Monday, June 26, 2017

Olympus Hasn't Fallen, But the Rain Sure Has

Don't get too comfortable, Daddy raided a decade of SkyMiles accumulation so you could watch Nemo in style.



Is he asleep yet? That's pretty much the question the entire front of the plane is asking.


Hello? Hello? Dad, I don't think the reception up here is that great. Well you could say the same thing about your fellow passengers when they saw you turn left at the boarding door.


Two-timing on Star Alliance shouldn't feel this good. Bad boys!


Impeccable timing, finally out at the moment when seats have to be up for landing.


Someone is mighty chirpy for 4am. The only upside to operating on East Coast time out West is you always beat the traffic.



The misty peaks of Olympic National Park would make any Kiwi feel right at home, all that's missing is a roadside dairy to pick up a steak and cheese pie.



If you see a big green monster in the lake throw him a couple of your organic kale and quinoa pouches and he'll probably leave us alone.



Mommy, can we tag this one with the corned beef hashtag?



Windy, chilly, might rain at any moment. Sounds like the kind of real estate we should bid on.



First one who gets to three skips gets the keys to a garage.



Crescent Lake Lodge is everything a National Park lodge should be, a rustic log cabin complete with roaring fire in the middle of June.




Let no one say we're not civilized out here in the middle of nowhere. Now who's up for a dainty elk and damper sandwich? Crust optional.



Since neither of you can swim this is certain to end well.




Time to go bush son. Luckily we have a whole pack of cheddar dinos before we have to start eating grubs.



Looks a lot like NZ folks. Only thing missing is the sandflies.



Dad, are you sure you're going the right way?



Uhm no, but unfortunately for you our fates are bound together by the organic cotton straps of this Ergobaby.



Ah ha, what did I tell you son, I always knew the waterfall was this way. Oh ye of little faith.



If you see Bigfoot try to get a good selfie before he eats you.



Dad, this trail seems a lot longer from down here.




Getting up early doesn't guarantee you'll beat all the traffic to the summit of Hurricane Ridge.



At the half way point the rain stops just long enough to reveal an otherworldly landscape of viscous clouds that seem to flow through the lower reaches of the alpine valleys far below.




Like so many who have come before in search of epic vistas, the intractable weather of Hurricane Ridge lives up to its name.  Hey at least Kiwis and blog readers alike are used to this kind of disappointment.



So Dad, you did pack that spare diaper didn't you?



Back in civilization: the new Thompson Hotel in Downtown Amazonia, also occasionally known as Seattle.


Speaking of Amazon, next time your delivery is late blame it on this guy's routing algorithm.


Seattle's waterfront, revitalized by your $99 Amazon Prime subscription.



Dad, when I grow up I want to write code to optimize the kale drone's flight path back to the Whole Foods landing pad.



Wave to Jeff Bezos, he's very happy you only like the organic yogurt bottles, makes him confident he'll get a good return on his $13.7 billion.



Mr. Grizzly says eat your toast or you'll become the yummy in the tummy.


Why do you always pick the careers that are being automated?


In Portland they start them on the craft IPAs at 17 months.


Meanwhile north of the border Daddy is harbor hopping in a sea plane. The only work trip where you have to worry about your slide decks getting wet in the pontoon luggage compartment.





Ryan's two favorite things combined: trucks and food. Go Portland.




Looks like the perfect wheels for zipping between food trucks. There's even a built in table for eating on the move and a coffee station on the front bumper.



Flying back in bug class. Luckily upgraded from the abdomen to the thorax.