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Our Route Across the Country – Part 6

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We’ve reached the half way point…SIX months into our year long adventure traversing the country. We’re full-time RV-er’s with our truck, travel trailer and mobile business, creating and shipping driftwood artwork everywhere we go. We’re up to Part 6 of our route map now, but feel free to check out previous segments. Here’s a breakdown of each leg of our journey:

And now…

Part VI
January 15 – February 8, 2016

We had a harrowing experience on our way from Southern California towards Twenty Nine Palms, CA. I hate to tease and not elaborate, but I’ll leave the details to an upcoming blog post from Matt. Just know that some SEVERE winds threatened to blow us away, and through the kindness of a Good Samaritan, we found a safe spot to wait out better driving conditions.

Despite that delay, we made it safely to Twenty Nine Palms, CA which was our base for exploring Joshua Tree National Park.  Predawn sunrises and early morning hikes (before the heat of midday) were our favorite times of day to experience the park. The Joshua Trees, cholla cacti and huge rocks are the icons of this park and gave us a true appreciation for the desert.

From there we continued on to Arizona. We soaked in the beauty and peace of the red rocks in Sedona, 4×4’d the Apache Trail outside of Phoenix, and took several day trips exploring extended areas around Tucson, including Kartchner Caverns, Tombstone, Bisbee, Pima Air & Space Museum and Chiricahua National Monument.

Any worries about leaving the coastline and forests behind were unnecessary…the cacti and mountains proved themselves worthy of admiration.

This is just the route overview, so check out our next blog post with highlights and pictures from Joshua Tree National Park and Arizona. Thanks for following along!

Tips: Zoom in and out on the map, and move the map around to get a better look at the route. Or click “View Larger Map” below to get an even better view.

A Walk Through a Redwood Forest

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How does it feel to stand among the tallest living trees? To be present with these time travelers of enormous proportions? To gaze up hundreds of feet to their towering canopy and to spread your arms around a fraction of their 90+ foot circumference? I had always wanted to know what it was like and for those that would share the same desire, I’ll describe it to you as best I can. So, come take a walk with me through a Redwood Forest.

A walk among the Redwoods is a magical and soul stirring experience.
A walk among the Redwoods is a magical and soul stirring experience.

Kristin and I were fortunate to spend several weeks exploring and hiking among these gentle giants on our year long journey across the country and never lost our sense of wonder at the magnificence of these forests.

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Just when we think we’ve seen the biggest Redwood there is, we find another, and another. (Although, we’re pretty sure this one was the record holder on our hikes) And ultimately, each and every one is awe-inspiring.

The first sense to awaken when I encounter them is my vision. My eyes explode open to the site of a darkly enchanting greenish hued city of living sky scrapers. It really stuns you. You want to say something, but all that comes out is the faint sound of awe, escaping your lungs through your mouth.

Weaving between each Redwood takes your senses into overload.
Weaving between each Redwood takes your senses into overload.

No forest you’ve ever been to, nor movie you’ve ever watched, can even come close to preparing you for the moment. It’s not just the towering trees, but everything around you that your eyes absorb. Carpets of emerald and lavender colored clover greet you from below.

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The clover lined trail is like stepping into a fairy tale, and each clover leaf hid a purple hue on the other side.

Every step is cushioned with a springy softness from rust-colored needles. Nurse logs sheltering tiny insects and animals turn into dark, rich, living soil with ferns and new life bursting from their trunks. Soft green lichens coat the sides of auburn-brown trunks as your eyes take in this foreign environment.

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A glimpse at a fallen giant, who’s life renews as it nurses new growth and allows new light to the forest below.

Then comes the smell. The scent in the air is next to overwhelm you. Earthy and grounding, yet freshly enlightening, with a slight feeling of a chill that surrounds you. In essence, the smell of life untainted by human influence. The thick bark smells of an unyielding strength, the kind of strength that has outlasted fires, floods, droughts and animals. The earthiness of your path is like nature’s perfume from the near constant falling of needles and twigs that rains down from the forest above. All of these important characters play a role in a collective aroma that breathes new life into you as you inhale the forest atmosphere.

Lastly, I find myself immersed in the sound of the trees. Or lack thereof. We don’t think of the trees as talking to one another, probably because their language is foreign to us. But they do. Like the birds in the air or the whales in the sea, I fully believe all life forms have their way of communicating. Trees are no exception to that. With no pocket translator to decipher, I attempt to hear what they are saying. Are they trying to teach me something? Are they simply talking amongst themselves? I don’t know for certain, but I’m intrigued.

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These giants have a language…in silence, in soft breezes and in creaking settling, as one with the earth.

At other times, I hear nothing. A nothingness so quiet, absent of all sound that the only sound I hear is that of my heart beating in my ear. I feel the giant sentinels are looking down on me with curious thoughts of my intentions. Unlike the loggers of a past era, I stand now in their midst with an appreciation of them, and somehow I think they know that. And then seemingly all at once, the sound of 300 pipe organs erupts, all playing on their deepest key as the trees begin talking to one another through the breeze now setting in. The swaying and creaking and shaking and bending produce an unreal bellowing sound that can be felt all through the ground, up into my feet, and clear through to my spine.

And with the breeze, comes yet another round of tiny detached pieces of these living specimens fluttering down from high up in the canopy above. For hundreds of feet there are no branches on these auburn pillars to catch the plummeting, tiny particles raining down.

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Your path is soft and springy, strewn with needles, branches, leaves and soil. Making each step feel like you’re being lifted by the Redwood Forest.

We remove our hats and attempt to catch falling needles for good luck, before they fall to the forest floor, and indeed we do. Fortune favors us today. With my senses clearly overwhelmed, I have a love for this ancient landscape.

So what is it like to stand in the presence of a giant redwood forest? In a word, to me anyways, it’s like heaven. Forget puffy clouds and pearly gates, and putting aside the numerous religions and their afterlife, if heaven truly exists, this is how I would imagine it to be.

Cheers to the tall ones,

Matt

Those Things You’ve Always Wanted to Do

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You know all those things you’ve always wanted to do? You should go do them.

