Victorville UMC

I enjoy visiting different churches as I travel.  Every church may be set up a little differently but there is one thing that is always the same.  The members of the congregation are always welcoming and very friendly.  This church was no exception.  The music was good.  The message was good.  It was all good.  It's a very lovely place to worship.

50

I'm just throwing this picture in for funsies.  I took this picture two years ago during my 50th high school reunion.  The vintage van was parked outside of the hotel where the reunion was held.  Orange and black were our school colors so the van fit right in.  Fun time.  Great memories.

wild flowers

It's funny where lovely bunches of flowers will pop up.  This bouquet was growing in a dirt patch on a messy lot in a small town in central Washington.  I almost missed it as I walked by because I was looking in the opposite direction.  The bright pink color caught my attention and I stopped to gaze at this pretty assortment of flowers.  What a nice surprise.

Roslyn

Wow, talk about a blast from the past.   This is a big one.  I was just driving around in central Washington--just east of the Cascades--and I came upon a small town called Roslyn.  I knew that this town and some of its buildings were used in the exterior shots for the television show Northern Exposure and I set out to find some of the landmark locations used in filming the show.

Here are two of the most prominent landmarks.  The exterior wall painting on the Roslyn Cafe building was prominently featured in the opening credits and in various street scenes.  The Brick Tavern was generally used as a meeting place/hang out for the fictional residents of the town.  The building dates back to the 1880's and has always been called The Brick.  It is the longest continuously operated tavern in the state of Washington.

Looks like a lot of fun going on here.  Tonight the main street of Roslyn is closed to cars because there is a street dance being held in the center of town.  All in all, it is a nice little town set in the valley near the Wenatchee National Forest.  It's a beautiful area.

route 66 sign

There are many towns in several states that were served well by Route 66.  Victorville, California just happens to be one of those towns.  The California edition of the Route 66 museum is located here.  These local museums are dedicated to "the Mother Road" and have the best displays.  I found this beautiful aqua colored table and chairs in one of the rooms.  Formica top.  Check.  Metal side strip.  Check.  Aluminum legs.  Check.  Vinyl seat coverings.  Check.  I believe we are good to go here.  Let's eat!!

a beautiful rose

I like to take pictures of pretty flowers.  I thought this rose was exceptionally beautiful.  Enjoy.

Mt. Rainier National Park

This past Sunday I had the opportunity to take a drive up into Mt. Rainier National Park. It was a beautiful sunny day and the weather was just right for walking around.  We chose the route up the mountain that led to the Paradise Lodge.  The view of Mt. Rainier from this vantage point was spectacular.

The Paradise Lodge is very old and very rustic.  The lobby has a very high ceiling with timber beams and large hanging lamps.  There are large stone fireplaces at each end of the lobby and in spite of its immense size, it feels very cozy.  It would be a great place to relax.  The Paradise Lodge is privately operated and lies within the national park.  Nice day for a visit.