Photo Journal

In November 2021 we sold our home and over 90% of our worldly possessions with the goal of exploring the US in search of our "forever home" location (buy or build).  We also had a bucket list to visit all our National Parks (63 at this time) and that goal has provided a sort of dart board for us to visit some of the not so frequented places around the country. We decided to live as "temporary locals," housesitting via an international housesitting association called Trustedhousesitters.com. It has provided us with a series of "base camps" to explore locales in an organic way. 

This photo journal documents many of the sights and locations of our travels...our Next Grand Adventure!  We suggest that you scroll down to the bottom of this page and work your way up so as to view the captions and evolution of our journey!

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September 2024: Frank Lloyd Wright's Unitarian Meeting House, home of the First Unitarian Society of Madison, is recognized internationally as an icon of religious architecture. It was built in 1951, and in 1964 the AIA designated it one of Wright's 17 most important structures. It received National Historic Landmark status in 2004.

September 2024: Sitting with Cameo & Penny in Madison WI 

(and yes, Jer went catwalking with the kittie cart!)

                                                                                   

                                                                                      

                                                     

                 August 2024: Getting a VIP tour at the Illinois Train Museum with Linda & Ken!   

 

August 2024: Boatloads of fun with family and friends in Stillwater OK!

August 2024: El Rancho Hotel, Gallup, New Mexico. Since the 1940s Hotel El Rancho has played host to some of Hollywood’s biggest movie makers and movie stars - and today, even us wanna-bees!

August 2024: On the Road in the Navajo Nation - Where we met the end of the Rainbow!

August 2024: Canyon de Chelly National Monument on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona - we will be coming back to take a four-wheeler-ed guided tour thru the canyon next year! 

August 2024: "And don't forget Winona!" (from the Route 66 song). And they mean it - there is no town, but there is an old Route 66 alignment with a vintage bridge to mark the Mother Road!

August 2024: Route 66 Tour with our Cuz's Pam and Bruce... From the Denny's (aka last Van de Kamp’s Holland Dutch Bakery windmill) in Arcadia to The Hat's famous pastrami in Glendora, then on to the Cucamonga Service Station in Rancho Cucamonga and finally to The Wigwam Motel in Rialto California - it truly was a trip down memory lane!

August 2024: Whimsical Encounters in Encinitas CA!

August 2024: Fellow Grill Masters exchanging tips and techniques!

August 2024: Phyl's B-day By The Beach at Pacific Coast Grill!

August 2024: Illuminated views from Encinitas CA 

August 2024: Playday at Moonlight Beach with Fam!

July 2024: First built in 1888, Oceanside Pier CA was destroyed by raging seas in 1890, rebuilt between 1894-1896, and destroyed again in 1902. The structure you see today dates to 1987, and its opening drew tens of thousands from all over SoCal to celebrate. Strong and indominable, it’s a testament to the strength of Oceanside. 

July 2024: Inside and out, Vincent was an ever watchful and playful host in Encinitas CA 

July 2024: The California Route 66 Museum in Victorville... As you step into this space, you're not just entering a museum; you're embarking on a journey through time. The essence of nostalgia, defined as a sentimental longing for the past, permeates every corner of our exhibits. And.. it's where we found our iconic Route 66 luggage!

July 2024: Oatman AZ is best known for its beloved burros—small donkeys descended from miners' beasts of burden. The town is home to more burros than people, and it's not unusual to see dozens of donkeys in Oatman wandering the main drag.

July 2024: Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In is a historic eatery and roadside attraction located along former Route 66 in Seligman, Arizona. While researching the history of Route 66 for the 2006 Pixar motion picture Cars, John Lasseter met Delgadillo's brother, Seligman barber and Route 66 historian, Angel Delgadillo, who told him how traffic through the town virtually disappeared on the day that nearby Interstate 40 opened.   Both brothers are acknowledged in the film's credits.

July 2024: La Posada embodies the visions of both Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter, the hotel’s renowned architect. But the story really begins with Fred Harvey, who “civilized the west” by introducing linen, silverware, china, crystal, and impeccable service to railroad travel. (He was so legendary that MGM made a movie called The Harvey Girls starring Judy Garland.) Harvey developed and ran all the hotels and restaurants of the Santa Fe Railway, eventually controlling a hospitality empire that spanned the continent. In the 1920s, Harvey decided to build a major hotel in the center of northern Arizona. “La Posada”—the Resting Place—was to be the finest in the Southwest.  They chose Winslow, then (as now) the Arizona headquarters for the Santa Fe Railway. Winslow was ideally situated for a resort hotel since everything to see and do in northern Arizona was a comfortable day’s drive. They asked Colter to design the new hotel.