I love this saying for so many reasons, but two especially. 1) Because if you delay your dreams, you may never have a chance to make them a reality. And 2) Well, I guess you could say that this has been an overarching theme of our year-long road trip since we’re following two big dreams…growing our business and traveling the country and it’s many National and State Parks.

Coffee shop inspiration...and Matt, the guy that helps inspire me to tackle our dreams together.
Coffee shop inspiration…and Matt, the guy that helps inspire me to tackle our dreams together.

So, it was especially appropriate to see this coffee shop quote as we re-initiated our travels again after our mind blowing, busy holiday season for Destination Tree. We had stationed ourselves in Oregon for the holidays, and the day after Christmas we were ready to find some sunny California skies and to check off some big destinations on our “always wanted to do” list.

Napa Valley

First up, Napa Valley. I can’t say I’m a wine connoisseur, but I do know I like to drink it, and that’s what’s important right?! Anyhow, Napa’s been on my bucket list for a while, and especially after seeing the movie “Bottle Shock”, I wanted to visit Chateau Montelena and explore this legendary wine growing region (although you don’t “grow” wine, so technically, shouldn’t it be the world famous GRAPE growing region?!).

I personally think you can't visit Napa Valley without getting a picture by this sign. Touristy or not. It's a must.
I personally think you can’t visit Napa Valley without getting a picture by this sign. Touristy or not. It’s a must.
Chateau Montelena! I was so excited!! And if you haven't seen the movie Bottle Shock, go watch it right now. Then you'll want to come here too.
Chateau Montelena! I was so excited!! And if you haven’t seen the movie Bottle Shock, go watch it right now. Then you’ll want to come here too.

After recommendations from several friends, we decided on a self-guided bike tour through the grape-growing countryside to do some wine tasting. It was perfect because we set our own pace and got some exercise while we went from tasting to tasting to tasting. I’d say that we, at the very least, broke even on calories burned vs calories consumed. Maybe. Well, at least that’s what I’m telling myself.

Just getting the hang of my bike in Calistoga before we take off.
Just getting the hang of my bike in Calistoga before we take off.

Anyhow, some might say late December is not the best time to visit Napa because the vines are bare and the temps are chilly.

The vines in Napa are beautiful no matter what...acres and acres, row after row...they even sparkled with frost one morning.
The vines in Napa are beautiful no matter what…acres and acres, row after row…they even sparkled with frost one morning.

Hogwash. (I don’t know why I just used that particular word, but I did, so there.) Yes, the vines are bare. And yes the temps are chilly, BUT the rows and rows of vines are beautiful even when bare. And we bundled up against the cold and pedaled to stay warm. We breathed the fresh air and gazed at the blue skies skimming acres and acres of California vines. Napa in December is perfect. I highly recommend it.

Purple teeth kind of go with the territory. Along with winter hats, bike helmets, and our trusty Vinnebago, which carried water on this particular day. (Thanks cuz KG!)
Purple teeth kind of go with the territory. Along with winter hats, bike helmets, and our trusty Vinnebago, which carried water on this particular day. (Thanks cuz KG!)

And perhaps the best reason of all…minimal crowds. We weren’t jammed shoulder to shoulder in tasting rooms, we didn’t battle traffic on the roads with our bikes and it felt like a stroll through the country. Probably not the case in peak season.

We enjoyed a leisurely game of Bocce Ball during one of our tastings. I think Matt won. He always wins.
We enjoyed a leisurely game of Bocce Ball during one of our tastings.

Family Time

There was not a chance I was going to pass up the opportunity to spend time with my cousins while in California. I love my cousins! So, why haven’t I seen my California cousins in TWO YEARS?! Great question. No good answer. And no time like the present. The highlights? Uphill hikes, waterfalls, FOOD (duh), Skip-Bo, hugs, and endless laughs with Heads Up and Charades on NYE. Ringing in the New Year with west coast family and laughter = Perfection.

Top: 2 Years ago when I last saw these smiling faces! Left: Karla & Kristin on an uphill hike. Right: Throwback pic of Kristin & Kali because we talked so much and for so long we didn't even snap one picture!
Top: 2 Years ago when I last saw these smiling faces! Left: Karla & Kristin on an uphill hike. Right: Throwback pic of Kristin & Kali because we talked so much and for so long we didn’t even snap one picture!

Winchester Mystery House

I have to be honest, this was on Matt’s “always wanted to do” list. I had never even heard of it before. However, as usual, I ended up enjoying yet another one of his paranormal picks.

I didn't even know this place existed. And Matt was thrilled beyond belief to visit.
I didn’t even know this place existed. And Matt was thrilled beyond belief to visit.

I’ll leave the detailed description to Matt’s next paranormal blog post, however I will say, if you are ever in the Bay Area, stop and check this place out. Disregard the super touristy gift shop and walk the impeccably maintained grounds, along with a guided mansion tour through over 110 of the 160 rooms.

The Winchester Mystery House: A weird, cool, unusual, historical must-see. With a tour group? Excellent. By myself? No way.

The old widow maintained constant construction for 38 years as an attempt to keep the millions of souls killed by Winchester guns at bay. Staircases to nowhere, windows in the floor, and secret one-way doors…it’s the most bizarre mansion you’ll ever experience.

Yosemite National Park

One of the most beautiful places on earth…Yosemite National Park.

The famous Tunnel View of El Capitan and Half Dome
The famous Tunnel View of El Capitan and Half Dome
Snow and ice draped the tunnel that led to Tunnel View of El Capitan and Half Dome.
Snow and ice draped the tunnel that led to Tunnel View of El Capitan and Half Dome.

Famous for jaw dropping scenery, there is no denying this is true. While I would have loved to hike back-country trails, and gotten an up-close view of Half Dome, we were somewhat limited to the main thoroughfares and shorter hiking options due to the winter weather. However, a recurring theme here is the minimal crowds.

En route to Yosemite Falls...a little icy but definitely beautiful.
En route to Yosemite Falls…a little icy but definitely beautiful.

