Wenatchee – Where Two Rivers Meet

Wenatchee - Where Two Rivers Meet

We got up early the next day and found another family next to us packing it in as well. A father and two teen-aged sons were taking down their tent. The Dad identified himself as a forty-eight year old attorney of Croatian descent. He recently quit his job working in Las Vegas, for he wanted to spend more time with his sons. His wife is a teacher and still had her job with insurance for the family. Today they were planning a fishing trip and he was excited that he and his sons could do things together this summer.
We got everything in Moby Dick and thought we would check out Peach Beach where many windsurfers stay. We drove by and saw several tents set up close to the water, and along the tents sites there were several sails all rigged up and a few boards lined up ready at a moment's notice. The only thing about Peach Beach, it is a primitive camping sight, though the fence to the State Park facilities was open if someone wanted a quick shower. We drove on and on the other side of the road we saw the fruit stand where we bought cherries and a jar of honey for Lynda and the kids.

Wind mills everywhere!

As we left going to Yakima we saw a daisy chain of wind turbines stretching as far as the eye could see throughout the hills towards Yakima. I guess that tells you that there is a great deal of wind in this area. Soon we came near Yakima, the Palm Desert of Washington, and saw several casinos operated by Yakima Indian tribes. This area is also known for agriculture growing vegetables such as asparagus. As we passed Yakima we noticed the far off mountains that told us we were getting near. We stopped at a rest spot and took our pictures with Mt. Adams, and Mt Rainier. We finished our trip by going down Blewett Pass. We couldn't imagine going down it in a bike with the steep turns, yet we saw at least five people were coming and going on the pass. This tells you a little about the kind of people that live here including Lynda.
 
 We left the pass behind and began to see some familiar sights nearing Wenatchee, one being the river which was running fast and furiously due to the melting snows. We realized why our son loved this part of the world with the mountains nearby, rivers to fish and play in and the changing seasons bringing new adventures with each changing season. He couldn't get enough of life living life to the fullest each season either biking, swimming, cross country skiing, downhill skiing and enjoying his family with every experience. He and Lynda had a nurtured a great group of friends about their age who shared in many activities. Lynda surprised us with a gathering of these many friends that evening when we arrived at her home. They began coming late in the afternoon with dishes to share and before long there were people everywhere. It was like a home coming for us since we had met all of them the year before for our son's Celebration of life

Berkeley attemps the jump

Children were a big part of the life of most of the families. We saw many of them at the children's soccer games and swim meets, and Montessori School, and since everyone brought their children to the party, they were everywhere! In the back yard the enclosed trampoline was set up beneath the lanai which make a perfect place to launch oneself onto the trampoline below. Berkeley and Jake, our dare devil grandchildren, were eager to show everyone how it was done. In case of a bad landing, John positioned himself on kick ball the inside edge of the trampoline to help out the jumper. Another group played games out in front with Red Rover being the game of choice after Kick Ball and Kick the Can. To keep things going smoothly, some mothers entered the game. It was a wonderful day of socializing, renewing friendships, and continued support of Lynda.


