tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86161636240335662992024-03-11T11:02:32.749-04:00funnelcloudFunnelcloud Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12090193674723900588noreply@blogger.comBlogger577125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616163624033566299.post-43102442519762513382018-03-21T22:00:00.000-04:002018-03-22T02:00:37.125-04:00happy spring, jerks!<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27078509688/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="23 weeks"><img alt="23 weeks" height="530" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/796/27078509688_24f4f56cfc_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
It's been a bitterly cold winter. But the beginning of daylight savings time, some sunshine, and hearing the birds chirping in the mornings over the past few weeks had me feeling hopeful that I'd made it! I'd survived another winter! But on the first day of spring, Mother Nature dumped a pile of snow on us.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/39139923710/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="23 weeks"><img alt="23 weeks" height="530" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/807/39139923710_1814903dcc_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">23 weeks down, 17ish to go</span></div>
<br />
It was actually our first/only significant snow of the year. This winter was cold, but we only got a few dustings of snow - the kind that melted before you could even put your boots on and head outside. I always get suspicious that there will be a spring snowstorm if we have a snowless winter. If it's going to be cold, I don't mind there being snow in the winter, but once it's spring - no thanks! I lived through five Syracuse winters where it snowed from October through May, and there's a reason I left that city behind when I graduated from college!<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/40241029934/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="23 weeks"><img alt="23 weeks" height="530" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/784/40241029934_78a0137b61_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
But it was nice to have Larry home from work and to cozy up with my family - dogs napping, fire in the fireplace, chili simmering on the stove, peanut butter blondies baking in the oven.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/40241027894/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="23 weeks"><img alt="23 weeks" height="530" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/818/40241027894_5eb2786c5c_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/40241027374/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="23 weeks"><img alt="23 weeks" height="530" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4782/40241027374_089d944438_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/40949437391/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="23 weeks"><img alt="23 weeks" height="399" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/816/40949437391_32a44914ca_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/40949435121/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="23 weeks"><img alt="23 weeks" height="530" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/812/40949435121_50f326edc0_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
The snow will be melted by tomorrow, and hopefully Mother Nature gets the message that winter is over. I'm ready to bust out my Tevas for real! Here's what I'm looking forward to this spring:<br />
<br />
<b>+</b> A belated fifth anniversary trip to California in April. It's not Hawaii as we'd originally planned, and I won't be drinking virgin tropical drinks or wearing sundresses on the beach, but staying in a cabin among the redwoods and exploring Big Sur still sounds pretty relaxing. Plus, it doesn't require an 11 hour flight to get there!<br />
<br />
<b>+</b> I feel like I've finally hit the sweet spot of pregnancy. The first trimester (and let's be honest, beginning of second trimester, too) symptoms are gone, and I'm not yet feeling heavy and uncomfortable. (Yes, I know I look huge in the photos, but maternity shirts do a really excellent job of accentuating the bump! So far I've gained a quarter of the recommended weight, which means the belly will quadruple in size over the next 17 weeks. Yikes!) But right now, during the day I'm starting to forget that I'm pregnant, until I see my own reflection and think WHOAH! Thankful to be feeling pretty good right now and hoping to make the most of it.<br />
<br />
<b>+</b> Getting back on the trail! I can't wait to get outside and hike this spring. My regular winter walking loop around my neighborhood has gotten so boring, so I'm looking forward to a change in scenery. And maybe I can find some friends to walk with so I can get in some social time, too. It's been a long and lonely winter.<br />
<br />
<b>+</b> Getting back in the pool. When I first found out I was pregnant, I said to myself "I'm going to swim and eat spinach salads every day!" Yeah, that lasted about a week. Then I spent two months lying on the couch and surviving on scrambled eggs and pears and bread. But it's not too late for me to start swimming again. I just need to see if I can squeeze into my swimsuit!<br />
<br />
<b>+</b> Trying new recipes and reading more books. I'm finally starting to enjoy cooking and reading again! I've been making lots of trips to the library and am looking forward to spring at the farmers market and eating fresh veggies. (Maybe I'll finally start eating those spinach salads again!)<br />
<br />
<b>+</b> Creative projects. Creativity has taken the back burner lately, and starting up on painting/drawing/sewing projects again sounds daunting. My brain and hand feel rusty. I need to make this happen.<br />
<br />
<b>+</b> A last hurrah getaway with Larry. I don't know if I'll feel like traveling in May, but I'd love to go to Savannah for a long weekend. I hate the term <i>babymoon,</i> and <i>last hurrah</i> makes it sound like Larry and I won't have any fun after the baby is born (hopefully this isn't true - we're looking forward to doing fun things and traveling with the baby), but a short trip for just the two of us before finishing up the baby prep sounds great. If we can't make Savannah happen, then maybe we'll just take a road trip to somewhere within driving distance of home. The Eastern Shore? West Virginia? We'll see...<br />
<br />
Speaking of baby prep, we haven't started yet, so that's also on the schedule for spring. I feel like we have to finish all the house projects that we haven't done over the past 10 years of living here, get our shit together, AND get ready for the baby. Overwhelming!<br />
<br />
Lots to do and look forward to. Happy Spring!Funnelcloud Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12090193674723900588noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616163624033566299.post-39105017253818598552018-02-08T00:21:00.000-05:002018-03-14T01:43:12.289-04:00telling the grandparents<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/40756869342/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="IMG_2456 ES crop 2"><img alt="IMG_2456 ES crop 2" height="530" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4778/40756869342_445b99f5f7_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
We told the grandparents <a href="https://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2018/02/expanding-our-pack.html">we were expecting</a> at Christmas. I was 11 weeks pregnant and honestly would've liked to wait a few more weeks to share our news, but the holidays were such a perfect time to make the announcement.<br />
<br />
I generally shy away from big announcements, so I felt a little uncomfortable with all the attention. But there isn't a lot of exciting news in either of our families very often, so I was also looking forward to sharing something worth celebrating with them. Especially since this news was a huge surprise that I knew none of them were expecting!<br />
<br />
I actually came up with the announcement gifts completely on my own and they turned out perfectly. So many pregnancy reveals are kind of cheesy, but cheesy or not, I'm so glad that our parents each got to open a little gift and have a souvenir to commemorate the news.<br />
<br />
We gave my mom a stocking full of treats and in the bottom was a silver fortune cookie which I told her was a New Year's gift and contained her fortune for 2018:<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/39904126375/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="DSC_5025 ES crop"><img alt="DSC_5025 ES crop" height="530" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4781/39904126375_4d941e5cdc_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Her expression was priceless. She was so excited. I've never seen her so happy in my life and she said it was the best news she's ever gotten (after finding out that she was expecting me and my brother).<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/40756869302/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="IMG_2462 ES crop"><img alt="IMG_2462 ES crop" height="530" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4795/40756869302_4a7c9f6be2_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Next up was my dad. I couldn't resist this as a reveal gift:<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/40756868412/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="collage - old granddad"><img alt="collage - old granddad" height="604" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4775/40756868412_6ef7b9767d_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Ha! My dad is a pretty reserved guy and I think he was in total shock. As he was processing the news, his girlfriend was fist-pumping and yelling "YAY!" (And I was laughing like an awkward maniac.)<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/39904128745/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="IMG_2891 ES"><img alt="IMG_2891 ES" height="450" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4795/39904128745_f16bcf8dee_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
I told him that he had to come up with his grandparent name and he said "Oh we have to do that, do we?" and I said "Well, you don't have to. We can pick a name for you. Or the baby can just call you Old Granddad!" and he said "No, no! I think I can come up with something better than that!"<br />
<br />
We wanted to tell Larry's family the news in person, but we couldn't manage to get everyone together in one place, so we ended up calling them and telling them on speakerphone. Larry's mom said "Oh my lands!", his sister cried, and his brother responded with a hilarious stream of expletives and then said "I just want to drive down there right now and give you guys a hug!" They were all so excited and happy. A few weeks later, we were able to visit them and give Larry's mom the reveal gift (a ceramic bird), plus a bonus (a little egg with "It's a boy!" inside) since they didn't know the gender yet. Everyone cried again. I love that the Smiths are happy criers.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/39904125745/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="DSC_5124 ES crop"><img alt="DSC_5124 ES crop" height="530" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4784/39904125745_cd2d79fae6_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/39904128915/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="IMG_2832 ES"><img alt="IMG_2832 ES" height="447" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4779/39904128915_823d8559fa_b.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/25927220667/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="IMG_2834 ES crop"><img alt="IMG_2834 ES crop" height="447" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4781/25927220667_8ef3b82c44_b.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/40756869312/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="FullSizeRender 3 ES"><img alt="FullSizeRender 3 ES" height="455" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4778/40756869312_525e877653_b.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
These pictures make me teary and make me excited to have a son. I hope that our boy grows up to be as sweet as Larry is to his mama.<br />
<br />
These photos are all screenshots from video taken on my phone, so they are not the best quality, but I am so glad to have captured the grandparents' reactions. I know our boy will be happy to have them one day. Telling our families is definitely one of the sweetest memories of this pregnancy so far. I really didn't anticipate just how excited they would be! If I had known that the grandparents would be this happy, maybe Larry and I would've considered having kids sooner!Funnelcloud Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12090193674723900588noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616163624033566299.post-55928953249845107692018-02-01T23:32:00.000-05:002018-03-23T21:18:29.243-04:00expanding our pack<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/40756848222/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="DSC_5461 ES crop 3"><img alt="DSC_5461 ES crop 3" height="530" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4771/40756848222_4acecc13fa_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
We're adding another hiking buddy to our pack of boys this summer. Baby Smith is due in July!<br />
<br />
Surprise! I'm pregnant! (Emphasis on the surprise!) And yes, I lugged a tripod into the woods to take this picture, and it was extremely awkward, but I made sure we were deep enough into the trees so no one else could see us.<br />
<br />
I'm 16 weeks along, and comfortably out of the first trimester, though I have yet to feel the "magical burst of energy" that was promised to me in the second tri. In fact, I'm just now starting to feel the slightest bit of relief from the absolute crushing fatigue that plagued me from weeks 7 through 15. I spent all of December and January lying on the sofa taking multiple naps each day and proclaiming to Larry that I felt like "rotten garbage." My rotten garbage analogy took on a life of its own when Larry would try to come up with a more disgusting analogy each day: "Do you feel like dirty poop today? A truck stop bathroom? A leaky porta-john?" Yes, yes, and yes. And it's a good thing we're having a boy because we both seem to have the sense of humor of five year old boys ourselves!<br />
<br />
When I told Larry I was pregnant, he laughed. Then he said "You know one thing our kid will never do?" and I said "Go to Disney World?" and he said "How did you know?!" and then we high-fived and laughed. So we're already on the same page when it comes to parenting. Sorry, kid - we'll take you to as many national parks and foreign countries as we can afford, but never Disney!<br />
<br />
Larry and I are both still in shock over the news and I probably will be until I give birth/for the next 18 years/forever.<br />
<br />
<b>Him:</b> I don't think I'll believe you're pregnant until I have proof!<br />
<b>Me:</b> You mean like seeing a human come out of my va--<br />
<b>Him:</b> No! Like when you have a belly!<br />
<b>Me:</b> Well I kind of already have a belly...<br />
<b>Him:</b> No, I mean A BELLY. Like THIS! (Pats his own belly.)<br />
<b>Me:</b> How many weeks gestation is that?<br />
<b>Him:</b> 46 years!<br />
<br />
Yeah, I went there. And I'm finding that the secret to surviving pregnancy (and I'm assuming childbirth and parenting, too) is to have a sense of humor. I'm so glad I have Larry to keep me laughing when I feel like rotten garbage.<br />
<br />
