Trip to Yakima, Washington


We were planning to travel to Yakima but awakened to an unexpected surprise. This was the third snowfall in Eugene, Oregon on this date since 1937!




So, the motor home will remain idle until the next day. (All the snow melted before noon.)




Our reason for traveling to Yakima was to assist our two Canadian-born granddaughters (Sami and Kai) in becoming U.S. citizens. Their American father, our son, had lived in Canada too many years to simplify the process.


The Yakima Greenway is a large city park on the east side of town that features picnic areas, a soccer field, playground, jogging path, exercise stations, fishing ponds and a WW II relic.




Geese, among other avians, are residents of the park and enjoy the large ponds.




The jogging path parallels the Yakima River for a mile. There were many citizens who donated to the building of the Greenway, and every few yards is a plaque dedicated to a contributor.



Every 1/4th mile along the jogging path is a "mileage" marker. In Eugene, the marker is embedded in the bike path, but along the Greenway it is a concrete pylon.



There are 21 different exercise stations along the jogging path. This one is for strengthening the triceps. Place heels on the elevated table in the center, while supporting body weight between the tee-shaped bars. Lower the body between the bars, by bending the elbows, then straighten arms to elevate the torso.


An interesting artifact in the park is this boxcar from the "merci," French Gratitude train. This was presented to Washington State in 1949 from the citizens of France.




The gift was an expression of gratitude for food, fuel and clothing donated to the needy people in war ravaged France and Italy in WW II.





Bryn, Ada, Kai and Sami joined us for a Mexican dinner in the Cabana. The 23-foot motor home is rather cozy for a large family gathering.




Following bean burritos and tostados, Carol concentrates on her daily puzzles.





Bryn, Ada, Kai and Sami are waiting outside the Naturalization Center. Due to Homeland Security, we were not allowed to enter the building as a group, only one at a time, and I was not allowed to photograph the girls' swearing-in ceremony!



Driving home, we stopped near Memaloose Island in the Columbia River, a burial island for the Chinook Indians. Before Bonneville Dam, it encompassed four acres, now it's 1/2 acre. Graves were relocated before the water rose. One of Oregon's first senators stated he wanted to be buried there, in 1883, because "In Resurrection, I'll take my chances with the Indians!"