Katlin and Heidi's Post-graduation Trip

So, after returning to Oregon, Katlin and I went on a mini-vacation.  We headed up to Spokane, Washington.  Apparently I'm very bad at estimating town sizes because I thought Spokane was fairly small (maybe 50,000) and it's like 200,000.  So, I was surprised by how big it was.  We stayed at a Quality Inn which was super-nice (that is the people were nice, and the rooms were just typical).   We also saw Whitworth University (Presbyterian) in Spokane.

Our first day we played mini-golf, disc golf, and laser tag.  The disc golf course was in an abandoned neighborhood, so it was really neat.  You'd be playing where people's steps, yards, and driveways were.  The fairways for several holes were the roads in the neighborhood.  I'm not sure why they removed all of the houses and put a park there, but they apparently did in the '70s.  We also ate at Rock City Grill downtown.

Bowling in at Northbowl in Spokane

   

The next day we went shopping to some neat stores in downtown Spokane -- REI, Wonders of the World, White's boots, etc. and had fun.  Then we traveled to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.  We went to see the dam at Post Falls.  It had so much water going over it!  Then we ate at Tito Macaroni's downtown.

The Dam at Post Falls

Me At Post Falls Dam

Me and Katlin at the Dam

  On the third day we went to a bunch of schools in Spokane and then Walla Walla -- Gonzaga (Catholic), Whitman, and Walla Walla University (7th Day Adventist).  The best part of the boring drive was that there was a roadside sign for a trash can (like a series of signs that said "Litter Depository Ahead" and then a trash can on the side of the road).  Awesomeness!  Then we toured the Pendleton Woolen Mills.  That was really fun to see how they made all the blankets and inspected them all by hand.

The Dyed Wool Being Combed

A Nearly Completed Blanket

A Blanket Being Inspected

The Loom Weaving a Blanket

Katlin's Graduation

The Scotsman Bagpipers at USU

Faculty Procession Across Campus

Katlin Getting Her Degree

So, Katlin graduated from college!  I flew to Boise and then drove to Utah State with my parents to see Katlin graduate from college.  Her graduation was fun because all of the people in her college have "character."  For example, during the ceremony, I learned what "Chacos" were (they are shoes with strappies that tighten that all the outdoors people wear).  It was a lot of fun and we had some great food (Indian, Mexican, and Aggie Ice Cream).

Mom, Katlin, and Dad

Katlin's Gift from Renee

One other thing we found that was interesting on campus was the campus crosswalk sign had been modified to hold a red bull and have wings (because red bull gives you wings!).  Great picture!