P.S. <i>I definitely don't plan on turning this into a baby blog, but right now this pregnancy is a big thing happening in my life, so I should probably document it. I know I'll be glad I did in a few years. This is a blog about my life and my family, so our baby will definitely appear here, but hopefully interspersed with and included in posts about our other interests: travel, art, books, music, food/cooking, hiking, etc. </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #242424;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">My goal as a parent is to integrate our child into the lifestyle we already enjoy and to include him in the things that we already love to do</span><span style="font-family: "lora" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">.</span></i></span><i> But right now, I'm too mentally and physically exhausted to have other interests - the double whammy of pregnancy during my winter hibernation season left me unable to read, watch TV, put on real clothes, or do anything besides listen to music while lying under a blanket. Hopefully I'll be back to blogging the backlog of trips we've taken over the past few years soon, but I'll also share a couple posts per trimester about the pregnancy. </i>Funnelcloud Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12090193674723900588noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616163624033566299.post-36686069683582993362017-04-29T21:02:00.002-04:002017-04-29T21:08:46.444-04:00california | the casey jones house<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33473029134/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2841/33473029134_9fcb7fe7c3_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<i>"Turn left at the abandoned gray house and left again at the rusty bicycle. Do not use Google maps! Pay careful attention to directions and mileage. Do not get lost out here or you might get stuck in the sand."</i><br />
<br />
These were some of the directions to our AirBnb rental in Joshua Tree, California. A few hours before, we said goodbye to the <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2017/02/california-sparrows-lodge-palm-springs.html">amazing Sparrows Lodge</a>, drove into the high desert, stocked up on groceries and potable water in Yucca Valley, and then drove down the sand roads in Joshua Tree in search of <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/2171867">The Casey Jones House</a>, where we were staying for the next three nights to continue the celebration of our third wedding anniversary.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33473060204/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4168/33473060204_ff8d093f3b_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33473060744/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4180/33473060744_c443c130f8_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/34314566055/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2887/34314566055_125bd88747_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
We arrived at a futuristic desert dwelling with a sweeping view of acres of uninhabited land against a mountainous backdrop. After a few luxurious days in Palm Springs, this was the perfect secluded escape from civilization. The Casey Jones House was definitely one of the most unique and coolest places we've ever stayed.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/34314545205/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2816/34314545205_709502b12f_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/34314547105/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2882/34314547105_d7495582ec_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/34314566585/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4191/34314566585_c489abaa83_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/34314544365/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2851/34314544365_41a8bc6818_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33504730833/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4181/33504730833_bafc9966e3_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/34183712351/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4192/34183712351_a5807b0697_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/34314546505/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2835/34314546505_f86c325c53_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33504728983/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2811/33504728983_e6354d2c09_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Tiny Larry.</span></div>
<br />
Interesting architectural design and a great view are my two main criteria for picking places to stay when we travel and this place scored an A+ in both categories. The cozy barrel-vaulted bedroom was a great place to wake up every morning and the living room and patio provided <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2017/04/california-hiking-lost-palms-oasis.html">a great view of the sun rising over the desert</a>. The corrugated metal tubes contained the bathroom and outdoor shower. After our arrival, Larry explored the property while I took photos. I love architectural photography and this place was a supermodel.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/34314549365/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2815/34314549365_0fa5c8a1bb_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/34314546435/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4184/34314546435_2bedf7af64_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/34314547755/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4160/34314547755_40ca147a2d_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33473033904/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2871/33473033904_2b496c0a23_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/34314548255/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2877/34314548255_b015a4bd5c_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/34314548685/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4159/34314548685_b5dc118333_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/34314547635/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2807/34314547635_07945c3ef2_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33473033404/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2847/33473033404_da6695e569_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/34314549095/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2877/34314549095_46099c92b6_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/34314550145/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2811/34314550145_f70cc77eca_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/34314547335/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2836/34314547335_c2d6062002_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33473082294/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4174/33473082294_3a5c6efbda_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/34183749481/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2879/34183749481_858886279d_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/34314546715/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2861/34314546715_e92c023fa6_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/34314547995/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4177/34314547995_142a0e3dd5_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
We loved everything about this place and Larry decided he wants to live in the desert and immediately began googling real estate in Joshua Tree. It's a pretty affordable place to live if you can deal with the extreme temperatures and desolation (and lack of water). What we weren't anticipating was the wind though. At night it felt like we were in a hurricane. Showering outside in gale-force winds was definitely an experience. I kept imagining news stories about a naked woman (me) sucked out of her outdoor metal tube shower during a hurricane. While it felt like we were in the middle of The Wizard of Oz, luckily we survived!<br />
<br />
The only sign of other humans were the headlights we could spot in the distance at night. Other than that it was just us, desert, and dark sky. The sky was so dark here that the abundance of glittering stars made it impossible for me to identify basic constellations. So many stars! Larry called me outside one evening and when I looked up at the dark desert sky, I actually burst into tears. (I probably shouldn't admit that. But it was a mind-blowing and emotional experience. Especially if you've had a few beers and been listening to The National on repeat.) So yeah, we spent the evenings just hanging out with the lights out, listening to music and pondering the mysteries of the universe. Oh, and also there were cupcakes that we picked up at a disappointing bakery in Palm Springs for our anniversary tradition. (The coconut cake is the tradition, not the disappointing bakery!)<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33473057064/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2806/33473057064_0127b8d42b_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/34314542485/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2856/34314542485_cb3c25278d_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33473058074/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2867/33473058074_00079f9df2_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33473059764/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2884/33473059764_23fca9e0d9_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/34156692672/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4160/34156692672_fd21cd93db_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/34314564955/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2810/34314564955_0b5b1d2d2a_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33473058904/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2894/33473058904_981a9ffc0c_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33504729993/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4189/33504729993_6c2798e733_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/34314564485/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4176/34314564485_a2349ef18a_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/34314565585/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree"><img alt="joshua tree" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4177/34314565585_1c8a970949_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Can anyone really read these star charts? Or make sense of that mess of stars?</span></div>
<br />
All in all, we gave this place an A+, and would definitely stay at The Casey Jones House again. There are some really cool campgrounds in Joshua Tree National Park, but they were full even while we were there in March, and after experiencing the winds in the high desert, we were thankful for the shelter of our modern desert dwelling and the roof over our heads!Funnelcloud Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12090193674723900588noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616163624033566299.post-33315901441473465772017-04-10T01:54:00.001-04:002017-04-10T13:29:13.060-04:00california | hiking lost palms oasis<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33093188103/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2941/33093188103_1867503ce3_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Last winter, my friend <a href="http://kldphotos.blogspot.com/2016/02/top-10-favorite-hikes.html">Karen wrote a series of blog posts describing her top ten favorite hikes</a>. It led to a lot of discussion between Larry and me as to what our favorite hikes were. A few weeks later, we found ourselves in California to celebrate our anniversary in Palm Springs. After a <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2017/02/california-sparrows-lodge-palm-springs.html">few luxurious days at Sparrows Lodge</a>, we drove out into the high desert to stay in Joshua Tree for a few days. It was in <a href="https://www.nps.gov/jotr/index.htm">Joshua Tree National Park</a> where we did a hike that I knew would definitely make my own top ten hikes list: <a href="https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/upload/lostpalms_mastodonpeak.pdf">Lost Palms Oasis</a>.<br />
<br />
Larry woke up before dawn that morning and shook me awake to watch the sunrise from the patio at the AirBnb house where we were staying.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33865393566/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3829/33865393566_23f298b47a_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
It was freezing out - Larry went out on the patio in his underwear to watch, but I figured I could see just as well stretched out on the lounge chair in the living room bundled up under a blanket.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33749756782/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3930/33749756782_e92ab23903_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Pretty soon though I couldn't resist joining him outside to wait for the sun to come up over the mountains.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33865392976/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2877/33865392976_326c72196a_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
It was a spectacular show.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33749756042/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2863/33749756042_34361e4f97_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33865392436/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2854/33865392436_3882363e87_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33865391786/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2838/33865391786_6a892ed62e_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
After breakfast, we headed into Joshua Tree National Park to explore the park and take a hike.<br />
<br />
We entered through the north entrance of the park where the park's famous <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yucca_brevifolia">Joshua Trees</a> (which are actually a type of yucca) grow everywhere. I wasn't paying attention to my camera settings and accidentally overexposed the first few photos I took. I love the result! Happy accident!<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33906134135/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2945/33906134135_9226e12a1a_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33749754742/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2886/33749754742_21ced230f2_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33865390956/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3840/33865390956_9e76967acf_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
We drove almost all the way through the park to get to the trailhead for Lost Palms Oasis, which was in the southern portion of the park - almost 60 miles away from the northern entrance. It was an incredible drive and a great way to get an overview of the entire park and all the different ecosystems it contains. Joshua Tree is a huge park - at 1,234 square miles (794,000 acres) it is the same size as the entire state of Rhode Island. What's interesting is that completely different types of plants grow in different areas of the park because the park actually contains two different desert ecosystems - the Mojave Desert (high desert) and the Colorado Desert (low desert). We drove through miles and miles of Joshua Trees and then abruptly the Joshua Trees stopped growing and we drove through areas where only <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cylindropuntia">Cholla cactus</a> grew or where there were only <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fouquieria_splendens">Ocotillo</a>.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33776752171/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3804/33776752171_d0e0cd70f3_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33776752701/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3954/33776752701_23fbf96312_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Because the trailhead was so far away we didn't have time to stop and photograph each of these areas and I gave up on trying to take pictures from the car. We cranked up U2's <i>Joshua Tree</i> album and just enjoyed the drive in real time.<br />
<br />
The Lost Palms Canyon Oasis hike was about 8 miles round trip. The park info lists the official mileage as 7.2 miles, but we learned that this only goes to the sign at the top of the canyon - there was additional mileage to climb down into the canyon to view the fan palms that grow in the oasis. We headed into the desert with our packs full of snacks, camera gear, and two camelbaks of water plus a few extra water bottles. We ran out of water a few hundred feet before we made it back to the parking lot - I think this is the first hike where we've used up all our water. The desert is no joke!<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33906133425/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2892/33906133425_c60b5859b1_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
