Happy Fourth of July!! (Have you Seen the Speedo Man??)

Happy Independence Day!! We left the campground about 8 a.m. with the intention of driving into Chehalis and having breakfast at the Original Pancake House which we had driven by yesterday. We couldn’t find it again and Information found no phone listed so we settled for Kit Carson Restaurant, a nice local place. We had the only out of state license plate in the parking lot. John had Swedish pancakes with lots of powdered sugar. He’s happy. He’d be happier if he was warmer. It’s 50 degrees this morning with very gray skies.

St. John’s Lutheran in Chehalis has one service in the summer at 9:45 a.m. The Church was full and friendly, and a small band of young people played patriotic music for the prelude. (Great trombone player!) We talked to the pastor after church. He had mentioned being in the Marines and John wondered if he had been a chaplain. He hadn’t, but the Vietnam experience led him to the seminary. Interestingly, he had been a minister in Canada for most of his ministry and has dual citizenship. He and his wife haven’t decided where they will live when they retire.

As we were driving from the church we saw an older man (clipped gray hair) with a well-toned, tan body, wearing only a Speedo and running shoes, jogging along the side of the road. It was very gray and 50 degrees outside so he looked more than a little odd. We commented and drove on. Later in the day I picked up a tourist magazine about southwest Oregon a found an article about Speedo Man. When I Googled him, I found this news clip. He looked much fitter today than a year ago to me (but who was looking>).

When we got back to the campground it was almost noon and the start of the 4th of July Parade. They had a fire truck leading the parade with siren wailing. It was followed by the campground’s tractor, decorated in red, white and blue bunting, pulling a wagon of revelers; kids on bicycles; people pushing strollers, and other celebrants. We went out and cheered and I took photos.

After lunch we went to the Adult Lodge so I could do some blogging and passed the grassy hill named “Slip ‘n Slide”. The plastic slide was rolled out, staff was hosing it down, and kids in bathing suits were having a great time sliding down with and without inner tubes. We had to stop in amazement. IT’S COLD OUTSIDE. Their blood is warmer than mine.

I’m not caught up yet, but getting there. We rented a video in the store to watch tonight. “The Italian Job.” Was a good movie.

We were going to hang out here tomorrow, but after talking to my brother this morning, I looked at the map and decided to run down to Mt. St. Helens Visitor Center instead. Poor John – he doesn’t get a day off.