Tag: Oregon travel

Nomadic Life Is Our New Normal

Has it really been 6 months?

April was our last blog post as The Burrow shivered her way north to Bend, Oregon.  The posts have been pushed to the back burner as we grasp every spare moment to explore our new surroundings.

Nomadic life is our new normal. We relocate our RV “home” every three weeks or so and it seems to be the travel schedule that works best.   Two weeks is too little but after three weeks, it’s time to go. 

Home

Armadillo & The Burrow at rest

With two years on the road under our wheels, our RV truly feels like home.  The kinks are mostly worked out and the past year has allowed us to relax and enjoy the ride.  “La Dolce Vita” is a phrase we embrace.

We met up with longtime friends in Port Townsend, WA, who have embarked on a nomadic lifestyle too.  Our tribe is small but mighty and it has been truly fun to share these experiences with friends.  I will admit though, traveling with three engineers can be challenging at times and the squirrels are still running rampant.

Where have we been since the last blog? 

“I’ve been everywhere, man
I’ve been everywhere, man
‘Cross the deserts bare, man
I’ve breathed the mountain air, man
Of travel, I’ve had my share, man
I’ve been everywhere. “

Hank Snow

Bend, OR; San Francisco, CA; Florence, OR; Salem, OR; Newport, OR; Albany, OR; Pacific City, OR; Tillamook, OR; Astoria, OR; Long Beach, WA; Port Townsend, WA; Poulsbo, WA; Sequim, WA; Sekiu, WA; Olympic National Park, Seattle, WA; Puyallup, WA; Chehalis, WA; Mt. Rainier National Park, Portland, OR; Mt. St. Helens, WA; Yachats, OR; Eugene, OR; Crater Lake National Park, Fresno, CA; Coronado, CA; San Diego, CA; Tijuana, MX; Joshua Tree National Park and finally, Las Vegas,  NV.

Whew!

Burrow Updates

The Burrow is sporting a brand-new refrigerator and all the orchids have set spikes (they love their skylight).  The animals are doing well although Bitsy is now wearing diapers. She decided that urinating on the floor was a good way to indicate unhappiness.  As with most of the animal issues since moving aboard, diapering a cat was surprisingly easier than expected.

Upcoming Content Focus

I think I’ll tease these destinations out a few at a time.  Maybe try to give my readers an idea what is there to see or what may be remarkable in the area.  As my friend said, “how many times can you say beautiful and awesome?”.  Everyone has different ideas about the perfect travel destination so maybe we can offer you some planning ideas.

Going forward, Ken and I would like to review the Thousand Trails campgrounds that we stay in. Membership in Thousand Trails can help stretch your camping budget and we are happy to be affiliated.

New ideas are perking and plans are being made for 2020.  This need for new challenge, sights and experiences isn’t leaving us.  The past two years have fed our wanderlust and the nomadic life is our new normal.

We are back in Las Vegas.  When our friends say “goodbye” and head back to Austin for their holidays and we travel to Florida for ours, the tribe will be dismantled.   We’re snowbirds now, enjoying the best weather and destinations. But stay tuned. There is so much more to experience as we share with you how nomadic life is our new normal.

Always grateful.👫

We Have Squirrels!

I know that your first thought is literally we have squirrels in The Burrow but that is not the problem. I mean squirrels, as in, distractions.

We need to do laundry (because we are COMPLETELY out of clothes). But we will just wear dirty ones. We can’t miss those Roosevelt Elk.

Sea Lion Caves, Oregon

Need to go pick up groceries? – Dinner is now boiled carrots, a can of tuna and ice cream. The sea otters, or sea lions (we aren’t sure which), will be playing in the lagoon at 7:00 PM. And we certainly cannot miss that.

Organize our departure route through possibly treacherous mountain passes? Are you kidding? We might miss the Sea Lion Caves.

And to top it all off – it does not get dark here until near nine o’clock at night. Arrrghhh!

This has become a particular problem in Oregon because, as we are finding out, they have been hiding their glorious state. There are countless outdoor adventures, huge variety in delicious foods, and stunning scenery — but unlike our beautiful Florida and recently visited California — it is not overrun with tourists. Plus, you are not even allowed to pump your own gas here; that is the gas attendant’s job. Who cannot get on board with that?

Scenic highway 101, Oregon

Squirrels are rampant here in Oregon. We both agree it is one of our favorite states to date and can’t wait to show you as we explore more of this delightful surprise.

Private beach picnic

For now though, it’s off to have a private picnic on a secluded beach. We have squirrels. And it’s a blast.

Always grateful. 👫

Say “Thanks” to a Farmer.

The Pacific Northwest has been all we expected and more. Forty miles of towering redwoods give way to massive four-story high dunes in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

A little glimpse and I almost forget that we aren’t home.

The Pacific Northwest has been all we expected and more. Forty miles of towering redwoods give way to massive four-story high dunes in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. A stroll along the docks in coastal towns like Florence, Oregon, where you can snag fresh tuna, salmon and Dungeness crab from the fishing boats. Meadows abound with majestic Roosevelt Elk. A giant cave filled with sea lions and pristine, secluded beaches, all made it hard to leave for new play places.

Oregon Coastal Sunset
Scenic Columbia River Gorge, Oregon

Through the magnificent Columbia River Gorge we traveled to eastern Washington/Idaho where the views were vast rolling hills of wheat as far as you can see. It was harvest time, the end of summer and we watched as the farmers worked until evening’s last light to get the wheat harvested. The setting was so peaceful, we kept saying “let’s stay just one more day”.

Wheat Fields, Colfax, Washington

We did finally move on to experience the “weirdness” of Portland. Downtown is overflowing with historic buildings, restaurants and breweries all waiting to be tasted or explored. From the largest bookstore in the country to those Voodoo doughnuts, Portland did not disappoint.

Long Beach, Washington

Ken and I are having the time of our lives out here traveling. It is exciting to see new things and to explore areas of the country that are so different from Florida. But while exploring the differences, there are moments; a shaded trail; a glimpse of a palm tree out a restaurant window; a farmhouse, when I forget that we are thousands of miles from our home state. There is a little “oh!” moment, a jolt of homesickness when the realization hits that it’s not home we are seeing.

These are small moments of sadness scattered throughout the joys we experience daily. But the small moments are overshadowed too by our commonalities. We travel the backroads and see differences but many more likenesses. From the fishermen and farmers, the RVers and campers, and the moms and dads, whom we all share the goals of love and happiness, health and safety, and it is a comforting realization.

Say “thanks” to a farmer today.

Click here for our latest video of Oregon:
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Always grateful. 👫
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