Yosemite has a bad rep for being overcrowded in the summer. Solution? Go in the winter. There were definitely tourists in the Yosemite Valley, but not bumper to bumper by any means. We had winter waterfalls almost to ourselves and admired the snow and ice draping El Capitan and Half Dome.

Just a little selfie on the hike to Yosemite Falls.
Just a little selfie on the hike to Yosemite Falls.
All the snow, and all the rain, that travels from the mountains and gathers to create a pounding watefall. Gets me every time.
All the snow, and all the rain, that travels from the mountains and gathers to create a pounding watefall. Gets me every time.

Winter in Yosemite? Check.

Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park

Matt likes the mantra, “Do something every day that scares you.” He likes it more than I do, mostly because I can be a big fat scairdy cat. I was the one who lost a bit of logic and did the egging on when we climbed higher and higher in elevation driving to King’s Canyon National Park. We had purchased snow chains for the truck, which were required in the park (Up to $5,000 citation if caught without them…or the more likely result, dropping thousands of feet to your death off the side of the cliff because you have no traction. No, thank you.)

The snow was coming down RELENTLESSLY. Remember all that rain in Oregon? Turns out it followed us to California. (We were kind of happy to help out the drought ridden farmers by providing some much needed rain). However, rain in California, means snow in the mountains. LOTS of snow! Already covered in snow, with more coming down, Matt suggested it might be better to come back another time. But I was insistent. We have snow chains! We can do this! So, after a self-tutorial on installation of our new chains, we continued on.

Tire chains (or tire cables, I really don't know the difference) installation in-progress. Matt smiled for the camera, but I'm pretty sure he was silently cursing me.
Tire chains (or tire cables, I really don’t know the difference) installation in-progress. Matt smiled for the camera, but I’m pretty sure he was silently cursing me.
We arrived! This is where I said, "I told you so", snow chains and increasing ice and snow will be worth it when we get there!
We arrived! This is where I said, “I told you so”, snow chains and increasing ice and snow will be worth it when we get there! By the way, this was only a few more miles further from where we installed the chains. But obviously, much higher elevation.

Our white knuckles matched the white snow, but it was absolutely worth it.

I’ve been asked several times, what my favorite place has been on our road trip across the country. It’s impossible to pick just one favorite. And there’s different reasons for loving all the different places we’ve been. King’s Canyon however, will always stand out in my mind as one of the most magical places I’ve ever been. The weather had a lot to do with it, because the snow covered every tiny branch and needle in glistening white.

It truly felt like a dream. A winter wonderland dream of white.
King’s Canyon truly felt like a dream. A winter wonderland dream of white.

And there was a soul stirring silence standing in the midst of Giant (absolutely GIANT) Sequoias with the snow blanketing everything around us.

Sometimes you just need a moment to praise the beauty of nature and majesty of Giant Sequoias.
Sometimes you just need a moment to praise the beauty of nature and majesty of Giant Sequoias.

There were only a few other brave souls who ventured into the park in this weather and we were all rewarded.

The snow covered Sequoia's towered over us at Grant's Grove.
The snow covered Sequoia’s towered over us at Grant’s Grove. P.S. This photo might look like it was distorted disproportionately, but I promise it is completely unaltered. It is not stretched to look taller or color enhanced. The sky is physically that blue, and those trees are TRULY that TALL!! Yowzer.

My words fail me to truly describe the scenery here, so instead of rambling on, go ahead and scroll through about a hundred pictures. Okay, maybe not a hundred, but far too many for a blog post because I just couldn’t narrow them down. And probably not surprising, this is only a fraction of the photos we took.

Another picture of King's Canyon, as we tried not to drive off the road. It was so pretty. And slippery.
Another view of King’s Canyon, as we tried not to drive off the road it was so pretty. And slippery.
National Park Snow Plower. I'm not sure if this falls under one of the world's best or worst jobs in the world. I'm leaning towards best. Especially if you like snow and have no fear.
National Park Snow Plower. I’m not sure if this falls under one of the world’s best or worst jobs in the world. I’m leaning towards best. Especially if you like snow and have no fear.
Lucy was in heaven. Actually, I think she thought she was back in Chardon, OH. She bounded and bounced through the snow like a little bunny. Only faster. Much faster.
Lucy was in heaven. Actually, I think she thought she was back in Chardon, OH. She bounded and bounced through the snow like a little bunny. Only faster. Much faster.
Sometimes you need a picture to remind you just how deep the snow actually was.
Sometimes you need a picture to remind you just how deep the snow actually was.
Walking in a winter wonderland...never felt more true.
Walking in a winter wonderland…never felt more true.

We checked off some big destinations. And created some unforgettable memories. So, whether we call it a “bucket list” or the pursuit of our “destination tree” destinations, or just following our passions, I hope our adventures inspire you to do the things you’ve always wanted to do. Or at the very least, I hope you enjoyed the pictures!

And, in the wise words of a coffee shop sign:

“You know all those things you’ve always wanted to do? You should go do them.”

Cheers!
Kristin

Our Route Across the Country – Part 5

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Our cross country adventure continues!  We’re detailing the route of our cross country adventure into multiple segments. Here’s a breakdown of each leg of our journey:

Next up…

Part V
December 26, 2015 – January 14, 2016

After weeks of hard work and rain in Oregon, we were ready to hit the road again. The day after Christmas, with all of our holiday orders complete, we packed up. The sun was shining. I repeat, the sun was shining. It ALMOST made us hesitate to stay longer, but we knew the rain would return, and a sunny day was a beautiful way to say good-bye. So, south to California we drove, with a magnificent coastal sunset and then some treacherously icy mountain roads, we bee-lined for Napa Valley.

With a self-guided bicycle tour, we tasted our way through Calistoga vineyards and enjoyed sunshine, chilly winds and blue skies. Next up was New Year’s with family in San Jose, and a stop at the Winchester Mystery House. From there we based ourselves in Fresno for trips into Yosemite, King’s Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. UNBELIEVABLE. Each national park we’ve been to has immeasurable beauty, and these parks were no exception.