But onto the hike! It was incredible. Hiking in the desert is so different from hiking on the east coast because you can see for miles and miles. This was one of those trails where the hike itself <i>is </i>the payoff because you could see so much from the trail and your view was constantly changing. Though there was a pretty cool payoff at the end of the trail, too. I loved the undulating sandy path - we were constantly going up and down, but it wasn't too steep, so it made for pleasant easy hiking terrain. (However, due to the distance and heat, NPS lists this hike as "difficult" and the climb down into the canyon is listed as "strenuous." Personally, I would categorize this as a moderate hike.) There are no Joshua Trees in this part of the park, but there were lots of other unique desert plants and cool rock formations.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33749751522/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3940/33749751522_1cf1b73cf6_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33521198640/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2939/33521198640_d95c7a2c7d_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33906132715/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2883/33906132715_c1070b931c_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33062897844/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2894/33062897844_1b8f77cbb4_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33093182463/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2829/33093182463_97d196f624_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33749750252/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3829/33749750252_83bab12537_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33749751212/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2907/33749751212_cd92dab4fe_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33749748792/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2850/33749748792_058c8ea76c_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33906112295/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2889/33906112295_68386343e1_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33749751942/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2919/33749751942_6670abb144_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33521197900/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2843/33521197900_4f5de99a16_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33865372106/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2874/33865372106_d254460024_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33062898104/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2814/33062898104_68a19c6031_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
At the 3.6 mile mark, we reached the sign at the top of the canyon and stopped for some water and to take a few pictures.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33093190453/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2902/33093190453_0ed0659914_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33062896864/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3816/33062896864_1633a23d0f_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33062897414/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2926/33062897414_3f8768e0f7_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33093189613/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2905/33093189613_811e75e41e_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
And then we climbed down into the canyon. The beginning section of this trail was steep and rocky with the kind of gravel that slips out from under your feet, and as I was climbing down I had moment of worry wondering if I was going to be able to climb back out of the canyon! But it was all worth it when we rounded the bend and got a glimpse of the oasis below.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33062896564/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2892/33062896564_9992b137e2_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33906114575/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3930/33906114575_58ea5a3ab4_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33906110495/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2919/33906110495_5ba6da5513_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33062895104/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2896/33062895104_461515b1f2_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
We made it to the bottom of the canyon and decided this was a great spot to stretch out on some boulders and eat our trail snacks while surrounded by giant fan palms. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washingtonia_filifera">California Fan Palm</a> is actually the only species of palm tree that is native to California. It was a great spot for a lunch break. What it wasn't great for was seeing Bighorn Sheep that supposedly inhabit this area. Foiled again!<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33093187153/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2861/33093187153_007875cbdd_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33062895804/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2830/33062895804_4e8e2c5627_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33062896234/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2900/33062896234_44dc55163b_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33906120455/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3937/33906120455_c85c9ceca8_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33062895404/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2822/33062895404_a44332234a_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33093186293/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2948/33093186293_3297bbb092_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
And then we climbed back out of the canyon (I had no trouble getting out!) and headed the 3.6 miles back. On the hike back, I heard Larry suck in his breath in surprise and wondered what sort of danger he had encountered on the trail. It was this guy:<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33906118955/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2814/33906118955_90cf6c483c_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
A Desert Tortoise! We were very careful to be quiet and move slowly because a startled <a href="https://www.nps.gov/jotr/learn/nature/tortoise.htm">Desert Tortoise</a> will pee in surprise and lose all its stored hydration. The tortoise can reabsorb urine from its bladder to rehydrate itself (which it can carry in its bladder for a year!), so if it pees it can lose its entire water supply. <a href="https://www.eenews.net/stories/1060021163">This can be fatal</a> for a creature that lives in the desert. However, the desert tortoise can live 50-80 years, so they're pretty hardy fellows. Incredible to believe that this guy might have been roaming around the desert since before I was born! The Desert Tortoise spends 95% of its time underground and is a threatened species, so I guess this was a rare sighting?<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33093181123/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2828/33093181123_7ca1ecb667_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33865369906/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2844/33865369906_8126f1d9cf_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
We were pretty exhausted and our feet were pretty sore by the time we made it back to the car. I ended up with a blister caused by my sock (that's a first!) and really didn't want to walk much further, but we had heard from a park ranger that the best place to view wildflowers was from a short nature loop nearby. We dragged our blistered feet around the loop, fairly unimpressed. It definitely wasn't a superbloom.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33906118045/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3927/33906118045_d87d8e31f0_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33093183403/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2870/33093183403_32a871a798_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/33906116725/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="joshua tree national park"><img alt="joshua tree national park" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2950/33906116725_570ef08d66_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Feet sore, bodies exhausted, bellies famished, and minds clear, we headed back to our little house in the desert, in awe of the unique landscape we had gotten to explore that day. Definitely one for the top ten list!Funnelcloud Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12090193674723900588noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616163624033566299.post-33474393531456038082017-02-11T00:07:00.001-05:002017-02-11T00:07:47.249-05:00california | sparrows lodge + palm springs<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32789527156/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/492/32789527156_e22e1b8a18_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
I was recently talking about Palm Springs with some friends and I exclaimed "Oh, you have to stay at <a href="http://sparrowslodge.com/">Sparrows Lodge</a>! It's the best place we've ever stayed!"<br />
<br />
Which I quickly realized wasn't exactly true. There's no way I could pick a best or favorite from the many awesome places we've stayed. For some people, finding a place to stay when traveling is just a necessary expense and a bed to sleep in at night. But for me, one of the best parts of planning a trip is finding unique accommodations. In fact, when another friend recently asked me how I find such great places to stay, I confided "It's my super power!" (Ha!)<br />
<br />
My idea of a great place to stay is not the same as everyone else's though. I couldn't care less about room service, package deals, the thread count of the sheets, etc. What I am looking for is something architecturally interesting. I like modern design, uncluttered spaces, and beautiful scenery. We like cabins, cottages, treehouses, and tipis, and occasionally a small inn or bed & breakfast. We generally like places that are cozy and secluded or that give us a taste of local culture. And I like all of that on a fairly modest budget. (Which isn't to say that I don't like a bit of luxury - I do love a hot tub and a good cocktail!)<br />
<br />
And we've picked some winners over the years - from staying at <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2013/08/tom-sewells-maui-art-estate.html">an artist's estate in Maui</a>, to the <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2015/05/maine-sans-souci-camp.html">most scenic cabin in Maine</a>, to <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2011/07/life-list-41-stay-at-luminhaus.html">this awesome modern prefab in our home state of Virginia</a>, to <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2016/06/canada-heading-north-exp-cabins.html">this cozy little camping cabin in Canada</a>, there's no way I could pick a favorite! I'll have to come up with a different superlative adjective for each one because they are all equally incredible, but for different reasons.<br />
<br />
But back to Palm Springs. Sparrows Lodge was incredible and definitely the most <i>luxurious </i>place we've ever stayed. And with only 20 guest rooms, it was just our speed. We went there to celebrate our third wedding anniversary. At the time, there was a lot of news about the zika virus, so we nixed our plan to go to the Caribbean, and decided to stay in the U.S. I'd been curious about Palm Springs, and in retrospect it was probably because certain hipster hotels there have done a pretty awesome job of promoting and marketing themselves on social media. After visiting, I am SO glad that we didn't end up staying at one of those hotels. The hipster party scene is definitely not my thing!<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32016051213/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="palm springs"><img alt="palm springs" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2305/32016051213_51c973a161_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
I'm not even sure how I stumbled on the Sparrows Lodge website, but it was perfect. The prices there vary widely from night to night (the room rate often DOUBLES, or more, for a weekend stay vs. weekday!) and depending on what time of year it is. It isn't the kind of place that is usually within our budget, but it happened to be affordable during the week of our anniversary, so we booked three nights. And we were celebrating our anniversary, so a little splurge was worth it!<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32789526526/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2245/32789526526_89e548f481_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
We arrived in Palm Springs in the evening and were blown away the minute we reached the Sparrows property. It felt like a secret garden. There were fragrant flowering trees, flickering lanterns, outdoor fire pits, and a glowing pool on the property. There was no concierge or check-in counter - instead you walked past the pool to the bar, said you wanted to check in, and were handed a cocktail! Welcome to paradise:<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32449720820/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2936/32449720820_98d55aceeb_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32789516386/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3745/32789516386_65ab7a4a8e_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32449721370/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3923/32449721370_b7f88f5c90_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32449722880/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/533/32449722880_d702008443_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32789515366/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/333/32789515366_d46e86ac2c_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32789528046/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="564" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3872/32789528046_b417d47132_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">No extra charge for the bathroom creeper!</span></div>
<br />
