Tag Archives: Vancouver Island.

Exploring the Pacific Northwest: Into the Unknown

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Have you ever looked at the calendar and thought, “Whoa! Where did the last month and a half go?” I am in that state right now.

Wednesday, that is tomorrow, EmmyLou and I are on the move. We are heading north for the spring and summer with a few extra visits back to San Diego in August (more dental work).

Wait a minute, didn’t I just return from Hawaii? Well, no, I have been back for almost two months. How did that happen? I don’t know. I just really don’t know.

I am heading towards the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia for my summer. I love it up there and look forward to my return each year. As I move north, I hope to meet up with friends. That means you, Mary, Sandy, Mandy, Pat, Melissa and so many more.

Tomorrow, my friend Tina and I are climbing into EmmyLou and heading for Cambria on the Central Coast of California. We are on a mission and an adventure, which I look forward to. After five days, I leave Tina at the train station and will spend some time near Santa Barbara while EmmyLou gets her health check for the year.

Look out, my West Coast friends. I am heading your way. I love the trip north; it is such a beautiful drive. I find all these little side roads to explore. The ocean is amazing, and the Coast Mountain Range is gorgeous. The Redwoods are impressive. And I do know that by May 22nd, I need to be at the Sooke Campground on Vancouver Island. I am going to a rally. The Roadtreks are gathering. EmmyLou can’t wait to see her brethren. I am looking forward to meeting new people and seeing friends.

I have joined Trusted Housesitters, a pet and house-sitting service. I hope to get a few pet sits in as I travel. Trusted Housesitters lists places worldwide where people are looking for someone to take care of pets and houses while the owners travel. So far, I have had three sits in the San Diego area. You met two of them in former posts, Max and Riot. Here are all three.

Maddie
Max
Riot

Please don’t ask me of my plans because I am taking it a moment at a time currently. I had to plan Hawaii and so I decided not to plan too much fo my summer. I still remember I planned last summer and then it all changed so this summer forget plans and just head out.

I hope you will come along on my travels and lets see what I can find to share with you. I am ready to move.

Today I am thankful for the unknown waiting for me to find it.

A Journey of Unforeseen Changes and New Beginnings in 2024

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In the Spring of this year, 2024, I announced I was going to Alaska. I was ready to go. I was traveling with two fellow Roadtrekers, Gregg and Bruce. I was finally going to achieve a dream I had since I bought EmmyLou (my RV) in 2013. Alaska Bound.

I was ready to go. First, I planned to visit friends in Oregon and Washington, and then drive east to meet up with my travel companions in Banff National Park.

The trick is not in the planning but in seeing it through and making it happen. Unfortunately for me, I had some medical issues to deal with, and it did not make sense to follow through at this time. Yes I was disappointed.

My plans changed, and they continue to change as spring has moved into summer. I don’t mind creating my travels on the fly, yet I have not been comfortable truly not knowing what is next.

And I have been waiting. Are the medical issues under control. Do I have to visit one more Kaiser? I currently have guest memberships in all the West Coast Kaiser facilities. What? How did that happen? Oh, life can change, just like that.

I am doing well and have plans, knowing they can change. After visiting with my Oregon and Washington friends, I have been on Vancouver Island, BC, since early July. I decided I needed to make a plan so I didn’t spend my whole summer waiting.

I am attending a 5-day workshop on Cortes Island on the Salish Sea. Hollyhock is a retreat and learning center on the island. I have known about it for a long time and have always wanted to attend a workshop there. It is good to look forward to something.

I will explore Cortes Island by land and sea while taking good care of myself, eating well, and attending yoga classes. Someone pointed out that I decided on a workshop looking outwards instead of inwards. I believe there is some profound truth in that statement.

I have spent the last four days in and around Victoria on the island’s southernmost tip. I visited Bouchart Gardens, saw a Maori performing group, attended Pride weekend, biked the paths, and even got my kayak on the water. It was a very diversified four days.

