Cabo Before Christmas

We made a last minute decision to join our friend Z in Cabo San Lucas again this year, much closer to Christmas than last year. I relish the chance to go somewhere with warm weather in the depths of winter. I do appreciate our climate, but it is so hard to beat the beach after months of dark clouds and near-constant rain. I managed to prepare for Christmas at home by decorating the house (always done the day after Thanksgiving) and sending the holiday cards before we left, but the cookie baking with mom was scheduled for after our return. Mostly this trip is about spending time with Z and complete relaxation.

Christmas tree in the lobby.

The first sunset.

Flights of fancy.

Glimpse of the cape.

 

An Omar Rudberg Concert in NY

I mentioned in an earlier post that I am rarely spontaneous. Buying the tickets for an Omar Rudberg concert in New York may be the most unlikely thing I have ever done, and the best. I live near Seattle, so the west coast show in LA may have been closer, but NY is more practical because I have a place to stay with my brother-in-law and his family on Long Island. When the notification of the sale hit my phone, I mostly wondered what the price was and ended up downloading the ticket app to see that. I managed to click through immediately though and just went for it. My friend Gisela, who had agreed to join me at an Omar concert (she likes his music, too), certainly didn't expect the show to be on the other side of the country! It turns out the the tickets sold out within like a half hour, so I feel really lucky to have done it right away. I typically would wait at least of few days before making travel decisions like this. Also I think this will be my last opportunity to see Omar in a small venue like this, so next time I go to his show, it will be a different type of experience.

Omar Rudberg.

Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Riding the NY Subway.

Welcome to NY.

Plymouth Park and Wine Tasting with Friends in Walla Walla, WA

My October was bracketed with travel, both trips borne of an unexpected opportunity. I rarely do something spontaneously, but in October 2024, two trips get that appellation. Our full-time RV friends texted with an invitation to join them at Plymouth Park on the Washington Side of Lake Umatilla. Umatilla is the location of one of the major bridges over the Columbia River, which are not close to each other on the east side of the Cascades. It's also quite close to Walla Walla; the small city is home to Whitman College and a thriving wine scene.

Mostly though, it's just wonderful to hang out and spend time with our friends. My theme for this year was connection, and it has been a good choice to focus on. Connecting with friends, however, was one motivation for saying yes to a last minute trip in the R-Pod before we packed it up for the winter. Our weather was lovely and the drive was too.

The I-90 Wildlife Overpass.

The dry side of the Cascades, complete with wind turbines.

Our campsite at Plymouth Park.

The park was full, but the sites were not too close together.

Memories of a Trip to Port Townsend

Way back in September, Russ and I met my parents at Point Hudson Marina and RV Park in Port Townsend, Washington for what has become an annual trip. This year, we weren't joined by any other relatives or friends, so it seemed even more relaxing and chill. It always feels like such a huge lift to pack up the R-Pod and leave, even for such a local destination, but I'm glad to get it done and just zone out in the passenger seat as we drive.

Point Hudson at Sunset.

Our spot for the week.

Point Hudson Marina.

Point Wilson Light.

Moving Furniture for a Friend at Ocean Park and Long Beach

Our friend Z has changed her house at her Ocean Park property from a fifth-wheel to a manufactured home. She asked if we could come help her move in the heavy furniture; of course we said yes. My current life philosophy is to always say yes to everything that we can, especially for friends or family. Weekly hike with friends: YES. Fika with a friend: YES. Concert in New York with a friend and staying with family: YES. Visit to a State Park in the R-Pod to meet friends: YES. A week in Port Townsend camping in the R-Pod with my parents: YES. Beer with a visiting friend in Seattle (he's lives in Denmark): YES. Wedding reception/dance party for my cousin (I have 23 cousins): YES. An automatic yes instead of a reflexive no has made my life much more fulfilled and joyous. I've been doing the YES for a few years now, and it still requires me to stop and change my first tendency to answer with a no. I'm lazy at heart and I do like staying home, but I've never been sorry when I make the effort to spend time with my friends and family.

The Astoria Bridge over the Columbia River

Outdoor deck coziness.

The R-Pod as a Portal to Friends. Lake Crescent

Two months ago, we took the R-Pod to Lake Crescent, in Olympic National Park, to spend a week with our friends that live in their fifth-wheel full-time. I feel lucky to see them at least once per year, and this year, we got to visit with them twice, once in New Mexico and now again in Washington. We got to celebrate the summer solstice with them in a beautiful place.

Contemplating life and the summer solstice.

Fire and conversation with friends. Magical.

Russ and I drove north to the park through Port Angeles using the Hood Canal Bridge (no ferry). On the peninsula side of Hood Canal sits Shine Tidelands State Park, where we stopped for a picnic lunch on the beach. It helps to give the cat some travel breaks on longer driving days. He was still in the groove from our spring trip, however. When we arrived at the Log Cabin RV Resort and meet our friends, there was plenty of time to assemble the kayaks and catch up before making dinner.

Cat transfer.

Shine Tidelands State Park on Hood Canal.

Low tide.

The Hood Canal Bridge.

Beach with flamingos.

Our spot near the creek at Log Cabin RV Resort.

Folding kayaks.

No need to rush anything.

The water was warmish.

The R-Pod backed up to this creek.

Vegetarian tacos and Mexican rice.

Digesting and talking.

Local dinner guests.

Fire on the solstice.

Appreciating the moment and the lovely world.

Sunset over Lake Crescent.

Water plants.

I see the blue.

Glowing.

Full moon rises over the hill.

Russ and I hiked along the lake on the Spruce Railroad Trail, past the Devil's Punch Bowl and back to camp. Our friends kayaked across the lake directly there, then joined the hike later. We passed them on our way out as they were hiking in; they parked at the trailhead, but we walked to it. The trail was crowded on a sunny weekend, but once past the Devil's Punch Bowl area, the crowd thinned out.

Breakfast. Mini spinach quiches with soy sausage on English muffins.

Walking to the trailhead.

Lake Crescent creeks are plentiful and lovely.

Trailhead sign.

Thistle.

A fork in the trail leads to the bowl.

Higher than than the water.

The blue of the Devil's Punch Bowl.

It was a popular spot to swim.

Lunch with a view.

Looking back towards our camp across the lake.

Perfection.

The madrone tree had a few old names carved in it.

Nature's cathedral. It felt holy.

Lichen.

We hit peak wildflower.

Small tree on the shore of a deep lake.

The old railroad tunnel.

The light at the end of the tunnel.

The back of the sign is always more interesting.

More flowers.

We ate out for breakfast the next morning at the Blackberry Cafe in Joyce, Washington with our friends, then Russ and I went to the Olympic National Park Visitor's Center in Port Angeles and hiked the rain forest loop trail (it was short, but beautiful and quiet). Since we were in town, we stopped at Swain's General Store. Russ found a baseball cap with a longer bill; he's been looking for a new one for at least a year, but most of them have short bills, so he just carried on with his old hat from Jack's General Store.

Two happy people ready for breakfast.

The was a veggie breakfast burrito.

This restaurant seems like the only business in a small town.

Cute and worth the visit.

Russ checks out the foliage.

Classic rain forest creek, covered with green.

Short but lovely.

Devil's Club. Don't Touch!

A fun and helpful stop.

Lake Crescent with partial clouds.

Hood Canal from the bridge.

The Tacoma Narrows Bridge signals home.

Whenever we cross the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, I feel like I've come home. Interestingly, we plan to be back at the Log Cabin Resort again next year for a family reunion with Russ' family. It will feel like coming home again in a different way, but be just as special.