From West to East : Fall 2024

Camped on Kachess Lake

    When I last updated you, we had finished a sailing trip in the San Juan Islands. After our sailing adventure, it was time to pack up the camper and head east. We spent a couple of days at the PNW NOLS branch before starting our drive to Colorado. Our first night was spend on the shore of Kachess Lake in Washington. Free, wild camping is allowed on the edge of the lake where we had plenty of distant neighbors for the night. Our journey continued East the next day with a stop at Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve in Idaho. We explored lava tunnels and walked along old lava flows in the weird and scenic landscape the area is known for. 

Lava Tubes and Cave Formations

    Our journey continued toward Colorado with one last overnight stop in Wyoming for some more free, wild camping near Vedauwoo climbing area/campground. The sites here are down a dirt road and vary in size/privacy. A wonderful camping spot. There is an established campground as well, but we opted for the boondocking sites along the forest road. We didn't do any rock climbing, but we went for a lovely morning walk on the trails and did some rock scrambling.

Rock formations in Vedauwoo

Colorado

    Onward to Colorado for Kyle & Brette's wedding celebration! We got to catch up with good pals we hadn't seen in years; we danced, we hiked, we hugged. It was a wonderful celebration of love. After the wedding, it was one more stop to my brother's house to pick-up my bike and a few random doodads I had left behind over the summer, then onward and eastward! We had one more National Park to visit before landing at home in New England.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

    Cuyahoga Valley National Park marks my 12th National Park in 2024, and 29th (out of 63) overall. This Park is unique in that it is long, skinny, and follows the edge of a river on either side. The highlights of the park are the railroad and the railtrail multiuse path that traverses the entirety of the park. Once a deadly river contaminated by factory and sewage in the mid-1900s, the river has a wonderful comeback story. The river was so polluted that it caught fire multiple times. Through environmental efforts and the preservation of the area, it is now a thriving eco-system for plants and animals (including humans) to enjoy nature in an otherwise developed area of Ohio. We spent the day biking on the trail, reading history signs, learning about the locs and shipping routes that once traveled this river, and visiting a local farm stand. Another underrated National Park, in my opinion and definitely worth a visit.

One of the locs along the river, now empty

This is part of an old channel and bridge system that allowed traffic into the town.

Chuck found something....

TURTLES!

HOMEWARD BOUND!

40th Anniversary Celebration

    We landed in New England - Connecticut to be exact - at the start of September just in time for Chuck's parents' 40th (yes, 40th!) wedding anniversary. We were able to celebrate with the whole family and spend time with our niblings. From there we made the rounds in Maine and New Hampshire visiting friends and family before I started work at Hartford Hospital.

We spent SO MUCH time with the niblings (children of siblings, ie: nieces & nephews) and feel so fortunate for that special time. From diner dates, to shopping, to arts and crafts, to movie nights and sleepovers. So fun!

Camper hangs

Rescuing Al?

Sleepover, snacks, movie time

Diner date!

Kate and I spent a few days hiking the Appalachian Trail - a goal of ours to do a little bit together each year. Accidentally twinning, classic 👯

Portland Hangs with this beauty 

A new little redhead munchkin at the Tweedie-Rowe residence

Celebrating our 5-year wedding anniversary with frozen pizza 💖

Halloween! My mouse house pumpkin creation

Trick-or-Treating!

With the gals in Brownfield

Learning to read with the Becks

I apparently only take pictures with my mom's pets and completely forgot to get a picture with her and Mike... sorry guys :) I got pictures of your pets and car... and knight in your driveway haha

Cruising with the top down

Guardian of the Garage - the pumpkin had me cracking up

Family time in the park

Me and Dougie on Blown Away

Oh yeah, we bought a sailboat!

Our first sail together without a chaperone ⛵😁

Cleaning up the boat

Bowling with pops

Trees in the Rigging boat parade with with gang

Wreath making class with the Domenie family Gals

Consider this your holiday greeting card from us 🎄

Instead of toys and doodads for the kids, we did a quick art project and left them with some pictures from our time together this fall.

Christmas with JJ and Crew 💗

I spent Christmas at the hospital this year - spreading cheer!

December 26, 2024 - My last day at Hartford Hospital

Welcome 2025!

    We spent New Years Eve with my mom and Mike - though we did not make it to midnight. We had good food, played games... and I took no pictures - which means I was enjoying the moment and fully present! From there we headed back to Connecticut to do a final pack of the camper and I flew off to Michigan to see Jill and have a nice rest at her lake cottage. Happy New Year!

            

               Oh, and I got a mullet 💁😏

xoxo 'til soon 💛