July 2024: The Blue Swallow Court in Tucumcari, New Mexico, United States, is a 12-unit L-shaped motel listed on the National Register of Historic Places in New Mexico as a part of historic U.S. Route 66.  It is one of the longest continuously operated motels along New Mexico's slice of Route 66. The Swallow from the sign can be seen in the movie Back to the Future Part II, and inspired the creators of Pixar's movie Cars to create the "Cozy Cone Motel" (and the town of Tucumcari itself inspired the mountain in Radiator Springs).

July 2024: The Tower Conoco, a sort of Taj Mahal of Texas gas stations, was built in 1935 when times were hard. Situated at an important intersection of former Route 66 and Highway 83, it would’ve been the first ‘foreign’ station encountered by Oklahomans heading west on their famous exodus from the Dust Bowl.    The Conoco station in Shamrock, Texas was used as the inspiration for “Ramone’s Body Shop” in the Disney/Pixar movie “Cars”.

July 2024: Two Day Family Pit Stop in Stillwater OK on our way to California!

July 2024: Gateway Arch National Park by night!  St. Louis MO

June 22, 2024: Our second Anniversary under the Portico as we return to West Chester PA with fresh caught shrimp & homemade cocktail sauce, PA pretzels and sparkling cava! 

(28th Anniversary since 1996!) 

June 2024: Sittin' with Angel, Stripe & Dyson!  West Chester PA

May 2024: Sharing an evening of Sangria and Paella with our friends David & Jill at España Restaurant & Tapas - highly recommend this restaurant for their Spanish dishes - haven't had paella this good since we were in Barcelona! Amelia Island FL

May 2024: Sunrise on Fernandina Beach FL

May 2024: Chillin' with Jimmy on Amelia Island FL

May 2024: Cheers from Amelia Island Florida!

May 2024: Lucy & Maxwell... our copy editors!

May 2024: Biltmore Lake NC

April 2024: Hello Dolly!  Weaverville NC

April 2024: Solar Eclipse over the Blue Ridge Mountains! Weaverville NC

April 2024: Front Porch with Blue Ridge Views! Weaverville NC

April 2024: Buc-cees... world’s largest convenience store with over 53,000 sq ft of shopping and 120 gas pumps - and you still have to wait in line 'cause they are ALWAYS busy! Auburn, Alabama 

February 2024: Warm Winter Memories in Elgin IL

January 2024: Gus n' Mille, Oklahoma City OK

December 2023: Christmas in Nichols Hills OK

December 2023: Sleep over with the Littles at Grammy n' Gramps Hotel, Stillwater OK

November 2023: Tis the season for giving Thanks with Family!

November 2023: Hibachi Time in Elgin IL

October 2023: Cheers ~ From Dubuque IL with Fam Guy n' Becky

October 2023: Rusty & Benji... cats n' dogs in Sun Prairie Wisconsin! 

September 2023: our Ashvillian hosts... pose for a group portrait (one of Jer's fav critter shots!)

September 2023; The Blue Ridge Parkway... an experience is unlike any other: a slow-paced and relaxing drive revealing stunning long-range vistas and close-up views of the rugged mountains and pastoral landscapes of the Appalachian Highlands. 

September 2023; Biltmore Lake NC... much more to explore!

September 2023; Rockin' our way thru the Great Smoky Mountains (Gatlinburg to Cherokee)!

August 2023; Looking forward to Happy Hour on the porch with Bella in Nolensville TN!

August 2023; We opted out on the bone-in dry cured hams at the IGA in favor of the GooGoo variety pack - our new favorite is peanut butter!

August 2023; Hummingbirds make their way through Tennessee each year during migration between July and September. We were joyful to observe a multitude of them during the peak month of August!

August 2023; Cat's in the basil n' finger lickin' good times in Woodbury TN!

August 2023; Sunrise... Sunset...  in the Tennessee hills!

August 2023; Tennessee Cuisine... Goo Goo Clusters, Fried Green Tomatoes, wet n' dry BBQ and pickled Okra washed down with genuine Chattanooga Whiskey!

August 2023; Buc-ee's in Sevierville TN… The Largest "Gas Station" In The World!128 pumps… 74,000 square feet … open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with over 300 staff per shift – and some of the best brisket sandwiches you’ll ever find in a “convenience store / gas station”! To order a “small coffee” in such an overwhelming large building is almost a oxymoron – you almost need a map to guide you through all the sections.

August 2023; On holiday with Paloma in Buffalo (extended Christmas from July!) 

August 2023;  Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903), revered as the father of landscape architecture in America, believed the purpose of urban parks was to “refresh and delight the eye and through the eye, the mind and spirit.” In 1868, Olmsted modified his views and convinced Buffalo’s leaders that multiple parks would best serve the city’s needs, as opposed to one large park, as in New York City. Olmsted's legacy and intentions of creating a nurturing environments was evident during our stay, bringing smiles to our faces as we observed the sometimes whimsical yard displays (Barbie gardens, violins in the trees - and numerous examples of chalk art).