The next day was devoted to swimming. Both Berkeley and Jake had swimming practice in the morning and a meet that evening. We drove to the Wenatchee Racket and Athletic Club to watch swim practice. It was amazing how much the youngsters improved in their swimming skills from last year. The most obvious reason for improvement is the actual lengthening out of their bodies. Neither of them had baby fat and they looked lean and mean! Knowing how to finish a race was an improvement as well. There was a time when Jake would dive to the bottom of the pool at the end of the race and it was fun to watch the timers get up from their chairs and look down to see if he touched the side of the pool at the bottom. Now he made a point of touching on top. Today he was learning the flip turn and exhaling on the turn so he wouldn't get water in his nose.
Berkeley also showed great improvement by being able to swim 25 yards in a straight line. Last year I remember she had a tendency to meander from side to side losing a lot of time. Being six she has had to compete with girls older in the eight and under group. Today the 8s were working on breathing by turning the head instead of lifting the upper body out of the water. Berkeley also made great strides in listening and following her coach's directions. Last year she was a little social bug and was just happy to be there with her friends.
To prepare for the evening meet Lynda began gathering items and putting them in a back pack: goggles, cap, team swimsuit and a warm bathrobe for in between races. She then got another large bag and filled it with blankets, toys, food , and water bottles. Everything was but into the car including the kids and dog and off we went to the near-by high school. There we set up camp on the next to the building outside. We spread our blanket on the lawn and sent the kids to get dressed and marked. Meanwhile, John and I took the opportunity to take Oreo, the standard poodle, for a jog around the track. Boy, did we feel out of shape. Although we were trying to keep up with our fitness, it was hard to keep our workout schedule when you are traveling. After a mile and a half and breathing hard, we returned to the camp to see how things were going for the meet.
We looked for Jake and Berkeley and they were gathered with the rest of the team listening to last minute instructions. We could see that their right arms were marked with felt pen all the way up their forearms. They had a series of numbers referring to their participating races. By the list of their arms, we could see that this would be a long meet. It was now five and we were hoping to be home by nine. We stood and watched the groups of swimmers line up and sit on their benches. Before long John and I were recruited to be timers. We were used to doing meets when our son Ted was a swimmer at this same age, so it all came back to us. Soon the meet began and the starter called out the races. Time went fast and in some cases the races were combined because there were few participants. Our main concern was not being splashed by swimmers as they dived in since we were seated behind the starting platforms. Lynda on the other hand was busy being cheer leader for our kids. We knew when Jake and Berkeley were in a race as we would see Lynda at the end line cheering them on. When it got down to the relays we could see how the enthusiasm was peaked. Both Jake and Berkeley were concentrating on the races. We saw Jake do his free style with long arms and keeping his head in the water breathing only on four strokes. It was a thrilling finish. When they got home the kids hit the pillow and were sound asleep.
The next day Lynda had to work at the clinic so we got the opportunity to have the kids to ourselves! We had plans to take them to Leavenworth where we would play miniature golf. John was excited as it was the closest he would get to a golf course. So we got up as Lynda was leaving out the door on her bike so we would be able to use the car. At breakfast we talked about our plan for the day. Both Jake and Berkeley had plans on using their allowance in their piggy banks to buy something special. Jake wanted a stuffed beaver that he wanted to adopt through a program on the internet. The little critter would be found at the Academic Athletic store. Berkeley wanted a specific doll at Target. They said they had enough money so we got into the car. When we got to the Academic store we found that we were about half an hour early, so as an alternative we decided to go to the clinic and see if I could find a friend whom I knew through a folk dance friend of mine. The kids thought that was a great Idea as they could see their Mom at work.
We went to the clinic and got in the elevator to the second floor and got to see Mom in her Blues getting ready for work. She was surprised and overjoyed to see us and introduced us to the other nurses on the staff. We then said our good-byes and went down stairs to find my friend. I had not met her in person but found out she was related as a sister of one of my folk dancing friends. It was quite a coincidence so I thought I would make the acquaintance. When she stepped out to the lobby there was not a mistake that they were sisters. We had a pleasant conversation and planned to stay in touch.
By the time we left the clinic it was ten. As we approached Target we were reassured by Berkeley that she knew exactly what she wanted and she would only take a few minutes. So John left us in front of the store and Berkeley and I hopped out and ran into the store. I knew John had the timer on so we had to hurry. Berkeley knew just where to go and I followed her as she dashed to the toy department. We got to the doll section and she picked out a brunette equestrian beauty. I suggested she count her money to see if she had enough. The doll cost thirty dollars plus tax. So Berkeley counted her dollars to $23 then her change which brought her to $27. It was plain she did not have enough. I told her she had two options: come back when she had enough money or choose another doll that was worth less. She took the second option and found Jenny, a blond preppy doll. Happily, with doll in hand, she went to the clerk who counted the right amount and gave her change. She placed it in her piggy jar and we walked out three dollars in change jingling in the jar.


Now it was time for Jake to rob his piggy jar and get his most prized possession for the immediate future. We drove to the Academic Acrobat store where we already found a few cars in front of the store. Jake also knew were to go to find his new critter which happened to be a stuffed beaver. Using the computer he would find the site for then enter in his new "pet" and register it by name, and then would build a home and supply it with furniture, etc. Specialty stores like this one loved this promotion. Several other kids were there trying to choose from a large selection of ''stuffies.'' We were lucky that Jake already had his in mind. He went to the counter and took the amount he needed then put the lid back on this Piggie Jar. Happily hugging his new adoptee with its white teeth hanging out, Jake led us out to the car.

Yes, Moms can play too!

