This weekend, my peak-bagging friend O.K. wanted to climb a few peaks in the Teanaways with me to celebrate her birthday.
Due to the windy and wet weather forecast for Saturday, she opted for a day hike on Sunday.
When she arrived ~2pm, and me with 4 little cakes for her birthday,
it turns out that her birthday was quite a few days ago.
For entertainment without climbing, I got tickets to 2 events, one at 5pm, one at 8pm.
First we went to Seattle Center to see the Philipine Festival (part of an ongoing Festal weekend series at Seattle Center).
I always like colorful costumes.
Saturday turned out to be fairly nice day. Not much rain.
5pm, we walked to Art Love Salon for a talk on Beethoven's 9th Symphony by Kunal Taravade.
I really enjoyed it. Taravade is not even in music industry.
He uses images and videos to talk about music.
Disectoring the aspiration and each movement of this symphony: breaking new grounds.
Before the lecture, there was even a small reception.
8pm Opening night of the 2026 Seattle International Dance Festival.
I've heard of this festival, but today is the first time I attended a performance.
This event is organized by Cyrus Khambatta, artistic director and founder of the 6 dancer company Khambatta Dance.
This is a week-long event with 2 weekends. Many local small dance groups, and some come far away.
The first work tonight is by Khambatta Dance, titled "404 - Human not found".
According to Cyrus, the speech used in the dance is generated by AI.
An AI robot dances with human. She's later replaced by a better model.
Second work is a 2-dancer work presented by a Korean group, MYOWNMOVE, titled "Constructed Selves".
A strange piece. These two acted like with broken limbs, one dancer uses the other's limb for his/her pose. Interesting.
The last piece is a short work combining the two companies in a new choreography.
I enjoyed these dances. Afterwards, 2 dancers and the choreographers of of each team sat on stage for an Q&A. Needed an interpreter.
Saturday, June 06, 2026
2026.6.6. The Great Seattle Fire
6/6 Saturday. 10am, I joined a Seattle history field trip at 1st and Madison, guided by 2 enthusiastic amature historians.
In 1889, on the very same day at the same spot, in the ink shop below, the Great Seattle Fire started.
We walked to Pioneer Square as the fire progressed.
Learned how the city was and how it changed.
These 2 guys know a lot.
Some reference given:
- Short Youtube video: https://youtu.be/xtgIu9FOoD8?si=ny6uG5pyVNdqikI2
- New perspective https://issuu.com/kevinmax1/docs/1889_aprilmay2019/s/92388
- City of Seattle Source Documents https://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/exhibits-and-education/digital-document-libraries/the-great-seattle-fire-of-1889
I visited Virginia V, the historical ferry boat (June, 1922, part of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet).
You can pipe lake water out of a hose.
A nice day on the water.
Wednesday, June 03, 2026
2026.6.3. Westin Run club + Chief Sealth High School Orchestra & Choir
6/3 Wednesday 6:30am. Global Running Day at Westin Seattle.
I wasno't even aware of a global running day (first Wednesday in June), but I'm aware of the run every Wednesday at Westin.
I'm waking up early these days due to jet lag.
Decided to join the run.
Today, the route goes to Olympic Sculpture Park, right by this new installation of Aiweiwei's Zodiac.
After the run, there's a table of snacks and T-shirt set in the hotel lobby.
Even got a large water bottle.
Some random hotel guests came by and partook the freebies.
At 7:30pm, went to a community concert, where Chief Sealth High School Orchestra played side by side with Seattle Symphony. The school choir was also on stage.
Program is gone from Seattle Symphony's website. Here it is:
Antonio Vivaldi Concerto for twi Chellos in G minor
-- Chief Sealth High School Orchestra
Alan Menkin & "Colors of the Wind" from Disney's Pocahantas
Stephen Schwartz -- Chief Sealth High School Orchestra
Stephen Schwartz When You Believe
/arr. Aubrey Snyder -- Chief Sealth High School Orchestra & Choir
& John Moss
Aaron Copland El Salon Mexico
--Seattle Symphony
Jimmy López Aino
-- Seattle Symphony
Dmitri Shostakovich. Festive Overture, Op 96
-- Seattle Symphony
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker Suite
-- Chief Sealth High School Orchestra
-- Seattle Symphony
Sunday, May 31, 2026
2026.5.30-31 WNPS Study Weekend: Botanical Rambles
5/29-31, WNPS Study Weekend: Botanical Rambles from the Columbia River to the Wenatchee Mountains.
