Dog Days of August - Page 2

On Friday (two days ago) we decided to go back to the ski area (Mt. Baker) and take a visit.  Just look what we found:

Artist Point is the end of the SR 542 which leads to the ski area.  

This part is not plowed in the winter and wasn't plowed at all last summer because of too much snow pack.

A little snow was left at the parking lot.

The restrooms were nicely plowed.

We had some amazing views.  They don't call it Artist Point for nothing.

Baker

Mt. Shuksan

We hiked around and got in some great glacier views

All in all, my August days are very nice.  Most days are in the 70s, though this weekend is a big heat wave, it'll get to as high as 84 degrees!  Tomorrow we head for the Olympic Peninsula and we'll have to decide whether to spend time in the mountains, the rain forest, or the ocean beach.  Decisions, decisions.

I've heard of dog days, but never experienced them.

What happened, all the 599s and 458s get rented before you got there?

Just messing - I prefer the styling from the last generation, particularly the 550/575.

What do you think about the new F12? I'd say an awful name (think it's officially f12berlinetta), but an awesome design. A little toothy up front, but love the profile and rear. Also looking forward to the Enzo successor (and its close competitor - the modern day McLaren F1, which will reportedly beat the Veyron to 62 mph).

Yesterday I took Ziggy and Higgins to the river to play.  That's another great thing to do during the Dog Dayz

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trekchick 

Yesterday I took Ziggy and Higgins to the river to play.  That's another great thing to do during the Dog Dayz

Great pic, TC!  

Brings back memories of my mutt, Pepper, at the river last week...

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeUT 

 

What happened, all the 599s and 458s get rented before you got there?

 

Just messing - I prefer the styling from the last generation, particularly the 550/575.

 

What do you think about the new F12? I'd say an awful name (think it's officially f12berlinetta), but an awesome design. A little toothy up front, but love the profile and rear. Also looking forward to the Enzo successor (and its close competitor - the modern day McLaren F1, which will reportedly beat the Veyron to 62 mph).

My neighbor has a 599 that I've driven a couple of times, but sadly he's moved, so don't have ready access. I could have taken a 430 cabrio out the following day, but didn't feel like waiting, so I ONLY took the 360, which was outstanding, even though the 3 and5th gear syncro's were AWOL. Yes, I now would really like a Ferrari .

However, THIS is what I want to try (there's a couple around town I see a lot) -

I saw a Gallardo ragtop in Del Ray this weekend in a flat version of this color - fkna!

Sadly, the best I can do right now as a daily drive is this (as of last week).

My little kitty's first trip will take us to Key Largo on Wednesday for a couple of days snorkeling / Hobie-ing. Water temp currently 86.5.

With 255-35-20 Continental Extreme shoes, no doubt its winter performance outside of south Florida would be abysmal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveturner 

... It's 100+ degrees and almost too hot for golf...

Two observations: first, golf is cool, but for many people tickles a slightly different part of the brain than skiing.  You may need to try a few other activties to feed the habit -- could be dirtbiking, could be yoga, but there is likely something that will give you a similar feel as skiing.

Second, you may have heat management issues.  In some ways less humid areas are easier to deal with, and in the mid-South hot and steamy can be tough if you must golf at 3:30 pm, but basically, there are people training for marathons right where you live right now, and not killing themselves doing it.  Whether it's golf or mtb or fishing or growing vegetables, look at what people succesful at those activities do to succeed through the summer months. 

It is 9:27  10:37 am Eastern time.  My elementary school kids are still sound asleep in their beds... still in their clothes from yesterday.  They stayed up REALLY late last night and stumbled in to crash without following the proper nocturnal hygiene protocol.  Yep. dog days of summer alright.  Probably the best childhood memories of summers gone by being reenacted by our kids. 

This is a good August to be a dog on Puget Sound.  Cameno Island in the background.  Taken about 8:00 A.M. PDT, nearly 60 degrees.  

Daisy's new happy place.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stranger 

This is a good August to be a dog on Puget Sound.  Cameno Island in the background.  Taken about 8:00 A.M. PDT, nearly 60 degrees.  

Daisy's new happy place.

 

 

60 degrees, and they call it "Warm Beach."     Well, Daisy looks happy.    Our big black furry thing D'Artagnan with his thick coat's always panting.

Welcome to the neighborhood. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by DesiredUsername 

 

60 degrees, and they call it "Warm Beach."     Well, Daisy looks happy.    Our big black furry thing D'Artagnan with his thick coat.s always panting.

 

Welcome to the neighborhood. 

One of the fun parts even of SoCal is being by the beach and even in July and early August, depending on what the currents are doing, potentially freezing. 

Backpacking in the Beartooths-from two days ago. Carrying 40 lbs 40 miles over grades and balancing on talus should be good conditioning for ski season. My dog Cooper seems to like the dog days too and even carries his own food. 

Wednesday and Thursday -

Beautiful 86 degree water. A little lumpy from wind, but you'd be dumb to complain.

Nice blue fish

These guys hung there and flashed colors at each other. Very cool.

Another blue fish.

Reef shark. Saw three but this guy was the biggest. Got some cool sun effects on him. Vis wasn't Whistler-ish, but could have been better

Key Largo, Pennekamp State Park rarely disappoints

We took a trip around the Olympic Peninsula this past week.  We camped and stayed in hotels depending on the place and day.  Temperatures ranged from the mid 60s to the mid 70s with some clouds, sun, and even a very little bit of rain.  

Here are some pictures:

We crossed on the ferry from Coupeville to Port Townshend and set up camp at Fort Flagler State Park.  These two pictures were taken from our campsite on a bluff as the sun set.

Next day we went to Hurricane Ridge.  There is a small ski area there with a T bar even though it's in the Olympic National Park.  I've never skied there but the views are tremendous.

Ski Patrol building.  Sign over entry says, "Ice Station Zebra"

This is the ski slope, T bar is just over the edge and out of picture.

Looking the other way.

Faun waiting for Mama.

The next day we were hiking along the ocean beach looking at sea stacks.  It's amazing how close everything is.  No wonder that the Olympic National Park is a World Heritage Site.

Before we left for home we went to Quinalt Lodge on Lake Quinalt.  This is in the rain forest area of the park and there is a rain gage on the front of the lodge that shows rainfall totals.  So far this year, 7 feet, but the wettest time of year is still to come (November and December).  Last year they had 13 1/2 feet and the record is 15 1/2 feet; that's rain, not snow.  This is the dry time of year and our weather was sunny and warm with some morning fog over the lake.  Good for a swim at our own private beach.

No pics but I got to go try downhill mountain biking at angel fire yesterday. A lot more work than I expected. As much fun as it was I think I prefer trying to dodge trees on my skis, I feel much safer.

I cna say that body armor is definitely a good thing. If nothing else it saved me from a lot scratches and bruises

Pousane, that was a good week you had.  You make it down to the Hoh Valley?  

A personal favorite place, keep expecting to see a Hobbit or something in there.  It is worth getting wet for.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stranger 

Pousane, that was a good week you had.  You make it down to the Hoh Valley?  

 

A personal favorite place, keep expecting to see a Hobbit or something in there.  It is worth getting wet for.

Nope, didn't go to the Hoh.  We considered going but I've been there and it seems an awful lot like some of the forest along the highway on the way to Mt. Baker, which I pass through many times per year, so we bagged it.