Willie Nelson At The Gorge

This past 4th of July we headed out to the Gorge in George, WA to see Willie Nelson & friends in concert. Apparently this was the first time Willie played a July 4th show outside of Austin, and it was certainly the first time we had ever seen him live.

We arrived at the Gorge around 3pm, to a sunny day of mid-to-upper-90s temperatures. Hot, yes, but at least it wasn't humid. We had plenty of sunscreen and a big Nalgene to fill with water.

The acts started around 4pm. Here's how they shaped up:

• Amos Lee - really great. Funky but relaxed, well balanced sound. Enjoyable toe-tapping songs. Quite unpretentious.
• Drive By Truckers - country-rock outfit. Started out with a pretty clangy, off-key sound but got better as their set went on. Some songs were hits, some were misses. They were louder than Amos Lee, and their harmonies were often off. Could have been bad mixing or bad monitor levels.
• Old 97's - pretty bad. Didn't sound great at all, weren't locking into harmonies, and their songs were boring.
• Son Volt - very good. Interesting songs, great sound, enjoyable set. Though why did Jay Farrar have to switch guitars after every song?
• 40 points - Willie Nelsons' two sons (Micah, Lukas) are in this band. Great solo guitar playing. Decent vocals. Some songs were ho-hum but not all that bad.

Then came Willie. He played a solid 2 hour set with back to back songs, including many classics but also about four new ones. He didn't sing as many high notes as his recorded songs have, but he still sounded great, and engaged well with the crowd. And yes, he played his old, beat up, twangy, slightly distorted guitar. It's Willie; he's classic.

After his set, it was time to head home. We left the Gorge around midnight, and even with a stop for fuel we arrived back in Seattle around 2:30 AM.

Weekend Hike To Snow Lake

Last weekend we took a hike (literally) to Snow Lake. The weather was warm but not too hot, and we decided to get outside for a while and enjoy nature for a change.

The Snow Lake hike is relatively close to Seattle; a 52-mile or so drive will get you to the trailhead. And, at 3 miles round-trip, it's a relatively short hike, and is good for an entire morning or afternoon. As for difficulty, it does ascend quickly near the end, with a set of switchbacks amidst a gravelly, dusty trail. But after that, a great view of the lake and a short jaunt downhill await you before you arrive at the cool, clear water.

Pack sandals and a bathing suit to enjoy a dip in the lake after the hike. And, remember your water and some trail mix for the ascent.

Here are some pictures of our excursion:

Yakima Valley Wine Country

Last weekend we took a trip out to Yakima Valley to check out some familiar wineries as well as experiment with a few new ones. The weather was nice and not too hot, and the wineries were hopping as a result.

Overall, Yakima Valley wineries are booming. Several that we visited a few years ago that seemed small and quaint at the time have now built new buildings, expanded their facilities, and "glitzed up" their appearance. Of course, you always had the glitzy ones, and you still have the mom & pop ones. But in general, the movement seems to be towards the bigger and better (and, I hate to say it, just a touch more Napa/Sonoma). Fortunately, most tastings are still free and most makers are not snooty when it comes to sharing their wine with you.

Here's a few highlights (and lowlights) of the weekend:

Hyatt Vineyards - Our perennial favorite didn't fail to please. Several great wines at very reasonable prices, with a pleasant area outside of the tasting room to picnic, relax, look at the vines, or stare up at the windmill that graces their wines' label. We stocked up on a few bottles of the Black Muscat while there, which is an easy-drinking semi-sweet red.

Kiona Vineyards - I claim this is one of the best wineries in the region. One gets a very mom & pop feel as one walks into the basement of a house, which is the tasting room + gift shop. Kiona produces well over a dozen wines, each of them ranging in quality from great to amazing. Their dessert wines are especially good, with honey-like, creamy qualities.

Agate Field Vineyard - A relative newcomer under this name, but an experienced grape-grower and vintner nonetheless. Owner Ben Rashford is focusing on producing small runs of really good wine. They have two for sale and for tasting, both red, and both smooth and rich.

Seth Ryan Winery - Wasn't very impressed with Ryan's wines. Ironically, the cheaper ones were better than the more expensive, with their most expensive 1999 Jessica Meritage being the weakest. Too tangy and imbalanced, I suspect the proportions of the 5 grapes used for the mixtures to be the culprit.

Paradisos del Sol - One of our old favorite wineries left us with a (metaphorical) bad taste in our mouths in our most recent visit. The wines haven't changed that much (decent to quite good), but the experience in the tasting room was less than stellar. We were helped by a young woman who seemed more interested to tour her knowledge and her "way of doing things" than help us taste the wines and answer our questions. No, you can't rinse your glass. No, you can't taste that dip since we've moved on to different wines. Oh, and let me talk bad about the large party that was in here before you all. Watch the customer service in your tasting room, Paul!

Terra Blanca - A decent winery that's gone off the glitz end. A very large new building, built in the rustic Mediterranean style, has taken over their property. This was one of the more "Napa"-esque wineries that we visited, and we lamented at the loss of their previously quaint feel (not two years ago we picnicked on their lawn - now one feels like they may ruin their manicured lawn if one sits on it). The wines were good, but a bit on the spendy side for the quality.

