Hey everybody 👋

We are just 7 days from the US midterms and the 11 days from the New Zealand general election. It has been exciting to hear how many have voted early and we were glad to get notified that our Colorado ballots have been counted. Whew, feeling nervous and hopeful at the same time. 🤞🇺🇸 🇳🇿

I am behind on my posts so will try to catch up before we leave the US for Chile on November 8th. 🇨🇱

We left Santa Fe on September 30th and spent a few days in Boulder getting organized to be gone for (potentially) a year. Great to catch up with a few friends while we were there, never enough time. 🤗

We headed west for a 2 week PNW roadtrip which started in Seattle. We flew from Denver on October 3rd and got to spend the weekend with Steve's brother Paul, his partner Kathy, and our niece Helen. The flight was clear all the way and I got to see the aspen color from the sky for the first time. 🌟

I think this was Mount Baker on the approach to SEATAC. 🏔️

The views from the bridge to West Seattle. 📸

We enjoyed the amazing view of Puget Sound from Paul and Kathy's deck. 👀

Family time. ❤️

Hello Eagle sculpture by Alexander Calder! 👋

It was commissioned by Fort Worth National Bank ... constructed in 1971 of painted sheet steel. It was erected, and dedicated on February 15, 1974. It was relocated in 2000 after being purchased by the Seattle Art Museum.

Checked out Lake Union ⛵️

Caught up with our young friend Morgan in South Lake Union (no photo). 🍻
Bye Seattle! 👋

We made our way south and stopped at the Bonsai Pacific Museum. 🚙

We drove north along Olympic National Park to Port Townsend and saw this camp host who was all set for Halloween! 👻

Port Townsend historic downtown. 👀

Drove over to Sequim (pronounced Squim) and caught up with Ann who moved there from Boulder (we worked on an HOA board together). 🤗

Port Angeles, the northern gateway to Olympic National Park. 🗺️

Real fruit ice cream from a Kiwi couple. 🍦

Meadow Loop trail overlooking over the Strait of San Juan de Fuca. Hi Canada! 🇨🇦

New camera zoom checking out Mount Olympus (7980 ft / 2432 m). 📷 
 

Watched this bear dig a hole for 10 minutes. Must have been something good since they didn't raise their head once. 🐻

Lake Crescent hike to Marymere Falls 🥾

We didn't realize there was a Lake Crescent Lodge so it was a pleasant surprise to enjoy dinner there. It was so cozy and no one was looking at their phone. Steve has since devised a plan to tour national park lodges so more of these might be in our future. 🤔

Oregon was next! 🌲