August 2023; The Martin House Tour in Buffalo NY... We learned that "With the resolve of many, in 1992 an ambitious restoration effort to save this treasure began in earnest. 2019 marked the completion of the 25-year, $52 million restoration effort – one of the most comprehensive and extensive restorations of a Frank Lloyd Wright property anywhere."  We were impressed by our tour guide's knowledge and passion.. we found out at the end of our visit that Margie had been the former Director of Volunteers, Director of Operations AND the Director of  Tours and Guest Services for the Martin House Restoration Corporation!  In retrospect, it was like we were being given a tour by a humble and yet very proud godmother who now was able to reflect on the accomplishments that she and over 300 hundred volunteers had achieved over the years.

July 2023; Brandywine Falls in Cuyahoga Valley National Park - need we say more!

July 2023; For more than 100 years, trains have been moving through the scenic wonders of what is now Cuyahoga Valley National Park outside of Cleveland Ohio.  There is no other national park in the country with a non-profit heritage railroad operating within it and have a volunteer base of more than 1,000 people - one of them being Gary one of the Trainmen who gave us a VIP of the train and sites!

June 2023; Lancaster County PA... Land of Amish buggies, pretzels and beet pickled eggs! 

June 2023; Our playful West Chester Hosts... to each their own... Angel likes her tennis balls and Louis, loves his brick!  We loved rocking it under the portico many an evening, sharing happy hours together!

June 22, 2023; Celebrating another anniversary on the road in West Chester PA!

June 2023; Falling for Fallingwater!  Time called Fallingwater Wright's "most beautiful job" and it is listed among Smithsonian's "Life List of 28 Places to See Before You Die". The house was designated a National Historic Landmark on May 11, 1976. In 1991, members of the American Institute of Architects named Fallingwater the "best all-time work of American architecture" It was built in 1935 partly over a waterfall on Bear Run in the Mill Run section of Stewart Township, Pennsylvania.

June 2023; "Around The Curve... Lickety-Split... Beautiful Car... Wasn't It?" Burma Shave*

Ahead of you is Dead Man's Curve, the site of many disastrous accidents from the late 1920s through the 1950s. This curve was part of the original Route 66 that was constructed around Towanda IL in 1927.  This 2-way road was only 16 feet wide, and the sharp curve made for very treacherous driving. Travelers from Chicago, unfamiliar with the road and accustomed to faster speeds, caused many of these accidents.  As seasoned Route 66 veterans' - we kept the petal OFF the metal while driving this stretch!    *The Burma-Shave sign series first appeared in 1926 and remained a major advertising component until 1963 in most of the contiguous United States.

June 2023; Rekindling childhood with smores of memories! 

June 2023; Abnormally Playful in Normal IL with Mille!

May 2023; The Muffler Men! The Classic Muffler Man was originally created in the 1960s by a California fiberglass company for gas station chains in sizes ranging from 14 to 25 feet. They featured the trademark legs, torso and arms. The short-sleeved shirt often represents a service station uniform. The head is a strong American worker. He sometimes wears a service cap, but has also been seen in a king's golden crown. The Cowboy wears western duds and a Stetson, but is a close variant of the Classic, identifiable by lantern jaw, steely gaze, leg and arm position.  Many M-Men are on the move, stealthily shifting from one sentry post to another, changing outfits -- and heads.

May 2023; Another generation introduced to Portillos! Phyl can remember when she visited the first Portillos "doghouse" in Villa Park and ordering her favorite, Maxwell Street Polish... Jer claims the combo beef n' sausage dipped with hot peppers.  So when our Oklahoman grand kids came to Illinois to visit we had to introduce the legend of beef joints.  They had never had Chicago style beef sandwiches and hotdogs - let's just say we believe we got some more believers!  

May 2023; Visiting the Mother Road in the Land of Lincoln.  We were born and raised in Illinois but never really took the time to explore Route 66 - our sit in Norman IL gave us the opportunity! In Atlanta IL there is an original old-school patch of The Mother Road Route 66, it was created in 1926 and aligned through the town, it remained so until its decertification in 1977; In the 1920's Funks Grove was situated off a paved road that later became Route 66 near the sirup farm. At this time, the Funks Grove sirup producers were hanging about 600 buckets and made up to 240 gallons of sirup per year. Currently they draw sap from about 6,000 taps, including 5,000 tubing taps, and produce an average of 2,000 gallons of sirup each season.  And while in Normal don't forget to  visit Sprague's Super Service,  constructed in 1931 this large, unique, brick, Tudor Revival gas station using high-quality materials and craftsmanship. The result, Sprague’s Super Service, appeared to be part manor house and part gas station, and sold City Service gas. Steep gables distinguished the broad, red roofline. Substantial brick peers supported the canopy. Stucco with decorative swirls and contrasting half timbering distinguished the second story. Visitors can easily imagine the 1930s, when Chevrolets, Buicks, and Plymouths pulled up under the canopy, and the station attendant pumped their tanks full of gasoline at 10 cents a gallon - not the case today!

