This is called diatomaceous earth. The Fall River area in
Northern California is rich with this "rock"; a large majority of the
local economy is built around mining for it. It consists mainly of fossilized
plants and feels just like a white chalk. It crumbles in your hand gets all
over your clothes. We camped out near here at the Pit-River Campgrounds. It is
located where the Fall River and Pit River meet in California.
There is this place up north called the Puget Sound that is all tucked away in the far corner of WA State. It is filled with many islands both large and small in which people actually live there year round. It is a surreal place that captivates your imagination and slows the pace of living. Rebekah and I were able to go there for our five year anniversary to escape the hustle and bustle of Portland and spend quality time relaxing, reading and getting lost in our thoughts. This was the first vacation where we actually relaxed and came back rejuvenated. Most of the time we are busy on vacation cramming in the sights and running around too much. We stayed on Orcas Island which is shaped like a horse shoe at a private little cabin and property on the far north side of the island. Our dog Zephyr was in heaven himself as he was free to wonder around the woods, and chasing deer and rabbits while we sat in a deck side hot tub looking out into Canada. Orcas really is a magical place and its only six hours from Portland and three hours from Seattle. There was no better place for us to spend our anniversary. We definitely have plans to revisit.