We were shown to our room off of the garden, and spent the next few days in pure bliss: In the mornings, we ate toast, jam, and hardboiled eggs in the garden under the citrus trees. (It smelled incredible!) During the day, we lounged by the pool (it was cold, but I braved a swim!), read our books, drank beers from the bar, cooled off under the misters, and took dips in the hot tub. We ordered food that was delivered to our lounge chairs (I guess I do like luxury more than I thought!) - the fruit topped with burrata was delicious. Periodically, the staff would walk around with burning sage <a href="http://www.chopra.com/articles/clear-your-energy-and-lift-your-spirits-with-the-sacred-art-of-smudging#sm.0001qujvpkc1ff7zzot2p5qdzuhbn">to smudge</a> the grounds of negative energy. (This was California after all!) In the evening, more of the same, plus alternating between soaking in the world's deepest tub in our room, and outside in the hot tub by the fire under the palm tree. In fact, Sparrows Lodge was so nice and relaxing that we had very little desire to leave the property and explore Palm Springs at all. (And when we did, we weren't that impressed. The palm trees and mountains were nice, but the architecture was very suburban. I'm sure we missed something, but we didn't care...) We did have a fantastic dinner for our anniversary at <a href="http://www.workshoppalmsprings.com/">Workshop</a>, but for the most part we stayed at Sparrows and I wouldn't change a thing! In fact, I'd do it all over again. I often write about how we overextend ourselves on vacations trying to do/see everything. This experience was the opposite, and I think we definitely need more zero/relaxing days when we travel.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32016028933/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/554/32016028933_7f8e31f605_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32677148182/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2379/32677148182_367fb570a1_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32016025053/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/317/32016025053_54a6da6d2f_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32677183102/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2335/32677183102_7a0472fed9_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32016028003/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/316/32016028003_396ee3510a_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32449717870/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2361/32449717870_10fec36144_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32706982651/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3718/32706982651_e096fe9292_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32789511046/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2872/32789511046_8b4639f06f_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32789514516/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3884/32789514516_5eeaaa551a_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32016024113/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2262/32016024113_10f1c411ba_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/31987681904/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2473/31987681904_ee5945ba28_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32707024441/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2260/32707024441_be87a1333f_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32449667580/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="398" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2775/32449667580_54f53bdbeb_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32789513436/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/366/32789513436_2a827c47aa_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32789521196/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2910/32789521196_ef101802e8_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32016053773/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3850/32016053773_37855feefe_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32789517496/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/769/32789517496_b585a8e8c9_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32016026243/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2323/32016026243_00887c9e0c_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32789523426/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2387/32789523426_c74f14f41b_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32016053013/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2059/32016053013_8150196352_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32831039725/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/427/32831039725_d7330b0a5d_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32830619105/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/442/32830619105_1351b2975c_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32789520546/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2494/32789520546_8d3225226c_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/31987682414/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2709/31987682414_566b00d0de_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32449667060/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3955/32449667060_ee44736de2_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32789524186/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2520/32789524186_d910b5bfa1_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32789521756/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2494/32789521756_be57a6c542_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32789519396/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2317/32789519396_eed4ea17ce_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32789522756/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2338/32789522756_60c02da46e_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32449722140/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/413/32449722140_a1b5cb8ec4_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
It was a truly glorious three days. We checked out on the morning of our anniversary (because that was when the room rates skyrocketed) and drove out into the desert for another three nights exploring Joshua Tree. Before we left paradise though, we asked one of the Sparrows staff to snap a pic of us in the garden. He obliged, but we realized a few minutes later that he probably didn't realize we had just checked out and thought we were tourists who had just wandered in from the street!<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32016052083/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="sparrows lodge"><img alt="sparrows lodge" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2444/32016052083_8a35d0fce2_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Next stop: the desert...Funnelcloud Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12090193674723900588noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616163624033566299.post-87645131437155128362017-02-06T00:38:00.002-05:002017-02-06T00:44:07.113-05:00new mexico in 1 second everyday<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/202700540" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="800"></iframe><br />
<br />
In November, Larry and I spent a week in New Mexico. I decided to try documenting the trip with short video clips using the <a href="http://1secondeveryday.com/">1 Second Everyday app.</a> (I also took thousands of photos on my Nikon, but per usual, those will take me months/years to sort through, edit, and post.) While it took a little time to arrange the video clips in the app, it was still a pretty quick process, and I filmed and arranged the whole thing on my phone! It was near instant gratification, and it's pretty cool to be able to watch a 3 minute video summary of our trip. I got a new phone a few weeks after we got back, and was just able to retrieve the video from my old phone the other day. I had intended to do a few more edits (eliminate some of the more awkward clips, create a better intro/ending), but these little things are usually what keep me from ever completing a project, and since it was 99% done, I just decided to go with what I already had.<br />
<br />
<i>A few comments on the 1 Second Everyday app: </i><br />
<b>+</b> I really wish there was the option of using longer clips (maybe up to 5 seconds?). I realize the point of the app is to use quick clips, but the 1 second clips make me a bit dizzy, plus you can't film a conversation.<br />
<b>+</b> I wish there was a way to turn off the date that appears in the bottom left corner. It makes sense if you're making a year long video, but not so much if you're making the video about one event/trip. And if you edit a video clip on your phone (like if it is rotated the wrong way), the date that shows up on the video is the date that you edited the video, not that date that you filmed it, which is why some of the dates on my video seem like they're out of order.<br />
<br />
And yes, I know we are huge dorks on camera (and off camera, too). My video skills aren't that good, and neither of us know how to act natural when we're being filmed, hence all the awkward waves and funny faces.<br />
<br />
Still, it was a fun little project, and more importantly, one that I actually finished! I hope to make more of these in 2017.Funnelcloud Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12090193674723900588noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616163624033566299.post-64287280754613419912017-01-30T23:59:00.000-05:002017-02-06T00:05:17.088-05:0017 goals for 2017<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32696351606/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="17 goals for 2017"><img alt="17 goals for 2017" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/726/32696351606_a36d34da88_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
It's been a while since I've written about my goals - mainly because I'm really good at making them, and really bad at accomplishing them. Part of the problem is that I tend to set really ambitious (read: unattainable) goals (like a list of 50-100 things to accomplish in a single year - whaaaat?) and part of the problem is that I'm lazy.<br />
<br />
But I limited myself to 17 goals in 2017. They're all fun/personal goals - things to do for my own enjoyment. (Though I totally cheated and I also have business goals, and a list of house projects, and habits that I want to work on that aren't included in this list. Oh, and I want to make a difference in this world, because things really suck right now.)<br />
<br />
It's unusual for me not to set a reading or a cooking goal, but I realized that I'm already good at doing both of these things, and there's no need to make an assignment out of something that's supposed to be fun and that I'm already doing pretty well at. So, I plan to read and cook a lot in 2017, but I'm not putting any numbers on it. I also hope to make good art, establish a daily meditation practice, simplify my life, reduce the amount of time I waste on social media... (You know, the usual: ACHIEVE PERFECTION! Did I mention that I tend to set unattainable goals?)<br />
<br />
But back to my 17 personal/fun/selfish goals. And yes, I realize these are pretty darn ambitious, too. And many of the them have been on my list for several years. Maybe I'll find a cure for laziness in 2017?<br />
<br />
<b>1. Travel</b><br />
<b> + a new continent</b><br />
<b> + a new country</b><br />
<b> + a new state</b><br />
<b> + a new U.S. city</b><br />
<b> + a new national park</b><br />
<b> + a Virginia getaway weekend</b><br />
<b> + Luminhaus</b><br />
Traveling as much as possible will always be my number one personal goal. I hope this is the year I can make it to a continent I've never been to before. In December, I thought it would be Africa. At the beginning of the year, we thought it would be Asia. Now we're really not sure. Our travel circumstances seem to always be changing, so I know better than to count on any travel being certain. In August, we're going to Alaska (new state) and plan to visit Denali (new national park). And I'd like to explore some more of our own state, particularly, southwestern Virginia, and <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2011/07/life-list-41-stay-at-luminhaus.html">return to Luminhaus</a> in the fall (a trip we've been trying to take for 4 years, but keeps not happening). I'd love to finally visit Savannah, visit Portland, and road trip across Texas. Can't wait to see where the year takes us.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>2. Hike 3 major VA hikes.</b><br />
Last year, we set a goal of hiking 100 miles and it was one of the best goals I've ever set. 100 miles isn't that far, so it was an attainable goal, but we also had to dedicate ourselves to going hiking a couple times a month, so it was challenging, too. My only regret is that we didn't tackle some of the longer (by longer, I mean 7+ miles) and more challenging hikes within our own state. (This is mainly because even though these hikes are in Virginia, they are far enough away, and long enough that most of them require an overnight stay.) We will definitely hike many more than three times this year and we will hike in different states (and hopefully a foreign country or two), but my goal this year is to take advantage of some of the incredible day hikes in Virginia. <a href="https://www.visitroanokeva.com/things-to-do/outdoor-adventure/hiking-trails/triple-crown/">Virginia's Triple Crown</a> is <i>McAfee Knob</i>, <i>Tinker Cliffs</i>, and <i>Dragon's Tooth</i>. <i>Old Rag</i> is still on the list, as is Virginia's tallest peak, <i>Mount Rogers</i>. <i>Brumley Mountain Trail</i> in The Great Channels of Virginia looks awesome. And I'd love to tackle <i>Devil's Bathtub</i> and <i>Devil's Marbleyard</i>. I want to do them all, but I'll settle for crossing 3 of them off my list in 2017, especially since my joint pain has been consistently getting worse.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>3. Embroider 3 large pieces.</b><br />
Embroidery became my new favorite hobby last year. I love that I can sit down and work on it any time I have a few minutes free, or while watching TV or listening to an audiobook. (And there are no brushes to clean!) It is definitely a slow art form, which makes it relaxing and almost meditative. I started two large abstract pieces at the end of 2016, so I need to finish what I've started. And I have the colors picked out for a third project. I might like to challenge myself to a mixed media painting/embroidery piece, too. Hopefully, I can finish these projects without ending up in a neck brace again!<br />
<br />
<b>4. Swim x48.</b><br />
Looking for consistency here, which is not my strong suit. Swimming is my favorite form of exercise - I'm not fast, and I'm not good, but I enjoy it and it makes me feel good. Strike that, it makes me feel AWESOME, which is pretty incredible, because as a non-athletic person, most exercise makes me feel like dying. But I'm pretty inconsistent with this - I'll swim several times a week for a few months, and then I won't swim at all for months. If I can average 4 swims a month, I'll call this a win.<br />
<br />
<b>5. Paint family portraits.</b><br />
This project has been on my list for a while. I keep putting it off because I don't feel that comfortable painting faces.<br />
<br />
<b>6. Frame and hang art and photos.</b><br />
And this one has been on my list forever because I can't make decisions. No more blank walls!<br />
<br />
<b>7. Take lessons/a class.</b><br />
Another thing I keep putting off because of...fear? It's hard to be a student again and even harder to be a beginner when you're an adult. But I've always wished I had learned to play piano as a child. It's never too late, right? And I have a ukulele I want to learn how to play, too. I'd like to take a ceramics class. (I took wheel when I was a teenager, but I'm more interested in hand-building now.) And I've always wanted to learn how to paint with encaustic.<br />
<br />
<b>8. A big painting!</b><br />
No fear! No blank walls!<br />
<br />
<b>9. Learn to use chopsticks.</b><br />
This skill has eluded me since childhood. I've never been able to use chopsticks. It's embarrassing when I go to Asian restaurants, and it's a skill I definitely must master if we go to Asia this year. Larry and I decided that we would eat all our meals in 2017 with chopsticks, which also sounds like a good weight loss plan since less than half the food will actually make it into my mouth. But at the beginning of the year, I watched a bunch of instructional YouTube videos, and I'm happy to say that I can now feed myself an entire meal with chopsticks. I need to keep practicing, but I think I can do this!<br />
<br />
<b>10. Bike a quarter century.</b><br />
25 miles is not far on a bike. But the point of this goal is to just get back on my bike (which currently has two flat tires) and ride. A couple years ago we started to really enjoy cycling, and then last year we only rode once because we were working on our hiking goal. So this year, I just want to get back on the bike, have fun, and pedal for 25 straight miles.<br />
<br />
<b>11. Sew 4 accent pillows.</b><br />
Giant sectional sofa with sad puny pillows needs a make-over!<br />
<br />
<b>12. Finish 2 quilts.</b><br />
I sewed 2 quilt tops during the 2014 Olympics. Just finish them!<br />
<br />
<b>13. Make photo books.</b><br />
This one is overwhelming. There's so much backlog and so many photos to edit. Over ten years of travel, plus our wedding...<br />
<br />
<b>14. Get rid of 1/3 of our stuff.</b><br />
Goodbye, crap!<br />
<br />
<b>15. Make a video.</b><br />
Potential videos: travel, a hike, the dogs, a day/week in our life. Oh, and I need to practice using my GoPro this year, too - I got frustrated with it last year.<br />
<br />
<b>16. Learn to make a great cocktail.</b><br />
Most fun goal on the list, right? Cheers!<br />
