I have the beach on my brain as the temperatures look to be heating up again. Summer, please go away! Escape with me to the coast of Washington state at Ruby Beach. Take in the sunshine, knowing it’s only in the 60s out there! Enjoy and stay cool, friends!
The view from the trail down…
You can find some shade behind the big rock
Let the water come in and wash away those cares
Spend hours listening to the waves and looking through beach rocks
I had a huge rant about everything being closed and how shitty it was, but it was deleted. I think we’re all better off for that, so here goes…
Everything is canceled, but life still moves on. March is my busy month, but it seems to have leaked into April this year. At the end of March, I transitioned to a new job and also transitioned to working from home. This was a complete clusterfuck. I’m very lucky, still, to have the ability to work from home and still get paid. So many of my friends are either out there working, getting their salaries slashed, or being laid off. I have to remember to shut the fuck up sometimes and be grateful. So, I’m shutting up about work. This too shall pass.
Texas closed their state parks on April 7, which is kind of a bummer. I had plans to finally go hike at Daingerfield State Park on the 10th, because it’s a holiday at work. Oh well. I vented about my frustrations on Twitter and was reminded they will be there when this over. So true. But, I’m allowed to be sad or pissed and I was/am. Moving right along… This week, I officially canceled the rest of my plans before August. I made some new plans for October, and added a potential thing in November or December. Woop-Woop, we have airline vouchers to use until they actually refund them per federal mandate. (I may take the cash back and cancel everything thing) This too shall pass.
I’m so damn grateful to have memories of places throughout this beautiful country. Never, in my wildest dreams, did I think I’d see the Redwoods or Arches. I had no idea what these places were, besides blips I saw in travel commercials. The internet wasn’t a huge thing until I was in high school and college. I didn’t have high speed internet until college - so reading about these places or enjoying the access we have now was unheard of back then. Once in college, I met people who helped me branch out and explore the idea of road trips. I met people who really hadn’t been anywhere either and thought we should just say “fuck it” and go. While people planned spring breaks to the beaches, we planned drives to places we’ve never seen.
Some of my favorite highlights from National Park Properties (in no particular order)
Death Valley NP - Dante’s View, Badwater Basin, stumbling upon a desert in bloom, the signs that tell you the elevation (this was also one of my favorite things about driving out west)
Olympic NP - Hoh Rainforest drive, Hike to Pony Bridge, the Ozette Triangle, Ruby Beach, and just driving through those forests
Big Bend NP - the road to the Chisos Basin campground, Lost Mine trail, waking up in the Chisos Basin campground, Santa Elena Canyon at sunset, spring flowers
Pictured Rocks NL - Sable Falls in fall and winter
Bryce Canyon NP - Hoodoos covered in snow, sunset over the hoodoos, hoodoos in general, Rainbow Point, bristlecone pines
I could go on and on about this. A factor that isn’t mentioned is the people with whom I shared some of these experiences. My other half, best friends, and new friends are all part of why these places were so great. Together we pooled our money and made these adventures happen. Every year, my BFF and I try to go somewhere new together. We went to Utah two years in a row, but we tried new things each time. My other half and I drove to Oregon from Texas, making a pit stop at Arches along the way. Life’s a journey, and all the other cliche messages about loving life. What are some of your favorite places?
Picking a favorite hike can be difficult, but I’d guess that any hiker has a few that always stand out as the most memorable. When I think of favorite or memorable destinations, I’m always drawn to Redwood National and State Parks, Olympic National Park, and Cedar Breaks National Monument. Public lands are always my favorite, but these three have such strong memories attached that I can’t stop thinking about them. An honorable, more recent, fourth choice would be Mount Rainier National Park because I haven’t stopped thinking about that place since visiting in October 2018.
I’m using these memories, these favorite places, to push myself to eat less and move more. I’m using these places as my motivation to save money, spend less, and plan for more adventure. These beautiful places moved me and are destinations I want to visit again. What are some of your favorite, or most memorable, places? What is motivating you this Monday?
Keep on pushing through, there is always something worth fighting for!
Today we go to the Northwestern part of this great land to a place called the Olympic Peninsula. These particular photos are from the trail to Pony Bridge from Graves Creek Campground. I recently did Hike 29 out there and, as usual, can’t stop thinking about going back. Enjoy the escape to the forest and have a great weekend if you can!
Looking forward to fresh air hikes soon! Here’s a look back (again) at Olympic National Park from the spring.
As much as I love the cloudy days, I’m excited to see some sun in the forecast for the Pacific Northwest this coming weekend. I’m always prepared for rainy hikes when I’m up there, but I’ll take the sunshine if it shows. I’m motivated this Monday by the memories I have from previous trips to Olympic National Park. I’m looking forward to hiking in trees and fresh air on Saturday and Sunday. I haven’t hiked in a while, and it surely wasn’t very fresh feeling the last time I did. I’m excited to meet a new friend who will guide me through the area and hopefully future hikes!
I’m working on being more positive and upbeat so here are some photos from my trip back in March to the beautiful Olympic National Park in Washington State. When I need a moment at work, or anywhere else, I just try to remember my three glorious days in the trees and on the beach in the Olympic Peninsula. What do you do to take mental breaks? Where does your mind wander in a daydream? Feel free to share your magical places. Have a great Wednesday and week ahead. You’ve got this!
This is currently the background on my work PC… Helps me stay calm! (Quinault)
Rialto Beach - a peaceful evening watching the sun set
In the Hoh Rain Forest… with the sun peaking through the mossy trees
At peace among the trees on the trail to Sol Duc Falls
Earlier this year I was lucky enough to visit Olympic National Park up in NW Washington. I was referred to the Ozette Triangle because it is a spectacular trail with a mix of forest and beach hiking that gives you the perfect mix. It is about a 9 mile trail that can be done in one day as I did or one that can be done with an overnight stay along the beach, just get a permit. Here are a few photos from the forest portion. Happy (Forest) Friday and I hope you can get out this weekend - I know I'm going to try!
When I visited this area of Olympic National Park in March, I had sunny skies and mild temperatures. With my limited time, I opted to walk the Hall of Mosses trail and a little of the Hoh River trail. The drive in and out of the Hoh Rain Forest was a real treat, following the river with little openings exposing the mountains in the background. Enjoy the mosses, ferns, and trees from my quick, but beautiful trip.
The forested mountains peak through each break in the trees along the road in and out.
The water is so clear, everyone was standing around in amazement.
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