Mount St Helens: Putting Baby Beest's New Superpowers to the Test

Baby Beest was definitely limping along as we made our way from Port Townsend to Vancouver, Washington. The evening before we were to bring her into the RAM repair shop, we braced ourselves to be "homeless" for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to a few months. We checked into a nearby hotel and prepared to make the best of our situation while the mechanics ran their diagnostics. All we could do was wait and hope the repair estimate, however long or costly it turned out to be, would help us decide where RVentures would lead us next.

We figured that we would have at least a week to explore the city. And much to our delight, Vancouver proved to be another very easy and fun city to explore.

Our hotel was near the city's largest mall, so we had a number of coffee shops, bakeries, breweries, and restaurants to choose from. Of course, we had to check out the local donut legend, VooDoo Donuts, at least once.

The city's bus transit center was located there, and we quickly found out how easy it was to catch a ride to downtown Vancouver where ...

historical sites,

river walks,

and of course, more restaurants and breweries awaited to be discovered.

Crispy cheesy shrimp tacos ... Doug's new obsession!

We visited Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, perched on the north bank of the Columbia River. In the early 1800s, it was the site of Hudson Bay Company’s main supply depot and a hub for the fur trade industry. As we wandered through the restored buildings, volunteers brought the era to life, helping us imagine the daily routines of this once-vibrant economic, political, and cultural center. After the Oregon Treaty of 1846 placed the land under U.S. jurisdiction, the site shifted from a bustling trading post to an important military base. 

 Doug sat on the porch of Fort Vancouver's commander's house while I visited the many restored buildings, and watched the skills and heard the stories from the park's knowledgeable volunteers.

It was fun exploring the city for a few days, but thankfully, it was short-lived. By the end of the first day, we had the mechanic's diagnosis. The bad news? Yes, we needed a new engine .... ouch! The good news? They actually had one in stock, which meant the repair could be done quickly.

Three days later,

... Doug was checking out Baby Beest’s new under-the-hood

Superpowers!

After maxing out our credit cards, it was time to test out Baby Beest's new engine. Understandably, we were a little hesitant about venturing too far from Vancouver. We had always been interested in visiting Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument, and after checking out the route on Google Maps, it seemed like a perfect "test-drive" destination.

We both remember hearing about the devastation when Mount St Helens erupted on May 18, 1980, but we never imagined the incredible beauty we would witness when, once again, Mother Nature has emerged victorious over a natural disaster.

The massive eruption triggered the largest debris avalanche ever recorded, wiping out vast stretches of forest and claiming 57 lives. Though it forever altered the landscape, it also turned the area into a living laboratory, where scientists continue to study how the earth heals and ecosystems rebound after such devastation.

We tested Baby Beest's mountain climbing skills as we drove up the highway into the park. Starting at sea level, we saw the face of the volcano after we ascended to an elevation of about 4000 feet.

A stop at the Mount St Helens Visitor Center told us the story of the history surrounding the park and the effect of the eruption on the people, landscape, and wildlife.

A little further up the road, the Forest Learning Center showed us how the surrounding forest area is home to millions of acres of new-growth timber thanks to the joint efforts of the national government and private businesses. Weyerhaeuser, a major forest products company, worked quickly after the eruption to gather the millions of fallen trees and replant the barren hillsides. This cooperation between the government and private business is evident today as we looked out at the surrounding hills. Forty-five years ago these hills were stripped bare, but today they glimmer with the brilliant green of healthy pines.

As a result of the eruption's massive landslides, area lakes were buried, and the courses of local rivers were dramatically changed. But, a positive benefit was the creation of new area lakes like this beautiful gem ... Coldwater Lake.

Located at the farthest point that one can drive to in the park, Coldwater Lake boasts of being one of the United States "newest" lakes. Just a year after the eruption, the abundant snow melt and rainfall filled in this beautiful new recreational area.

During our two mile hike along the lake's shoreline, we were greeted by delicate wildflowers, colorful autumn leaves, and magnificent views of the surrounding peaks.

Because Coldwater Lake is located in the middle of national monument land, the surrounding forests are found in a more "natural" state. During our hike, we passed stumps of trees that were snapped in half by the violent eruption and are supporting the new forest growth that sprouts from them.

In the lake, massive tree stumps stand as silent reminders that nature is always in a state of change.

