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.

Reunion and Relaxation

We enjoyed the family reunion. It has been very hot here, so the shade at the outdoor venue by the Animas River in Aztec, New Mexico was welcome. Family came from all over the country, from both coasts and from the middle states, too. I think we last saw many of these people at least fifteen years ago, when we had the reunion in Echo Basin, in southern Colorado. We were able to update a lot of contact information, so we will be able to stay in better touch with everyone.

Too much food, as usual.

Always with the devices.

Thank goodness for the shade.

My favorite sign at Riverfront Park.

Way Cooler Than I Expected.

Traveling to the US Southwest in the summer is usually a recipe for discomfort. When we travel with the cat, we need to stay at places with an electrical hook up so we can run our air conditioning. This trip gave us a lucky break in the hot weather, however. It's been warm for us, but not too hot like we expected.

Breakfast burritos in the R-Pod.

I'm always stunned by the size of the turbine blades. Near Boise, ID.

Flag practice at Heyburn Riverside Park in Idaho.

Heyburn Riverside Park has an amazing trail along the Snake River.

No idea what they are, but they look divine.

Sunset in Idaho.

Trip Begun and Well Started

This trip was planned specifically to go to Russ' family reunion. We haven't seen many of these folks for more than 10 years, so I am excited, if not about being in New Mexico in the summer. I melt. Plus, we have to travel without using Harvest Hosts or boondocking because we need to run our air conditioner for the cat. We did manage one off-grid stop early, but it was high in the central Oregon desert and the nights were cool. Our first stop was slightly out of our way, but we stayed one night with our friend Z at Ocean Park, WA, on the Long Beach Peninsula.

Cedar had a rough first day in the truck. Comfort during the last section.

Dinner at Mycovios - so amazing.

Z joins us in the R-Pod for a good night bottle of white.