Family and Tumwater Falls

Wednesday, June 19, 2017

Meeting Family

Today Ron and I went into Tacoma to meet a second cousin (and her husband) whom I had not seen since the early 1950’s when we were children and my family made a visit here.  Gail is the only daughter of the second oldest child of my grandfather‘s sister who lived and raised her family of six children here in Tacoma.  Most of the children stayed in the area as did their families.  Today only the wife of the youngest son is still living. 

 

Gail and Me

We had an enjoyable lunch down on the waterfront at Anthony’s Seafood restaurant and were driven around Tacoma afterwards taking in some of the old homes and area. 

Last summer we visited with another second cousin from the same family (the oldest child) in Idaho.  While I have seen Claire and her husband many times over the years while she and my parents lived in the same town, it was nonetheless great to meet her adult children and make a connection.

Since my mother had no siblings, this is the only family I have from my mother’s side.   It’s been great to reconnect with both of them even if it is late in our lives.  

Friday, June 21, 2017

Tumwater Falls

This is our last day here in the Olympia area.  Our weather has been great with just a bit of a small rain shower early yesterday morning.  The temperature has not exceeded 85 degrees and the nights are in the low 50’s making for comfortable sleeping. 

We take a drive just south of Olympia to see Tumwater Falls which cascades into the Deschutes River flowing into Puget Sound as short distance away.  The town of Tumwater was founded in 1845 by a small group of settlers led by Michael T. Simmons and George Bush, the latter a descendant of African and Irish parents.  They came to Washington because Oregon banned black people from owning land.  The location of the Falls provided a steady source of power and the nearby prairies provided rich land for farming.  The community soon became the first American settlement on Puget Sound.

The Falls are located within a beautiful park below several car bridges which pass over it high above.  The Park is owned by a foundation and in the fall you can watch salmon fight their way upstream. 

 There is a walkway along both sides of the Falls and river giving you a view of several smaller waterfalls along the wooded and shady pathway below.  

What a beautiful place to walk and spend time on our last day in the area.  So serene and peaceful listening to the Falls and river. 

Tomorrow we head for the Seattle area and a visit with an a girlfriend from high school.