That night we were able to boondock next to the Forest Learning Center and enjoy views of the river valley and the colorful hues of the setting sun as it illuminated the currently quiet, but still very much active Mount St Helens.

Our first outing went well, and we are grateful that Baby Beest's new superpowers allow us to continue to travel, discover, and enjoy the beauty that the earth's volcanic "superpowers" continue to create.

Recharging Our Internal Batteries

The beauty of life is in each precious moment ...

Remember to stop and smell the roses.

With Baby Beest's continuing engine "woes", our past few weeks of travel have been just a tad bit stressful. Popping the hood, topping off the coolant, and watching for that pesky "check-engine" light had almost started feeling like a normal part of our daily driving routine.

While she still managed to get us where we needed to go, we were getting a little weary of Baby Beest's "much larger than van-sized" drama. Luckily, the Puget Sound area of Washington state proved to be the perfect spot to

recharge our internal batteries

before facing what could be a prolonged and costly "spa" visit for our beloved home-on-wheels. A little island time and hefty dose of community spirit proved to be the "fix" that Doug and I needed.

San Juan Island Recharge

This archipelago off the coast of Washington state is known for its scenic beauty and laid-back lifestyle. When we visited Friday Harbor last year, we knew that we could easily be convinced to return someday.  So grateful that our "someday" showed up just when we needed it most.

Our ferry meandered around the various San Juan Islands and brought us into Friday Harbor. Once we were settled into our campsite on the county fairgrounds, it was a short walk into town where we quickly got used to the colorful and laid-back atmosphere of the island.

Friday Harbor buzzes with activity during the day,

as tourists browse the artsy shops, and ferry passengers hope for an impromptu whale performance.

We were grateful to be able to let Baby Beest rest while we utilized our feet and bikes to explore the area. The highlight of this visit was to take the free, inter-island ferry to check out one of the nearby islands. 

After landing at the ferry dock on Orcas Island, we had to bike ten miles across the island in order to reach Doug's "reward".

Thanks to our e-bikes, we were able to easily pedal past fields of grazing llamas,

and crank up the power to make it up "Uff Da Hill"

in order to reach Doug's coveted prize ... lunch and an IPA at another cute "off the beaten path" craft brewery.

The relaxed vibes of "island time" was definitely what we needed to start recharging our internal batteries! 

Hymer-Head Recharge

After our four days on the island, we had two ferry rides and an hour-long drive in order to arrive at our next recharging station located in Port Townsend, Washington. There, surrounded by fellow Hymer van owners and dear friends,

we would enjoy five days of helpful "fix-it" ideas,

relaxing beach walks and talks,

scrumptious potlucks,

energizing campfire conversations, music, and dance,

and soul-enriching laughter and friendships.

While there will always be those stormy skies and rough seas,

we are grateful for the people and places that provide a refuge for our souls

 and "recharge" us so that we can handle whatever tomorrow brings. 

Update:

We made it to Vancouver, Washington where it sounds like Baby Beest is going to get a new engine ... not the "inexpensive" fix that we had hoped for, but it's definitely proceeding smoother and faster than we originally thought. Fingers crossed, but we may only have to "enjoy" a five day hotel stay before being back "home" once again. The knowledge and communication of the repair shop mechanics definitely has us embracing the company's motto ...

Believe in Nice! 

Tacoma, Washington: Wow! That Was a Pleasant Surprise!!

I've been reminded from time to time to ...

Be "flexible" with travel plans,

so that you can enjoy the many hidden "gems" that pop up along the way.

After visiting Denali National Park we continued north to Fairbanks where we hoped that we could find another repair shop that was willing and able to diagnose and service our van. Doug is fairly certain that there is a problem with the head gasket which, unfortunately, may not be a quick or inexpensive fix. When we got to town, we were warmly greeted by our friend, Maria and her sweet labradoodle named Maxie.

 

Does anyone want to give me another slipper to chew up??!!

The next day we touched base with the repair shop in Fairbanks and felt optimistic that they’d be able to diagnose and repair the issue. The catch? They couldn’t get us in for another week which meant spending even more time in Alaska. With that realization came the nagging worry that “winter” could be lurking just around the corner. Baby Beest is still chugging along, but asking her to haul us 2,000+ miles back to the Lower 48 felt a bit too "RVenturous" even for us.