Horizon's Edge - Come on guys, why are you not willing to offer at least some of your wines for free tastings? Nearly all of your competition does. Oh well, no thanks, then.

Cal Anderson Park Images

Cal Anderson Park is a great place to visit during these warm months. Formerly an above-ground, fenced-in reservoir, the city transformed the space into a public space complete with fountain, playground, and lots of grass to do with what you will.

The folks over at VRSeattle have posted some QuickTime VR "virtual" shots of the park. They've got plenty of other nice VRs of Washington up there, if you're looking for a virtual tour of the area.

Cherry Blossoms In Bloom At The Quad

I've added some pictures of the University of Washington Quad with its cherry trees in bloom on flickr.

North Carolina Pictures Posted

They're available here. Includes pictures of the Todd General Store, a historic place where folks like Doc Watson play from time to time, and hiking in the Blue Ridge mountains near Grandfather mountain.

Doing The Puyallup Fair

Last Sunday a group of us went to the Puyallup Fair. A quick run-down:

The Good
- It was certainly more fun than most of us expected. Quite a few food options, carnival games, and rides were to be had. Add to that barnyard animals, the RCMP, and a petting zoo and you make for a good day out of doors. We spent about eight hours there total.
- The food was great. BBQ, fresh Fisher Scones, fried corn fritters, sausages, lemonade. Mmm...
- The weather held up nicely. It wasn't hot, nor was it rainy or particularly cloudy for that matter.

The Not So Good
- Rides were more expensive that we expected. Tickets were $1 a piece or $14 for 20. Rides cost 3-6 tickets, with the good ones being 5-6. As for ride quality, we're talking typical carnival rides, a couple of small roller coasters, a quick water-splash ride, a Ferris wheel, and the like. Not bad, but not worth $4-6 a ride.
- Horses tend to poop. A lot. And it smells.

The Weird
- There was a large area devoted to infomercial-style commerce. Weird brooms, knives, sushi making kits, makeup, and window treatments were being offered. It was like walking through the Home Shopping Network. Weird. I think it worked: about half of the group ended up buying something.

Biking Is Cool

A few weeks ago we picked up some mountain bikes and joined the world of amateur bicycling. It's been years since I've ridden a bicycle, but I'd forgotten only one thing: how much fun it can be. It's efficient and fun to get around town on a bike, especially for local errands or just exploring a neighborhood.

Bikes can be crazy expensive. I went with a K2 Zed Sport. Decent, basic, gets me around.

I didn't realize how accessory-laden biking can be. I can see how one can go out of control on this stuff. I've focused on the essentials for now (front and rear visibility lights, bike lock, air pump, etc.). Sorry, no tight pants for me yet.

Next up: a better seat. I've been recommended to go with Serfas. Any other suggestions?

Camping In The Olympics: Pictures Posted

Check them out here. Thanks to Michal for taking them.

Camping In The Olympics

We spent last weekend camping in the Olympic National Park, on the coast at Mora. Camping on the beach was a new experience, but a great one at that.

Saturday day was spent road-tripping from Seattle to Mora. On the way, we stopped in Olympia to have breakfast at their farmer's market. This one's much more small and quaint than Pike Place, but it has its charms. We also stopped for lunch at Forks, where Sully's Drive In offered up some great burgers, shakes, and slushies.

Arriving in Mora, we hiked in about a mile and half, close to hole-in-the-wall (see below). We found a great site to set up camp that was both close to the beach but secluded and shielded somewhat from the elements.

Saturday night was a bit rainier that we would have liked, but the overall natural beauty and peaceful surroundings made up for any wetness. A campfire, dinner, and s'mores, and fermented beverages wrapped up the evening.

The beach at Mora is pretty rugged. As this picture conveys, it's no Florida Gulf Coast beach. But there's tons of wildlife, especially in the tidepools, that you can explore.

Mora is a very photogenic area. We should get some pictures up here soon, courtesy of our friend's camera skills.

Friday Curling Action

Last Friday, I joined my team from work to an afternoon of beer, snacks, and curling. "Curling?" you say? No, not a workout. The sport!

In a nutshell, curling is a team game that's all about sliding granite stones across a sheet of ice in an attempt to get the most stones in a certain area. To help matters, teammates use brushes to sweep the ice in front of the stones in an effort to make the stones go farther. Sounds bizarre, but it's quite fun.

After a morning of work, we trekked over to the Granite Curling Club. There, we proceeded to have some food and drink, learned how to curl, and played a few games for the remainder of the day.

What I learned:
- Curling's harder than you think, technique-wise. It takes quite a bit of accuracy to get the stone going with the right amount of force & rotation to land roughly in the right spot 120 feet away.
- Sweeping is harder than you think, physically. Rubbing ice with a broom while you walk briskly, making sure you don't fall, and listening to directions from your teammates, is not trivial.
- In curling, everything has a name. And I do mean everything.

An action shot, courtesy of a co-worker of mine.