Remember, Remember It Gets Dark in November....

Although the temperatures here on the left coast are milder, the darkness arrives just the same. The days are getting shorter, the fog is getting denser, and it feels like time to hibernate for the season. Trisha here, Chuck is off playing in the sunshine in Mexico for another week. I have been settling into cozy activities like knitting and painting to pass the evenings when the sun is down, but it isn't yet time for sleep. I hope you are staying cozy wherever you are in the world.

 

Since our last update, we have moved into Gig Harbor, Washington with the Casita, and Trisha has started her nursing contract in Tacoma. Chuck is doing a NOLS sailing clinic off the Baja Peninsula in the Gulf of California and will return to Washington next week. Our reunion in early November was brief (about 6.5 days), but fun! 

Read on for some pictures and stories from November......

Trisha's solo trip winds down

I blew out of Texas without looking back, making the 500+ mile journey from Amarillo to the Petrified Forest in Arizona in one day. I crossed through three states, two time-zones, and ventured through one national park in a single day. I drove through the painted desert and petrified forest just in time to catch the sunset over the desert.

Leaving Texas was the highlight of this trip :) haha

The rig!

Fun fact! Petrified Forest NP is the only national park that has part of Old Rt. 66 running through it.

                                                                         This used to be wood...

Just dweebing around in the golden hour

The next morning I woke early and drove toward Winslow (thanks to a tip from Patrice, my mother-in-law). I headed straight for the famed corner on Rt. 66. I took the opportunity to call my dad, the conversation went something like this:

Trisha: Hey dad! Guess where I am!? I'll give you a hint: I was standin' on the corner in....

Dad: Arizona?

Trisha: Yup! But I am ACTUALLY standing on the corner in Winslow, AZ... like THE corner! There's a flatbed Ford and everything...

*giggling and nerdiness commences*

Next stop: California. Driving through the Mojave was breathtaking. I hadn't done that drive in over a decade and the vastness really took me by surprise. I did a lot of contemplating and reflecting on the journey I had just undertaken. From Maine to the Blue Ridge Mountains, to Texas, across the Southwest, and into the Mojave of California, the landscape of this country is diverse and stunning. Incredibly, a day's journey can bring such a change in landscape, fauna, flora, and culture. I was also getting very excited about seeing Chuck! I have several pictures of the Mojave, but they are all junk - my phone's camera can simply not do justice to that gorgeous landscape.

Reunited in LA <3

Chuck was picked up from the airport by Cindy and Tim (his aunt/uncle) and delivered to me! It was great to catch up with west coast family over lunch.

California

The last leg of the journey across the country was underway! Chuck and I headed north to Fortuna to see some friends there. We also checked-off another national park, Redwood NP before crossing into Oregon and then Washington - our home for the next several months. 

Timmy D, Kelsey, and Waylon were great hosts for our night in Fortuna. So sweet seeing good pals, sharing food, and laughing together. Their new home is amazing! Check out the view from their deck - that's the Pacific Ocean through the trees! 

Eureka has a weed lounge. Also gluten-free bagels. We are in love. Also! We didn't know at the time, but fellow GMCer Jenna Catsos created this Eureka mural - we loved it so much and  we are stoked to learn this new, fun fact from Timmy! 

We saw some really big, old trees as we traveled through the redwoods...

Home, Sweet Home, Gig Harbor

Chuck and I spent a couple of days in Gig Harbor together settling in, handling logistics, and enjoying the area. It is a lot like the Maine coast and we felt right at home. 

Gig Harbor with Mt. Rainier in the background

New breakfast spots and long walks

Trisha is holding down the Lil' Home solo again....

Trisha goes back to work after a few month hiatus.

Old pals and good times in Seattle! 

Trisha getting cozy at the campground <3 moody PNW vibes

Chuck will be returning Dec. 6 - hooray! Stay tuned for more adventure in December.