Memories & Bubbles

Totally off topic, but...what smells or tastes bring back a memory lying dormant in your past?

Drank a can of Coke today. . .I do this about every 3 years when something other than coffee, tea, or water beckons. I poured it into a glass and took a sip before the bubbles had dissipated, causing a fine spray on my face (hey, they say caffeine and sugar are good for the skin, right?) The spray and the taste transported me back to a grade 8 field trip to Washington, D.C. The Coke was part of a brown bag lunch eaten under the trees by the National Mall within view of the Lincoln Memorial. The rest of the sack? Ham and cheese on a thick white bun slathered with mustard, a bag of chips, an apple, and a chocolate chip cookie...the requisite school-days meal. We thought the best part of the trip was...mind you, not the amazing history contained within the District of Columbia...the comfy air-conditioned coach buses we got to ride for a day instead of the big yellow bus.

Pedals & Petals

Last weekend a group of friends and I decided to drive north and explore the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival via bike. Since my first trip to the cold, gray, wet Pacific Northwest many years ago where I was first introduced to the fields of glorious color, now that I live here I make a point to go every year.

The festival is April 1-30 but the weather does not always cooperate with those dates. Apparently the festival dates were extended to yesterday this year due to the late blooming. On April 11 only the daffodils were blooming, with no sign of the stars of the show - the tulips. However, amid pouring rain we drove north on the 25th hoping that the stars were finally shining. Indeed...

For those of you interested in biking the fields, exit I-5 at downtown Mt. Vernon and drive through town to Edgewater Park. We enjoyed a picnic lunch on the banks of the river before hopping on our chosen transportation. We biked a couple miles on the main route to the fields and then turned left and continued biking around to the various fields.

Seeing the fields by bike has multiple perks, as we discovered. While waiting to turn left at an intersection we were given first priority by the crossing guard. Driving into Tulip Town's parking lot we were able to bike through the lot straight into the fields for free. Biking into the wide rows between the fields is permitted and enhances the photo ops.

I'd highly recommend this method of seeing the tulips. You missed it this year, but make plans to do it next year!