Well, getting here has been a bit of challenge!   Cold temperatures and snow had us staying in a hotel for 3 nights and changing/delaying our route over the Cascade Mountains.  We finally made it to our campground only to have some issues in the trailer so we spent the first day sorting those out.  Day 2 was full of sunshine and relative warmth - back up in the 50s - so we took a drive to see the mountains. 

So day 2... interesting drive to Mt Rainier.  First - you only catch a glimpse of the mountain on the way up.   The photos I took coming into town were actually better.  Second - we knew from the website that they were requiring chains in the mountains.  We took a chance that we would have some nice views on the road or even be able to get into the park a little ways... nope.   Checking at the gate for chains.  So we made the best of it as we do but not quite what we expected.  

Day 3 we traveled down the river a bit and explored.  So nice to be back in the green colors and lots of water nearby.  We did have to find the squirrel bridge in Longview!   The story goes that a man was tired of all the 'carnage' of squirrel bodies on the street in front of his house.  So he built a bridge just for them.  The city adopted the idea and built a few more.  No word if the squirrels actually use it... 

February 2022