We continued to Southern California to visit more family and did some exploring in the San Bernardino National Forest. Click here for the blog post with pictures and highlights of our California adventures.

Tips: Zoom in and out on the map, and move the map around to get a better look at the route. Or click “View Larger Map” below to get an even better view.

From the Deepest Lake to the Tallest Trees

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Our year-long road trip has taken us from coast to coast and national park to national park. After our adventures along the Pacific Northwest coast and in the rain forests of Washington state, we headed south through Oregon with the goal of getting to the Redwoods in California. We overnighted in Eugene, Oregon and did a self-guided mini-tour of a few breweries in downtown Eugene. (In case you’re wondering, Ninkasi Brewery was our favorite with amazing IPA’s for Matt and smooth, delicious stouts for Kristin. Honorable mention also goes to Oakshire Brewing and Hop Valley Brewing.)

Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

As we determined our route from Eugene, we were originally going to continue straight south. But decided to alter our route to visit Crater Lake National Park.

Not sure why we even considered passing up this gem. It's one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Not sure why we even considered passing up this gem. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Weather has been the primary driver of our travel and we’re very aware of overnight temperatures to prevent any issues with our RV pipes freezing. We did a lot of checking, researched our route to get there and decided it was worth the detour to make it happen and the temperatures would be ok. We’re VERY glad we did not bypass this stunning park, as it is an absolutely breathtaking place to witness in person. Nearly 2,000 feet deep, and made up of only rain and snow melt, it is the deepest lake in the U.S.

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Thousands of years ago a volcano collapsed to create an enormous crater over 2,000 feet deep which is filled with rain and snow melt, creating Crater Lake.

The beauty of the brilliant blue water is beyond description. With towering pines, picturesque cliffs, and a calmness that feels transcendental, it’s entirely possible to sit or stand along the crater edge for hours.

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Crater Lake was so beautiful and so inspiring to witness. In fact, this shot with Matt encompassed the vision of our brand so much that it is now on our new business cards!

We did minimal hiking here, just a short jaunt along the crater edge for more picture taking, partly because of the chilly air, and secondly because there weren’t a lot of dog friendly trails (and we had the pups in the truck!).

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On our hike along the cliffs of the crater’s edge…the blue is so vibrant it looks photoshopped, in real life and in our photographs, but it’s completely unaltered!

We did do a beautiful loop trail with the dogs, and saw more of the surrounding landscape, including deep ledges in the area.

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There were many deep ledges within the park and along our dog-friendly loop trail. We appreciated the beauty of the landscape, and I think Dobie and Lucy did too…well, maybe not, but they were glad to come along with us 🙂

This national park wasn’t actually on our radar or “bucket list” of destinations, but we are so very grateful we made a detour to this majestic place. An added bonus…while the temps were chilly, it was the “off” season visiting in October. This place definitely gets packed with visitors in the summer, but we felt like we had it all to ourselves in the Fall.

Redwood National and State Parks, California

We continued south to Crescent City which was our base for exploring our first Redwood Park. Something we learned as we researched the Redwoods was that there is not only Redwood National Park, but several Redwood State Parks as well. All are equal in their beauty and preservation of giant coastal Redwoods. We got our first taste of the Redwoods as we drove across Route 199 through Jebediah Smith Redwood State Park. Our jaws were on the floor as the road curved around Redwood giant after Redwood giant.

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The truck is no match for these road side Redwoods…

From Crescent City we took day trips into the park to drive Howland Road through the heart of the Redwoods, and several hikes, including our favorite the Boy Scout Tree Trail, a 5.6 mile hike round trip, through ENORMOUS Redwoods.

When you witness the tallest trees on earth, you can’t help but feel like a tiny, but grateful, human to witness their magnificent glory.

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I spent a good portion of the hike looking up, exactly like this. It’s a good thing I didn’t trip along the trail, because I’m not sure I ever looked down or in front of me.

The highlight of the trail was Boy Scout Tree, which was actually three Redwoods that have grown together and tower over 300 feet high.

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The Boy Scout Tree

Several times on this hike we stopped just to BE. Just to LISTEN. And just to WATCH. Softly fluttering ferns. Huge towering Redwoods. And sunlight streaming through the upper branches, like a heavenly fog from above. Occasionally, we heard a little chipmunk or bird chirping, but overall it was a peaceful, quiet sanctuary.

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6’6″ tall Matt is a tiny human next to these towering giants, which are too tall to capture in the picture!

A couple other Crescent City highlights were the beautiful driftwood mermaid at the marina (yes, yes, we have a weakness for driftwood artwork!), the barking sea lions in the marina, and some absolutely stunning sunsets.

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Hello, Driftwood Mermaid!
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When we think of Crescent City, we’ll always remember the sound of barking sea lions in the marina!
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Truth be told, there was a busy street and power lines directly under the treeline of this sunset, but it doesn’t make the clouds any less beautiful.

Our Redwood adventures continued as we journeyed south to take day trips to the Prairie Creek Redwood State Park and the Redwood National Park. Our favorite hike at the national park was the Tall Trees Grove. First, we had to go to the visitors center, to get a special day pass, and gate code. Then we drove several miles through a windy mountainous stretch, unlocked the gate to a narrow path which took us deeper into the Redwoods and to our trail head. We felt pretty special getting access to this limited trail. Were the trees tall? Yes.

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Sometimes ya just gotta stop and hug a Redwood.

Throw us in the woods with huge trees and we’re like Buddy the Elf in New York City…look at THIS one, look at THIS one, THIS one is even BIGGER! We took so many pictures, and you can get an idea of how huge they are from some of the pictures, but you must see the in person. Look up. Give them a hug. Heck, you might even walk through one if it falls over your trail.

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A fallen Redwood is an important part of the forest, becoming a “nurse log” to future forest growth, and eventually decaying into the earth. And sometimes becoming a trail obstacle turned tunnel.

