I wanna live like we lived in the summer

Washington's giving us some glimpses of summer. You really have to pay close attention though, ha!

One of my favorite summer time activities (depending on the temperature) is hiking.

There are two hikes that I've always mixed up. Cougar mountain and Tiger mountain. Mixed up that is until Shannon Ryther and I straightened it all out this last Saturday.

Cougar mountain is in Bellevue, off of Lakemont Blvd. Tiger mountain (the mountain where all the hang gliders go, according to my neighbor) is a few more exits down and right off the freeway.

Cougar/Bellevue Tiger/Snoqualmie Got it?

So after taking a leisure scenic route filled with highway, house and recumbent bicycle. We made our way to Cougar Mountain.

I discovered when we parked there that I hadn't done this hike in 6+ years. The last time I did it was when I was getting my Associates degree at Bellevue College (Then Bellevue Community College) taking a plant identification class. The syllabus for that class was: Show up at class in tennis shoes everyday ready to HIKE! Best class I've ever taken.

Shannon and I took the route towards Coal Creek Falls. A beautiful hike. We had so much shade cover from the trees, we did just fine in the 78 deg weather without sunscreen.

Hurrah for hiking. I love it! Thanks for coming along Shannon

And another 'peek of summer' day I was able to catch was just a couple days ago. Monday night Kelsey Rudd and I headed out to Seattle to the Arboretum.

Whoooooo! talk about fun. Arboretum + Canoe + Paddles = a raving good time.

Kelsey and I went under around, forth and back

And now I really want to go Kayaking. Anyone else?

But, yes thanks to WA & the great northwest. You may keep us in puddles, just keep shining the sun every so often.