Editor’s note: Karen Harris Tully is a writer who lives in Raymond and has agreed to keep a journal to share with Daily World readers during the odd and uncertain time we’re all navigating.

Dear Journal:

We met up with my family, my parents, sister and brother-in-law and their two girls, at Tolmie State Park near Olympia on Friday. It was a beautiful, sunny day and so good to see them all in person, instead of over Zoom. We all wore masks and tried to be on our best social distant behavior, and even brought a picnic.

The hike was great, enough up and down through the woods for a challenge, but not too long or difficult for our five-year-old or the grandparents. Yes, the masks were a little annoying, but I inhaled way fewer bugs than usual, so bonus! After our hike, the rocky beach at low tide was sunny and warm with a gorgeous breeze and cool shellfish to show the kiddos. We found live butter clams, muscles and oysters, sand dollars and shells, and the kids had a fantastic time chasing and catching little sand crabs and finding the biggest one. It was about as big as the top joint of my thumb.

There were people there, but it wasn’t crowded, and family groups stayed well apart, so it was comfortable. When we left, I saw why. On our arrival at 11am the entrance had been open, but at 3pm, the park rangers were limiting entrance, one car out, one car in, with a line-up of maybe fifteen vehicles. I’m not sure how it seemed to the people who had to wait, but I thought it was a good system. Although, if we’d known people were having to wait, we might have been quicker about saying our goodbyes. We’ll definitely go again, early in the day, and next time with shellfish permits and buckets. I can see garlic butter clams in my future, yummm.

It was a great day, and the best part was seeing my family in person. No, I couldn’t hug my nieces, but the kids’ excitement (and the adults, I felt like a kid myself for a while) was well worth the trip.

Song of the day: Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys

Karen Harris Tully is a novelist living in Raymond with her husband and two small children. She writes sci-fi/fantasy for teens and adults and can be found at www.karenharristully.com.