I want to thank the Vashon Senior Center and Joe Meyer, van driver extraordinaire. Joe has one rule, “Don’t scare the passengers,” so he drove like a real gentleman.

For a mere $20 (for members, $25 for non-members), eight of us seniors boarded the new senior center van last Thursday for a trip off-island. This was my first trip but certainly not the first senior center trip, and I hear, not the last.

We boarded the 8:50 a.m. ferry at the south end and headed for the Mount Rainier National Park. Joe made very frequent stops at lovely campground restrooms along the way. We stopped at many points of interest, and Joe pointed out others that were down side roads. The maximum walking distance was half a block, and Joe always offered his arm if anyone needed it.

We stopped for lunch in the park, where there was a restaurant or you could bring your own lunch and sit on the porch. The only extra money you needed was for lunch, if you chose to buy, or an ice cream cone at the lodge.

Joe returned us to the 6:30 p.m. ferry, and the senior center paid for the ferry fare.

I can’t believe we have this marvelous organization, not to mention Joe Meyer, on Vashon.

Thank you for a lovely day.

— Wendy Wharton