April 2023; For the ultimate Route 66 experience, visit the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton. The museum offers visitors a personal journey through the history of the nation’s most revered highway. Encounter the iconic ideas, images, and myths of the Mother Road.

April 2023; In 2012, Guthrie, Oklahoma’s Prairie Wolf became Oklahoma’s first legal distillery since prohibition ninety-plus years earlier. Over eight years, it produced vodka, a unique gin based around Gunpowder Green Tea, well-regarded cordials, and a rum-adjacent product (made with sorghum instead of rum’s traditional sugar base).  Prairie Wolf became WanderFolk Spirits on July 1, 2021... Jeff reworked the gin, testing 120 different distillations over eight months, landing on a combination of eleven herbs and spices underrepresented in the gin market, including lemon verbena, Malaysian lime, and a peppercorn virtually unknown to the American spirits world. The vodka got the same treatment and a bourbon whiskey line with port barrel finished variations was added. We got a behind the scenes tour of their distillery with Jeff himself - and more than a couple barrel-aged samples along the way!

April 2023; Oklahoma Annie!

March 2023; And then there were FIVE (i.e. Oklahoman grandkids!!)

March 2023; The Wagon Wheel Motel, Café and Station in Cuba, Missouri, is a 19-room independently owned historic U.S. Route 66 restored motel which has been serving travelers since 1938. The site opened as a café in 1936; the motel has remained in continuous operation since 1938. The original buildings were constructed using local Ozark sandstone and designed in the Tudor Revival style by stonemason and builder Leo Friesenhan.  And if you love BBQ, stop next door at Missouri Hick, a fast and friendly, one of a kind bar-b-que restaurant located on the historic Route 66. From the hand made tables and chairs to the cedar stairs leading up to the balcony there is no mistaking the skill that went into the place. 

February 2023; One of the most familiar images of Route 66 is this classic neon light at the Munger Moss Motel, Lebanon, Missouri. The Motel was built in 1946 with 14 cabins and garages. In 1957 the Interstate (I-44) was built and bypassed Lebanon. The owner decided to raise the neon sign, which was put up in 1955 and lower to the ground, to entice the passing trade. The rooms still carry that old Route 66 vibe - as you can tell from the pics! 

February 2023; All Smiles with our Oklahoman grandkids! 

February 2023; Memory Lane Cowboy Games at The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City!

January 2023; Painted sky over Route 66 on a turn around trip to Illinois...

January 2023; Our "salt n' pepper" duet, Gus n' Mille were our hosts in Oklahoma City and kept it lively and fun!

December 2022; Feliz Christmas & Merry New Year!

December 2022; Brewing Positive Perspectives! We toured the New Glarus Brewery in WI and were surprised and impressed with the positive vibes and approach to brewing beer.  Jer also picked up a view souvenirs in the gift shop!

December 2022; Like Cats & Dogs!  And we loved them during this festive time of year in Wisconsin!

November 2022; Giving Thanks with Fam!  As we continue to crisscross the country we always attempt to find a way thru Stillwater OK to visit and play with our grandkids!

November 2022; Denver Darby!  Our host outside of Denver CO loved to play - particularly in the snow and warmed us with her affectionate vibes on cold winter days!

November 2022; Winding our way to Arches~ Cutting through the San Rafael Reef from the west on Interstate 70, the downward drive onto the Utah plains gave us the feeling that the mountains had parted, allowing passage to the sand sculptures clustered within Arches National Park.  The Arches combines the wonders of the Canyons with the carved rock sculptures that overwhelm one at every turn along the parks access roads - and that's just from the car, before one takes to hiking! 

November 2022; The Longest Views~ A 1986 article in Life magazine described the segment of Route 50 which runs through Nevada as "The Loneliest Road in America" - and ever since, folks like ourselves have been drawn to travel this off the beaten track of highway. We found it interesting that Route 50 actually traverses more of Americana that Route 66 - running from West Sacramento CA all the way east to Ocean City, Maryland - 3,200 miles in total. And along that expanse, Nevada gets the unique moniker for the loneliest stretch of pavement - with some of the longest and widest views of this great country that we have ever  observed from the comfort of our "wheel-estate." 

November 2022; Trekking Lake Tahoe! Lake Tahoe is unique in many ways... it's the largest alpine lake in North America, sitting at over 6,000 feet, it's  and the second deepest at over 1,600 feet in places - that's deeper than the Empire State Building is tall! This water is of a stunning aqua blue tint - and is so pure at 99.994% that it beats most commercially available bottled waters!

