Awake: 7:15am Temp 63 sleep 7+15 sunny overnight @ Bothell, WA.
After breakfast, we hike the campground trails: the west, upper & lower,
that circle this campground. It wasn’t much of a hike, only 30 min but
then we continued walking around the campgrounds looking @ all the RV rigs
in different parking sites.
In the olden days, this low-lying area we are now camping in was an active
Peat Mining business. Kathy & I Googled this business & found out a little
about what takes place:
What is it and where is it formed? Peat is rotted plants that have been
compacted. After many years, peat will become coal. Peat is made by
plants rotting in places where it is cool and there isn’t much oxygen.
This is usually swampy land.
How and where is it mined? Peat is mined using surface mining. Peat is
in bogs which is another name for a swampy area. The trees are cut down
and the water is drained out of the swamp. Then the topsoil is taken off
of the surface. The peat is uncovered so the miners start to take off
layers. Peat is found in the United Sates [Florida, Michigan, Minnesota,
& Alaska] and Canada, Finland, Germany, and Ireland.
What is it used for? Peat is put into soil to make the dirt richer and
grow things better. It is used in diapers and for oil spills because it
is absorbent. Peat is used for heat just like coal is used.
Interesting! Prehistoric people thought that spirits lived in the peat
bogs. They sacrificed humans to their gods there. 2000 year old bodies
have been found in the bogs. The bodies are preserved because the water
has acid in it and doesn’t have much oxygen.
Since 1985, this area called Lake Pleasant, has had some 151 RV camping
sites around the lake. Because there remains some Peat underneath the
ground in the campground, no ground level fires are permissible because if
Peat catches on fire, it can burn for a very long time. As long as it has
oxygen, it keeps burning until it is put out.
Yesterday I called & left a message for Connie & Glen who live further
north on I-5. This couple stayed directly across the hall from us during
our Asian Pacific Cruise last yr. Mid-afternoon, they return our call with
a plan for a get-together sometime next week.
7:50pm dinner: Pork Chops, broccoli, wild & brown rice with tomatoes,
onions & Craisins + bread with balsamic vinegar & olive oil.
Late evening: we watch a satellite movie: “Nashville” This highly rated
movie was a little difficult to watch. 24 characters involved in a
Nashville political rally, seemingly done in a free-form style, was
definitely not up to our high standards of entertainment. 1975.
High temp=84 Lights out: 12:15am
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