Grandpa John with Berkeley playing the car game

Jake and Berkeley playing the car game

Now we were ready to take our trip to the lovely Bavarian town called Leavenworth where Lynda conducts the yearly marathon during October Fest the first week of October. During the winter we came there to do cross country skiing in the golf course. Also we had played golf there and hiked up to a lovely lake a few years past. So we were familiar with the area and soon found the Leavenworth Mini Golf. Our goal for the day was to complete a round without anyone causing a tizzy fit which happened in the past. So far so good, as we advanced to the first tee each clutching our own colored ball and our own putter. Jake being the one who likes to play by the rules established the line-up for turns: Grandpa, Grandma, Jake, and Berkeley. That was fine with everyone except Berkeley who wanted to be first. So we decided that we would have a rotating line up. That worked pretty well most of the time. We decided not to impose the usual rule of the lowest score goes first as it might not work out too well for everyone. It was amazing that there were no flare ups and we even complemented each other on our play. We also overlooked a few rules like stopping the ball if it was going to roll forever, or moving the ball if there was no way to get a back swing. We also went lenient on the score, so if a person scored more than seven that was the final score and you could pick up. That kept the game moving and everyone was good with that. In Jake's eyes his mom, Lynda, was the perennial winner as she had hit at least three holes in one the last time they played.

Berkeley counting her tickets

Jake getting ready to count his tickets

We all were now ready for lunch, so we went in and ordered. While we waited for our meal John and I were happy to sit and watch Maria Sharapova compete in the semi-finals of Wimbledon on the big jumbo screen. We gave Jake and Berkeley five dollars to play video and skill games for tickets that could be traded in for goodies at the redeemer counter. After lunch it was time to count tickets. Berkeley brought in about 235 tickets! We asked her how she got so many, and she replied, "I don't know. They just kept coming out!" She grabbed her bundle of tickets and went to choose her prize. Jake came over and we helped him count out his tickets to 130. He played more skill games that made you work harder for tickets. He knew just what he wanted and grabbed his swarm of tickets and went to talk to the clerk. Berkeley came back with a lovely necklace that she fastened herself, and Jake came back with a pink smash pig. Jake demonstrated how the pig worked. He stepped back and threw it on the table with all his might. The pig went SPLAT! It became a pink blobby mess on the table, then suddenly before our eyes it slowly drew back into its own shape again, smiling like a happy pig. Wow, what will they think of next? Jake was so enthusiastic that he kept smashing his pig over and over squealing with glee! He drew his arm back for one more throw and spat! The goo started oozing all over the table. It was not a happy pig. Jake couldn't believe that it would fall apart like that. Berkeley saw the sad expression on his face and grabbed the mess on the table and took it to the clerk. In a minute she was back with a brand new pig! "Here, Jake. Here is a new one, just don't throw it so hard." Jake took the pink pig and a smile spread across his face. "Thanks!" he said. Everyone was happy when we left, even Maria Sharapova who had won her match.

Mary, John, Peter, Moses, Lynda, and Judith

That evening the kids were going to a sleep over at a friend's house in East Wenatchee for a birthday party. A perfect opportunity to practice sleeping in their sleeping bags in their tent as we had planned to do when we went to Hood River. The sleep over also gave Lynda and us a chance to go to dinner together. It would also give us an opportunity to meet up with Peter and Judith who visit Sarasota every year when they visit Judith's father on Longboat Key. The restaurant is a favorite with all the athletes and bicycle enthusiasts. On the walls are black and white pictures of the Tour de France of past years. The food is Italian and with great pizzas as well as pasta dishes. We ordered a pizza and salads while we waited Judith showed up and it was great to see her. Last October they had invited us to their home which is surrounded by her garden and pens for goats and chickens. She is a great cook and had cooked us a wonderful pumpkin soup with home-made bread and fresh salad. It was divine and made right from her garden! As our drinks arrived so did Peter and their son Moses. They had been dirt biking and still wore their bike gear. They fit right in with the casual restaurant atmosphere. They also ordered a pizza and we got into talking about bike trails and the biking we were planning to do in Hood River. Judith told us about the trip she and Moses and daughter Hadassah were planning to take to Costa Rica to study turtles. Lynda had an opportunity to tell her about her experience to Costa Rica when she took Jake and Berkeley last spring. They were excited about our cross country venture and our trip to Hood River. Life seemed pretty exciting!

 

There is a special relationship that the children have with friends next door. Actually Olivia and Ely live over the adjacent fence and to get to each other's homes, the children have to go over the fence. The swimming pool ladders on both sides of the fence seem to work pretty well even if Lynda had to go over the fence to check on her kids or Shelly had to do the same. During our stay, Shelly took us to a friend's home that has a pool and we had a pool party. Her friend is a reading teacher who went to Orlando to Disneyworld. In no time at all everyone was in the pool making good use of the slide. Both Ely and Olivia are very inventive as are Jake and Berkeley so they devised all sorts of ways to go down the slide: Forward, backward, head first, head first on the back, two piggy back, etc. Then there were games where you catch a thrown object just as you launch off the slide. It was great watching the antics of all four of them playing together. They were such good friends that they were all seemingly part of the family. I could see that they would miss each other when we all we leave for Hood River the next day.