We left Crescent City to head further south and stationed ourselves in Redcrest, CA. For three weeks, the Avenue of the Giants was our driveway and the Humboldt Redwoods State Park our back yard. We loved the trails in this area, which (no surprise), continued to have HUGE Redwoods, green ferns and purple clover covered forests.

The Lost Coast

One of the best day trips we had from our Redcrest, CA base was a trip through the heart of Humboldt Redwood State Park and up and around the “Lost Coast”. Imagine driving down narrow roads, around towering Redwoods, up and into curvy mountain roads, and then descending down again to a coast completely undeveloped. The only thing in sight were a few farms and hundreds of acres of grazing cows…grazing right next to the beach!

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These cows scored some beachfront grazing.

We looped our way to this beautifully desolate beach along the Lost Coast as well as the small Victorian village of Ferndale.

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No driftwood for us here, but we did find miles and miles of coastal beauty.

We took another day trip out to Redding, CA which included some old California ghost towns which Matt featured in his “paranormal” blog post, and we got some practice driving on some crazy mountain roads! But the majority of our adventures were hiking, exploring and gawking at the Redwoods. Don’t be deceived, we fit in a fair amount of work as well. Custom orders for Destination Tree rolled in regularly, so we balanced our hiking with artwork creation, customer service and driftwood acquisition. There’s an art to finding the right driftwood for our work, and we combed the Lost Coast and California beaches to find new pieces.

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A “Home Base” for the Holidays

As November neared, we knew we needed to settle in one place that provided mild weather, access to driftwood and a home “base” to really focus on the business and fill the expected increase in holiday orders. And so, we continued our journey by moving a few hours north to Gold Beach, Oregon to prepare for what we hoped would be a very busy holiday season for our growing business…

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Time to exchange the California coast for the Oregon coast.

Click Here for highlights from our time in Oregon and how we managed to survive torrential rain and a holiday season that more than exceeded our expectations for our Destination Tree shop.

 

Olympic Peninsula Adventures

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Montana to Washington

Our year-long road trip continues! As you may have read, Montana exceeded our expectations, and we easily could have spent more time in Glacier National Park. So why didn’t we? Well, by the end of September, we were experiencing some cold nights dropping into the 30s, and while we do have a furnace in our travel trailer, our pipes and the trailer itself are not equipped for freezing temperatures. Plus, we still had some mountains and distance to traverse to head further west and we didn’t want to risk waiting any longer and possibly encountering snowy or icy road conditions. It’s already a challenge pulling a travel trailer in ideal conditions, (in case you missed it, Matt covered the challenges of towing here) so icy mountain roads were not on our adventure list.

It felt like Washington was welcoming us with open arms as we drove along a stretch of 90 called Mountains to Sound Greenway (East of Seattle). The mountains were foggy and rainy (but not snowy!) when we saw an enormous, full double rainbow. We pulled over with our huge rig like lunatics to gawk at it and snap some pictures. Honestly, it was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.

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An impossibly beautiful double rainbow

We continued onward, to the Pacific Northwest, to the Olympic Peninsula. There’s easily something exciting about going somewhere new, but there can be just as much anticipation in returning to someplace you’ve been before. Which is exactly how we were feeling about Olympic National Park. Now, shame on us for bypassing two parks (North Cascades & Mount Rainier) we’ve never been to. I’ll partially blame the weather, and partially blame our love for Olympic. Why do we love it so much? Well, I have wonderful memories visiting here with my aunt, uncle and cousin as part of a trip celebrating our high school graduation, and Matt and I had also been here before and can’t help but love the green, canopied, magical trails. And if you happen to be a Twilight fan (I plead the fifth) this is where it’s based! Forks, the Quileute Tribe, the Vampires and the love triangle. And more importantly, the rain forest and coastline.

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Re-visiting Olympic National Park…feels like coming home

Our first stop and home base while we explore? Olympic National Park’s Hoh Rain Forest. Didn’t know there were rain forests in the US? I didn’t either before I came here for the first time.

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You don’t need to travel to the far corners of the world to visit a rain forest…they’re right here in the Pacific Northwest!

The best way to describe it? GREEN. And if I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again, our pictures do not do it justice! But you get the idea…lush green trees, green ferns, green moss, green lichens…and slugs. Huge slugs. Banana slugs to be specific. And while I wouldn’t consider myself a “slug person”, if there is such a thing, you can’t resist being intrigued by the Pacific Banana Slug, the second largest slug in the world. Pretty fancy title.

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All smiles on an early morning trail hike in the Hoh Rain Forest
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No dogs on the National Park trails, but we did find some state forest trails that were dog friendly. Dobie & Lucy were quite grateful.
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A green wonderland of trees, moss and ferns…and a tiny Matt.
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A Pacific Banana Slug…we’re not exaggerating…they’re huge!

Big Tree This Way

We did lots of hiking as usual, and like a couple of chumps, we can’t resist a sign that says “Big Tree This Way!” Ok, that’s not actually what the sign said, but we did follow the two track trail (grateful for 4×4) to visit a pretty huge, Western Red Cedar. Pictures give it a little perspective, but I couldn’t even fit the entire tree in one frame. And the diameter? Well, it is almost three times Matt’s height!

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The Stats of the Mighty Duncan Cedar
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Matt’s 6’6″ and this is only a tiny part of the tree…
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…and here’s the rest of it!

Beaches, Driftwood & Coastline

In addition to an awesome rain forest, the other huge draw of Olympic National Park is the coast. This is what you envision when you think of the Pacific Northwest coastline. Not just driftwood. Driftwood TREES. Cliffs. Tide pools. Sea stacks. Rugged, iconic and absolutely breathtaking. We never get tired of walking the beaches, climbing over driftwood, exploring at low tide, picnic-ing seaside and feeling gratitude watching a glorious sunset.