<br />
<b>17. Minimal wardrobe + organized closet.</b><br />
A simple, curated closet would be life-changing for me. Or maybe I'll just get rid of all my clothes and wear nothing but black yoga pants and black t-shirts from now on.<br />
<br />
Alright, now I've made all my goals public, so if you run into me in public you can ask me "How are those ukulele lessons going, Rachel?" and watch me turn 37 shades of red. But I really would love to be able to cross all these off by December. However, I know that it's important to roll with whatever life throws at me in the coming year and that things change and my goals/situation might change, too. For now, I'll try to make progress on the 17 things on this list. I've already been working on the cocktails and chopsticks...Funnelcloud Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12090193674723900588noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616163624033566299.post-39786531540693260042017-01-29T02:26:00.000-05:002017-02-02T03:10:47.712-05:00a southern new year's eve<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32659593985/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="New Year's Eve 2016"><img alt="New Year's Eve 2016" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/759/32659593985_63a87e0c0f_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
At our New Year's Eve party this year, our group of friends was talking about when spending New Year's Eve together became <i>a thing </i>that we couldn't miss. The tradition started on the last day of 2002 - a group of co-workers gathered in Bethesda to ring in the new year. I had only known these new friends for six months and was happy to have an invitation to a New Year's Eve party. And we all got to know each other a lot better that evening as about eight of us crammed into a taxi to ride from Maryland back to Virginia. I remember screams of "My kidneys! My bladder!" as we barreled down the highway, crammed in that cab like a can of sardines. (Luckily I was riding on top of the pile, so my internal organs stayed intact.) From that year on, the same group of friends gathered at various bars and restaurants to ring in the new year together. At some point about nine or ten years ago, we started tiring of the DC New Year's Eve scene. When Larry and I got charged something like $200 for a taxi ride from DC to VA one year, we decided our New Year's Eve in the District days were over. So our group started hosting dinner parties to ring in the New Year instead. We've been celebrating New Year's Eve together for 15 years and the dinner party tradition is now in its seventh straight year. Larry and I don't really have any family holiday traditions, so it's awesome to have such a strong tradition with friends. We all agreed that our annual NYE party is something that we just can't miss.<br />
<br />
This year Larry and I hosted the party at our house. In my head, I love entertaining - choosing a menu! Fun decorations! Liquor! But in reality, I'm always in the weeds and panicking at the last minute trying to get food on the table before 10 pm. This year I was pretty proud of myself for having time to decorate ahead of time.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32280420940/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="New Year's Eve 2016"><img alt="New Year's Eve 2016" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/405/32280420940_d975d38ec4_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32659589635/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="New Year's Eve 2016"><img alt="New Year's Eve 2016" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/266/32659589635_4e627cd60b_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32280420130/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="New Year's Eve 2016"><img alt="New Year's Eve 2016" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/625/32280420130_36a1f203d9_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Ready to party!</span></div>
<br />
I had this great idea to order clear balloons and fill them with confetti. The balloons arrived and, um...<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32659587955/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="New Year's Eve 2016"><img alt="New Year's Eve 2016" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/544/32659587955_699e20369e_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Have a SAFE new year, people! </span></div>
<br />
Yuck! I quickly nixed the <strike>condoms</strike> balloons from the decor. Luckily, I had twinkle lights and streamers that didn't resemble prophylactics. Ok, the streamers might have looked a bit like TP. My original plan was to cover the entire ceiling with streamers, but I quickly got the F-its. And my helper (who boasted that he had streamer-hanging experience from setting up the gym for homecoming in 1988) put the kibosh on hanging more streamers after we got about 10 of them up. Good enough.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32280418850/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="New Year's Eve 2016"><img alt="New Year's Eve 2016" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/543/32280418850_124c120cd2_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32659592965/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="New Year's Eve 2016"><img alt="New Year's Eve 2016" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/305/32659592965_8ac263d91e_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32659592285/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="New Year's Eve 2016"><img alt="New Year's Eve 2016" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/539/32659592285_e96857e431_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Now onto the food: Each year we choose a theme and everyone brings food to share that fits the theme. This year the theme was Southern food. It may have been our most delicious (and least healthy, note lack of vegetables) New Year's Eve yet. On the menu:<br />
<br />
+ Jambalaya<br />
+ <a href="https://www.kfc.com/">Fried chicken</a><br />
+ <a href="http://minimalistbaker.com/easyrecipe-print/5635-0/">Biscuits</a><br />
+ <a href="http://www.gourmetcreative.net/single-post/2016/12/14/Advent-Calendar-Day-16-Pimento-Cheese-Stuffed-Mini-Peppers">Pimento Cheese</a><br />
+ Hush Puppies<br />
+ Cornbread Spoonbread<br />
+ <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/the_best_chocol/">Texas Sheet Cake</a><br />
+ Key Lime Pie<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32280419830/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="New Year's Eve 2016"><img alt="New Year's Eve 2016" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/362/32280419830_aa58a66962_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32659591585/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="New Year's Eve 2016"><img alt="New Year's Eve 2016" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/412/32659591585_7377ff74b2_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32659590925/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="New Year's Eve 2016"><img alt="New Year's Eve 2016" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/749/32659590925_51ffe7daf0_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32659585795/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="New Year's Eve 2016"><img alt="New Year's Eve 2016" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/645/32659585795_f9d29dbc14_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
There were Southern cocktails, too...<br />
<br />
+ Apple Bourbon Delights<br />
+ Cajun Lemonade<br />
+ Mint Julep Jello Shots<br />
+ Alabama Slammers<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32280421510/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="New Year's Eve 2016"><img alt="New Year's Eve 2016" height="398" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/283/32280421510_0a1d295e18_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32280419180/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="New Year's Eve 2016"><img alt="New Year's Eve 2016" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/720/32280419180_8ee2fa1318_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
...and a wide selection of southern beer. Larry made a southern playlist, too, which consisted of lots of county music and lots of Outkast. (Which our friends kept trying to change.)<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32659583985/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="New Year's Eve 2016"><img alt="New Year's Eve 2016" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/648/32659583985_8782106ee5_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The pups may have gotten a little something from their Uncle Mike.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photobomb by Bud Light.)</span></div>
<br />
New Year's Eve is a prime counter-surfing holiday for the pups. <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2011/01/in-with-bang.html">One year</a> Gravy ate a 1/4 pound of New Zealand bleu cheese and <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2013/01/new-years-eve-on-stick.html">another year</a> he swallowed a shrimp skewer. At one point in the evening, we feared one of the dogs had disappeared a jello shot...<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32280419510/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="New Year's Eve 2016"><img alt="New Year's Eve 2016" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/685/32280419510_04377e7b37_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">"Did someone say <i>fried chicken?!</i>"</span></div>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32659586685/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="New Year's Eve 2016"><img alt="New Year's Eve 2016" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/647/32659586685_72d0788fb2_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">"Everybody look to the left! Hmm...now what's this on the coffee table?"</span></div>
<br />
When I said we hosted a dinner party, did you think that meant something elegant...and not fried chicken, Alabama Slammers, and Outkast???<br />
<br />
But wait, there's more...<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32659587065/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="New Year's Eve 2016"><img alt="New Year's Eve 2016" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/274/32659587065_98f3847db5_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32659595445/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="New Year's Eve 2016"><img alt="New Year's Eve 2016" height="398" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/722/32659595445_d35ccd3db6_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/202165089" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="800"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We burned stuff! Specifically, our Christmas trees from 2014 and 2015, which had achieved a nice patina and depth of flavor after aging in the corner of our backyard for the past few years. A raging bonfire was a very fitting send off for 2016.</div>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32659584455/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="New Year's Eve 2016"><img alt="New Year's Eve 2016" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/515/32659584455_a27f6ac6c0_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Burn, 2016, burn!</span></div>
<br />
I did not realize how much the kids would love the fire. They invented a little fire dance, and chanted "<i>Fi-er! Fi-er!</i>" while roasting things on sticks. We foolishly were not prepared with marshmallows, but according to the kids, roasted gummi bears and roasted tortilla chips are "Mmmmmm! Good!" (How he was able to roast a tortilla chip on stick, I'll never know, but I saw it with my own eyes, so I know it's possible!)<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32280417620/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="New Year's Eve 2016"><img alt="New Year's Eve 2016" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/373/32280417620_3f50a7a621_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
When the clock struck twelve, we toasted 15 years of friendship and the pending end of America with Alabama Slammers. They tasted like <strike>ass</strike> Robitussin. Sorry, friends. I guess we should all just get used to swallowing bad medicine. (Not really. <i>Resist!</i>)<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32280416940/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="New Year's Eve 2016"><img alt="New Year's Eve 2016" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/772/32280416940_284a954cd2_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/202165375" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="800"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">We sound like assholes.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In all seriousness though, I'm really thankful for these guys and our not-to-be-missed annual tradition.</div>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32659586355/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="New Year's Eve 2016"><img alt="New Year's Eve 2016" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/523/32659586355_f94236f543_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Mug shot.</span></div>
<br />
All good parties must come to an end, though:<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32659585145/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="New Year's Eve 2016"><img alt="New Year's Eve 2016" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/466/32659585145_388d8b0061_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Too many jello shots.</span></div>
<br />
After our guests had left, I popped the camera on the tripod and convinced Larry to pose for a quick pic since we hadn't gotten a photo of the two of us all night. It was about 2 am. I'm pretty sure Larry is asleep.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32280418460/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="New Year's Eve 2016"><img alt="New Year's Eve 2016" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/683/32280418460_e4cd09572d_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Stay woke, Larry! Stay woke!</span></div>
<br />
So here's to friends, traditions, and 2017. I really hope you aren't terrible.<br />
<br />
<i>P.S. Any ideas as to what I should do with six dozen condom-colored balloons???</i>Funnelcloud Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12090193674723900588noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616163624033566299.post-74886042566858382432017-01-19T23:11:00.001-05:002017-01-20T00:09:08.618-05:002016 | the year in review<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/31591581883/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="GOPR1519 ES crop"><img alt="GOPR1519 ES crop" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/584/31591581883_aec65b0796_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
2017 is here. It sounds like such a futuristic number. 2017 is the year I will celebrate 20 years since I graduated from high school. (Omg.) I'm honestly not feeling super inspired about this year (or the next four, yikes) thanks to current politics in this country. The impending inauguration is filling my January with dread. But at the same time, I'm more motivated than ever to make a difference in 2017.<br />
<br />
But first, let's take a look back at 2016. It seems a little silly to summarize a year that I didn't write about in the first place. My life has felt so routine and cyclical these past few years and I'm not sure how to shake myself out of this deep rut. I feel like I'm just rehashing the same things on this blog year after year. I only seem to share travel photos anymore and my travel posts are feeling too formulaic and also make my life seem like all we do is travel. But in reality, there are lots of hard everyday moments in between those incredible trips. I do miss writing and sharing photos, and most of all documenting my life, so I guess there's no time like the present to get back in the blogging saddle. While 2016 was a bit of a crap year for the world (and definitely for the U.S.), and a difficult year for me emotionally and business-wise, it was also a pretty awesome year of travel and hiking for Larry and me. There's good and bad to all years, though, and I'm thankful I had such incredible adventures to make up for the challenging times.<br />