November 2022; Jelly Belly Art! Tasty trivia gained from our factory tour in Fairfield, CA...  the flavor breakthrough was made in 1965 when the Goelitz Mini Jelly Beans were infused with flavor in the center as well as the shell. In 1966 then California Governor Ronald Reagan discovered them... 'We can hardly start a meeting or make a decision without passing the jar of jelly beans,' he wrote in a letter to the company in 1973. Today...  1,680 Jelly Belly beans are made per second in more than 100 different flavors. "Very Cherry" remains the most popular flavor - as well as Jer's!

November 2022; Muir Woods is a cathedral, the pillars of which have stood through much of recorded human history. Many of these trees were standing when Magna Carta was written. The spirituality is palpable when one walks within a grove of trees that is over 1,000 years old.  One cannot help but realize that we are here for a short time in comparison. We were again inspired to both enjoy and preserve nature's magnificence in any small way we can for future generations. We'll continue to travel along the path... gratefully, vibrantly & courageously.  

October 2022; FILOLI led to GRAVICO! New friends that we met in Olympia WA recommended that we visit the Filoli estate which is located near our sit in San Mateo CA. The Filoli home was built by the water, mining and electric magnate, William Bowers Bourn II in the early 1900s.  He created an acronym for his personal credo (and the name for the estate): Fight for a just cause. Love your Fellow Man. Live a Good Life... FILOLI.  It so impressed us that we began the process of forming our own creed... GRAVICO. "Traversing the road less traveled, Gratefully, Vibrantly & Courageously! 

October 2022; Peering over the cliffs in front of a decommissioned WWII bunker on Route 1, we looked upon the spectacular Pacific coast south of San Francisco. And, the view proudly reminded us of the song written by Woody Guthrie in 1940 called "This Land Is Your Land." And then there's Methuselah, an ancient being that we met by accident.   Making our way back to San Mateo from Half Moon Bay, we decided to take a detour on Skyline Blvd which runs along the top of the Santa Cruz Mountains.  He took root in this forest around 200 AD... we could see from the char marks that he survived more than one forest fire along with a great storm that broke almost a hundred feet off his crown in the 1950's. For us, his presence and persistence to thrive regardless of the challenges, made for another pause of appreciation for what our country has to offer us when we take time to stop and listen. 

October 2022; Silicon Valley Foodie!  San Mateo sits right in the heart of Silicon Valley (i.e. Facebook, Google etc.) and hence they gots lots of top gun restaurants and retail and booze! Example I have never been in a Costco that had a bottle of single malt whiskey going for over $7,000 a bottle (I veered toward the small batch gins & bourbons in the double digit area!). The area also has an array of farmers markets (probably because of the multitude of ag operations around the valley) and high end grocery (try Draeger's Market in downtown San Mateo - Nordstrom level for foodies!). And... one cannot be in CA without visiting the famous In-And-Out burger joint - so good Phyl even had one - with the milk shake! 

October 2022; Puccini the Playful was a gracious and social host in San Mateo (yes, he was a she!), always by our side, supporting Uncle Jer while he was working at this computer, watching TV with us every evening, and encouraged us to exercise by stretching every morning! 

September 2022; Of He-Sheds, Garden Happy Hour Lounges & Organic Works of Art!  Our sit in San Mateo, just south of San Francisco provided a great base camp to explore the surrounding areas.  And... their back yard was a literal sanctuary, filled with plants, artistic spiders, a covid-era work shed and a very comfortable lounge area that we utilized almost every evening.  Jer has already decided that when we buy or build our "forever home" - a He-Shed will definitely be part of the floor plan!

 September 2022; Running on thin air in the California desert!  We realized that with the amount of driving we do, it was likely that sooner or later we would get a flat tire. And as the deck was proverbially dealt, one of our tires blew out at 75 mph smack dab in the middle of the desert. We called AAA and were given a guesstimate of a three hour wait. But, it didn't go that way. Five minutes later, a CHP officer pulled up to check on us. He asked if we had called for assistance... we said yes, but we knew we'd be there quite a while. He smiled knowingly, asked for our AAA card, and called them directly. In less than 30 minutes our tow truck arrived - guess it pays to know people who have the inside track! We were towed to the small town of Kettleman City - where we had the pleasure and happy surprise of watching a master craftsman at work - woulda made the NASCAR pit crews proud of Rudy! Oh... and the outhouse even had running water and a real flush toilet!

September 2022; On the Santa Monica Pier, finally made it to the end of the line and got our kicks on Route 66 with our West Coast cousins! We have been traveling stretches of "The Mother Road" for decades but never made "from Chicago to LA" - another bucket list item checked off!

