While paging through the National Geographic Field Guide to Birds of North America, I came across an illustration of a Green Jay. “I want to see THAT bird,” I told Eric. That’s how we ended up in the Rio Grande Valley for the first time a decade ago, way down south on the Mexican border. […]
We’ve spent a lot of time in Texas in our six years of cross-country travels. Because it’s directly on our route to Florida each winter, we find ourselves trekking across the state every year. It’s a good thing we like it. There’s a whole lotta Texas between New Mexico and Louisiana, precisely 879 miles if […]
When we were contemplating taking to the road, I anticipated exploring beautiful places and having grand adventures. But I never imagined the wonderful people we would meet, and how our community of friends would expand. Last December in Arizona, we experienced the best of this traveling life—we met up with old and new friends, stayed […]
We left Florida yesterday, after two months that have seemed both brief and interminable. This has not been an easy visit. My parents have lost ground since we were here last year, both physically and mentally. It is a gift of our fulltime travels that we’re able to spend a chunk of time with them […]
Just 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas and a world away from the bright lights of the strip lies a stunning red rock park. We’ve done a lot of red rock hiking over the years: Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Snow Canyon, and Cedar Mesa come to mind. You might think, “Seen one […]
A dozen years ago, we drove through Death Valley National Park on our way to somewhere else. We were pulling our little Bigfoot trailer (our previous rig), and when we finally made it across the park, Eric said, “I am never doing that again.” The unrelenting steep grades, sharp curves, and the rollercoaster two-lane road […]
Every year, in late fall after a visit to our hometown, we begin again our journey across the country. It is a long way from Oregon to Florida, and honestly, it can feel a bit daunting when we consider the long road ahead. Inertia is a real thing—it truly is easier to stay put than […]
We’ve gathered wild blackberries on Lopez Island and huckleberries in Oregon; harvested wild mint and watercress from pristine creeks in the Pacific Northwest; lured Dungeness crab into traps in Oregon and blue crabs to traps off my folks’ dock in Florida; and pried oysters, mussels, and clams from the shores of the Pacific Northwest coast. […]
We just arrived in North Florida for two months of semi-tropical adventures interspersed with family time. Our adventures include a big chunk of time with my elderly parents. Wish us luck, I’m suspecting we’re going to need it. My recollections of our last winter with my folks are still fresh in my memory, and I’m […]
I‘m finding it extraordinarily difficult to write this post. We won’t be returning to Lopez Island next summer, and it’s causing us grief in more than one way. On a spiritual and emotional level, we’re going to sorely miss the beauty of the island, the satisfying work of teaching the interpretive programs, and our delightful […]
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If you enjoy hiking, biking, kayaking, birding, art, music, quirky towns, good food, and good friends—you'll enjoy traveling with us. Join us as we explore the backroads of North America—we love company and comments!