<br />
But back to reminiscing about 2016. We traveled a ton this year, both within the U.S. and internationally. Socially, we laid low and kept to ourselves. My three biggest personal accomplishments were hiking 100 miles, finishing a sketchbook, and <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2017/01/best-of-2016-best-books.html">reading 62 books</a>, which is a good reminder that it's the simple pleasures that make a good life.<br />
<br />
I actually started this post back in January 2016 and typed up a summary of each month throughout the year...until June, when I forgot about it. Dedication to habits long-term has never been my strength. Luckily, thanks to the world of social media and the thousands of unorganized photos on my computer, it's easy to go back and remember what we were doing each month...<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">JANUARY</span></b><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32293128561/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="IMG_4472 ES crop 2 safe"><img alt="IMG_4472 ES crop 2 safe" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/381/32293128561_c13737819d_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32282193991/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="DSC_1011 ES crop 3"><img alt="DSC_1011 ES crop 3" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/751/32282193991_a5508d95f1_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/24034238404/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="snowzilla 2016"><img alt="snowzilla 2016" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/2/1442/24034238404_2b2e31b118_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Netflix and sweet potatoes. That pretty much sums up how we spent January. Larry and I were still reeling after a difficult and emotional December. 2015 had been a tough year for us, and we were still in recovery mode. The one thing I usually love about January is making goals and planning out the year. But we really struggled with planning this year because 2016 was supposed to go in one direction, and it ended up going in another. Which in retrospect is what keeps life interesting, but at the time was very confusing and we felt a bit upside-down.<br />
<br />
After eating like college students in December, we rediscovered our cooking mojo and ended up spending the month eating dozens of sweet potatoes (<a href="http://minimalistbaker.com/mediterranean-baked-sweet-potatoes/">Mediterranean Baked Sweet Potatoes</a>, <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/sweet-potato-and-tomato-sauce">Sweet Potato and Tomato Sauce</a>, <a href="http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/thai-flavored-green-curry-with-sweet-potato-green-beans-and-chicken">Thai-Flavored Green Curry with Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans</a>, <a href="http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/sweet-potato-black-bean-burritos">Sweet Potato and Black Bean Burritos</a>), watching Netflix (we were hooked on <i><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80000770">Making a Murderer</a></i>) and starting to make travel plans after scoring tickets to see Pearl Jam in Quebec City in the spring. <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2016/01/snowzilla.html">Snowzilla</a> hit at the end of the month and we holed up with a few cases of beer and a giant pack of TP. We cooked banh mi in multiples forms. My SnoBrum got snowed into the trunk of my car, so we dug out with a kick board. We made snow angels in the backyard. We celebrated a belated Christmas with Larry's family in Maryland and had Dad and Sheila over for a Christmas/New Year's dinner. I started an online book club with <a href="http://www.2105hollywoodplace.com/">Veronika</a> and <a href="http://kldphotos.blogspot.com/">Karen</a> and laughed my face off as we critiqued/destroyed our first book pick. I had a painting in a local art show and attended the <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2016/01/vivid-gallery-opening.html">VIVID </a>opening with friends.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">FEBRUARY</span></b><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32291088281/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="DSC_1468 ES"><img alt="DSC_1468 ES" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/717/32291088281_2178b52a36_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32282177101/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="DSC_2501 ES crop"><img alt="DSC_2501 ES crop" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/602/32282177101_5032399d13_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/31591579663/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="IMG_0685 ES crop"><img alt="IMG_0685 ES crop" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/769/31591579663_815546d0e3_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Our Virtual Book Club started reading <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25365636-thru-hiking-will-break-your-heart">Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart</a></i> which led to both epic conversation (143 comments on our discussion thread- WHAT DOES IT EVEN MEAN?) and serious wanderlust. Larry and I took our <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2016/02/weekend-adventures-short-hike-on-at.html">first hike of the year with the pups on the A.T. in Maryland</a>. We finally nailed down our plans for our annual anniversary trip and per usual, made the reservations at the last minute. We started talking about a summer trip to Scandinavia and tried to figure out how to squeeze in visiting Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and the Faroe Islands. <i>Ha!</i> We considered getting a reservation for dinner at <a href="http://noma.dk/">Noma</a> in Copenhagen before it closed at the end of the year. <i>Ha, again!</i> I spent a day in DC with my friends <a href="http://theborrowedabode.com/">Jane</a> and <a href="http://www.simplyleap.com/">Lauree</a>, drinking cocktails and marveling over the <a href="https://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/online/wonder/">Wonder exhibit</a> at the newly opened <a href="http://renwick.americanart.si.edu/">Renwick Gallery</a>. Larry had a dream about me in which I exclaimed "<i>I'm never partying with Elvis or drinking Old Crow again!</i>" We went bowling and I got a high score of 141, which is about double what I usually bowl. (Should I add that to my list of accomplishments?!) We ate more banh mi. Larry non-surprised me with cupcakes on Valentine's Day. We celebrated our friend Jen's 40th/10th birthday on Leap Day. Our dryer broke as we were packing for our anniversary trip.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">MARCH</span></b><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32282187441/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="DSC_1522 ES crop"><img alt="DSC_1522 ES crop" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/419/32282187441_b6c90419e6_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32282180561/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="DSC_2192 ES crop"><img alt="DSC_2192 ES crop" height="507" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/762/32282180561_065d1172c8_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32282183581/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="DSC_1884 ES"><img alt="DSC_1884 ES" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/544/32282183581_06b0eb310f_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
We took our third anniversary trip to Palm Springs and Joshua Tree. We relaxed at <a href="http://sparrowslodge.com/">Sparrows Lodge</a>, eating breakfast under the citrus trees, lounging by the pool, and spending the evenings in the hot tub. We only left the lodge to eat an anniversary dinner at <a href="http://www.workshoppalmsprings.com/">Workshop</a>. We stayed at an <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/2171867">incredible modern cabin</a> in the desert and hiked 9 miles to the <a href="http://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/lost-palms-trail">Lost Palms Canyon Oasis</a>. We saw a desert tortoise on the trail. I spent way too much time trying to photograph the perfect Joshua Tree. We listened to U2. We showered outside in a corrugated metal tube during a windstorm. We ate coconut cupcakes on our anniversary and sampled California beers. We saw incredible sunrises and the darkest night skies. We saw art installations at the <a href="http://www.noahpurifoy.com/joshua-tree-outdoor-museum/">Noah Purifoy Outdoor Museum</a>. We dreamed of buying cheap land, moving to the desert, and opening up a taco joint.<br />
<br />
Back in Virginia, spring finally arrived. We went hiking, and visited wineries, and tried to get rid of our winter funks. We did a lot of laundry at my mom's house. We planned local excursions and goals for the rest of the year. We had an Easter picnic in the car with my mom. We started eating healthy again after our winter slump. I was frustrated with low-carb/vegan breakfast options and became obsessed with this recipe for awesome <a href="http://minimalistbaker.com/blueberry-muffin-breakfast-cookies-vegan-gf/">Blueberry Muffin Breakfast Cookies</a>.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">APRIL</span></b><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/28061689592/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="rose river falls"><img alt="rose river falls" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7334/28061689592_3008ff8ec0_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/31602346043/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="DSC_2407 ES crop 2"><img alt="DSC_2407 ES crop 2" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/418/31602346043_f04fcb26b1_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32363190896/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="IMG_1768 ES crop"><img alt="IMG_1768 ES crop" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/566/32363190896_e32bb6b9e0_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
I started swimming laps again (with my waterproof iPod) and meditating in the mornings and was feeling great and productive. For the first time ever, I crossed off all my To Dos on my weekly planner. We <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2016/07/weekend-adventures-exploring-hillwood.html">celebrated Mom's birthday on a beautiful spring day</a> at <a href="http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org/">Hillwood Gardens</a>. <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2016/07/weekend-adventures-hiking-rose-river.html">We hiked Rose River Falls</a> in <a href="https://www.nps.gov/shen/index.htm">Shenandoah National Park</a>. I volunteered to help build the <a href="http://www.re-ball.org/#welcome-to-re-ball">Raise/Raze re-ball art installation</a> at the DC Underground with friends. (And then was unable to see the finished exhibit because tickets sold out immediately!) I struggled with some business decisions. I went back to the Wonder exhibit to marvel over the installations again and take photos. We saw our first concert of the year on April 1st - <a href="http://calebcaudle.com/">Caleb Caudle</a> and <a href="http://www.wrinkleneckmules.com/">Wrinkleneck Mules</a> at <a href="http://jamminjava.com/">Jammin Java</a>. On the last day of the month, we drove north and stopped in Schroon Lake, New York for a night on the way to <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/search/label/canada">Canada</a>.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">MAY</span></b><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27350767131/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7425/27350767131_52d7bc5fb2_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32402550515/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="DSC_3239 ES crop"><img alt="DSC_3239 ES crop" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/596/32402550515_6ecd384fab_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/31591616483/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="DSC_3159 E crop"><img alt="DSC_3159 E crop" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/587/31591616483_9c8e1f109f_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
We spent a few days in <a href="https://www.sepaq.com/pq/jac/index.dot?language_id=1">Jacques-Cartier National Park</a> in Quebec. We hiked over <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2016/06/canada-walk-on-chemin-de-la-vallee-de.html">snow pack</a>, stayed in a <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2016/06/canada-heading-north-exp-cabins.html">modern cabin</a>, <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2016/06/canada-moose-sighting-hiking-les.html">saw a moose</a>, ate cheese (so much cheese!), and sat by the fire in the evening. We sampled Canadian beers. We met up with our friend Bryan in Quebec City, mangled the French language, <a href="http://lechicshack.ca/">ate poutine</a>, and drank cocktails in the <a href="http://www.fairmont.com/frontenac-quebec/">Hotel Frontenac</a>. We saw <a href="https://pearljam.com/">Pearl Jam</a> play at the Centre Videotron and survived the scariest cab ride of my life. We <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2016/06/canada-montmorency-falls.html">explored Montmorency Falls</a> and took a <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_711729195"></span>culinary/alcohol driving tour of Ile d'Orleans<span id="goog_711729196"></span></a>, sampling wine, beer, cider, pastries, chocolate, and ice cream as we went.<br />
<br />
Back in Virginia, I became enraged as the house across the street was torn down and construction began on a new McMansion to replace it. I read a memoir about Tokyo and became obsessed with Asian food. We finally replaced our washer and dryer after living without one for three months. We watched two baby foxes (and their mama) explore our yard for several weeks. I got <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2016/05/locked-out.html">locked out of the house for six hours</a>. We began renovating my studio, and gave it a fresh coat of paint and built a giant bulletin board over Memorial Day weekend.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">JUNE</span></b><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32025287760/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="75D4781B ES crop"><img alt="75D4781B ES crop" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/349/32025287760_e28248f0bc_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32025229450/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="IMG_2267 ES crop"><img alt="IMG_2267 ES crop" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/548/32025229450_1b0ac265cf_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32412987635/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="IMG_2370 E crop"><img alt="IMG_2370 E crop" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/382/32412987635_2faeea4f96_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
