill singing, “The hills are alive with the sound of m-u-u-u-u-sic.”

I’d brought along my camera bag but with the hubub of organizing our small group, well. . .one lens made it and the camera stayed home, hiding under a hat. So here is a view, taken a week later. The lupine are still there but the great swath of avalanche lilies was much diminished. This view is looking north. Below is Port Angeles and beyond is the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

We went to Hurricane Ridge a second time last Saturday. The camera made it this trip. It was a sunny day. A weekend. And it’s August. Suffice it to say we were not alone.

Jefferson County Courthouse

The Jefferson County Courthouse is a standout building atop a hill in Port Townsend. Designed by Seattle architect W. A. Ritchie in the Romanesque style, it was built in 1891 for an estimated cost of $150,000.

Here is a look at some of the detail.

The historic Clallam County Courthouse in Port Angeles is smaller than this but lovely in its own right. I must post it, too.

Victoria day tripping, 5

There’s a lot to enjoy in Victoria, but one of my favorite go-to spots is the Royal BC Museum, located a short walk from the Coho Ferry dock. In addition to having wonderful First Peoples exhibits and a great selection of totem poles, there is an “Old Town” exhibit that recreates a British Columbia frontier town at the turn the the last century. It includes well-stocked storefronts, a small theater playing a silent film, a hotel, and windows onto daily life.

One of my favorite views is into this kitchen where the curtain in the window moves from a gentle breeze.

There is also a recreated fish cannery, a stable, and a glimpse of a mining operation. You can walk aboard a recreation of the HMS Discovery, the ship that Capt. George Vancouver used for his explorations, and see how his office and quarters may have looked. The floor gently moves, adding to the feeling of having boarded a real ship. A separate natural history gallery moves through a variety of environments. I just love having a spectacular museum like this a ferry ride away!