Rode out today. Destination: Mineral, Washington, on the west flank of Mt. Rainier (native name: Tahoma). The place my great-grandparents homesteaded when they came from Sweden in the first decade of the 1900's.



My family had, in the past, gone out there every year to lay flowers on family graves and to sometimes picnic and swim in Mineral Lake. When I was small, we'd go to Spanaway for the Old Timer's picnic, but we haven't done that in many years. I don't know why I felt I had to go out there today; it could have something to do with Mt. Rainier looming just outside my kitchen window. It could have been the clear, sunny day.

Let me just say that Spanaway is gross, being sandwiched in between two military bases. Yuck. Miles and miles of strip mall crap and fast food and dirty highway siding and nail salons and bail bondsmen and Hub Cap City. I had to ride out about 10 miles before the crap factor went down.

Once out of white trash land, the road quickly becomes winding and pretty. Green ferns and trees line the road. The Ohop Valley is particularly cute and tiny and green. I could live there easily. Okay, I'd need a job, which would mean a long commute, but the place is gorgeous.

Then comes LaGrande, a village perched above Alder Dam on the Nisqually River. A couple of scary spots for a motorcyclist on the outside lane looking down, oh, 600 feet, but lovely, verdant hills all around. Alder Lake, the reservoir above the dam, was full of recreational boaters today.



The historic town of Elbe marks the Mt. Rainier National Park entrance.



My right turn to the south took me up and over Mineral Hill Road. The lake shone through the trees as I approached town.

My first stop was the homestead itself, a little yellow house behind the Mineral School, 109 Maple Lane. Oh, it is looking shabby. It is badly in need of paint, and it's clear no one is living there. The grass is long and there is no visible driveway. My heart was sad to see that.

Next stop was the general store, where I asked who owned the house on Maple Lane. The store owner said a name I didn't recognize, but I wouldn't know anyone in town, anyway, would I? I mentioned that my great-grandfather built the house, and right away the man asked, "Swanson?". Yup, that's me, I mean, that's us.



Store Guy got kind of excited and said that the owners are just letting the house sit there, going to pot, when he and a few other people would love to buy it (of course, Miss Elsa would love to buy it, too). He said the owners just would not sell no matter what. Damn.

Then we talked about pictures I have of the Mineral area. My grandfather had a picture of the baseball team, the local Inn, and what appears to be an entire logging camp crew. I am going to send those via email for inclusion on the Mineral website: www.minerallake.com.



I ate at the local pub - it was kinda smelly and the pizza was okay. I'm sure that it's a hoppin' place in the evening when all the folks are done sport fishing.

My ride home was side A and B of the triangle, as my initial foray was the hypotenuse. I decided to go a bit more south before heading west, so I could see Mineral's sister town of Morton. Cute! But oh, so remote, being up in the holler as they both are.

Went west on 508, not really knowing where I'd end up, but knowing that I-5 would find me eventually. I wound up in Chehalis, got on I-5 and skedaddled up to Tacoma. All in all, I rode 160 miles and was gone for 5 hours. I also got a suntan on my arms.

Full day, and now the parents and I are going to Anthony's at Point Defiance for the senior sundowner dinner special, and then to see "A Prairie Home Companion" at the local art theater.

L'Chaim! What a great day.