Cottonwood Canyon

As we have a tendency to do, we made a couple easy travel days into epic travel days recently. We left Waldo Lake, OR, with the goal of making it to Bend, a mere 3 hours away.

When we got to Bend, however, we decided to keep going to shorten our trip the next day. We still needed to drain the gray water tank and find fresh water, and those two tasks took way too long for various reasons. We didn't end up leaving Bend until after dinner and so we put the kids in pajamas and drove while they slept. A few hours later though, we were ready to find some camping, and we discovered an awesome spot.

Cottonwood Canyon is a new camp area along the John Day river. We spent the night and enjoyed a little exploration the next day.

While perusing the visitor center, we saw a brochure about local fossil beds. Had we read more carefully, we would've learned that the only one actually near us (and not that near) had only leaf fossils. But the brochure showed dinosaurs! And really cool dinosaur fossils! We assumed that there would be a really cool museum/exhibit at each fossil bed location. Well, you know what they say about assuming.

The 'short' drive took 2 hours because the road was so curvy. Then we got to the fossil beds and were quite underwhelmed. We managed to convince the toddler that it was still VERY cool, even though we hiked in heat to see a measly three leaf fossils, which are most definitely not as cool as dinosaur fossils.

at least the rocks were cool to look at...

heading out, 

having doubled our day's drive time 

We're Finally Doing It!

Two of our goals in moving to a full-time RV life were to simplify and to travel. It took awhile to get to these goals, much longer than expected. Repairs were needed, a parking spot needed to be found, more repairs were needed, my pregnancy became high-risk, our baby was born, and so on.

Last week, we took a trip to Eugene, OR to get solar installed. After the install, we headed to Waldo Lake, where we got to enjoy a beautiful, quiet lake, warm temps, some mountain biking, and campfires. We also got to test out our new solar system and found it worked great.

throwing rocks

muck monster

on my 6-week post-c-section date, 

I hit the trail for a lakeside jog...

the boys out on the paddle board

testing his mtn biking skills 

Both B and I managed some actual mountain biking on a trail that went along the lake. It was a perfect ride to get back into the groove after a long time off the bike.

Hidden Gem

You already know part of our story, that we moved from a standard American home into a 30-ft Airstream back in April. And you know that we started out in an RV park in North Bend, with very little outdoor space and nowhere to walk/run/explore with our little guy. It was a place to park but definitely not a place we envisioned staying for any length of time.

In telling folks of our great adventure, a coworker mentioned a nonprofit camp in the woods in our area as a potential spot to park our home. They didn't have availability until September, but now we are finally in our 'homebase' parking area.

We have between 10-20 elk in our yard every evening.

While eating breakfast one morning, e watched a coyote under a tree less than 20 feet from our door. This morning, again during breakfast, we watched a black bear sit under an apple tree and then lumber/run across the field (sorry, no pic).

K has 52 acres to run around in. Here, he was playing "Tootle", a train that likes to jump the tracks and chase butterflies.

Apparently, Tootle also rolls down hills. 

On this beautiful, sunny day, I decided to make cookies outside while everyone else took a nap. This is what you do when you live in 30-feet of space...you extend outside. It was quite a nice spot to make cookies.

Oh, did I mention that K has not one but two playgrounds within 20 feet of our home?!? With all the play equipment, the boys find the mound of dirt/mud most entertaining.

A nice picnic lunch with friends

Another view of our 'home sweet home'

The Best RV Park Ever!

Doctors orders were to 'avoid travel', so we cancelled our trip to Glacier and the Bitteroot area of Montana. We decided a nice compromise was to hang out at the RV pad at my dad's place in Coeur d'Alene.

80 acres, panoramic views of the lake, and loads of quiet except for the noises of various birds, honey bees, grasshoppers, frogs, and the occasional elk bugling. Plus some time with grandma and grandpa. Not too bad, right?!

My amazing hubby surprised me with a birthday present of a 'spa day' at the Coeur d'Alene Inn: a pregnancy massage, facial, and pedicure. I've never done a true 'spa' experience and it was pretty awesome. That evening, we enjoyed a nice dinner on the back patio with a lovely sunset. I'm looking forward to another great year.

While in town, we got a couple visits in with my best childhood friend and her fun family. Here, we enjoyed playing and swimming at the Mica Beach.

[K is pretty sweet on this little girl]

[the clan with K & I...me looking ridiculously huge and uncomfortable
(did a little too much that day).]

[K thought it was awesome to have a bunch of kids in his Airstream room. 

Five kids in one tiny space!]

[The kids get a lesson on honeybees from Grandpa Dale.]

We also enjoyed an evening kayak and paddle board session at Loff's Bay, unpictured as we don't have dry bags for our camera yet.

Paddling around the marshy ends of this lake are some of my best memories as a child. I sat in the middle of my grandparents' large aluminum canoe while they paddled. I imagined myself to be a little 'Indian' girl (that was the term we used back then). We were quiet as we looked and listened for birds and wildlife. Thirty-plus years later, K sat quietly in front of me, while we dipped our paddles in quietly and looked and listened. We saw a little turtle, a heron, some geese, and a few fish.

On another day, B went fishing on the St. Joe (also unpictured...sorry). It turned out to be quite a long drive but he enjoyed himself anyway. We will try to go back there to camp and fish more. While he was away, I played in the shop with the router and scroll saw, making a sign for a friend's yard.

[K occupied himself with a 'construction project'.]

[the almost finished trail sign]

Finally Doing It!!!- CD'A

The school-year came to a close, the Airstream had some minor repairs done, and we were ready to hit the road...finally!!!

Just prior to the school-year's end, K and I enjoyed some trips to Rattlesnake Lake.

A dear friend let us play around on her paddleboard in the shallows. We were hooked and decided we needed our own, so B ordered one to be delivered to Stop 1 on our trip, my dad's place in CD'A.

K and I headed there a few days before B, as he had to work. We enjoyed running around the land, helping grandma with her watering, driving tractors, and some trips to the lake.

Grandpa and K

The guy that hosts this beach/campground purchased a bunch of dump trucks, and labeled them 'Mica Bay Construction Co'. Pretty cute. And also very difficult to lure my little guy away from. 

After some cajoling, I was able to get him to the lake where we both cooled off.

More Goodbyes

We couldn't see how it made sense to keep our 4-Wheel camper now that we own an Airstream. We made many good memories in this thing in the 2 short years of owning it. Here, a sampling of good times.

Picking it up at the factory

K's first morning in the camper- 

cozy and warm, despite the white stuff outside

the first night was spent in snow and we stayed plenty warm

near Bishop, CA

still can't believe he fit in that sink...

Toroweap, Grand Canyon

City of Rocks, Idaho

Fruita, CO

chilling somewhere

Yakima River Canyon

Beartooth Pass, MT

our favorite spot in Bozeman, MT

Whitewater ski area, BC

Interestingly, every person that showed interest in the camper also wanted the truck. So, we sold both the truck and camper to a nice couple who are excited about camping and adventuring in the set-up. Of all the material possessions we parted with during the move, the camper was the hardest for me. We had a lot of fun in that thing and I felt rather sentimental about it. I know, we will be making new memories in our Airstream soon.

After a quick and easy sale, we found ourselves needing a new vehicle. So, Brandon & K boarded an airplane to Spokane to head to Dave Smith Motors for a new truck.

The trip there and back didn't go quite as planned (shocking), but they arrived safely home the next day with a new truck.