Living and Loving Life
I needed a place to upload some files and remembered this page. I didn’t realize that it has been 41 months since my last post on here. I am still out living and loving the travel life. If I ever find some down time perhaps I will update this page, but nevertheless the road is still my home.
A Deserted Town
I finally made it to Bend/Sunriver. This campground is awesome unfortunately most of the awesomeness is closed for the season because it’s freezing cold here, last night it was in the low twenties and tonight we are heading to low teens! So I will definitely have to come back next summer when it’s warm and everything is open and all the activities are going. In the center of the campground is an old western town like area. I’ll have to go back and take pictures when I’m not shivering.
Out in the Hood
What a weekend! I made it back to Oregon and have found a beautiful campground at the foot of Mt. Hood surrounded by forest, streams, mountains, trails and activities. Saturday I decided to go for a bike ride up to a ridge that boasted views of Mt Hood, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Gordon, and Mt. St. Helens. Due to multiple connecting trails, a weak gps signal and an insane amount of climbing for 14 solid miles (3,798 feet to be exact. – to put that in perspective, that is almost 3 of Blue Mountain) I realized I wouldn’t make it to the ridge and back before sunset, so I cut my ride short and went back. Total miles ridden, 28.53. Needless to say, by the time I got home it was hard to even walk.
I still wanted to see the views I had heard so much about so on Sunday I hiked up the north side of the ridge and spent some time at the top resting and enjoying the incredible majesty of Mt. Hood across the valley. Followed by lunch beside a beautiful mountain lake.
Through Another Tunnel
Back to adventuring! I have been advised that the weather heading further north and east into the mountains of Idaho and Montana is unpredictable and may hinder a lot of what I want to do. So, I am heading back down south to see what else I can see. For that past couple of nights I have been in a quiet little campground on the Washington side of Umatilla lake. There isn’t much to do here but I managed to get out on the bike and find another tunnel. Hitting the road again today and hoping to find some more mountains.
Saddle up your Horses
Wild horses couldn’t keep me away!
What a cool monument! This is just off HWY 90 East between the mountains and Spokane.
More Leavenworth Fun
There has been so much going on the last few weeks that I have not taken time to share some of the beauty and awesomeness of my travels. I have been to the mountains, lakes, rivers, streams, waterfalls, more mountains, a dark tunnel, and a few long drives thrown in. I know there are a lot of photos in this batch but I thought I would grab the highlights from some of the more memorable places. The mountains of Washington are awesome. I need to come back when it isn’t rainy season and experience even more!
A Lake in the Mountains
The weather is beginning to change and get a little cooler in the evenings. However, last week there were some days that were bright and sunny requiring some float time on the water. This is Lake Wenatchee just outside Leavenworth, WA. Such a beautiful lake surrounded by gorgeous mountains.
Campground Silliness
Went for a ride on the trails here at the campground and had a great time! Fun hills to race down, fun bridges to ride over, and a fun water pipe to climb on. I have to admit, I thought the drop-off would be a little bit more impressive on the other side of the water drainage ditch / pipe but it just dropped down onto a road. And to end the ride I finally saw some deer.
Scratching the Surface
An 11 mile hike up into the mountains followed by a quiet time of reflection beside this beautiful lake and I’ve only just scratched the surface of all there is to see and do here in Leavenworth, WA
Perched Precariously
Another beautiful ride last night. I started too late in the day to get to the overlook that everybody talks about but even still at every clearing or opening in the trees a view of the mountains peaked through. Along the way I passed the stump of a tree with a giant boulder on top. All I can say is that would have been awesome to see – an enormous rock crashing down the side of the mountain, coming to rest precariously on the top of a stump.
The Top of the World
Finally getting around to posting the pictures of Saturday’s mountain adventure. Overall the days hike was a little more than 14 miles. However, 2 of those miles included an elevation gain of 2,000 feet to the trails end. Of course I didn’t stop there – because the mountain didn’t stop there. Up over some rocks and around a corner and I was filled with excitement. There, tied tightly to a tree about 15 yards up the trail, was a rope, the other end was tied to another tree just a few feet from me. The trail became very steep and for the next 1/4 mile or so ropes were necessary for most of it. At the top of the ropes and to the left was a rocky ledge on top of which I saw a man carefully making his way down. Those who know me know I love to climb rocks, so it was without hesitation that I took off up the first ledge. This was easy enough but then the next section brought with it some climbing and to my right a drop of a couple hundred feet, and to the left significantly more than that. I’m not going to lie, it was a little sketchy, but still up and over I went to the next ledge (which I won’t explain in as much detail because I don’t want to worry those of you who worry.) The climb, though scary in parts culminated in one of the most peaceful and beautiful moments on this trip so far. I worked my way to the edge(ish) and sat quietly eating my lunch, watching the birds gracefully floating on the air, playing in the updrafts and circling the mountaintop. Eventually I had to go down and, well, as fun as scrambling up over the rocks with death looming on either side was, down was a little less enjoyable. But I survived.
