The time of year I normally travel through this area (winter) has always made it difficult to visit the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. The monument is well outside of cellular coverage and way up above 5000 ft elevation, so I have skipped past it for eight years now. Kerri...
After the long day on the boat Kerri opted for us to make the hour drive to where her Mother and Father were recently camped – Camano Island State Park – to see if they were still there. They were, so we had yet another impromptu get together with family...
With an early Monday morning meetup with inspectors on our [hopefully] new sailboat, we chose to camp as close to Bellingham as possible. Twenty minutes to the south is Larrabee State Park and was our only real option other than a RV resort (ew). So Larrabee it was. The campground...
Yep, I’ve decided to just rename the North Cascades National Park. While the Cascades are beautiful and all, it is the mushrooms that makes this place special. Even for a guy like me who doesn’t care in the slightest to put that fungus in my mouth, the shrooms turn a...
As we drove up the coastal highway we were just about to pass Cape Lookout State Park. Although the sign was making a very clear statement with the “Campground Full” sign out, we popped in anyway. Pulling up to the Ranger station I inquired if there was a cancellation in...
I’ve been to so many other caves already, what makes this one any different? Yep, I admit it. I nearly backed out of going to Oregon Caves. Without Kerri, I may have done exactly that – once again. I’ve driven past it multiple times in the past, opting to skip it...
Redwoods National Park, I’ve been here before, a few times in fact. The problem is that in previous years coming through this area I have been unable to stop and do anything of significance within the park. My work at the time, and the lack of cell signal anywhere nearby,...
Since we had a half day to go do something before arriving at Aunt Claudia’s, Kerri set us out to hike another trail – the third in two days – at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. I will admit that none were long or difficult, but I have been feeling...
Knowing we would be in the area a day earlier than our scheduled arrival at Kerri’s Aunt’s place, Kerri reserved a spot at her childhood favorite place to camp in California; Patrick’s Point State Park. I’m usually not the biggest fan of State Parks, but will make an exception for...
I’ve always dreamed of spending a chunk of my life off-asphalt – just driving for days on the dirt and gravel forest roads that sprinkle the West. I’ve always shy’d away from it though, some times due to the hit in my mileage and others from the safety concerns. He...