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Matt is determined to make a super sized piece of Destination Tree driftwood art.
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Ruby Beach is beautiful at high and low tide
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I’m either doing some deep thinking, or pretending to model for a sportswear catalog. Columbia? Merrell? Life is Good? I’m open to sponsorships. I’d make a great spokeswoman.
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Occasionally we remember to bust out the “good” camera, and Matt is usually framing up those shots, like with these beach side cairns.
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And here’s the shot. Pretty good! Who doesn’t love a cairn?!
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Literally. Driftwood. Trees. – At Rialto Beach
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Hey little starfish! Hold on tight! High tide will be back soon.
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Snuggle-y isn’t the right word for a starfish, but it seems fitting for this squished little guy at low tide.
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“I live in an-an-an-anemone” – Nemo. But seriously, sea anemone at low tide are awesome.
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Low tide at Ruby beach
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A little picnic at Rialto Beach.
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I never get tired of sunsets. Ever. They bring a kind of peace inside me I can’t explain. – at Ruby Beach

We’ve been calling our travels, a “cross-country” adventure. So, after visiting the easternmost point in West Quoddy Head, Maine just a few weeks earlier, we HAD to also visit Cape Flattery, WA the north-westernmost point in the United States. That officially made it a coast to coast road trip. And the icing on the cake? We saw a whale! And not just a whale miles off shore. Literally, a whale at the base of the cliff we were standing on. It is quite honestly, an astonishing and humbling creature to witness in person.

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Cape Flattery, WA – The north-westernmost point in the US.
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Selfie at Cape Flattery!

Destination Tree Channels Destination Truth (Relevant to any Sci-Fi Channel / Joshua Gates Fans)

Anyone who knows Matt well also knows that he loves the mystery of the unexplained and supernatural. Ghosts, aliens, Bigfoot, you name it. I’ll admit to the possibility as well, but mostly he talks me into things I would never do on my own and I let him scare the crap out of me. So, we did a little ghost hunting at dusk at Battery Kinzie in Fort Worden State Park and also some Bigfoot speculating on our hike up to Wynoochee Falls.

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Matt in front of Battery Kinzie in Fort Worden State Park at dusk…soon after this is got VERY creepy!
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Our Wynoochee Bigfoot Hike uncovered zero Bigfoot. Is Dobie scared? Tired? Lazy? Nah, just enjoying a snuggle with his dad, and making Lucy jealous.

“Let Me Sum Up” (Quote, Inigo Montoya, Princess Bride)

This rounds out the highlights of our Olympic Peninsula 10-day tour. And only constitutes a sampling of all the sights in the area. If you plan a visit here, a few must-see beach recommendations: Ruby Beach, Rialto Beach, First Beach & Second Beach. If you’re an avid hiker, the hike to Shishi beach is terrific and you’ll likely have the unspoiled beach completely to yourself. Warning: Don’t plan a trip here with this limited overview! Be sure to also check out Lake Quinault, Sol Duc Hot Springs, Lake Crescent and Hurricane Ridge Road and like a billion (I never exaggerate) other must-see sights.

Where to next? Heading a little further south. Check out the next leg of our route here.

 

 

Our Route Across the Country – Part 3

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As we travel cross country on our year-long road trip, we’ve broken our adventure and our route into multiple sections.

And then our journey continued to the Pacific Northwest…

Part III
September 25, 2015 – October 5, 2015

Departing Montana, we made a beeline for Washington. We took a circular route in and around the Olympic peninsula focusing our time in Olympic National Park, both in the Hoh Rainforest and along the rugged iconic Pacific Coast with sea stacks, driftwood trees and tide pools.

Since we had visited the easternmost point in West Quoddy Head, Maine earlier on our trip, we thought it was fitting to also visit Cape Flattery, WA the northwesternmost point in the United States. We did a little ghost hunting and bigfoot chasing before we completed our peninsula loop and continued south toward Oregon.

Check out our blog post with more details and pictures on our Washington adventures.

And check our Part 4 of our route here.

Tips: Zoom in and out on the map, and move the map around to get a better look at the route. Or click “View Larger Map” below to get an even better view.

Chasing Montana

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Montana – We Arrived!

I can’t explain why, but I’ve always wanted to go to Montana. It’s like the mountains and glaciers just called my name. As we drove west and crossed the border into Montana, we hopped out of the truck and celebrated the milestone…we actually made it! (Disclaimer…we were in Montana for about 10 days at the end of September. Yes, I realize it’s now November. I could back date this blog post to cover up this fact, but I’m an honest girl, and I will admit I procrastinated going through our hundreds of pictures to compile this overview post of Montana…so just enjoy it anyway! And if you’re interested, you can check out Part 1 and Part 2 of our cross country routes as well.)

Montana Welcome Sign
Montana – We Arrived!

Turns out Montana is a huge state, with countless miles of flat land and cattle (so much cattle in fact, that all the freeway entrances and exits have cattle guards so that if any cattle happen to stray, they can’t walk across these grates onto the freeway). And while the landscape was definitely beautiful, I was almost holding my breath until we reached western Montana where the mountains rose up and matched my visions.

Montana Cattle Guard
A cattle guard in front of us before merging on the highway in Montana.

The National Bison Range

The National Bison Range wasn’t too far off our course as we headed to Glacier National Park and it was a scenic detour that was well worthwhile.

National Bison Range
National Bison Range in Montana

The mountain scenery was abundant, and I actually started humming… “where the deer and the antelope plaaaaaayyyyyy…” when we saw deer and antelope! The bison on the other hand, they were a bit shy, so we squinted at them in the distance.

Matt & Kristin at the National Bison Range
Matt & Kristin at the National Bison Range
Antelope at the National Bison Range
Antelope at the National Bison Range

Moral of the story here, despite bison being the primary draw of the National Bison Range, even without a close up encounter, we were in no way disappointed with our visit.

Spectacular Views at the National Bison Range
Spectacular Views at the National Bison Range

Glacier National Park

We chose Hungry Horse, Montana, just outside of West Glacier, as our base camp for settling in and exploring Glacier National Park and the surrounding area. If you’ve ever wanted to go to Glacier National Park, GO. If reading any of this, or seeing any of these pictures (which don’t nearly do it justice) makes you want to go to Glacier National Park, GO. Unfortunately, climate change is a reality, and it’s likely there won’t actually be any glaciers left in Glacier National Park in just a few short years.