Sometimes I Change my Mind
I have been in the state of Washington for a week now. Last week I didn’t get out to do any exploring apart from the campground – which was beautiful. But Friday I loaded up and started heading east, then changed my mind and decided north was where I wanted to go. I have heard so many wonderful things about the peninsula and in hindsight wish I would have planned more time there. Friday I found another waterfall, Saturday I climbed a mountain (which will require it’s own post) and Sunday I climbed another mountain. Today standing hurts, walking hurts more. haha
8 Miles
Another beautiful day in Oregon. I went for a ride on the mountain bike today and I think I was a little ambitious in choosing an 8 mile ride. The trail was super fun with lots of steep climbs followed by fast downhills. Stumbled across a sign pointing to another waterfall. So of course I took the 1/2 mile offshoot and enjoyed a quiet snack by the water. All that to say I was beat by the end of it. Tomorrow is going to hurt. Haha
Astoria
The small town of Astoria Oregon is probably one of the most interesting towns I’ve seen while on this journey. This little town is set on the side of a very steep hill and is the perfect combination of old Victorian mansions, and small simple houses, overlooking a main street that feels both rustic and almost modern. It is a fishing town that is stuck in the 80’s and I think it likes it that way. I met a good number of lifetime residents while there, even though I was only in town for a short time. They all had one thing in common, they were hard workers with lives full of experiences that could fill volumes. Astoria is best known as the filming location of the movie The Goonies so it was kind of neat to see areas that are depicted in the movie. I’d like to go back there again to spend some more time and perhaps go on a short adventure with my new friend Vicki.
Salmon Fishing
Late Friday night I was given a last minute opportunity to go Salmon fishing on Saturday morning. What a time we had! It seemed we never had more than 5 minutes to be still before there was a fish on the line and we all sprang into action. I caught 2 but one was a ‘little guy’ (still bigger than any fish I had caught before this excursion but was not big enough to keep). However, the King Silver I got to keep was about 22 pounds and was so much fun to land! What a dance we danced as I coaxed him into the boat. All in all a wonderful morning.
There is Something About Falling Water
Another beautiful day today in the forest of Oregon. Have you ever watched Land Before Time or some other show like that? This is what it feels like out in the woods. So much is left rugged and undisturbed.
I did another waterfall hike today and as is always the case I jump on and off the trail as I see a path to the water. One of these times I was meandering along enjoying the solitude, and the path ended. My first thought was that rather than go back I could just cross the stream….then I realized that I was at the tippity top of the huge waterfall. To my right was a small pool of calm(ish) water and one step further it plummeted to the rocks below. It was a little unnerving. Then, a few minutes later I dropped my phone off a bridge and it took a pretty impressive video while it waited for me to climb down and get it. What a day!
Mt St Helens
The day Mount St. Helens erupted the lives of hundreds if not thousands of people were affected. It was the most destructive volcano in the United States. Yesterday on a whim I decided to drive up to the park and ride the trails leading to and meandering around the mountain. I was in awe as I rode my bicycle around its base. Every time I looked at it, I was struck by both its gentle barren beauty and the knowledge of the devastation it left upon its eruption. All in all, I rode almost twenty miles and climbed 3000 feet. Today I am reminded of that ride with every move I make. hashtagSORE
Secluded in the Beauty
I went hiking yesterday out in what felt like the middle of nowhere. It was so beautiful and peaceful, the goal was to get to a waterfall that I had heard about from someone in town. I love waterfalls, no matter the size.
Walking along the trail I had only passed one other person, so I felt like I had the whole forest to myself. As I rounded a bend I stopped short and just stared in silence. In the distance was an immensely tall cliff with the water spilling over the top. The waterfall itself was not high volume but it was so beautiful! I stood mesmerized for a few minutes before continuing on the trail so I could get closer. Unfortunately the trail a little further up was closed and I was not able to get very close but even still I tried to snap some photos. As is usually the case, the photos do not do it justice.
The Beauty in the Wrong Turn
There is so much beauty in the mountains of Oregon. Took a wrong turn yesterday and found myself at the top of a mountain in this beautiful location. Unfortunately I was not able to stay there last night but it was beautiful to see.
A Peaceful Afternoon
It is a beautiful day today in Oregon. For the past week I have been camping at Richardson Lake and finally made time to get out on the water. What a relaxing way to spend the afternoon. Floating on my paddleboard next to my little buddy, reading a good book and enjoying the peaceful rocking as the wind carries me to and fro. #lifeisgood.
