Day 5

 Day 5: Mount Rainier. Sort of.

So we continued our trek to Mount Rainier - some sights on the way:



Part of our pre-cruise is needing a negative covid test. Fun scheduling on the road. Walgreens in Yakima was able to get us the (hopefully) correct test. Naturally they said their email was glitching, so we might have to travel back for a hard copy. 2.5 hrs away. Naturally. 

Fun fact: my navigation decided to take us up the employee access road (which was all potholes) and we hit a dead end, with no cell service and no map. But, we rolled with it and were able to figure out how to get into the park and headed to Paradise Inn.



There was something very peaceful about it (yet also very Shining-like): fire burning in the fireplace, people working on a puzzle, very causal, very calm, I would love to come back with Dan sometime!

And then, Mount Rainier in all of it's beauty:


Nick said it was amazing - it was his first time seeing it.
😐
Here is a nice view of what the hike entrance looked like 11 months ago - crazy how much of a difference end of June to the end of July makes!!
(End of July)
(End of June)
Got 16 emails from Walgreens once we had service again - we are all covid free and ready to cruise! Headed to our really nice hotel in Seattle.
Soooooo glad we saved our appetites for the BEST dinner at Ivar's Salmon House:


Mom came in a little late and missed dinner, but she found wine, so we are good:


Today's Lessons:
1. Always have a backup map.
2. Trust your gut.
3. Burnt caramel tastes like s'mores. Yummy birthday dessert for Nick.
4. Fancy dinners bring out some great conversation. Never appropriate, but always hilarious.
5. Butt wipes are now on board, but in lieu of boxed wine (because it's not allowed on the cruise), we are substituting toe pads... Grandma has officially arrived.

Fingers crossed that we are able to board the cruise with no issues. No service on the boat, but I should be able to post updates throughout the week when we dock. 
Alaska here we come!
🎈








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