September 2022; Building lasting memories with Legos! We hadn't visited with our West Coast grandkids in over a couple years - and we were only going to have a couple days based on our schedules.  So the family met us at a resort hotel just north of LA so we could spend some time. Besides swimming and dining, we bought a couple Lego kits and asked the front desk manager if we could use the conference room for an important planning session with our grandkids (she smiled and quickly booked the room for the next couple of days)!  It was a wonderful to spend one-on-one quality time with the kids one Lego block at a time!

September 2022; Humboldt Redwoods... the avenue of the Giants! In the early 1900s, loggers came to what is now Humboldt Redwoods State Park to cut down lofty ancient redwoods for grape stakes and shingles. The founders of Save the Redwoods League thought that was akin to “chopping up a grandfather clock for kindling.” From the acquisition of a single grove in 1921, the League has raised millions of dollars to build and expand this park. Today Humboldt Redwoods spans 53,000 acres, an area almost twice the size of San Francisco. About one third, or 17,000 acres, of the park is old-growth redwood forest—the largest expanse of ancient redwoods left on the planet.  Trees can grow to 350 feet or more, with a base diameter of about 20 feet. Their root systems are broad and shallow, from only a few inches to 6 feet underground. They resist insects, fire, and rot. Their vigor in sprouting back when cut or badly burned is an important factor in their longevity.  The oldest known tree has been around for more than 2,500 years.   Visiting these Ancient Ones had been on Jer's bucket list since grade school!

September 2022; The coast of cheese, ice cream and endless sandy beaches! The Oregon Coast stretches approximately 362 miles from the California state border in the south to the Columbia River in the north. The Oregon Beach Bill of 1967 allows free beach access to everyone - and no bill boards!

August 2022; Museum of Glass in Tacoma is Hot!  It's a premier contemporary art museum dedicated to glass and glassmaking and has the West Coast’s largest most active museum glass studio.  The Hot Shop Team —considered to be among the finest in the world — provide rare public access to glassmaking demonstrations - and if you've never visited a "hot shop" - do so!  The quick and literally hot pace of molding molten glass into art is a fascinating process!

August 2022; Olympia WA, Room with some views on South Puget Sound.  Our sit in the suburbs of Olympia included a private beach front, complete with a clear view of Mt. Rainer as a backdrop. We also learned about tidal variations - which could range from between 3 to 4 meters on the South Sound (that's over 13 feet during the day!).  Jer learned to keep that in mind while walking the long shoreline so as as not to be cut off on the flip flop!

August 2022; Construction of the Columbia River Highway in 1913 was considered one of the greatest engineering feats of the modern age. Its engineer, Samuel C. Lancaster, did "not [want] to mar what God had put there," and worked diligently to showcase the many waterfalls and other "beauty spots" on the highway's route through the Columbia Gorge in Oregon. There are numerous historic landmarks along the highway. In fact, the Columbia River Highway is the first scenic highway in the U.S. to be named a National Historic Landmark.

August 2022; Olympic National Park WA... Encompassing nearly a million acres, the park protects a vast wilderness, thousands of years of human history, distinctly different ecosystems, including glacier-capped mountains, old-growth temperate rain forests, and over 70 miles of wild coastline. 

August 2022; Unplugging at Kalaloch Lodge - literally!  The only place we have ever stayed at in recent history that still has working payphones - and that's because "In order to enhance your enjoyment of the surrounding natural beauty, all Kalaloch Lodge cabins do NOT have in-room phones, WiFi/Internet access, or televisions."  We were also fortunate to stay in the original  "Proprietor's Room" at the end of the lodge overlooking the beach - and didn't miss the technology!

August 2022; Rialto Beach WA... tree graveyard to hundreds from Pacific Ocean storms! Fog lay low over the surf... creating an eerie vibe... like we were on a ancient beach on Skull Island! We highly recommend this  as a first stop along the oceanside journey down the Olympic coastline. 

July 2022; Port Angeles WA, the Olympic coast with a cooler of fresh caught Dungeness Crabs!

Phyl's cousin Keith treated us to locally caught seafood - pulled out of the crab pots the morning of our delectable dining experience - shared with his old dog / young dog duet!

July 2022; Lynden WA... largest producer of raspberries in the nation! And... Phyl's first "Hallmark Town" on our journey (quaint, friendly and, well, Hallmark-ish).  Our tour guides Sooz & Ed guided us up to the border town of Blaine down to Bellingham on Puget Sound - and a hidden gem called Chocolate Necessities run by Kevin Buck, who Jer dubbed as the sommelier of chocolate!

