Once more onto the beach

Took a working trip to Las Vegas and California a couple weeks ago. It gets pretty danged cold in those SE Oregon passes (-11 when we went through Deadman Pass), but Idaho is beautiful in the winter. In Las Vegas I finally found out what ol VJ Goat Boy has been up to:


Stopped by the beach in Carpinteria, CA




And when we got back, took a day to try snowboarding again. I didn't realize how close good slopes were to where we live.



I may have mentioned it before, but it's worth saying again. Las Vegas is worth the visit just for Tim Arnold's pinball hall of fame, which has the biggest collection of pinball and antique machines to play, that I know of. And I've done research on the matter.


At least 5 rows just like this



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PIN-BOT SAY RELAX

Seattle is pretty fun. For my birthday we went around the Freemont/Ballard area (Freelard-Balmont) area and I finally got to check out Add-A-Ball. This is a small pinball/video game arcade that serves draft beer and is run out of a unique very Seattle building that used to be a scooter shop. What's really cool is that they have a Baby-Pacman machine, the model of which I first saw in my brother's basement which he lovingly restored. This is the only other one I think I've seen and I spent years playing with Mr. Arnold's incredible pinball collection in Las Vegas at the Pinball Hall of Fame. They also have a Bride Of Pinbot machine (The Machine) which is one of my favorite pinball machines. Too bad it was not working right. But I did score this sweet Seattle Pinball Zine!

Another beautiful day in the mountains. This is around the top of the ridge of Perry Creek Trail. Alpine meadows. Rockin' views. I think this was about Aug 12th.
http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/perry-creek

The Northwest summer has been incredible. Record days of sunshine in a row! I can feel the Fall upon us though, and so many house things to finish up before the wetness returns.

Some friends and I did the Warrior Dash obstacle course in North Bend yesterday. Fun times! Easier than I thought it would be; It was like being a kid again. A big kid with more resources and bigger obstacles.

We even got to see a full-sized Thomas the train in Fall City as we passed through. There was some event going on near the old train-yard. A whole lotta children and parents awaiting Thomas's arrival.

The Olympic Mountains and the connected rain forest sure are pretty

And the Cascades can be a brutal climb

I sure do love living in the Pacific Northwest