Only two weeks until I leave for my summer travels. That means I am once again working through my “pre-flight” checklist. Dentist, Tango shots, stocking up on pantry staples, topping off the propane tanks. This year, I added to the list a stop at Michaels during a big sale to acquire more paint and canvas…
A friend called me for advice about a road trip (on a motorcycle) to and through our public lands – National Parks, Forests, and Monuments. He is based in Deming, NM and wants to travel north, through the western states. He wanted to know some of my favorite back roads and also about how to take…
As I traveled north, Highway 101 curved away from the mountains and towards the ocean. I finally found beach access in the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area and just south of Yachats, a small but trendy town on the coast. Oregon owns most of the day use areas and they are free. The Forest Service sites…
I broke camp at Mt. Baker on Friday morning. I felt that now familiar urge to move on to something new, maybe Baker Lake, but I debated with myself. Leaving a great campsite on a holiday weekend (4th of July) is not always a wise move. Would I find another? No matter, I would be…
Life is boring, but that is just what Tango and I want for now. We walk the campground loop, explore the longer trails in the area, relax, sit by the campfire, and read. I also reflect often about the trip to Alaska and my class is helping me to focus those thoughts and to write…
During the marathon driving episode through Canada, Tango endured being curled up in his bed for days while taking only brief breaks. it seemed only fair to give Tango some attention, so we walked around the area, exploring and stretching out our limbs and muscles. We discovered that Sumas is a dairy farm community with…
As soon as I start thinking that I am the last crazy adventurer on the continent, I run into someone who humbles me. I never actually saw these folks, although I was hanging around nearby for over an hour doing my laundry. Their vehicle, however, is what alerted me to some serious travelers through the…
Sometimes I like to travel for days on end, enjoying the visual feast provided by new places. Other times I enjoy digging in and exploring as I have been doing in the Grand Coulee Dam area while I wait for warmer weather up north. The only problem with staying 12 days is that attachments form…
A house of any size requires cleaning and maintenance, even my tiny RV. However, I did not leave it behind on this trip to get away from household chores. My current house, a large tent, also requires my time. Besides cleaning, bedding needs airing out and holes need repairing. Today turned into a cleaning day,…
I have never scrimped on clothes when traveling. Ask my son who ribbed me forever about overpacking. For this trip, however, I needed to think carefully about what to take since the Honda Civic is so small, especially compared to my van, which has a clothes rack across the back. Other challenges that affected my…