July 2022; the only place on the US/Canadian border that doesn't require a passport! Phyl posing with Ranger Rick (who recently celebrated his 50th year of service with the Washington State Parks) in front of Peace Arch Historical State Park (on the US side of the border).   Peace Arch Park is one of the most common locations reported to have served for 2020–21 border weddings. Unlike other border crossings where weddings were held, Peace Arch allowed both sides to meet in the same location with no separation - or passports. 

July 2022; Alki Beach West Seattle... One of our Fav sunrise/sunset locale on the West Coast!

Our sit was only a few blocks from the beach, so we often would go down there for our morning coffee or relax in the evening along one of the more secluded stretches - awesome on either side of the day! 

July 2022; West Seattle is composed of a series of neighborhoods known as "junctions"... some are on the coast, shopping, homes etc... we stayed in the Admiral Junction, which consisted of eclectic homes often decorated with fun yard art, front gardens - and lending exchange library boxes - take a book, leave a book (they even had a "plant library" where you could exchange small herb boxes and plants!)  They were scattered all around the area - indicative of the sharing upbeat vibe that West Seattle came to represent for us during our stay.

June 2022; Ember, our West Seattle house hostess kept us entertained throughout our sit! 

June 22, 2022, Salty's Restaurant, West Seattle... our first (26th) anniversary as digital nomads!

Morning started off with staff at PCC Community Market assisting Jer in selecting anniversary goodies; then on to Salty's to celebrate...  with award-winning fresh Northwest seafood cuisine and attentive friendly service, sweeping views of Elliott Bay and the Seattle city skyline.

June 2022, Snoqualmie Falls WA, It is one of Washington's most popular scenic attractions and is known internationally for its appearance in the television series Twin Peaks. More than 1.5 million visitors come to the Falls every year.  The area was fogged over upon our arrival, but after lunch in the Salish Lodge (overlooking the Falls!) we got some great views!

June 2022, Boise Stage Stop ID, "The Boise Stage Stop is committed to our customers and providing an exceptional dining experience. You are the reason why the Boise Stage Stop has been in business for over 100 years, and why we've been ranked among the top truck stop restaurants in the U.S. for over 25 years." And don't forget to get your pic with Dino, the Sinclair dinosaur is one of the most popular icons in American petroliana dating back to the early 1930s. 

June 2022, Lookout Mountain CO, Buffalo Bill... an early advocate of equal rights & equal pay!

As a frontier scout, Cody respected Native Americans and supported their civil rights. He employed many Native Americans, as he thought his show offered them good pay with a chance to improve their lives. He described them as "the former foe, present friend, the American" and once said that "every Indian outbreak that I have ever known has resulted from broken promises and broken treaties by the government." Cody supported the rights of women. He said, "What we want to do is give women, even more, liberty than they have. Let them do any kind of work they see fit, and if they do it as well as men, give them the same pay." Women such as Annie Oakley and Calamity Jane had legendary roles in his show, and later in life Cody continued to hire and treat women fairly.

June 2022, Rocky Mountains CO, A cool summer tour! 

The Bear Lake Road corridor is a gateway to incredible scenic views and is one of the most visited areas of Rocky Mountain National Park. Bear Lake Road is a paved road that is 9.2-miles long. It winds and climbs in elevation from 8,200 feet above sea level (2,500 meters) at the junction with Trail Ridge Road to 9,475 feet (2888 meters) at the Bear Lake Parking Area and Trailhead. NOTE: If you're planning a Trip from May 26 through October 22, 2023? Remember to Book Your Timed Entry Permit Reservation - or you won't be allowed into the park!

May 2022, Chapel in the Hills, Rapid City SD, a meditative respite

Chapel in the Hills is a quiet retreat open to all visitors who are welcome and encouraged to wander the chapel grounds, taking their time as they experience the presence of God in this beautiful natural setting located at the foot of the Black Hills. Built in 1969, The chapel itself is an exact reproduction of the famous Borgund Stavkirke of Laerdal, Norway. The only metal used was on the ornate door furnishings and locks. Instead of nails, they used wooden dowel pins. This may very well be one of the reasons why some stave churches have stood for over eight hundred years.

May 2022, Mount Rushmore SD, a monument to American grit 

& determination during the Depression

From 1927 to 1941 the 400 workers blasted and carved out Mount Rushmore; it was a project of colossal proportion, colossal ambition and colossal achievement. Each day workers climbed 700 stairs to the top of the mountain to punch-in on the time clock. Then 3/8 inch thick steel cables lowered them over the front of the 500 foot face of the mountain in a "bosun chair". Some of the workers admitted being uneasy with heights, but during the Depression, any job was a good job.

May 2022, Sally n' Penny, Our hosts in South Dakota

Our first sit outside of Illinois later was dubbed as our "Nomadic Boot Camp"... situated outside of Rapid City SD at 4,500 ft in the Black Hills - our hunting dog hostesses were our fitness trainers as we climbed the state park trails which were literally right outside our door. 

