Rockin' and rollin' with REO

So, three months ago I entered a contest with the local radio station here in Bellingham, KAFE 104.1 FM.  I subscribe to their email newsletter and found out they were giving away tickets to see REO Speedwagon at the Evergreen State Fair.  I've always been a fan of their music, but the last time I saw them perform live was in college...that would be almost 35 years ago!  I was LONG overdue to see them again.  Well, imagine my surprise when I got home and found a message on my answering machine.  I won the tickets!

Fast forward to yesterday.  I had to work, but it was a fairly quick hour and a half drive down to the fairgrounds in Monroe, WA.  I was a bit concerned about the weather...it had been raining on and off all day long, and the forecast was possible thundershowers throughout the evening.  The rain held off until I reached Monroe.  There was a light drizzle as I walked from the fair parking lot to the entrance gate.  My contest win included admission to the fair, which was nice.  I met up with my friend Tiffany, who I invited to enjoy the free concert with me.  After grabbing a burger for dinner, we headed to the grandstand for the show.  Our tickets were for the general admission bleacher area...actually a good thing.  That section had seating under the roof, which would be ideal should it rain.  And, it did initially, but once the show started, the rain abated and we had a very pleasant Northwest evening under overcast skies.

REO Speedwagon took the stage to a roaring welcome.  I got the impression there were a lot of people like me who grew up with their music and appreciated their old style rock and roll.  In fact, I think most of the audience was in their 40's and 50's...yeah, I fit right in!  But, age doesn't diminish enthusiasm, and there was an abundance of that. 

The band still has three of the original members, lead singer Kevin Cronin, bass player Bruce Hall and keyboardist Neal Doughty, as well as guitarist Dave Amato and drummer Bryan Hitt.  Throughout the evening, they played many of their biggest hits, including Can't Fight This Feeling, Take It On The Run and Keep On Loving You.  Many years have passed since those songs ruled the charts, but REO Speedwagon hasn't lost its touch...they rocked the house!

 

 

Next week, my blast with the past continues.  I'll be seeing another band of rock legends that like REO Speedwagon, also got their start in the 70s.  This will be my first time attending one of their concerts and I'm SO EXCITED!  Stay tuned....

Zoo day at Woodland Park

I can't even remember the last time I visited Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle.  Let's just say it's been awhile, although it was probably about ten years ago.  After a fantastic night at the Fitz and the Tantrums concert (see previous blog entry), my friend Amelia and I decided to do a zoo visit the next day.  It being a Saturday, we knew there would be a lot of families with the same idea.  Upon arrival at the zoo, we managed to find a space in one of the rapidly filling lots.

Zoos are an animal lovers paradise, especially one like me who likes to take pictures of critters.  It didn't take long for me to start snapping away.  Plexiglas barriers and fences may be there to protect visitors from the more dangerous denizens, but for the most part, it didn't prevent me from getting great photos.

Grizzly Bear

 River Otter

 Steller's Sea Eagle

 Snow Leopard

 Komodo Dragon

One way for visitors to get a more up close and personal experience is to participate in special programs available at the zoo.  I took advantage of the opportunity to feed one of their elephants.  The $5 charge was reasonable for just one branch, especially knowing the money was going toward the upkeep of the animals.  I thought it was pretty cool!  

 

Always a favorite at the zoo are the monkeys and apes.  Their antics and behaviors keep adults and children alike mesmerized.  We had the pleasure of seeing one of the young gorillas using a tool...in this instance, a stiff branch...to break edible leaves from a tree just out of reach.  

 

 Western Lowland Gorilla

Siamang

Before leaving the zoo, Amelia and I browsed through the Zoo Store.  Initially, I wasn't planning to buy anything, but then I remembered my sister's birthday was coming up.  Looking for something unique, I settled on a notebook made of elephant poo paper.  Now, I don't know the exact process of making paper out of elephant poo, but considering it has a lot of undigested fiber, it only makes sense you could make paper out of it.  For a zoo of its size, Woodland Park is a nice one.  Perhaps next time, I won't wait so long to visit again!  

