Fort Flagler Volunteers in July 2016: Our Last Days at Fort Flagler

I had one day with no volunteer tasks so I went off to browse antique and thrift shops. Driving the big RAM truck is powerful but downtown parking in Port Townsend is not fun with "petite flower" so I went to the Park and Ride to catch the shuttle bus tour.

Our shift ended on July 31st. We'll be home for a month and then move to Campsite 46 at Lake Wenatchee State Park. We were invited back to Fort Flagler for next summer so I guess we made a good impression.

USS Independence, Sonny's Navy home for 18 months, is now dry docked at Bremerton Naval Ship Yard, We drove by for a photo on our way back to Fort Flagler.

There were two school track teams housed at the Retreat Center during the week. Those kids ran 7-8 miles every day around the park.

Entrance to Fort Worden on my bus tour of Port Townsend. The fort was one of the "Triangle of Fire" forts protecting Puget Sound.

Looking across the Fort Worden Parade Grounds.

I caught a Mt Baker view as the bus drove along the bluff. It was so clear that Mt Rainier could be seen to the South over Admiralty Inlet, too.

Officers Quarters available to rent.

At this stops, a group of children with their leaders boarded the bus. Reminded me of Small Faces' many field trip

days waiting for the bus.

At the Antique Store, there was a display of Chinese artifacts depicting a time when Port Townsend had a large Asian population. I was told that when the store owner upgraded the plumbing in the building, these artifacts were discovered. Too bad we can't read the little descriptions. They were interesting. The Chinese has no status and very little is written about them in Port Townsend.

The Chinese section of town.

No attempt was made to save Chinatown from the flames. Protection for the other buildings was all that was done.

I wanted to see this museum at the top of the stair but the steps seemed daunting with a cane on a hot day, plus the bus was due shortly. The brochure described a textile exhibit that I'm sorry I missed.

Haller Fountain at the bus stop.

Victorian buildings abound in Port
Townsend.

Lots of gingerbread wood work to paint. Similar to homes along the Maine coast.

Always fun to see an old truck.

On Saturday, our Port Orchard neighbor, Les,
came to visit. Nice day for a ride.

Artichokes were growing under a maple tree at the
Ranger Bunkhouse. Pretty flower but too far gone to actually eat.

The choir came for several days to Camp Hoskins. The only singing we heard was chanting around the campfire.

Twins I passed on a evening walk to the bluff.

Evening sky looking South towards Puget Sound.

The flagpole is 80 feet high with a teeny, tiny flag.

Since the fort is a historical site, and this was the

size of flag flown in the early 1900s, a bigger

one can't be used. I should have taken an earlier photo when Mt Rainier was visible.

The Park Lost and Found box is near the photocopier. There was a ripe odor coming from somewhere near the box. Someone thought that something was moldy in the refrigerator near by. I dug down in the clothes and heard a rattle. In a child's jacket pocket were three very dead clams.

I washed all the clothes and tossed the clams
out for the gulls.

There was a wedding at Richmond House over the weekend. The family had a whole chocolate cake, a pie

and sausage left over to give the staff. This piece

was my birthday cake.

August 1, 2016 Shift change for the volunteers. In the campground, hosts changed sites. In our little compound, two families were leaving and on coming in. It's a foggy morning looking at Camp Hoskins.

Looking East from bedroom window.

These neighbors were headed to Oregon to help a friend build an addition to their home. In October, they plan to be at the Beet Harvest Festival in the Dakotas. They had read about this activity on the internet where the harvest is intense for 2 weeks. Camper-workers can earn $1K-$2K but it's a 12 hour day and can last up to a month. We'll be wanting to learn how that goes for them.