One of the best parts of my time was staying with the same Boondockers Welcome Hosts I stayed with when I explored this island in 2018. Ann and Ian are a delightful couple. They live in a little bit of paradise north of the city. They welcomed me with arms wide open. Our friendship deepened. It was delightful to spend time with them. We found we had a lot in common. Absolutely delightful.

Yesterday, I moved north to Qualicum Beach on the eastern shore of the Island. I have friends I am going to visit here as well. Cathy and David I met through Boondockers Welcome in 2018. Tonight, however, I am camped on the coast of the Salish Sea and tomorrow I will explore this area while doing my laundry. One can travel all they want but there are still chores to be done.

My Sunset View for the Next Three Nights.

Where to next? I have plans. They could change so you will have to stay tuned along with me to see where I head after my time at Hollyhock. Plans are out there but it appears that waiting is still part of my summer and I won’t reveal them until I know I am moving forward.

Stay tuned. When I know I will let you know. It is just that kind of summer.

Today I am thankful for my health. Today I am thankful I am up and traveling and exploring, inward and outward. Today I am thankful for these beautiful places I am seeing. Today I am thankful for friends who greet me with arms wide open.

Today I am Thankful

Bienvenue-Welcome

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Samish Bay

Summer is here and it is time to go and explore more new places. I have been working my way to the west coast since April. Yesterday I finally got to touch the Pacific Ocean at Samish Bay, Washington. I felt like I was being welcomed home.

Where have I been? I have been to some really interesting and fun places since I began the drive west, including two weeks in Alaska (without Elsie or the Roadtrek). Cruising the Inside Passage on a small ship cruise was really cool.

I have stopped in many places and all of them have been interesting. Since you have last heard of the places I have been, here is the list. I know some may be a repeat, please be patient.

  • Glacier National Park-one week on the east side and one week in the Kalispell area on the west side. Flowers and wild animals were certainly a highlight.
  • Western Montana for the 4th of July, camping on a beautiful lake with friends.
  • I revisited Idaho and had my first Boondockers Welcome experience. Boondockers is an organization RV,er’s can join. People sign up to be hosts and you can stay in their yards or driveways for 2-3 nights. I stayed with a lovely couple near Farragut State Park on Lake Pend Orielle. I camped in their tree covered yard, visited with the neighbors, visited with my hosts and rode my bike into a beautiful state park. I visited the town of Bayview and saw the floating houses. There are always so many cool things where ever I go.
  • I bicycled the Hiawatha Trail on the Montana-Idaho border. It was very good day.
  • I finally made my way out of Idaho into Washington state. I started in the middle-Cascades, visiting a good friend, Lori, who I have not see in years. It was a really good visit.

Hiking Cascade Pass

  • I arrived in the Northern Cascades and Northern Cascade National Park to spend five days exploring. Wow-that is all I can say. I hiked and walked and took photos. What an amazing place. I chose not to stop in the small towns as there were too many people and events were happening. I camped in a National Forest Campground and loved every minute of it. I hope to go back, maybe when it is not so crazy busy. You should have seen the parade of cars, RV’s, jeeps and trucks driving east along route 20 on Friday afternoon. Everyone from the greater Seattle area was leaving town, or so it seemed.

The last three days I have been in Burlington, WA. I am catching up on chores and fixing EmmyLou the rig so she is ready for tomorrow. Tires?-check. Slow leak in one tire?-check. (it was a screw) After a crazy incident all parts fixed on my rig?-check. Headlight replaced?-check. (one went out when I got here. I even changed it myself) Laundry done?-check. Pedicure done?-check (I have sparklie green toenails) Chiropractor appointment?-check. Billing done?-check. All records ready for entry into Canada tomorrow?-check, I  hope.

I did take time to drive to the coast yesterday afternoon. I visited the small town of Samish. What a pretty little town. I was able to drive to a point in Samish Bay and finally greet the ocean and Jim. (he is buried out there) The flowers are beautiful in people’s yards. It reminded me of my mom and dad, especially when I saw the giant dahlias. My parents loved to garden. It was good to return to the ocean after almost four months away.