Hot house at the Showbox Sodo

A couple of weeks ago, I saw one of my favorite bands at the Showbox SoDo in Seattle.  On August 9th, Fitz and the Tantrums was back in town, just four months after a terrific sold out concert at the Columbia City Theater...yeah, I was at that one, too.  My friend Amelia and I traveled down from Bellingham and arrived very early at the Showbox, which is adjacent to Safeco Field.  There was also a Seattle Mariners baseball game going on that evening, so all of the parking lots had event parking rates...$25 was the norm.  But, just down the road from the venue, I spotted a bagel place with parking for $10 less...YES!

As Amelia and I got our things out of the car, we mulled over taking one particular item with us.  When I bought tickets for the concert, I was one of the lucky first 50 to pre-order and received two exclusive Fitz and the Tantrums posters.  We were hoping to get the posters signed, but the poster tube they were in was rather large.  Not really wanting to carry the tube around, we decided to just take our new Fitz and the Tantrums More Than Just A Dream CDs.  Just as I locked up the car, I looked across the street and couldn't believe what I saw.  It was Fitz...Michael Fitzpatrick, lead singer of the band!  He was talking on his phone and waiting to cross the road toward us.  Thinking quickly, I told Amelia it would be the perfect opportunity to get our posters autographed.  I called out to Fitz and he came over to us.  Still talking on his phone, he graciously signed our posters, and after telling Fitz I we would be seeing him later at the show, he strolled away.  How lucky was that?

Amelia and I walked over to the Showbox and saw the Fitz and the Tantrums tour bus parked next to the building.  Normally, this might be the place to hang out to see the goings on and maybe spot other band members.  But, it was pretty warm that day, so we hung out in the shade across the street.

When the Showbox's Lounge opened for business, we had a leisurely dinner in air conditioned comfort.  Like the other Showbox at the Market, this venue allows those in the lounge to enter the music hall before those waiting outside.  We took advantage of this and got a decent spot in front of the stage.  Around 9:00 pm, the first of two opening acts made their appearance.  I had never heard of The Colourist, but they were pretty good.  The same could be said of the second act, Hunter Hunted. Both bands had very energetic sets that were much appreciated by the early arrivals. 

 

By the time Fitz and the Tantrums took the stage, the floor was packed and things quickly heated up...literally.  With the hot lights and a full house, it got pretty warm.  But, nothing could detract from the action on stage.  Fitz and Noelle beautifully complimented each other with their powerful vocals, and the band was just awesome.

I was pleased that Fitz and the Tantrums performed many of my favorite songs, including those from their new album.  Here is their set list for the night:

Keepin' Our Eyes Out (new)
Don't Gotta Work It Out
Winds Of Change
Break The Walls (new)
Breakin' The Chains Of Love
Spark (new)
Sweet Dreams (Eurythmics cover)
House On Fire (new)
Fools Gold (new)
Out Of My League (new)
Last Raindrop (new)
6am (new)
Dear Mr. President
Tighter
LOV

Encore
MoneyGrabber
The Walker (new)

One of the best moments was when Fitz and Noelle sang Last Raindrop a cappella.  Joined by James King on saxophone, it was a magical moment. 

I was a bit disappointed there was no formal meet and greet after the concert, but I never let that stop me from connecting with the band.  Amelia and I made our way to where the bus was parked and stood with a handful of other dedicated fans.  I spotted drummer John Wicks and keyboardist Jeremy Ruzumna, but they didn't come over to see us at the barrier.  After a short wait, Fitz appeared and came directly out to meet his admirers.  As he signed our CDs, Fitz told me that he always noticed me at the shows in front of the stage.  I guess I have a memorable face?  Even as thunder rumbled and lightning lit up the skies around us, I couldn't leave without seeing my friend, bass player Joe Karnes.  My patience was rewarded when Joe finally showed up.  I waved to him, and Joe immediately came over.  I introduced him to Amelia, telling Joe it was her first Fitz and the Tantrums concert.  Joe signed our CDs and after exchanging pleasantries, we left happy as the first raindrops started to fall.  The Last Raindrop, pardon the pun, would not come till later in the night. 

Camano Island hopping

Spent a very relaxing day on Camano Island today.  Like Whidbey Island, it's connected to land by a short bridge.  There are so many parks within an hour or two from my home, and Camano Island State Park is no exception.  After consuming my picnic lunch at the quieter North Beach area, I drove to the south end of the park to start my hike.  The smell of the sea was strong as I snapped a few photos from the beach.  Then, I took the Marsh Trail up to the main Loop Trail. 

