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WanderLog

Sam Flies Out for a Conference & Leaves Us in Oregon

Nov 8-14 2014

Travel Dates: November 8-14, 2014

This week was pretty special! It marks the first time that Sam and I have been separated since we started this crazy journey one year ago! After spending Saturday exploring Captain Jack’s Stronghold in the Lava Beds National Monument, we journeyed north to one of our favorite campgrounds near Medford. I stayed with the kids for the week at Valley of the Rogue State Park while Sam hopped a small plane and flew to Las Vegas, NV for the Amazon AWS Re:Invent Conference. He got to stay up late geeking with his pals while the kids and I did a thorough cleaning on the trailer, truck, and played our little hearts out. Overall it was a great week, but we are definitely glad to be all back together!

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California Oregon WanderLog

Bend, the Painted Hills and Lava Beds National Monument

Travel Dates: November 1 – 7, 2014

Nov 1-7 2014

After a wonderful Halloween in Lincoln City, we decided to get off the Oregon Coast. The forecast was a little too rainy heavy for our liking to inland we went! We met up with some traveling friends in Bend, OR and then headed to the Painted Hills, John Day Fossil Beds, and then finally down into California to visit the Lava Beds National Monument. We loved the “dry side” of Oregon and have enjoyed the sunshine even with slightly colder temperatures (it was 28 degrees when we woke up this morning!).

Exploring the Lava Beds National Monument has been a blast as they have over two dozen caves to venture through. We have one more night here before heading back up into Medford, Oregon for all of next week!

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Video WanderLog

Hiking the Astoria Column & Nehalem Bay

TWOI Oct 18-24 2014

Travel Dates: October 18 – 24, 2014

We had some really awesome, beautiful days this last week, as well as some so rainy we couldn’t get out. I’m learning that is what life is like in the Pacific Northwest. Still trying to roll with it, but not being too successful.

We spent the weekend at Fort Stevens State Park, exploring both Ft. Clatsop and Astoria on Saturday afternoon. Our favorite serendipitous moment was meeting another full time family at the Astoria Column. With #swissarmy trucks we kind of stand out in a crowd. Chatting in the rain led to 2 hours hanging out at a local pizza parlor and we can’t wait to meet up with them this winter down south!

On our third attempt to see the shipwreck of the Peter Irendale, we finally had decent enough weather to brave the beach without getting blown over. While smaller than we expected, the shipwreck back lighted by the sunset was quite a sight!

Further down the coast, we spent a few nights at Nehalem Bay State Park, enjoyed exploring the dunes, watching the sunset over the water, and we went CRABBING! Definitely a highlight of our travels so far. We made a Wandering Update video we’ll share in the near future, but for now just imagine the girls screaming at the top of their lungs as we pulled the first pot full of wriggling, squiggling crabs up over the side and into the boat. It was epic.

We are now settled into Lincoln City for the next week to finish preparing for, and to celebrate Halloween with some friends. We are super excited!

For now here’s our Wandering Update from the Astoria Column. Enjoy!

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WanderLog

Hoh Rainforest & Werewolves in La Push

This Week on Instagram

Travel Dates:October 11- 17, 2014

Mixed in with all the rain this last week, we also had some great days of sunshine! We took full advantaged of the fun by flying our kite, exploring the driftwood logs, visiting the Hoh Rainforest, and building sandcastles on the beach!

Watch out for the logs though as they are SUPER dangerous. Sam was able to help a guy who twisted his ankle as the log underneath him rolled due to the incoming waves.

Cara had a mild success in potty training, so we rewarded her efforts with ice cream! That seems to be the only thing that is currently working.

After Rachel hitched us up in the rain, we left La Push, WA and started heading south ending up at Fort Stevens State Park just over the WA/OR border. Maybe we’ll finally see some sun?

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Video WanderLog

Whidbey Island & Port Townsend

This Week on Instagram Oct 4-10 2014

Travel Dates: October 4 – 10, 2014

Ahhhh…Whidbey Island. You stole our hearts with your beautiful coastline, amazing state parks, and peaceful atmosphere. The kids asked if we could stay forever. We loved being able to listen and watch General Conference last weekend. It was a weekend full of hanging out in the trailer in our pajamas, eating yummy breakfasts, and feasting on the word of God. Doesn’t get much better than that!

Moving from Deception Pass State Park down to Fort Ebey State Park on Monday was a 30 minute drive. While similar, Fort Ebey has an amazing bluff overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and some pretty intense mountain biking trails. Sam and I were both able to get out and ride twice. The kids earned their Ebey’s Landing Jr. Ranger Badge, and then we headed for the ferry to take our house to across the Strait to Port Townsend!

That’s right. We put our house on a boat.

We spent a night in Port Townsend running errands and meeting up with a fellow Airstream friend before chasing good weather up to Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park. One night there and we headed for La Push on the coast where we expect pretty rainy weather for the next week!

We documented our first ferry crossing. Take a look and let us know what you think!