‘I’m moving home!’
Those simple, yet meaningful words were music to our ears!
You all know this guy. He’s back and better than ever.
Though a bit surprised by the news, we couldn’t curb our enthusiasm, nor wait to make plans for a visit, beers and catch-up time with our goofy friend again.
Walking along Clear Creek with Marcus and Alicia.
Marcus and Alicia rolled into Golden late one afternoon this spring. We chatted and ate, and chatted some more. We toured each brewery, went on a beautiful hike and mountain bike ride through Staunton State Park, devoured delicious BBQ grub and reminisced about our college days. We updated each other on the last six years, dreamt up new adventures and business plans, and chatted some more. We enjoyed every bit of it and are so thankful that Marcus is more than just a phone call away. And, no more calling cards or long distance transactions. Our great friend with the best bear hugs is home.
Robyn and Alicia in Golden.
Our sweet visit with these two didn’t end in Colorado. We met again in Joseph, Oregon, for go-kart racing, a dip in Wallowa Lake, and a pleasant brewery tour of the area.
I really hope this place makes it!! But unfortunately they need to zest up the line-up of beers. Case and point. We were one of two groups here before going to Terminal Gravity down the road which was maxed with 100+ happy beer drinkers.. on a Thursday afternoon.
Judy giving the blow by blow recount of the action which included Robyn bumping Harold into a huge garbage bin of water. Epic.
Killing it at the go kart track in Joseph! So fun!
Albeit a quick one, our trip to Oregon was wonderful. We soaked it all up. Every last drop.
Alpine Lupin.
Guess what? There are people that you can spend every single second of seven days with, waking up to and sleeping beside, in a small bedroom apartment with one bathroom, or living in a vintage Volkswagen Bus together for five months, and certainly on a 15 hour car ride to Oregon, and you won’t kill each other at the end of it all. In fact, you will feel a little teary eyed when one of you is gone for more than a day. I find this to be hugely life affirming.
Our awesome free camp along the North Platte River in Wyoming. We watched pelican land and take off and the smell of summer was almost as thick as the mosquitoes.
Back in the tent. This bad boy has seen adventures from Pennsylvania to West Virginia across to Utah and up to Alaska and back again.
15 hours of driving had us celebrating a cool evening breeze and frosty beverages in Nighthawk with MK and PS in no time.
About 650 miles of bugs.
Cheers! At the Davis place.
Our last visit to the Halfway area was nearly two summers ago. We were certainly overdue for a visit. Family, the mountains and simple living made us feel comfortable, calm and right at home. It is truly incredible what nature and family can do for the soul.
Perfect Wallow Lake.
Merman.
Robyn and Mom along the shores of Fish Lake. This gem is only a short drive up a lazy road from my parents’ house.
Robyn exploring the carpet of wildflowers in the southern Wallowa Mountains.
Pond not pictured. But you can imagine the nice pond in the foreground to accompany the fine evening with frosty beverages as the cool air sank into the canyon.
We’ve been craving a vacation and up until our Oregon adventure, we haven’t had a full week of vacation in months. It was amazing. We ate enough food and sampled enough treats for a month. We walked, hiked and climbed. A surprise huckleberry patch made for a good mid-afternoon snack, local eats and treats were a must, bird watching and swimming kept our minds and bodies alert.
It’s as good as it looks.
Who knew there was good climbing near LaGrande, Oregon? Some cool andesite climbing on Mt. Emily road.
Ready to get on some pitches at Spring Mountain, Oregon. This crag is a pleasant (and all gravel road) drive from where I grew up.
About five minutes worth of work in a meadow on Mt. Emily. Huckleberries are freakin delicious!
It’s nearly impossible to convey the beauty of the Lostine River. Perfectly clear.
Maybe my favorite picture of the trip.
Over looking the towns of Summerville and Imbler where I went to high school.
The inside of the remodeled Lostine Tavern.
Man talk over beers in the Davis residence.
Getaways like this one make it a bit difficult to go back to work and resume regular living. I miss these parts and our people; friends and family alike. I’m convinced we were meant to live a life full of leisure and adventure together. We needed this little trip. It was perfect and a beautiful start to our summer; absolutely blissful.
The Lostine River Valley. Oh yeah, and sick looking limestone crags encroach from all sides as the valley narrows..
These week-long vacations are few and far between, so it’s only fair that we did it up right.
Ummmmmm. yeah. Hell yeah.
So Many good people in this post, looks like an amazing time! Plus Steve’s tie dye shirt is killer! Also love how ROB took out Harold, and Judy was psyched.
Yeah, Robyn checkin’ Harold into the bins was a highlight not only of the trip but of the whole summer!
So friggin sweet