 

At one point I went off the loop trail to walk the short Al Emerson Nature Trail, then rejoined the loop to return back to the parking lot.  As I was walking along, I heard a crashing in the brush and saw a doe and her fawn climbing up the embankment in front of me.  I took a photo of the doe as she stepped up on the trail.

After she was joined by her fawn, the two deer slowly walked along the trail in the direction I was going.  I slowly followed them, not wanting to scare the deer, but hoping to get some more pics.  Then, I heard the sound of approaching voices ahead...children!  Uh, oh!  The deer started walking back toward me to get away from the newcomers.  But, when they saw me, they stopped.  Hemmed in by the railing on one side and a wall of salal on the other, they were momentarily trapped.  I stood still and tried not to appear threatening,  After a brief hesitation, the fawn bounded past me, with the doe running in her wake.  From around the corner came a man with two small boys and an older gentleman...probably Grandpa.  They felt a little bad that the deer got spooked, but it couldn't be helped.  When I reached the Marsh trail again, I noticed a large patch of snowberry, and tried out my camera's macro mode.

After finishing my hike, I still had some time in the day, so I drove to the northern end of Camano Island to check out English Boom Historical Park. This park features tide flats and salt marshes, with a nice trail running through it.  While ambling down the trail, there were grasshoppers all over the place...a LOT of grasshoppers.

 

In one particularly sandy portion of the trail, I heard buzzing all around.  Then, I noticed black and white insects flying low to the ground, and going in and out of small holes in the sand.

I took some photos of the insects, and after I got home, I looked them up.  Turns out they were Bembicini or sand wasps.  They are actually predatory wasps that prey on other insects, particularly flies.  The wasps lay eggs in the burrows, and catch flies which are then buried with the eggs to become food for the young when they hatch.  I think the wasps are rather cool looking...dig the bright green eyes!

I need to catch up on some more of my park and hiking adventures, so I'll be posting more soon.  And, there was my big night at the Fitz and the Tantrums concert a couple of weeks ago.  Stay tuned...

Birthday at Baker

I've been sorely neglecting my blog and going to change that...today!  It had been quite awhile since I last visited my resident big peak, Mt. Baker (10,781 ft).  Probably the biggest reason is because every year, it gets so much snow, it isn't till well into summer that the road to the top is plowed.  That leaves the window to visit a small one before it starts snowing again.  And, usually there is too much snow to hike around much.  This year, they were able to plow earlier, so I decided I better take advantage of that.

Before heading up to the mountain, I spent a little time revisiting Nooksack Falls.  I had been here on my last trip to Mt. Baker, and it never fails to impress.

A half hour drive later, I reached the Heather Meadows area of Mt Baker.  Originally, I had hoped to hike the Chain Lakes loop trail, but found out there was still quite a bit of snow midway.  So, I decided on a couple of different trails.  From the parking lot, I walked along Wild Goose trail to the visitor center.  After a quick picnic lunch, I headed back the way I came via the northern part of the Chain Lakes trail.  To the south of me, Table Mountain...north, Bagley Lake with Goat Mountain in the distance. Beautiful!

 

 

 Always on the lookout for wildlife, I was walking along the trail when a furry creature caught my eye.  I was just quick enough to snap a photo before it disappeared among the rocks.  I'm pretty sure this is a hoary marmot, the first time I've seen one of these.  

 My last hike of the day was the short and scenic Artist Ridge loop trail.  After driving up a series of steep switchbacks, I reached the Artist Point parking lot.  It was pretty crowded, as this area gives visitors access to several popular trails, as well as snow for the kids to play in.  With so many awesome views, it's really hard to take a bad photo.  I ended up taking a lot of good photos.  Here are a couple of Mt. Baker, and one of the equally majestic Mt. Shuksan (9131 ft).

 

And, so ended my perfect day at Mt. Baker.  Today also happens to be my birthday, which made it doubly good.  Maybe I should start a new tradition.  Take a picturesque hike on my birthday to get in a positive frame of mind.  Besides, who cares about getting old when you're having fun, right?