The weather was predicted as…rain!

It turns out that it rained at about 4 am for only about a half hour.  When I heard the thunder clouds roar in I thought our plans were going to have to be altered.  However, when Brooke and Scott woke up 7:30 they were hot in the bright sunshine.  We first went to go see the Olympic Park from the 1988 Winter Olympics.  They are putting in four new hockey rinks so the power was out there yesterday and today.  It all worked out anyway because we decided to stay another night.  I was shocked that Scott was okay with staying another night seeing as the cost to camp with a tent is $32 a night.  If this was twelve years ago we would definitely have found a nice parking lot to tuck ourselves into for the night instead.  In fact, I’m pretty sure we have spent more on camping fees in this first twenty days on this trip then we did our whole one year trip.

After the Olympic Park we headed to a site that has been recommended by everyone we have talked to here, Heritage Park.  From the parking lot it reminded me of Six Flags and the walkway in reminds me of our annual Trail of History in Glacier Park.  They also have a train that circles the grounds, a train house, and a self-guided tour through some of the trains, which all reminds me of the Railway Museum in Union.  However, even with all of those pieces that remind me of home, I can say I have never been to a park quite like this one.  The workers are all dressed in period clothing and are all very knowledgeable about the area they work in.  For example, we spent a long time in the fur trading post and the printing press in the downtown area of the park.  Scott loves to ask questions, and I did today too.  I usually don’t like to ask questions because the cuties can’t sit still long enough to hear the answers.  I learned how they put pictures into an old mechanical printing press.  The gentleman shared two methods with us: one involving using dots and another involving taking a picture of the picture.  Brooke asked while we were eating breakfast if she was going to get to learn anything today, I think she just might have.

The printing press.

This is the train Brooke begged to ride from 10 am until 1 pm.  It was well worth the extra $3 an adult to ride it.  Have I mentioned Brooke loves trains?

“Family” photo by the tepee.  As you can see, Brooke isn’t always into the picture taking.

Cody thinks his calling might be as a brakeman.  He loves to grab onto any metal bars within his reach and hang or pull himself up.  It is difficult to get him to let go once he has a good grasp.

I left the train early to attempt to get Cody another nap.  Someone, we won’t name names of cute little girls, woke him up after only an hour at lunch time.  Scott and Brooke headed to an indoor car museum, it reminded me of the Volo Auto Museum at Heritage Park.  We are currently in rush hour traffic – Yippee! – on our way back to the campground.

We spent from 10 am until 5 pm at the park and there were still a handful of sites we had yet to visit.  Now we know why everyone recommended Heritage Park and we would too.