1998-2001

After we moved from Juneau we rented in Silverdale, Washington and then in Astoria, Oregon. During the time in Washington we owned two more sailboats (both great deals that we fixed up and resold). We went out whenever we could, mostly weekends, and sailed near home and Puget Sound. We made our first "big" summer trip (2 weeks) to the San Juan Islands. This is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen! Friday Harbor is a quaint town and the entire island chain is so picturesque.

These years were a little less adventurous for us, as Troy was experiencing more back pain and ended up having surgery (lumbar discectomy) in November 2000. I also was under the weather with a non-functioning gallbladder and had that removed in July 2001. Luckily, we both recovered quite well from our surgeries.

On May 26, 2001 we did manage to climb Mt. St. Helens (coincidentally my 29th birthday). This was something we weren't at all trained for, but you know how Troy was, he had that "let's get the gear and go do it!" attitude. We drove the day before, put up the tent and camped with the rest of the climbers. We heard that the right way to do it was to get up and on the trail by 4am -- I think we were up around 7am! It took us 5 hours to climb up and the last few hundred yards were straight up, but when we got to the top and looked down and around it was so worth it. From the summit you can see into Spirit Lake, which is still filled with downed trees from the eruption in 1980. Going down the mountain only took 2 hours as we took the advice of others and "glisaded" down. If you don't know of this technique, you sit your butt down on the snow and GO!! The trails were already in place and let me tell you, it was fun!! Troy and I joked later that we wanted to be taken by helicopter to the top just so we could go down again.

lco