Just passing through the mountains gives glimpses of mountains set off by clouds. The sights are wonderful.

Looking out my train compartment window, the blue sky and the white clouds made a very interesting combination of shapes and color. Sitting on the train for hours really gives me a chance to practice being quiet and being in the moment. I am so used to doing things constantly and being bombarded by information. Quiet is nice.

Ron and I are off on an adventure to Seattle as our first leg of an Alaskan Cruise. The train is a great way to travel… very relaxing. School has started for most, so there are very few children on the train.
PokéNote: the train travels too quickly to hatch eggs and for some of the trip the Internet is poor. Oh well.

The flames of the Sand Fire light up the smoke coming over the hill behind our home. It looks really close, but is actually a large hill away. Bags are packed and we are waiting for an evacuation order. None so far.

When we woke up today, the sunlight was an eerie orange. At Oakridge Mobile Home Park, we had all seen this before when the park burned down in 2008. By the afternoon, the residents were getting pretty edgy. Many of us packed bags and prepared for an evacuation order. Luckily, by the evening, the sky did not look nearly so ominous and the Sun no longer looked like a red ball. Whew.