We continued working on my studio reno, and then per usual, quit, mid-project. We celebrated Larry's birthday/Larrypalooza with several concerts: <a href="http://www.nathanielrateliff.com/">Nathaniel Rateliff</a> and <a href="http://www.strangetrails.com/">Lord Huron</a> at Wolf Trap, and <a href="http://frank-turner.com/">Frank Tuner</a>, <a href="http://www.jasonisbell.com/">Jason Isbell</a>, and <a href="http://www.chrisstapleton.com/">Chris Stapleton</a> at Merriweather Post. We took our first (and only) bike ride of the year. We hiked <a href="http://www.hikingupward.com/GWNF/BigSchloss/">Big Schloss</a> in George Washington National Forest - one of the best local hikes we've ever done. I started a sketchbook and a 100 day personal challenge, which I called #artandactive. We finally booked our trip to Iceland. <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2016/06/another-one-bites-dust.html">Gravy killed a baby bunny</a> while I was sitting in the yard drinking a beer. I got new eyeglasses for the first time in 13 years. <a href="http://www.hikingupward.com/GWNF/BigSchloss/">Karen</a> died and I checked out of society for a while.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">JULY</span></b><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/31591582543/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="GOPR0724 ES crop"><img alt="GOPR0724 ES crop" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/673/31591582543_3395d67804_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/31591613543/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="DSC_3373 ES crop"><img alt="DSC_3373 ES crop" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/670/31591613543_d539659e04_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32025288340/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="32E6EE14-04D7-4277-80AC-9D51F757A39F ES crop"><img alt="32E6EE14-04D7-4277-80AC-9D51F757A39F ES crop" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/711/32025288340_5b7d03c199_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
I made art and exercised every single day in July. We hiked <a href="http://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/kennedy-peak-trail">Kennedy Peak</a> and <a href="http://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/wildcat-mountain-loop-trail">Wildcat Mountain</a> and visited <a href="http://creeksedgewinery.com/welcome">Creek's Edge Winery</a>, <a href="http://vanishbeer.com/">Vanish Brewing Company</a>, and <a href="http://www.backroombreweryva.com/">Backroom Brewery</a>. I got stung by a bee. We spent Saturday mornings at the farmers market. We bought tons of tomatoes and Larry worked on perfecting his Bloody Larry recipe. We had a picnic in Cherry Hill Park. I got a GoPro and practiced by taking a thousand fish-eye selfies of my big head using burst mode. I went to Belmar to visit my dad and we spent our days at the beach. I swam in the coldest water I've ever been in. In the mornings we read on the porch, ate fruit, and walked 4 miles down the Spring Lake Boardwalk. I convinced Dad to eat vegetarian sausage. I watched the Democratic National Convention and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BIWDOg2DAN3/?taken-by=funnelcloudrach">drew politicians in my sketchbook</a>. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cory_Booker">Cory Booker</a> liked my drawing of him on Instagram. We picked 9 pounds of blackberries.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">AUGUST</span></b><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/31591598613/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="DSC_4765 ES"><img alt="DSC_4765 ES" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/726/31591598613_2e8549be2f_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32025269800/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="DSC_4149 ES"><img alt="DSC_4149 ES" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/688/32025269800_2ecedebcd8_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32402502245/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="GOPR1599 E crop"><img alt="GOPR1599 E crop" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/376/32402502245_edcba39edb_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
I ate <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2016/08/the-summer-of-blackberries.html">all the blackberries</a>. It was seriously Iron Chef Battle Blackberry in the Smoellke test kitchen, as I made everything from cocktails to pizza using our berry bounty. I spent many hours watching the Rio Olympics. I continued sketching and exercising every day for my #artandactive challenge, but quit after 77 consecutive days, because we went to Iceland...<br />
<br />
A trip to Iceland had been on my bucket list for nearly 20 years. It was definitely the highlight of the month and the year. After surviving a huge travel snafu in getting over there, we had a wonderful time. We explored Reykjavik, and saw a local music festival at the <a href="http://www.kexhostel.is/">Kex Hostel</a>, where we discovered the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/axel-flovent/id887927972">music of the incredible Axel Flóvent</a>. We soaked in the <a href="http://www.bluelagoon.com/">Blue Lagoon</a>, saw hundreds of waterfalls and thousands of sheep, and hiked to a geothermal river. I fell on my face and nearly knocked my teeth out. I spent more time naked outside than I ever have. We ate tomato soup in a <a href="http://fridheimar.is/en">tomato greenhouse</a>. We saw seals frolicking among icebergs. We walked on a glacier. We saw the Northern Lights and watched them shimmering overhead while soaking in a hot tub on the deck of our cabin.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">SEPTEMBER</span></b><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32363211116/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="DSC_5684 E"><img alt="DSC_5684 E" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/689/32363211116_c7c4f98a4a_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32402524985/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="DSC_5856 ES crop"><img alt="DSC_5856 ES crop" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/578/32402524985_e322e22695_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/31591581263/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="GOPR1747 ES crop 2"><img alt="GOPR1747 ES crop 2" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/368/31591581263_8f4de0453e_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
We had a few more days in Iceland. We saw the Northern Lights again. We hiked the famous Fimmvörduháls Trail. We took what I thought was a nature cruise and ended up being a <a href="https://ribsafari.is/">death-defying ride on a speedboat.</a> Back at home, I struggled with jet lag and post-vacation funk. We started hiking in Virginia again and visiting wineries afterwards. We went <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2016/09/weekend-adventures-tubing-shenandoah.html">tubing on the Shenandoah River</a> with our friend Bryan and a cooler full of beer. A new season of television started, and I got hooked on <i><a href="http://www.nbc.com/this-is-us?nbc=1">This Is Us</a></i>.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">OCTOBER</span></b><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32252470622/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="DSC_6555 ES crop"><img alt="DSC_6555 ES crop" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/544/32252470622_34d3165f2f_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32402496535/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="IMG_5111 S crop"><img alt="IMG_5111 S crop" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/503/32402496535_fed56fd9fc_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/31570116674/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="IMG_5127 E crop"><img alt="IMG_5127 E crop" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/443/31570116674_cc8310fbfd_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
I completed my first embroidery project, became obsessed, and started several larger embroidery projects. We hiked some more. Gravy got hurt and we ended up leaving him at the e-vet while I sobbed at the pizza restaurant across the street. He was fine. We went to a Halloween party dressed as Yukon Cornelius and his Bumble. I dressed Gravy up as a sad martini using his cone of shame. I watched the presidential debates and felt enraged. We visited our nephew at West Virginia University and saw Frank Turner perform at a local club. Larry and Thomas gave me a tour of the campus and the engineering school. I was very excited to ride the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgantown_Personal_Rapid_Transit">PRT (personal rapid transit)</a>. We drank the bottle of Poizin zinfandel that I had been saving for six years. It was incredible.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">NOVEMBER</span></b><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32402518685/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="DSC_6608 ES crop"><img alt="DSC_6608 ES crop" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/310/32402518685_deb440d963_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32402512705/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="DSC_6888 ES crop"><img alt="DSC_6888 ES crop" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/672/32402512705_4124301f39_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/31560102404/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="DSC_7162 ES"><img alt="DSC_7162 ES" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/256/31560102404_534453a8bd_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
The beginning of November was abuzz with equal parts anxiety and excitement over the upcoming election. It was almost all I could think about. A few days before the election, we saw a snake in our yard - an ominous sign? On the evening of November 8th, we were frantically packing for a flight to New Mexico which left early the next day, but I still made time to bake a Hillary quiche for dinner and sit down to watch the election returns. As we all know, THINGS DID NOT GO AS EXPECTED. As the night hours became early morning, my worry switched to fear and then uncontrollable tears and despair. I got several bloody noses. I finally forced myself to lie in bed for an hour before my alarm went off to go to the airport. I'm not sure how I managed to finish packing for the trip, other than I got a case of the fuck-its, crammed some clothes in my suitcase, and said "<i>Let's just get the f*** outta DC!</i>" And at the time, I would've been ok not coming back. I considered driving from New Mexico to actual Mexico and saying adios to the USA forever. I'm still crushed by the election, but a little more level-headed these days. I am so thankful that we had to leave for a trip the next day because that escape was just what I needed. I found myself getting teary multiple times during our trip, but the foreign landscape of rural New Mexico and some good ol' nature therapy definitely gave me some separation from what was going on in DC.<br />
<br />
In Santa Fe, I explored the art galleries on Canyon Road while Larry went to business meetings. At night, we sat by the fire in our kiva. We stuffed our faces with face-melting New Mexican food - I ordered Christmas chile on everything. We talked politics with some long-bearded guys at a bar. We headed north to a <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/11453359">great little AirBnB cottage in Dixon</a>. Our hosts were wonderful and brought us cookies. We hiked at Tent Rocks, Rio Grande del Norte, and Chimney Rock at <a href="https://www.ghostranch.org/">Ghost Ranch</a>. I finally saw a Big Horn Sheep. In the evenings, we played Scrabble in the cottage. We visited wineries and ate green chile pizza at Mamacita's.<br />
<br />
Back in Virginia, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner at our friends' house. I made a pumpkin praline cheesecake. We hosted a birthday/chili party for our friend Mike. We went to the National Gallery of Art with my dad and had dinner afterwards at <a href="http://montmartredc.com/">Montmartre</a>. My obsession with embroidery continued, and I stitched until I started suffering from severe neck pain. Gravy got sick and gave us another scare. I made a video of our New Mexico trip using the 1 Second Everyday app.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">DECEMBER</span></b><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32402495875/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="IMG_6636 ES crop"><img alt="IMG_6636 ES crop" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/778/32402495875_8c83214a60_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32402500875/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="IMG_0031 ES crop"><img alt="IMG_0031 ES crop" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/256/32402500875_df0db4958c_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/31591584223/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="DSC_8289 ES crop"><img alt="DSC_8289 ES crop" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/499/31591584223_5d28285140_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
December is always an extremely difficult and stressful month for me. I tried to plan ahead this year to ward off the stress and emotions, but the month ended up walloping me anyway. I painted dozens of ornaments to raise money for charities. We kicked off our last hike of the year by eating vegan donuts at <a href="http://www.glorydoughnuts.com/">Glory Doughnuts</a>, and then we hiked the A.T. to Annapolis Rock and completed our 100 mile challenge. We popped into The Bottom Line to drink beer under the Christmas lights. I burned a lot of scented candles. I changed my hair color. We saw our eighth concert of the year - The Weepies at The State Theatre. I celebrated my birthday with friends at <a href="http://www.miracleon7thst.com/">Miracle on 7th Street</a> and <a href="http://www.rightproperbrewing.com/">Right Proper Brewing Company</a>. Larry took me on a dinner date at <a href="http://www.equinoxrestaurant.com/">Equinox</a>. I hung out with the Sara/hs and drank wine, ate cheese, and laughed my face off with my oldest friends. I made cookies. I finally replaced my four-year old, nearly inoperable iPhone. I failed to send out Christmas cards for the second year in a row. I started diapering my dog who started taking out his dissatisfaction with life on our carpet. I read my 62nd book of the year. We saw <i>Manchester by the Sea</i> in the theater and the <a href="https://www.novaparks.com/events/winter-walk-of-lights">Winter Walk of Lights at Meadowlark Gardens</a>. We ate spaghetti for Christmas dinner and hung out with the dogs. As usual, Larry and I gave each other almost identical gifts. We hosted a southern-themed New Year's Eve dinner party and burned old Christmas trees in the backyard. At midnight we toasted with Alabama Slammers, lamented the future of the U.S., and talked about where we'd go in 2017...<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32252502262/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="DSC_2300 ES crop"><img alt="DSC_2300 ES crop" height="530" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/401/32252502262_f4ed5c7272_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Funnelcloud Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12090193674723900588noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616163624033566299.post-14451350199738291702017-01-03T23:59:00.001-05:002017-01-04T00:51:10.292-05:00best of 2016 | best books<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/32049077866/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="2016 Books and Beverages collage"><img alt="2016 Books and Beverages collage" height="800" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/1/578/32049077866_88459e68fb_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Follow what I read and chat with me about books on Instagram: </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/funnelcloudrach/" style="color: #7f7f7f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">@funnelcloudrach</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> | #booksandbeverages</span></div>
<br />
2016 was a great reading year - I read 62 books, explored different genres with the <a href="http://bookriot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/ReadHarderChallenge2016_checklist_web.pdf">Book Riot Read Harder Challenge</a>, joined <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3264611-rachel-roellke-smith">Goodreads</a>, and enjoyed discussing books with my online book club. The year started off with the creation of the Virtual Book Club with <a href="http://www.2105hollywoodplace.com/">Veronika</a> and <a href="http://kldphotos.blogspot.com/">Karen</a>. Our first selection was the most boring book I have ever read in my life (<u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/H-Hawk-Helen-Macdonald/dp/0802124739/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483505512&sr=8-1&keywords=h+is+for+hawk">H is for Hawk</a></u> - HOW does this have 4 stars on Amazon?!) and we ripped that book a new one in our online discussion. I had tears of laughter running down my face at each new hilarious comment, and with that, our group was forever bonded in snarkiness. Luckily, every book club pick after that was excellent. (Though honestly, I think we have more fun discussing the bad ones!) In June, we lost Karen to cancer and I also lost some of my mojo for reading (and life). But I did keep reading throughout the year, more consistently than I ever have.<br />