Had to work on Friday, so couldn't participate the garden visits on Friday afternoon and the first evening gathering.
Still we drove out after work. Arrived at Chelan County Expo Center's campground ~8:30pm. It's near the town of Cashmere.
$15/night for the event (otherwise $20).
Quite a few campers here belong to WNPS, including our neighbors. One lady simply slept in her car.
5/30, Saturday. Guided walk to Tyee Lookout with Richard R. ~10 people.
All are much more knowledgable than us.
We piled onto 3 cars. The road is pretty rough.
We walked the last 1.5 miles.
Moving slowly as we were talking about plants.
Two endemic plants:
Chelan Penstemon has very small flowers compared to other blue penstemons I know.
Long Sepal Globemallow is not in flower.
A couple of plants that are beyond their range. People were hypothesize the cause.
A few tweedies.
I didn't pay attention to Little Sunflower, until it was pointed out to me.
It's rather large, single stem.
We stopped about 10 minutes before the summit for lunch break, on a baldy slope full of phlox.
Some Strict Buckwheat, and Northern Buckwheat (with very tall flower stock, mostly
Very nice here.
Then we continued up to the locked lookout. Solar panel.
I think you may be able to rent it from the Forest Service.
View is great, 360°.
On our way back, we stopped by an inconspicious pullout on hwy-97 next to the Columbia River.
Opened the metal gate, we all filed in.
The metal fenced area is very closed to the rocky cliff, with piles of fallen rocks.
On this cliff face, clings on rock mat spirea.
A very strange plant. Not sure how they survive, without water, with no discernable soil.
The withered stalks are last year's flower stocks. They bloom in August, again, defy logic: too hot and dry.
We skirted around the rocks to get closer to the cliff.
There, we could even touch the lowest leaves of some of them.
Afterwards, Richard was kind enough and took us to see mountain lady slippers.
He saw them yesterday, so the chances that they are still there today is great. No one else came along.
The 3 of us walked swiftly on this woody trail, marked as Red Devil.
There they were. About 3 by the trail, 2 more clusters higher on the slope.
I've been trying to see these beauty a few times before, but never succeeded.
They are larger and prettier than I expected.
According to Richard, there used to be a lot more all along this trail.
Back at the expo center, people were already eating and drinking. We each were given 2 drink tickets (per evening). Salsa and chips in the adjacent event space. 4-5 different salsas. I liked most of those. It's quite warm today, so very happy with the beer buried in the ice cubes. It's WNPS' 50th birthday this year. Each table has a quiz sheet about the society that we tried to fill. I guessed only 1 correct answer! Many thanks and a couple of rewards were honored at the podium. I ran into Lacy, the horticulcurist I met last year to Eastern Ridge + Iron Peak trips. There is even a speaker tonight on ecology. However, with my stomach full, still in jet-lag, I dozed off, so learned nothing. Dinner is Mexican, with tortilla, rice, bean, pork, beef, chicken, tofu, from a local restaurant. A lot of food. So much so, that they encouged folks to lived in the area to take home. I also packed a container of pork, beef + rice, some salsa. Put it in my small cooler with the lid open for the night.
5/31, Sunday. In the morning, saw a California Quail on the campground grass.
Tibbetts Mountain with Joan F, one of the key organizers of this weekend's gathering. She was in Forest Service before, so very knowledgeable about the area and plants. I found a report from a different TH in early May: tons of balsamroot. Maybe we'll come back again early May for balsamroot.
