the best things in life are free
i woke up at 5:30 saturday morning, googled some hiking ideas for the day, and landed on the naches peak loop trail at mount rainier national park.
this was only my second time visiting, and it was just wonderful. four miles of ponds, wildflowers, mountain peaks, and of course her majesty—the volcano.
it was cloudy while we were there, but she peeked her head out a few times—just enough for me to snap a shot of her glaciers floating above the clouds.
sml was a good sport about going with me so early. i had mentioned that i wanted to hike, but i had not exactly supplied a time or a place. i know if it had been the other way around, i would have been a pill.
on the way home we stopped at big nation station because i have always wanted to, and it did not disappoint. it is a huge convenience store and a definite stop next time for a pre-hike sandwich grab.
i also did my one annual car wash at the big nation car wash. i am not totally sure why this feels notable, but the soaps were very colorful, the vacuuming was free, and i love a bargain.
maybe the best things in life really are free. or at least the vacuuming is.