That road trip and other thoughts

Reflecting on;

Just how different things are going to be for a while.
a Short while or a long time, both scare me equally.

The past week's road trip through the Olympic peninsula...
The long drives,
and long conversations,
big evergreen trees,
the gift of beach side campsite in high season,
washed up logs and dead crabs,
watching the moon set over the ocean for the first time in my life,
that thunderstorm,
wondering how everybody got to the other good campsite before us,
the 'check engine light',
how much we ended up talking about twilight,
tsunami escape route signs,
the scariest bunny encounter ever,
camp food,
West Coast sunsets,
how to be present,

Trying to cultivate the kind of life that doesn't live for one adventure to the next, planning road trips and counting off days to the next travel date. This is hard, and I'm not sure I'm getting it just right, but I want to. Don't let me miss the wonder of even ordinary days.

For now these iphone vscocam photos, I'll share some more soon.

Seattle whirl

I spent this passing weekend being seduced by Seattle with it's clear blue skies, craft distilleries, sunsets, Ikea, skyscrapers and cosmopolitaness. 
 
Let me share a few iphone snaps, just in case you guys had any concerns, based on the past few posts, that I've turned into a nature bare foot fairy... I love you nature, I do, but  I also love you big city and want you to adopt me. 

Touring Batch 206

With me, the lovely Amanda,

I haven't had a Tiger since the Vietnam days, tasted like adventure and being scared sh*tless to me.

My welcome home bouquet from a husband happy to have me back.

me, yellow, roadtrip: yes! day 17

Today's topic: A favorite picture of yourself and why

I'm choosing this one.

From last weekend when we took our quickie road trip to Palouse Falls.

I love it because of the colors, the flowers, the fact that we're out on the road, that Ben will always pull over for me to take photos when I ask, that I'm 'caught' doing something I really enjoy, it's not posed and lastly because I remember how happy I was in that moment.

Here is the other side of the story...

Apologising to America

Today's topic: make a public apology

Day 13


Dear America,

I want to pubically apologise for some of the resentment I have towards you.

I resent that you're so far from South Africa, but thankful you're so close to Mexico.

I resent that your tourist visas are expensive and a real mission to get, but thankful that you give ten year visas. (Yes I'm looking at you judementally Europe with your schengan visa rules)

I resent that you're so big, seriously, there's so much of you I want to explore but everything seems so far apart, especially here in the Northwest. I am however thankful for the beauty you do provide on those epic roadtrips.

I resent that you're not the same as your Hollywood version. At the same time, I pretty darn thankful that you're not the same as your Hollywood version.

Also, I apologise for those things I said abou you when the green card process was taking forever. Hope you've forgotten about that, but thanks for getting that green card to me in the end.

Sorry for waving my fists in a furry at you with regards to warmer weahter taking so long to arrive. Although, I have to say I'm very appreciative of how pretty your spring is, especially here in Spokane.

Seems like you and I will have to get along better, I'm not leaving anytime soon it seems. Also sorry for being a little sad about this fact every now and then, but thanks for taking me in none the less.

..I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship America, that's if you'll forgive me for these minor little trespasses.

some photos of a recent roadtrip:

short road trip

as part of celebrating thanksgiving weekend in our own way/ going to a place where you can't hear christmas jingles we decided on a very short but satisfying road trip to Couer de lane. you know just to go see what's there. because we deeply love our roadtrips even the quickies.

weekend road trip: part three

the early morning wake up, the bad gas station coffee, the good gas station coffee, the wide open road, the boring interstate stretches, the broken air-con in +30 degrees heat, the imagination gone wild, the long honest conversations, the hope of spotting a moose, a bear, a big foot, the scenic stops, the lazy breakfast, the breath taking views, the interesting people, the touristy shops, the mountains and lakes and rivers and small towns left in a by gone era, the colourful motel at peak summer rates, the cherries and sandwiches... some of the parts that make up an amazing road trip. my favourite thing.

in Glacier Park

cherries in South Africa are expensive, here they over-floweth, a real treat 

motel in the small town of east glacier

breakfast, where we failed to have the huckleberry pancakes listed as the best huckleberry pancakes ever by the NY times or something. we fail.

i bought an antler for 5 usd, home decoration has begun 

impressive second hand bookstore found while driving I-90, found a Kalil Gibran book that sent flutterings through my heart.