There's a whole bunch of beautiful "nothingness" between here and there!

While we were discussing our options, Maria had a brilliant idea ... why not ship it back to Washington state like she did with her van a few years ago?

With that suggestion, the wheels started turning as Doug began calculating a fresh batch of possible solutions.

Three days later we were back in Anchorage. After prepping Baby Beest, she was ready for her first solo cruise from Alaska to the glamorous port city of Tacoma, Washington where we promised to meet her in a week.

We didn't know much about Tacoma other than it is an industrial port city that lies in the shadow of Seattle. As we boarded our plane bound for Sea-Tac International Airport, our expectations were not very high ... we just hoped that Tacoma would have better weather and be less expensive than Anchorage.

Like this fisherman's wife who was blown away by her "gift" from the sea,

we, too, were pleasantly surprised by this gem of a city that lies on the banks of the Puget Sound.

From the sun-filled walks along scenic paths,

... to abundant sweet blackberries along the way,

... to cozy coffee shops,

... and more than a few craft breweries,

... we found ourselves continuously saying,

"Wow, Tacoma, That Was a Pleasant Surprise!"

We booked a stay in an Airbnb in central Tacoma to hang out for five days while we waited for our van to arrive.  Along with the beautiful evening appearances of Mount Rainier, our large attic room came with its own private bath and continental breakfast offerings ... all for less than half the price of similar offerings in Anchorage.

From there, we could easily walk or hop on public transit to explore this once-industrial port town, which is now busy reinventing itself as a hub of art, nature, and culture.

Tacoma is the hometown of the famous glass artist Dale Chihuly and the location of his Museum of Glass. The sun reflected the beauty of the colors and contours of his art works that were displayed on the Bridge of Glass and in the surrounding park area.

From there we continued on the harbor path that led to the former warehouse area that is being transformed into condos, restaurants, and much to Doug's delight ... breweries.

Strolls through the revitalized downtown area rewarded us with views of stately architecture

... while the surrounding neighborhoods showcased much-loved Victorian houses with pristine gardens that thrive in the relatively mild year-round climate.

On the west side of the city, Point Defiance Park offers a green "escape" from urban life. During our visit to the park, we barely scratched the surface of 700+ acres of forests, gardens, beaches, trails, and cultural attractions.

We walked two and a half miles along the shore of the Puget Sound while enjoying the marine scenery.

A community of slumbering seals along the shore and playful porpoises in the water provided entertainment when we finally reached the outermost edge of the park.

A late lunch at Anthony's, a popular restaurant in the nearby marina area, gifted us with a memorable waterfront dining experience.

Refueled with delicious seafood tacos, we decided to forgo the bus ride back and instead continued our stroll along Ruston Way Waterfront, a trail that connects the park with downtown Tacoma. When we finally got back to our Airbnb, our feet were definitely feeling the effects of our nine mile "urban hike", but the beautiful and constantly changing scenery made those miles fly by.

With our urban hiking legs well broken in, we decided to take advantage of a $3 bus ride in order to visit Tacoma's "big sister" to the northeast, Seattle. As usual, Doug worked his magic (and consulted Google) to find a new brewery that also served up delicious fish and chips,

and a new coffee shop  ... that actually turned out to be quite "old" in that it was the original Starbucks that opened its doors in Pike Place Market on March 30, 1971.

A stroll though this entertaining marketplace along Seattle's waterfront 

 ... followed by a birds-eye view from the top of Seattle's most iconic tourist attraction, the Space Needle

... filled our second visit to downtown Seattle with fun new memories!

And just like that ... after five days in Tacoma, we took an Uber over to the busy Tacoma shipping docks to be reunited with Baby Beest. While her short "vacation" did little to resolve her engine issues, we were now in a much better position to have them taken care of.

And more importantly, I am once again reminded of the importance of being "flexible" in order to embrace the

Pleasant Surprises

that are always waiting to greet us just down the road.

Next up ...we'll continue to enjoy the Puget Sound area with a visit the San Juan Islands and a meet-up with fellow Hymer van owners in Port Townsend before making our way to Portland, Oregon where we hope to find some “pleasant surprises” regarding the prognosis of Baby Beest’s current engine "woes". Keep those fingers crossed!