The Libators go Corner to Corner: Starting out with wine and friends.

The plan is to take our trailer from Tacoma to Key West, Florida, with a slow return along parts of the gulf coast and Thanksgiving in New Mexico with Russ' family. We had seven days to get packed and go after we returned from Port Townsend. Some of the necessary things were started or even finished before we left for Port Townsend, but most of the work happened after we returned. 

Before: mail forwarding set up, order medications so we don't need fuss with them on the road, some purchases (a new lens, new shoes), some food processing like drying the apples from our tree, R-Pod and truck maintenance and cleaning. 

After: Clean inside of the R-Pod and truck, laundry, clean and prepare the house to be empty, arrange for house sitters, visit with as many of our friends and family as we can fit in one week, cancel Pilates classes that I will miss, schedule Spanish lessons less frequently for on the road, final harvest of the garden and clear it for winter, process garden bounty for later use, pack food for the trip, pack the cat supplies, pack clothing and entertainment (electronics, books, knitting, cameras).

Home in the rear view mirror (not really, this is the Yakima River Canyon).

The last harvest. I made fried green tomatoes for our final dinner at home.

The food packing list and the start of something delicious.

I use these collapsible crates to load everything, and then for laundry on the road.

The first Corner: Tacoma.

Not much water in the reservoir at this time of year.

Our first stop is an old favorite, Prosser, WA. The travel day is short and the road is familiar. We met up with some old friends who live full time in their 5th wheel on the road. Whenever we cross paths with them, we make time to visit. They were returning to the PNW from Maine. Because they were able to meet us, we scheduled two nights in Prosser. We spent both days with them and had a great time showing them our favorite spots. We had a light lunch and wine tasting at Airfield Winery and ate dinner at Wine O'Clock. Russ and I also picked up some Chukar Cherries for the trip, a door mat for the trailer, and some toothpaste (Russ forgot his, and doesn't like my chewable tablets). Cedar did well on day one, but we helped him get used to it with a pill.

 

Dinner on the first night. Too much wine makes the photo blurry.

The trip is blessed with a double rainbow.

From the front door of our friends' rig.

Veggie tortellini with fresh focaccia and caprese salad (with my tomatoes).

Airfield Winery.

Excellent.

I like their chandelier.

Reviewing the wines.

Cedar likes his cubby in the trailer.

Nap time for Russ and Cedar.

Wine O'Clock.

WOC is the Bunnell Tasting Room.

Reflections on wine and friendship.

The tomato bisque was made with fresh, local tomatoes.

Salmon.

Russ got the large pizza... and ate it all.

The garden at night.

As soon as we got into the truck, my concerns for everything I didn't finish receded like the view of our house the the mirrors. I'm excited to be traveling like this again, and I can't wait to get into the rhythm of life on the road.