Winter in the Northwest

SEATTLE – The pacific northwest is a wonderflul place in winter. Really. All that famous Seattle rain becomes snow in the mountains, and Mother Nature really came through this year. Perfect snowshoe conditions!
















Shortly after arriving in Seattle my friend Susan talked me into buying a new pair of cross-country skis. At first I thought her motivation might have something to do with the fact that she was taking time off work and needed somebody to ski with. She astutely pointed out that I was taking time of work and that I needed somebody to ski with. Touché. Over the past month I have progressed from amateur level to… well… advanced amateur level. Hey, it’s a start.

Susan likes to do things such as organizing crazy ski trips, and she put together a great one in Winthrop, a small town in the North Cascades that is famous for outdoor recreation. Together with several friends we drank coffee in the morning, skied trails all day, and cooked big meals at night. One morning the town hosted a balloon festival, and we sipped hot steaming coffee in below-freezing temperatures while watching balloons of every size and color launch from a field of snow.

Since arriving from San Francisco I have been visiting my parents in the suburb of Redmond. If you’ve heard of Redmond before it’s probably because a little software company called Microsoft planted its stake in the ground here about twenty years ago. From what I gather they have done quite well.

Redmond is also home to Victor’s Coffee Roasters, a funky little shop in the old part of downtown where they roast their own beans in the back room. The seating is a mix of old wooden benches and worn chairs, and drip coffee is on the honor system. Just walk in, drop your money in a plastic jar, and pour yourself a cup of coffee. I have spent many mornings in Victor’s over the past month reading about South America while inhaling the earthy aromas of coffee. My book list has ranged from the obvious (Lonely Planet) to the obscure (a fifty year old guide on converting jungle savages to Christianity).

Between coffee and winter adventure I’ve managed to find a bit of time to get ready for my trip to South America. I’m scheduled to leave in about a week, shiny new passport in hand. My gear is collecting in a pile, and it’s time to start putting it into my pack.

Hopefully my next update will come to you from south of the equator.