Family Off Track Journey Updates

Glacier Rafting

11/2/2009

OK, it's been quite a while. It seems we took a hiatus within our hiatus. There is much news to share, but first we want to welcome those who found us through the Reader's Digest article. Thanks for signing on. If you haven't seen and want to see the article, you can click on the 'PRESS' tab at the top of this site and you will see the link.

Well fearless readers, there are still several adventures left untold, not the least of which is the journey's conclusion. The end as always, is nothing more than another beginning, but you will just have to be patient to read more about that. Hopefully, while you are busy being patient, or just plain busy as is more likely the case, I will continue to try and find what it is I am meant to say. As the documentarian of this sabbatical, I refuse to skip ahead or go out of order.

When last we left you we had just begun to explore Glacier National Park. River rafting was an adventure we had set as a goal and a wish before we left and West Glacier, Montana seemed as good a place as any!

Top 5 Tips from a 5 Month Road Trip

9/25/2009

This past week I was asked by Away Network to blog about our journey. There were many topics to write about, but I went with a general Top 5 list of tips that can make any family road trip better (the editor said people like top lists best of all).

Here is a link to the blog, if you would like to see our top 5 tips:

blogs.away.com/travel/2009/09/top-five-travel-tips-for-family-road-trips.html#comments

First Glimpse of Glacier National Park

9/17/2009

Getting from Washington to Montana required one of those rare "all day" driving days. We don't really mind because it gives everyone a moment to at least plan on catching up on work. In reality the majority of the day becomes an "oh it feels really good to do nothing" day.

It was dark by the time we were in Idaho but we had to keep on driving for over an hour past when we were relly ready to stop because we were in the middle of nowhere and couldn't find a place to stop. Finally we hit saw a Wal Mart in the distance and knew we had found a place to sleep for the night. It is kind of funny how a Wal Mart parking lot takes on that comfort feeling of approaching your own street and driveway as you head home after a long day.

Mike and I get up early to resume our favorite postions in the front seats of the RV with the kids sleeping. It is quiet and relaxing, and time to listen to Howard Stern.

We make it to Glacier National Park. One of the biggies. Time once again to roll up our sleeves, find a camprground, and wrap our brains around the sights and layout of the park, and pick a spot to dive in.

Herman & Helens

9/8/2009

The Bonneville Fish Hatchery had some sights that were brand new to us and we saw more than we ever wanted to know about spawning salmon, etc.. The grounds were very pretty and there was a large grassy area that we felt inclined to just lay down on. Herman the Sturgeon lives at Bonneville and he is quite the attraction.

The next day we had a very tough time deciding whether to take the long drive to Mt. St. Helens. We really wanted to see it, but it was not really in the right direction. These are the times when you get feel the pull of "but we may never get the chance to see this again". In the end, we decided to go. Most times decisions such as these pay off. You find yourself saying, "I'm so glad we decided to go." This really was not one of those times. It was a very far drive and when we were finally in view of it, we realized there was not way to get close unless we wanted to drive many more hours and we weren't on the side where you could see the main destruction the eruption caused in the side of the volcano. Oh well, we still learned about the volcano (although we didn't get to see the new visitor center that was just built). We did seek to find a person that could tell us what it was like to live in the area during the eruption.

Voodoo

9/3/2009

As we continue through Oregon, we come upon Portland. This trip has never been about big cities, but Portland looks inviting in a familiar Chicago-like way and I immediately remember that the guy at The Edge Art Gallery where we did the glass blowing told us not to miss Voodoo Doughnut in Portland. With a name like that and the promise of a first rate donut, I knew it was something that needed to be seen. I begged Mike to get off at the next exit and started dialing it up on the GPS. Now is as good a time as any to point out that we have not needed the GPS at all in the last 3 1/2 months. This is 100% due to Mike's uncanny sense of direction combined with his love of maps and his ability to read them with eyes closed and often while driving. I have even honed my map skills, mainly because when I see him reading the map while driving I am forced to rip it away and try to read it myself.

Anyway, Mike obliged because I was mad at the time and promised I would not be mad anymore if he would just let me get those donuts. Voodoo Doughnut did not disappoint.

Lighthouses, Puffins & Glass

9/1/2009

We felt a litle rusty getting back into the routine of figuring out what to see and do. For some reason, Oregon is not a state I had given a lot of brain time to before we left. But, as with all things in life, having no expectations has made everything in Oregon feel like an unexpected, pleasant surprise. The Oregon coast continues to be striking at every turn.

Leaving Applegate

8/27/2009

OK, we're back after a two week break in the online action. You'll find us right where we left off at Applegate Lake. After 8 solid days of saying, "we'll leave tomorrow", tomorrow has finally come. We are sad to leave our new friends, but glad we found them just the same. We needed the rest after being on the go for three solid months and plenty more ahead. We leave knowing what life on the road holds. While the logistics of researching, mapping, driving, stocking groceries, laundry, pumping, dumping, taking the Prius on and off, are all well known by now, what we will see and do always remain an exciting unknown. Mike and I feel it right away as we take to the front seats of the RV once again and watch the scenery unfold.

The Leisure of Applegate

8/11/2009

No big sights to see, just a big porch with a great view. And believe me, we spent hours on the porch while the kids entertained themselves. Everyone was appreciating the slow pace as one day melted into the next.

Flying High While Laying Low

8/11/2009

Marty, a professional paragliding instructor and one of the best paragliders in the country, offers to take Mike for the ride of his life.

Discovering Applegate Lake

8/10/2009

Going into this journey, we kept envisioning long, leisurely days of quiet contemplation where the RV would stay put and the floor mat, lawn chairs and other outdoor accessories would make their way out of the outer storage compartments. This has not happened yet. It is said that luck is 'experience meeting opportunity'. Well, when the opportunity presented itself, we now had enough experience on the road and in campgrounds to recognize the perfect 'slow it down' spot. Or we could just call ourselves 'lucky' to find Applegate Lake.

Not only is the setting perfect, but we basically had it to ourselves with the addition of a small band of just the kind of characters we were looking for. Thinking back on the week we spent there, I am reminded of the set and cast of Cheers, Taxi or Wings. All the successful elements come together at Applegate Lake, and it too would make a great tv show.