Trip to the Total Eclipse: To Aztec with a Side of Friends

Travel to get somewhere feels much different than travel for it's own sake. We move and stop, move and stop, and rarely notice the things that pass. I try to stop in places that are new to me. I try to enjoy the passing scenery and pay attention to life as we move. What am I rushing towards if not death? So I stay in each moment and live, even as we rush to our destination.

This trip took us to a Harvest Host in Buhl, Idaho called Holesinsky Vineyard and Winery. It had an exceptional camping spot next to the horse paddock and pasture. It was on a small hill overlooking the town in the valley below. We enjoyed the wine, too.

Russ Reflects.

The horse is named Clyde.

Trip to the Total Eclipse. Tacoma to Aztec, New Mexico

Preparing for a trip in the R-Pod is stressful. I'm always so sure that I will forget something important, even though I know that we can always buy what we need if it gets left at home. I also like to make sure the truck is clean, especially the inside, since we will be spending a lot of time in it. This time we got some medication from the vet to calm Cedar down for the first couple of travel days. He gets even more stressed than I do! The meds worked a treat! He didn't throw up once. Somehow all my stress disappears as soon as we turn out of the driveway. At that point, I've prepared all I can, and I can just enjoy the journey. It's a feeling of freedom and anticipation that never gets old for me.

Cedar is not free, but he did better this time.

Our first night at the Columbia River Gorge Discovery Center.

A Late Post from a Mexican Dream

We took a spontaneous trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with a good friend. I wasn't our typical type of visit, as we spent most of our time in a resort, but it was relaxing and fun. We caught the edge of a hurricane, so the surf was high and the atmosphere unstable and interesting. For me the main attraction was being able to use my Spanish. I've been studying the language for about 7 years now. My teacher lives in Mexico, and I have been aiming for a Mexican accent. It was so wonderful to be able to understand and have conversations with people.

Sunrise over the mountains after takeoff.

A Blustery Port Townsend Visit

I intended to push this post out a long time ago, and now it feels like it happened last year. We seems to visit Port Townsend every year in the fall, if we are at home, but it still feels like we haven't seen all the places here. It's always a trick, to balance enjoying our favorites while continuing to discover new ones. I especially like that we usually stay here with additional family. This trip included my parents and the family friends that were the witnesses at our wedding (I think of them as an aunt and uncle). We had to leave before two more aunt and uncle pairs arrived because we said yes to a spontaneous trip to Mexico with a good friend and needed a day to turn around our baggage. This year, the rain kept us inside our trailer more that usual, but it was so relaxing, I don't regret the weather at all.

Mt. Pilchuck (probably) across the Puget Sound.

Pigeons at parade rest.

Drifting through the driftwood.

Still Life at Home

We've been hiking, mostly at our local park, Point Defiance, but a few other spots too. In between hikes I've been trying to do all the maintenance for the house and RV that has accumulated since we've been traveling so much this year. I've also been trying to use up our abundant garden produce, mostly tomatoes and cucumbers, with some plums from a neighbor. It's nice to get back into a routine at home, with Pilates classes, sessions with my Spanish tutor and social meet ups with friends and family. Nothing special, but it's all special.

Our garden harvest.

Dinner on the deck at Anthony's.

Home via the Mountains and Craters of the Moon

We decided to stay in the mountains as much as possible on our return trip to avoid the worst of the hot weather. I try to plan a route with some new places for us to see each time we travel between Aztec and Tacoma. Our first overnight stop was Ouray, CO. We've driven past many times, but because it is fairly close to the final destination in New Mexico, we've never stayed. Ouray is a fantastic mountain town. Once know for mining, it is now a tourist and recreation destination. I was impressed with the Ouray Perimeter Trail that circles the entire town on the slopes above town. The city sits in a hole basically, with high, steep sides of stone and the  Uncompahgre river running through the middle. They also have a public hot spring (we didn't use it). We stayed at the 4J + 1 +1 RV Park and ate at Ouray Brewing downtown on their roof deck.

Ouray, CO from the Ouray Perimeter Trail.

Nice trail, but some daunting exposure.

The Uncompahgre River. The RV park was along the river next to downtown.

 

Last Week in Aztec, Prepare to Return Home

We've been getting out a bit more, seeing a few things that we haven't had the chance to visit here in several years. I made my first trip to Navajo Lake, and my niece and I had a girls day out to see the Barbie movie together. Russ and I have been eating at our favorite restaurants and trying new ones. It's been relaxing and fun, but I've begun to feel too lazy. My usual exercise and active life has turned into sitting around and reading or playing on my computer. The weather has been so hot, it's painful to be outside for more than a few minutes.

Keeping cool feet.

Russ contemplates the view.