Kelso to Nisqually by way of Mount St Helens .

Decided Kelso is not for me after checking on city data .net .

As it was Sunday I decided to go on a detour to see Mount St Helens or what is left of it since the 1980 eruption . Is it really that long ago ?
First drove to Castle Rock for a photo opportunity at the rock - couldn't find it as its covered in trees . Asked a policeman and made him smile .Went to the top for a view . Blocked by trees . took one picture ( added to general album ) . after many photo ops I reached the Johnson Ridge Observatory took pics got cold went into the film show which ended when the screen rose like a curtain to reveal a full view of the mountain itself . Unfortunately low cloud shielded the interesting parts all day .
The rangers talk outside was extremely good ( wear warm clothing ) and not to be missed . They always seem to give a good mix of dry facts , human anecdotes and humour

Went on the one hour walk called the Hummocks after the terrain created by the eruption now quite green . Was highly delighted to come across a beavers lodge and dam together with knored trees . My pictures are here .

And here !

hit the road again and travelled the length of the main streets of Chehalis and Centralia . All seemed very pleasant but the quest goes on .

One of the things I have learned from my position of Ignorance is that many American towns have been built on a grid system rather than having evolved slowly like the English towns I am used to . Often the streets are numbered and the avenues which run at right angles are arranged alphabetically so each block which may be only 70 yards square can be defined by a number and a letter ie. 3rd and Birch being 3 down and 2 across . Main streets are usually in the intended centres but often become parallel to newer highways .

This results in many quiet streets and many houses in easy walking distance to the center . However as time has gone on development has often been at either end of main street resulting in a very long extended unwalkable main street . Often there is also a planned development based around a parking area consisting of a collection of retail shops and services .
Some towns become very spread out with a long thin grid whereas many retain their originally conceived compact square grid which is much more pedestrian friendly
As in England these are fluid and the arrival of a big Wal-Mart or similar major retailer nearby can have a major effect on local businesses .

Anyway I checked out the State Capitol buildings in Olympia went to a bar in Nisqually where I was befriended and welcomed to America by the locals before camping at the River bend camp site . ( Pictures here ) .