Tomorrow I head out on a new adventure. Elsie and I are going to be taking the morning ferry from Anacortes, WA to Vancouver Island, Canada. I first visited this island as a tour director. I remember taking my group to Boutchart Gardens, worth a visit.

Two years ago Cat, my friend who bicycled the Pacific Coast, and I took the ferry from Vancouver to the Island and started south. I knew then that I would return. It is a beautiful Island and I wanted to see more. Tomorrow I get that opportunity. I plan to be there for at least a month and discover interesting and magical places and meet new people. I plan to cover the island, driving biking and walking. If it takes longer, I will stay. I am ready to go into the unknown.

So stay tuned. Come along on the adventure. El and I are getting ready to roll.

 

 

I’m Sorry-Revisited

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Sunset Cle Elum

After spending four really good days catching up on over 20 years of conversation, my visit with my friend Lori in Cle Elum, WA came to an end today. We hiked, toured and lord did we talk. I got to explore the Cle Elum area with a long time resident. Lori was a great tour guide and I am thankful for her giving me the time to visit and tour

 

Elsie the Cat and I are “on the road” in Washington state. We are slowly heading west.

Today I drove back into the hot somewhat barren country of the Columbia River Plateau. It is really not barren. There are major crops that grow out here. The land, however is yellow and treeless and hot. I kept thinking about trees. When I saw this campground it is on a river and there were trees. That was inviting enough for me.

I am camped along the Methow River. I am in an RV park for the night. My first night back on the road is often easier when I still have amenities, laundry, shower, electric and water. What more can one ask for in life.

It is busy in the campground. This weekend is the Winthrop R & B festival. People are pulling in. I was lucky to get a site for one night. I am always thankful for small miracles. Tomorrow I will head for the National Forest and higher, cooler climes.

I tend to say “I’m sorry” often. I apologize for things that are not even close to being my fault. If something happens in the world well I may as well just apologize for it. For goodness sakes it is so past time to get over this behavior. It is hard to break old habits.

Tonight I received a lesson. The man in the RV next to mine must have apologized to me several times since my arrival.

  • I am sorry that my air-conditioning is so loud.
  • I am sorry but I have to empty my black and gray water tank. I apologize ahead of time for the smell.
  • I am really really sorry about the smell. (there wasn’t any)
  • I fixed the air-conditioning but I am sorry that you can hear it.
  • I live in western Washington and it so hot here that I have to run the air-conditioning. I am sorry.
  • I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry.

I kept telling him, it is OK. Then he would apologize again. I thought to myself, is that what I sound like when I apologize for everything under the sun? It didn’t sound good. I kind of felt sorry for him. What if he had just come out and said hi, I am your neighbor, welcome to the park. I think we all get it, when we live in close quarters there is going to  be sounds and noise. For me it is one night.

I am going to try to catch myself when I get in an apologizing mode. Maybe, just maybe with practice I can stop before I apologize and ask myself, silently, is this really something I need to apologize for? Practice can change habits. I also promise not to be hard on myself when I slip. It is life and these habits are slow to change. They are very long and ingrained habits.

Tomorrow I ascend into the northern Cascades for the weekend. Up I go and down goes the temperature. Elsie and I will be looking for solitude and quiet for the rest of the weekend. I am excited I have never been here before so everything is magical and new. I am ready to get on my hiking shoes.

Next Wednesday El and I are going international and heading to Canada, Vancouver Island. I am anticipating a month, maybe more exploring the island from the south to the north and back again. Any suggestions besides Victoria and Buchart Gardens?

Off I go on another adventure. It has taken me since early May to reach the west coast. I am looking forward to seeing the ocean, saying hello to Jim (his ashes went to sea) and exploring a new place. And I get to take at least one ferry ride. I love ferries.

Anyone want to come along? Company is always welcome.