Backpacks at Seattle REI
Winter day - - Friday 8 January 2010. Time to get out and take a drive, so we headed over Snoqualmie Pass and on to the big REI store in downtown Seattle. I'm researching a light backpacking tent for my wife and I to use in upcoming 2010 backpack trips.
I took a few photographs of some bald eagles, who looked as though
their efforts to "hunt" along the Yakima River, were at
best, half hearted given the gloomy winter weather. Still they do have
to eat.
My other four or five tents are either too small for us both or too
heavy or both (that is what I told my wife when I announced that I
"needed" yet another backpacking tent). She bought it
(actually she is just a great wife).
So like a kid in a candy store I roamed the aisles of the Seattle REI store, while my wife shopped the outdoor clothing section.
After our visit to the Seattle REI store, we headed back to our home in Eastern Washington, stopping in a nasty wind storm on Snoqualmie Pass for me to take a few quick snap shots of Weeks Falls, along the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River.
A quick soup, salad, and sandwich dinner at the new Quiznos in Cle Elum, and we ended a fun day at what was very much a fun "impromptu" winter's day.
Comments and faves
Janice L (29 months ago | reply)
Did we go shopping? :-)
oldmantravels (29 months ago | reply)
"Yes" WE did. BUT, I can proudly say I didn't buy anything on this trip. I just found out which tent I want to buy when my 20% discount coupon and dividend check show up. Now, to be truthful, I was at the Kennewick REI store "fairly recently" (How is that for vague?) AND I didn't come away from that store empty. Oh well. Now I know how my wife feels in a chocolate shop. OMT
Janice L (29 months ago | reply)
Ahhhhhhh, pre-dividend shopping. Inhale, I can almost smell the sent of ripstop.
sawtoothphoto (29 months ago | reply)
I am like a kid at Toys-r-Us just looking at this picture. Ok, the truth is I was in a REI yesterday and did NOT leave empty handed. Clearance rack. We probably should start a support group.
oldmantravels (29 months ago | reply)
Janice - - I hike my REI catalogs. They lead to too much outdoor "I gotta have one of those" shopping lust. It is the 20% off on one item coupon that I'm awaiting. That will make the price of my new backpacking tent more acceptable. The size of my dividend checks seem to shock me into the reality of just how much I spend each year supporting my "hiking habit". Oh well. Everybody needs a vice. Right? OMT
oldmantravels (29 months ago | reply)
Oh my Fred. Your comment caused me to grin then break into a laugh. An REI "support group"! Love it. I don't think you could find a more worthy support group member than yours truly. Leaving the Kennewick REI store a few days ago, I saw a nice new car with only one bumper sticker on it. It read (paraphrased): "If you think you know a lot of "normal" people - - you just haven't been around them long enough". Actually I think women's love of shoes and chocolate and men's love of dogs and outdoor gear is..................normal.
When traveling I often stop at REI stores. The last time I went to the Boise REI store I bought an ATC device for rappeling in the canyon country of Utah. I have a rope but nothing but carbiners for setting up a rappel (something I haven't done in over 25 years). I still haven't used the ATC or the nice climbing rope, but at the time it just seemed like a nice "impusle buy". Boy do I need an REI support group!!! Thanks. OMT
GristMill (29 months ago | reply)
One can never have too many tents or sleeping bags.
Up here we have a store called Mountain Equipment Coop (MEC) - same idea as REI. I ration myself to only 2 visits a year.
oldmantravels (29 months ago | reply)
Vic - - You are smart. I would be a lot better off if I only ventured in to an REI store twice a year. I would save a lot of money that way. Here, here - - on never too many sleeping bags or tents (please throw in day packs as well - - I need the cover). One flickr friend (sawtooth photography) has suggested we join an REI "support group". I know I would meet the entry requirements.
Got my teakettle painted and ready to hang in DVNP on the way to the racetrack. Now that 2010 is painted on my thrift store teakettle offering...I really do feel I am committed to the a trip there this year. Can't waste a perfectly good teapot.
On one of my recent TWO trips to REI stores in the state of Washington during the last TWO weeks, I bought a good National Geo map of DVNP and see that if I venture to Eureka dunes, I will indeed get the opportunity to see "crankshaft junction" as well as "teakettle junction". I will leave an offering to "crankshaft junction" to those under 30 years of age, strong enough to "lift and leave" a crankshaft. I will stick to teakettles.
Take care. OMT