West Glacier, Montana
West Glacier, Montana
Glacier National Park, Montana
Glacier National Park, Montana
Disappearing Glaciers due to Climate Change
Disappearing Glaciers due to Climate Change

One of our first hikes was two-fold. A popular, easy and accessible route on the Trail of the Cedars which connected to Avalanche Trail. We absolutely loved this hike alongside Avalanche Creek and it’s well worth the trek to glacial fed Avalanche Lake.

Trail of the Cedars, Glacier National Park
Trail of the Cedars, Glacier National Park
Avalanche Creek, Glacier National Park
Avalanche Creek, Glacier National Park

The color of the glacial water in Avalanche Lake is just too beautiful to be captured in words or pictures. We try though. The magical bluish-greenish color of the very deep and very cold lake was mesmerizing. Also, if you look closely, you can see the very tall, skinny waterfalls carving a path down the mountain from Sperry Glacier to Avalanche Lake.

Waterfalls from melting Sperry Glacier
Waterfalls from melting Sperry Glacier
Avalanche Lake
Avalanche Lake

One of the most popular and iconic things you can do at Glacier National Park is drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road. It’s some of the most incredible scenery you will ever see. We pulled over dozens of times to take pictures and just sit and just soak in the beauty.

Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier National Park
Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier National Park

I’ll admit, I was white knuckled driving several sections of it, there are some harrowing curves and edges. But if I was nervous driving it, I can’t even imagine the workers who carved and paved this road through and around the edges of mountains. Truly incredible.

Going-to-the-Sun Road, cliffside bridge and waterfall
Going-to-the-Sun road, cliff side bridge and waterfall
Going-to-the-Sun Road tunnel
Going-to-the-Sun tunnel
Roadside Selfie, Going-to-the-Sun Road
Roadside selfie, Going-to-the-Sun road
Some Deep Thinking alongside Going-to-the-Sun Road
Some deep thinking alongside Going-to-the-Sun road

After driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road, we stopped at the St. Mary’s visitor’s center on the east side of the park which had wonderful exhibits on the history of the area and the Native American tribes, including the Blackfoot Indians. We took the alternate route around the south border of the park which led us past the Blackfoot Indian Reservation. Matt has Blackfoot Indian in his heritage and enjoyed learning about his ancestors!

Matt and his heritage, Blackfeet Nation
Matt and his heritage, Blackfeet Nation, ice cream cone not included

Would I go back to visit Glacier National Park? Absolutely. I could spend months there. Also, the Grinnell Glacier hike is still on my bucket list, which is near Many Glacier on the EAST side of the park. Turns out, West Glacier was a great base camp, and I’m glad we stayed there, but there’s only one road through the park (Going-to-the-Sun Road, which is NOT trailer/camper accessible) and one road around the park. So, it takes several hours to get to get from one side of the park to the other. Since the Grinnell Glacier hike is a full-day hike, it would have been unrealistic to sandwich it between 5 hours of driving, so we’ll just have to go back. Take note, if Glacier National Park is on your bucket list, learn from my mistake and plan enough time that you can stay on both the East and West sides of the park to explore all the mountains, lakes and glaciers to your heart’s desire.

Kalispell & Whitefish

Kalispell was a very cute little town where we took care of essentials like our grocery shopping and beer tasting. Enter: Kalispell Brewing Company. Great beer, great service, fresh popcorn and even a fun trivia night (although I will admit I am a CHEATER and I look up answers online).

Kalispell Brewing Company
Kalispell Brewing Company

Just North of Kalispell was Whitefish, which was an even cuter town (btw…are you sick of me using words like ‘cute’, ‘incredible’ and ‘beautiful’ yet? Sorry, I need to expand my vocabulary…) But before we stopped in the town of Whitefish, we drove a bit further to the Whitefish Mountain Resort. Mostly known for being a ski destination, (P.S. if you do happen to be an avid skier **shameless plug** be sure to check out this popular ski tree in our shop) they have mountain biking and hiking in the off-season. Let me tell you, anyone who mountain bikes here is either a world-class expert biker, or has a death wish. More likely, I’m just chicken.

We were here for the hiking. However, we weren’t exactly prepared for the Danny-On Trail. We had almost no water, no snacks, and found out it was 3.8 miles to the top where the ski lodge, summit and highest views were perched. Oh, and over 2,000 foot elevation gain. Could we do this? Did we want to do this? Matt planted a seed in my brain that we absolutely could. That was all I needed, I believed it too. So, we gathered our courage, threw out our doubts, filled our water bottles and scraped a few granola bars together to commit to the climb.

A couple things about this hike:

  • It was past the summer season, and the Fall is considered the “shoulder” season. SO, the chair lift only operated on weekends. We were there on a weekday. If you climb up 3.8 miles, you must climb down 3.8 miles.
  • We were told the views at the top are INCREDIBLE.

Our previous hiking experience has proven that when you have a quads-a-fire, breath sucking, uphill ascent, that your reward will be a breathtaking summit and well-earned downhill descent. However, a couple surprising things happened on this particular hike. First of all, the views on the entire 3.8 miles to the top were astounding. The fall colors were at their peak, we saw mountains, towering pines, distant lakes, sheer drop offs, fresh bear (and bear cub) tracks and ultimately, scenery worthy of each muscle burning, up-hill step.

The "Danny On" Trail at Whitefish Mountain Resort
The “Danny On” Trail at Whitefish Mountain Resort
Peak colors all the way up
Peak colors all the way up
Beautiful looking up
Beautiful looking up
Beautiful looking down
Beautiful looking down
Even the pups enjoyed the vigorous hike
Even the pups enjoyed the vigorous hike
Fresh bear (and bear cub!) tracks on the trail
Fresh bear (and bear cub!) tracks on the trail

The surprising thing, was that the summit wasn’t the “pinnacle” of the scenery. The ski lodge at the top was under construction, so we didn’t have access to the lookout balcony. The views were beautiful, but not the most beautiful view we’d ever seen (don’t get me wrong, we reveled in making it there and took pictures at the top and also of the ski trail map to prove we made it!).