12 people this time including Joah. Again 3 cars. Again, everyone else knows more about plants. One couple came from Bellingham, who have been to quite a few of these in the past. We drove behind Peshastin S.P, on FSR-7410. Not sure where we parked, maybe at the turn of 7410-112. We walked on the road, fairly wide, but no one else except for our group. Again, we walked slowly checking out plants. Saw many Chelan Penstemon, little Sunflower again, as well as Long Sepal Globemallow (on the right of this photo on the right, by the road, not in flower). One special flower we saw is purple Trillium (endemic to PNW, likes shade wet area but in dryer side of the land). If it were not for Joan to point it out, we all would have missed it.
The prize for this hike is the rare Wenatchee Valerian, which we didn't see until quite later.
I saw maybe 2 plants until our lunch spot. They look nothing like the common valerian I know.
The roadwalk is surprisingly scenic, open, view of the Enchantment Peaks to the west.
Some burnt trees. A few people in the group spotted a Hairy Woodpecker, uncommon. But I didn't see it.
We sat at a road turn (with broad open area) for lunch. Finished the taco filling I took yesterday.
I asked Joan's permission to go ahead further to hunt for what she advertised "a lot" of valerian.
She gave me 20 minutes.
My buddy and I did find quite a few ~7 minute further. Happily reported back.
The group decided to check them out too.
After that, Joan suggested turning around. But one lady claimed that she will go to the summit, regardless.
In the end, we all went up to the summit. It's a good decision, not only for the view, but also
quite many whilte delphinium on the final ridge - new to me.
Everyone was pretty happy.
Only a few clematis, and the last few balsamroot, a bit more phacelia.
Not too late back at the camp.
Driving home on I-90, it's always very pretty near Kachess Lake.
5/30, Saturday. Guided walk to Tyee Lookout with Richard R. ~10 people.
All are much more knowledgable than us.
We piled onto 3 cars. The road is pretty rough.
We walked the last 1.5 miles.
Moving slowly as we were talking about plants.
Two endemic plants:
Chelan Penstemon has very small flowers compared to other blue penstemons I know.
Long Sepal Globemallow is not in flower.
A couple of plants that are beyond their range. People were hypothesize the cause.
A few tweedies.
I didn't pay attention to Little Sunflower, until it was pointed out to me.
It's rather large, single stem.
We stopped about 10 minutes before the summit for lunch break, on a baldy slope full of phlox.
Some Strict Buckwheat, and Northern Buckwheat (with very tall flower stock, mostly
Very nice here.
Then we continued up to the locked lookout. Solar panel.
I think you may be able to rent it from the Forest Service.
View is great, 360°.
On our way back, we stopped by an inconspicious pullout on hwy-97 next to the Columbia River.
Opened the metal gate, we all filed in.
The metal fenced area is very closed to the rocky cliff, with piles of fallen rocks.
On this cliff face, clings on rock mat spirea.
A very strange plant. Not sure how they survive, without water, with no discernable soil.
The withered stalks are last year's flower stocks. They bloom in August, again, defy logic: too hot and dry.
We skirted around the rocks to get closer to the cliff.
There, we could even touch the lowest leaves of some of them.
Afterwards, Richard was kind enough and took us to see mountain lady slippers.
He saw them yesterday, so the chances that they are still there today is great. No one else came along.
The 3 of us walked swiftly on this woody trail, marked as Red Devil.
There they were. About 3 by the trail, 2 more clusters higher on the slope.
I've been trying to see these beauty a few times before, but never succeeded.
They are larger and prettier than I expected.
According to Richard, there used to be a lot more all along this trail.
Back at the expo center, people were already eating and drinking. We each were given 2 drink tickets (per evening). Salsa and chips in the adjacent event space. 4-5 different salsas. I liked most of those. It's quite warm today, so very happy with the beer buried in the ice cubes. It's WNPS' 50th birthday this year. Each table has a quiz sheet about the society that we tried to fill. I guessed only 1 correct answer! Many thanks and a couple of rewards were honored at the podium. I ran into Lacy, the horticulcurist I met last year to Eastern Ridge + Iron Peak trips. There is even a speaker tonight on ecology. However, with my stomach full, still in jet-lag, I dozed off, so learned nothing. Dinner is Mexican, with tortilla, rice, bean, pork, beef, chicken, tofu, from a local restaurant. A lot of food. So much so, that they encouged folks to lived in the area to take home. I also packed a container of pork, beef + rice, some salsa. Put it in my small cooler with the lid open for the night.