May 2022, South Dakota - Hiking n' off roading in the Black Hills 

Double Rainbows (on two separate occasions); Bison Herd in Custer State Park 

May 2022, Sioux Falls SD, Visiting Sioux Falls, well, in Sioux Falls!

From Falls Park homepage, "If you only have time for one stop in Sioux Falls, it has to be Falls Park, the city's namesake. The park is comprised of over 128-acres and located just north of downtown, along the Big Sioux River. An average of 7,400 gallons of water drop 100 feet over the course of the Falls each second."  WE AGREE!

May 2022 - Sampling Supper Clubs & Wineries with our Iowan Cuzs'

And encountering unique pit spots along the way (this one at a brewery) 

April 2022 - All purpled out for Easter with Fam!

This would be one of our last holidays celebrated in Illinois 

before beginning our cross country tour.

March 2022 - Avery Island LA, home of the world famous Tabasco Hot Sauce!  

Besides the factory tour and spicy commissary eats... 

the grounds and gardens assisted in walking off the peppery heat! 

February 2022 - Winter Reflections on our Nomadic Journey

"Peeling the Onion"... on past perceptions and current paradigms

January 2022 - Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom (in our backyard)

"Rupert's Raiders" conducting a coordinated attack on The Platform!

December 2021 - New Perspectives

Post-Covid Morning Rush Hour at our winter base camp in Lake County. 

Sept 2021 - Last season of our backyard homegrown garden!

We loved tendering our flowers, plants and veggies for the past 20 years.  As we gift and sell the last of our possessions, these will be here for the next homeowner to enjoy next spring!

August 2021 - Saying Goodbye 

We had called Bartlett our home for over 20 years... we just didn't feel it was right to leave without a proper "thanks for the memories" celebration.   In light of the pandemic we decided to host an outdoor party in our "garage lounge" for our friends and neighbors.

July 2021 - The day we decided to become Digital Nomads

Realization struck us that our vehicle would be one of the few substantial possessions we would not sell or gift on to friends and family. It was both a very scary and exhilarating feeling that fateful day, when we "burned the ship at the beach" and decided sell our home and most of our worldly belongings. 

June 2021 - Pure Unadulterated Joy! 

Quality time with one of our granddaughters, Amelia...

 Need we say more... 

March 2021 - A child's enthusiasm is timelessly contagious!

One of our granddaughters, Dorothy, singing "baby shark" with her Great Grandma Campagna. Do you have some "priceless" moments with one of your "little ones" that you'd like to share?!

Sept 2020 - Touchless soap, soak & dry hands at Wally's!

Road trips are our preferred means of transportation and we particularly like traveling along Route 66, which stretches from Chicago all the way to the West Coast.   One of our newer favorite rest stops is Wally's - "Home of the Great American Road trip!" (Wally's) Located just off Route 55 in Pontiac Illinois. This unique respite has 72 gas pumps, excellent homestyle BBQ pork, brisket, jerky and THE best breakfast tacos! What also makes this location unique is it's washrooms - the cleanest we have ever visited with one of the fanciest faucets we have ever washed up at! What's your favorite roadie rest stop!? 

April 2020 - Virtual Hugs!

After a month in Covid lockdown, our spirits were beginning to wain. Then, with perfect timing, a special delivery tube arrived at our home.  In it was handmade paper silhouettes of two of our grandkids (Abby & Caden).  Because it was curled in the tube - once we unraveled it - we realized that we had just received our first remote virtual hug!  It was awesome- like having avatars of our grandkids in our living room!  What memorable experiences did you have during lockdown? 

March 2020 - We Give A Crap!

Covid Lockdown... it was an eerie feeling driving to the grocery store during what had once been rush hour traffic with not a vehicle in sight - and then there were all those empty shelves!  As luck would have it, we had a box of specially wrapped toilet paper at home that  we had originally purchased as gag gifts for Christmas. Now, based on the TP shortages, it was apparently worth it's weight in gold!  After a week in seclusion, we decided to prepare care packages for our neighbors - including one of our special edition TP rolls!  It was a hit - and ironically started a trend of neighbors dropping off goodie bags of home baked treats and meals. As they say, when you got a bushel of lemons - make lemonade!  Do you have an uplifting lockdown story to share?!

 

Jan 2020 - Salisbury Cathedral UK

Our last trip "across the pond" in order for Phyl to defend her thesis at Middlesex University in London, which she resiliently accomplished after a 4-hour interview (and 6 years of hard work).  After she claimed her justly earned title of "Dr, Phyl" we visited  Salisbury Cathedral, one of our favorite spiritual locales on the planet - truly a holy place with a long history (only other place we have felt that type of serenity is the Grand Canyon).  Do you have a favorite place that brings you back to Source?!