At the Summit!
At the Summit! The trail climbed 2,353 feet in elevation to a 7,000 foot panoramic summit.
Proof we're at the top...the summit ski slope map
Proof we’re at the top…the summit ski slope map

But it was a good learning lesson and reminder to enjoy and appreciate the journey as much as the destination. Getting there was even more spectacular than arriving there. And let me tell you, the descent was no piece of cake. It took half the time, but our shins understood the full wrath of a downhill mountain descent.

Shins and toes are feeling the descent!
Shins and toes are feeling the descent!
Dobie asked if we could hop in a gondola or chair lift. Sorry bud!
Dobie asked if we could hop in a gondola or chair lift to get back to the bottom. Sorry bud!

We washed away our muscle aches with some deliciously deserved craft beer at The Great Northern Brewing Company in downtown Whitefish. All in all, it was one of our favorite days in Montana.

The Great Northern Brewing Company
The Great Northern Brewing Company

 

Hope you enjoyed some of the highlights from our time in Montana!

Cheers!

Kristin

Here’s to the Wide Ones, the Heavy Ones, and the Slow Ones

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mr TAt some point, we’ve all impatiently driven next to a longer, larger vehicle in need of a little extra room to drive. Whether it be an 18 wheeler, a bus, an RV, a truck pulling a horse trailer, a landscaper towing their living, or your local garbage man making his rounds. I like to think of these guys and gals as “pace setters”, because more often than not, they are setting a careful pace for themselves and others on America’s highways and streets. Although what’s careful to them, usually seems annoying and far too slow to those around them.

I used to be just as guilty as anyone when it came to occasionally not giving them enough respect on the road. Whether it be when merging on a highway, changing lanes right in front of them, ignoring their blind spots, not giving them enough room to make a turn or any number of infractions. Sure, maybe I was distracted, or running behind, but really, I was just being impatient. And a bit oblivious. And ultimately, I just simply wasn’t paying enough attention to give them the appreciated respect they deserve.

Destination Tree - Montana
In the mountains of Montana.

Fast forward to today: It’s crazy, but I am now a pace setter! I have been for the last several months while venturing across America with our travel trailer, and I’m more aware than EVER. I’m well aware of the wide ones, the heavy ones and the slow ones, because I’m part of the club. And I also keep my eye out for the fast ones, the impatient ones, and the clueless ones (the way I used to be!). Wishing only that I could turn back the hands of time and give a few more large-load drivers some larger respect earlier on in my driving years.

mergingWith a 52 foot long truck and RV combo now, I really have to be on my game ALL of the time. If I miss a turn, I can’t just turn around anywhere. It could be miles before I get another chance. If I need gas, I have to visually evaluate each gas station before deciding if I can navigate in and out of it without running something or someone over. Every highway on-ramp magnetically pulls my eyes to see who is carelessly merging and forcing me to floor the gas pedal or slam on my brakes. With a payload of over 15,000 pounds, slowing down or stopping unexpectedly can be a mobile game of rolling the dice for us. I don’t like dice.

Destination Tree truck and trailer
The 52′ long Destination Tree truck and trailer, pulled over at a Wyoming Visitors Center.

And on a windy day on the highway, riding alongside pace setters can be like line dancing in a narrow hallway with a couple of baby elephants. One bump and you’re done. And the baby elephants will always win. Quick piece of advice for any driver…if you need to pass a large, heavy, over-sized vehicle: do it quickly! Because having someone ride along in your blind spot is really fun! Said no one, ever. Oh, and to the drivers who speed up and cut over at the last minute before a lane closure in an upcoming construction zone…there’s a special place in hell for you.

jaywalkMy all-time, least-favorite experiences have not been from motorists, but from crossing pedestrians. That’s right, pedestrians have the right of way: IN A CROSSWALK! Don’t get me wrong, I’m always cautious of pedestrians, but the big guys don’t stop quick, even when they’re going slow. So give them their dues, and give them seven more seconds before crossing the street. On a personal note, I don’t think I’ll ever be jay walking outside of a crosswalk anymore.

Okay, okay. I’ll step down from my high horse now and just say that it pays to put the impatience, frustration, and immortal feelings aside, when we’re in the presence of pace setters. We’ll all eventually get to where we’re going, just give them a break from time to time. For anyone who’s ever had a large load, you know what I’m talking about. And to anyone who hasn’t, just learn from my mistakes and keep this little story in mind. Because one day you just might.

Destination Tree on the road, Hoh Rainforest
On the Road in the Hoh Rainforest, Forks, Washington.

All in all, despite the learning lessons of being a pace setter, and the white-knuckled moments of towing a trailer across the country, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Cheers to sharing the roads with each other, and safe travels to you!

Matt

Our Route Across the Country – Part 2

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I’ve found it’s easier to break up our route into multiple sections. So, if you’re following along, Part 1 looped us from Ohio to Maine and back to Ohio. And Part II (below) highlights our route across the country from Ohio to Montana.

Part II
September 8, 2015 – September 17, 2015
We have always wanted to go to Montana and Glacier National Park. As it’s already September, we knew we needed to get in some serious mileage to make it in time to enjoy the area before winter descends. Of course, we hit some memorable stops along the way including Serpent Mound, OH, Cahokia Mounds, MO, Sioux Falls, SD, Badlands National Park, Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, Mount Rushmore, and Devil’s Tower, WY. To view the photo highlights from these destinations visit the album on Facebook.

Then….drumroll, please: MONTANA! Crossing the border into Montana felt like a big milestone and it’s a huge state, so we enjoyed the journey as we traveled further West and watched the landscape change and grow as we approached the mountains. We’re positioned west of Glacier National Park and are ready for some new adventures.

Below is our route map. Read more about the highlights of our time in Montana in this blog post.

Tips: Zoom in and out on the map, and move the map around to get a better look at the route. Or click “View Larger Map” below to get an even better view.

Our journey continues in Part 3 to the Pacific Northwest…

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