5/31, Sunday. In the morning, saw a California Quail on the campground grass.
Tibbetts Mountain with Joan F, one of the key organizers of this weekend's gathering. She was in Forest Service before, so very knowledgeable about the area and plants. I found a report from a different TH in early May: tons of balsamroot. Maybe we'll come back again early May for balsamroot.
12 people this time including Joah. Again 3 cars. Again, everyone else knows more about plants. One couple came from Bellingham, who have been to quite a few of these in the past. We drove behind Peshastin S.P, on FSR-7410. Not sure where we parked, maybe at the turn of 7410-112. We walked on the road, fairly wide, but no one else except for our group. Again, we walked slowly checking out plants. Saw many Chelan Penstemon, little Sunflower again, as well as Long Sepal Globemallow (on the right of this photo on the right, by the road, not in flower). One special flower we saw is purple Trillium (endemic to PNW, likes shade wet area but in dryer side of the land). If it were not for Joan to point it out, we all would have missed it.
The prize for this hike is the rare Wenatchee Valerian, which we didn't see until quite later.
I saw maybe 2 plants until our lunch spot. They look nothing like the common valerian I know.
The roadwalk is surprisingly scenic, open, view of the Enchantment Peaks to the west.
Some burnt trees. A few people in the group spotted a Hairy Woodpecker, uncommon. But I didn't see it.
We sat at a road turn (with broad open area) for lunch. Finished the taco filling I took yesterday.
I asked Joan's permission to go ahead further to hunt for what she advertised "a lot" of valerian.
She gave me 20 minutes.
My buddy and I did find quite a few ~7 minute further. Happily reported back.
The group decided to check them out too.
After that, Joan suggested turning around. But one lady claimed that she will go to the summit, regardless.
In the end, we all went up to the summit. It's a good decision, not only for the view, but also
quite many whilte delphinium on the final ridge - new to me.
Everyone was pretty happy.
Only a few clematis, and the last few balsamroot, a bit more phacelia.
Not too late back at the camp.
Driving home on I-90, it's always very pretty near Kachess Lake.
Sunday, April 19, 2026
2026.4.18. Oviedo, Spain
4/18, Saturday, arrived at Oviedo ~2:30pm.
Booked Alojamiento Oviedo 1 at Booking.com. The location is fabulous.
Took this photo from my tiny French balcony, the building at the end is the cathedral.
The 2nd photo is the hotel. Camino sign says 323Km. My particular route is 310Km.
It's siesta time, nothing is open until 5pm, except for the cathedral, where I got my first official stamp for my camino (dated tomorrow).
Walked around. A beautiful old town. Compact, cobble stones, stately buildings.
Many cute plazas, one of which is converted to a market place.
The city hall is very large, facing this large plaza.
Many churches and monestories.
Even though it's siesta time, still lively. Plenty tourists who doesn't understand siesta like me.
Behind the cathedral is where the 2 museums that I visited. Both are free.
A few were already waiting for the door to be opened when I arrived at the archeology museum, in the former monastery of San Vicente, completely modernized interior.
Museum of Fine Arts of Asturias is what I like the most.
It occupies 3 historical buildings: Palacio de Velarde, Casa Oviedo-Portal, and Casa Solís-Carbajal.
Many painters whom I have never heard of, and now an enthusiastic fan of, like
Joaquin Sorolla (my favorite. This museum has a lot of his paintings),
Juan Martinez Abades,
Ventura Álvarez Sala,
Jose Robles Martinez
Ignacio Pinazo.
A series of small satiric prints by Goya, a series by El Greco titled El Apostolado.
I also like the large scale painting by the Norwegian/German painter Carl Frithjof Smith.
After dinner, I walked a bit around town again.
The cathedral looks very nice in the lights.
It'll be a long day tomorrow (close to 40km), but I don't need to get up early, because I want to visit 2 Roman monesteries in the outskirt of Oviedo before my camino, and they don't open until 10am.
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