<br />
Here's what I read in 2016:<br />
<br />
<b><u>The Diving Bell and the Butterfly</u></b> by Jean-Dominique Bauby<br />
<b><u>Snapper</u></b> by Brian Kimberling<br />
<b><u>Roller Girl</u></b> by Victoria Jamieson<br />
<b><u>Relish: My Life in the Kitchen </u></b>by Lucy Knisley<br />
<b><u>H is for Hawk </u></b>by Helen MacDonald<br />
<b><u>Ghost Boy</u></b> by Martin Pistorius<br />
<b><u>Fourth of July Creek</u></b> by Smith Henderson<br />
<b><u>When Breath Becomes Air</u></b> by Paul Kalanithi<br />
<b><u>Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy</u></b> by Noelle Stevenson<br />
<b><u>Lumberjanes, Vol. 2: Friendship to the Max</u></b> by Noelle Stevenson<br />
<b><u>Wake Up: The Morning Routine That Will Change Your Life</u></b> by Jeff Finley<br />
<b><u>Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart</u></b> by Carrot Quinn<br />
<b><u>Fates and Furies </u></b>by Lauren Groff<br />
<b><u>Station Eleven</u></b> by Emily St. John Mandel<br />
<b><u>Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo and Me</u></b> by Ellen Forney<br />
<b><u>The Library at Mount Char</u></b> by Scott Hawkins<br />
<b><u>Seconds</u></b> by Bryan Lee O'Malley<br />
<b><u>A Lesson Before Dying</u></b> by Ernest J. Gaines<br />
<b><u>Did You Ever Have a Family</u></b> by Bill Clegg<br />
<b><u>Slade House</u></b> by David Mitchell<br />
<b><u>Tomboy</u></b> by Liz Prince<br />
<b><u>Americanah</u></b> by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie<br />
<b><u>Boy on Ice: The Life and Death of Derek Boogaard</u></b> by John Branch<br />
<b><u>The Thing About Jellyfish</u></b> by Ali Benjamin<br />
<b><u>Paris: A Love Story</u></b> by Kati Marton<br />
<b><u>Pretty Good Number One: An American Family Eats Tokyo</u></b> by Matthew Amster-Burton<br />
<b><u>The Rosie Project</u></b> by Graeme Simsion<br />
<b><u>Stitches</u></b> by David Small<br />
<b><u>The Martian</u></b> by Andy Weir<br />
<b><u>Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic</u></b> by Alison Bechdel<br />
<b><u>The Kind Worth Killing</u></b> by Peter Swanson<br />
<b><u>This is the Life</u></b> by Alex Shearer<br />
<b><u>We Should All Be Feminists</u></b> by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie<br />
<b><u>Black River</u></b> by S.M. Hulse<br />
<b><u>Ethel and Ernest</u></b> by Raymond Briggs<br />
<b><u>Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea</u></b> by Guy Delisle<br />
<b><u>Breakfast of Champions</u></b> by Kurt Vonnegut<br />
<b><u>This One Summer</u></b> by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki<br />
<b><u>A Thousand Mornings</u></b> by Mary Oliver<br />
<b><u>300 Days of Sun</u></b> by Deborah Lawrenson<br />
<b><u>Burial Rites</u></b> by Hannah Kent<br />
<b><u>Blue Horses</u></b> by Mary Oliver<br />
<b><u>The Nest</u></b> by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney<br />
<b><u>The Council of Dads</u></b> by Bruce Feiler<br />
<b><u>Miss American Pie</u></b> by Margaret Sartor<br />
<b><u>The Westing Game</u></b> by Ellen Raskin<br />
<b><u>Love, Loss, and What We Ate</u></b> by Padma Lakshmi<br />
<b><u>Yes, Chef</u></b> by Marcus Samuelson<br />
<b><u>Why I Wake Early</u></b> by Mary Oliver<br />
<b><u>Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family</u></b> by Amy Ellis Nutt<br />
<b><u>You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When it Monsoons</u></b> by Mo Willems<br />
<b><u>Shelter</u></b> by Jung Yun<br />
<b><u>Seven Brief Lessons on Physics</u></b> by Carlo Rovelli<br />
<b><u>Unbecoming</u></b> by Jenny Downham<br />
<b><u>Yes, Please</u></b> by Amy Poehler (audiobook)<br />
<b><u>A Walk in the Woods</u></b> by Bill Bryson<br />
<b><u>The Audacity of Hope</u></b> by Barack Obama (audiobook)<br />
<b><u>Land of Shadows</u></b> by Rachel Howzell Hall<br />
<b><u>Essays After Eighty</u></b> by Donald Hall<br />
<b><u>The North Water</u></b> by Ian McGuire<br />
<b><u>Simpatico</u></b> by Sam Shepard<br />
<b><u>Stories I Only Tell My Friends</u></b> by Rob Lowe (audiobook)<br />
<br />
And the breakdown, because I love these types of stats:<br />
<br />
Total Number of Books: 62<br />
Fiction: 30<br />
Non-Fiction: 29<br />
Poetry Collections: 3<br />
Graphic Novels: 13<br />
Audiobooks: 3<br />
By Male Authors: 31<br />
By Female Authors: 31<br />
<br />
A 50/50 split between fiction/non-fiction and male/female authors! This makes me feel pretty good that I'm reading a wide variety of books.<br />
<br />
<b>Favorite Books |</b> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Did-You-Ever-Have-Family/dp/1476798184/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483504049&sr=1-1&keywords=did+you+ever+have+a+family">Did You Ever Have a Family</a><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Americanah-Chimamanda-Ngozi-Adichie/dp/0307455920/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483504086&sr=1-1&keywords=americanah+by+chimamanda+ngozi+adichie">Americanah</a><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Burial-Rites-Hannah-Kent/dp/0316243922/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483504171&sr=1-1&keywords=burial+rights">Burial Rites</a><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Martian-Andy-Weir/dp/0553418025/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483504126&sr=1-1&keywords=the+martian">The Martian</a><br />
<br />
Larry has always teased me about loving depressing books, and my favorites definitely confirm that. I loved Bill Clegg's <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Did-You-Ever-Have-Family/dp/1476798184/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483504049&sr=1-1&keywords=did+you+ever+have+a+family">Did You Ever Have a Family</a></u>, but the premise is heartbreaking. And Hannah Kent's <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Burial-Rites-Hannah-Kent/dp/0316243922/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483504171&sr=1-1&keywords=burial+rights">Burial Rites</a></u>, which is based on a true event (and which I read in preparation for our trip to Iceland last summer), is downright bleak and crushingly sad. On the other hand, <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Americanah-Chimamanda-Ngozi-Adichie/dp/0307455920/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483504086&sr=1-1&keywords=americanah+by+chimamanda+ngozi+adichie">Americanah</a></u> and <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Martian-Andy-Weir/dp/0553418025/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483504126&sr=1-1&keywords=the+martian">The Martian</a></u> aren't sad books, and they definitely lived up to the hype they've gotten over the past few years. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is an incredible writer and incredibly smart and I can't wait to read more of her books. And I never ever thought I would read, much less include in my favorites, a book called <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Martian-Andy-Weir/dp/0553418025/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483504126&sr=1-1&keywords=the+martian">The Martian</a></u> (which Larry kept recommending me to me and I kept ignoring), but I must admit I loved it. (And the movie was pretty good, too.) It may not be high-brow literature, but it was pure entertainment and I got thoroughly sucked in and couldn't put it down.<br />
<br />
A few other good ones: if you enjoy a thrilling summer page turner, I enjoyed <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Kind-Worth-Killing-Novel/dp/0062267531/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483503998&sr=1-1&keywords=the+kind+worth+killing">The Kind Worth Killing</a> more than both <u>Gone Girl</u> and <u>Girl on the Train</u>. <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Station-Eleven-Emily-John-Mandel/dp/0804172447/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483505150&sr=8-1&keywords=station+eleven">Station Eleven</a></u> also lived up to the hype, and I'll admit I was reluctant to read it because I am not at all interested in dystopian books. (Larry enjoyed this one, too.) <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/This-Life-Novel-Alex-Shearer/dp/1476764409/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483504236&sr=1-1&keywords=this+is+the+life">This is the Life</a></u> and <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Essays-After-Eighty-Donald-Hall/dp/0544287045/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483504892&sr=8-1&keywords=essays+after+eighty">Essays After Eighty</a></u> may not be everyone's cup of tea, but they provided thoughtful, humorous, insightful nuggets about life. And <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/North-Water-Novel-Ian-McGuire/dp/1627795944/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483505066&sr=8-1&keywords=the+north+water">The North Water</a></u> was the most masculine book I've ever read - brutal, gruesome, and perverse. You've been warned! It is savage, bloody, and definitely NOT for everyone, (there are only I few people I would confidently recommend this to, my husband being one of them) but it was also captivating and I couldn't stop turning pages. Another manly book is <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Black-River-S-M-Hulse/dp/0544570235/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483503943&sr=1-1&keywords=black+river">Black River</a></u>, a modern western, which was surprisingly written by a woman.<br />
<br />
My favorite graphic novel was <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tomboy-Graphic-Memoir-Liz-Prince/dp/1936976552/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483505814&sr=1-1&keywords=tomboy">Tomboy</a>.</u> If you were ever bullied or felt like you didn't fit in as a child, you'll relate to this one - Liz Prince nails it. My favorite audiobook was <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Audacity-Hope-Thoughts-Reclaiming-American/dp/0307237702/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483505114&sr=8-1&keywords=the+audacity+of+hope">The Audacity of Hope</a></u>, which is narrated by Barack Obama himself. I found his voice and his thoughts to be so soothing and reassuring during my post-election depression. I'm hoping to listen to more audiobooks in 2017, now that I've found that I strongly prefer memoirs which are read by the author. Several months ago I got hooked on embroidery and I've found that it's the perfect repetitive/mindless task to work on while listening to a book. I've also surprisingly been enjoying reading poetry - but only <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Oliver/e/B000APELGO/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1483505170&sr=8-2-ent">Mary Oliver</a>. I find reading a few of her poems (which are mostly about nature or dogs) first thing in the morning is almost meditative and gives me a better outlook on starting my day. I'm still skeptical of other poetry, but Mary Oliver is awesome.<br />
<br />
I've been struggling with whether I should set reading goals for 2017. On the one hand, I love setting goals and know that they motivate me to read more, and on the other, I feel that having a goal turns reading for pleasure into an assignment and takes the fun out of an activity that I'm doing for my own enjoyment. I know I want to read a lot, but should I put a number on it? My goal for 2016 was to read 52 books (one book per week) and I was able to exceed that goal, but does setting a number discourage me from reading longer books? One reason that I was able to read a lot of books this year is because I read some poetry collections and graphic novels which were extremely fast reads. But I have a couple of 1,000 pagers sitting on my shelves that I was never inspired to tackle. I also enjoyed working on the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge in both 2015 and 2016, but both years I came close, but never finished the challenge. The challenges definitely got me to read lots of books that I wouldn't have ordinarily picked up (science fiction, poetry, post-apocalyptic, horror, comics, a play), but does it matter that I didn't complete the challenge? Another goal is to keep working my way though the Pulitzer winners, and yet another is to read more of the books that have been sitting unread on our own shelves. So little time, so many books! What should I do? Part of me wants to set a specific reading goal for 2017, and the other part of me says my reading goal should be to read whatever I want!<br />
<br />
I'm curious to hear what others think about reading goals! And if you'd like to join our virtual book club (which I think we should re-name to Snarky Virtual Book Club!), connect with me on Goodreads and I'll send you an invite!Funnelcloud Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12090193674723900588noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616163624033566299.post-34334826295720597542016-09-29T18:29:00.000-04:002016-10-06T19:19:26.784-04:00weekend adventures | tubing the shenandoah<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/30101626976/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="tubing the shenandoah"><img alt="tubing the shenandoah" height="600" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5764/30101626976_4f82be9312_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
On the last Saturday in September, we celebrated summer's last hurrah with a tubing trip down the Shenandoah River. I'd been trying to make this excursion happen all summer, but with vacations and crappy weekend weather forecasts, we didn't pull it off until summer's eleventh hour. Actually, it was the third day of fall. But no matter, the weather was perfect and getting out on the river was a great way to extend summer.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/30052371421/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="tubing the shenandoah"><img alt="tubing the shenandoah" height="600" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/6/5310/30052371421_a42203d082_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Our friend <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2016/06/canada-montmorency-falls.html">Bryan is always game for an adventure</a>, and when all of our other friends already had plans for the weekend, the three of us decided we weren't going to miss out on the perfect weather forecast or the chance to squeeze in one last summer activity. We booked a three mile float with <a href="http://www.frontroyalcanoe.com/">Front Royal Canoe</a>, donned our river shoes and swimsuits, packed a couple of coolers of sustenance (ok, it was beer), lathered up with sunscreen, and were driven in an old school bus to the launch point. Our coolers were even fitted out with their own tubes. Redneck fun at its finest.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/29841113290/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="tubing the shenandoah"><img alt="tubing the shenandoah" height="600" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/6/5130/29841113290_64e7c8c56e_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/29508315434/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="tubing the shenandoah"><img alt="tubing the shenandoah" height="600" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8395/29508315434_ac442f3d75_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/29507869363/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="tubing the shenandoah"><img alt="tubing the shenandoah" height="600" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8541/29507869363_6859353224_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
I figured the tube adventure was a good opportunity to practice taking photos with the GoPro I got in July. Over the summer I had tested out my new toy at the beach and in Iceland, with mixed results. One we got on the river, I strapped the camera to my arm, but it kept sliding, so I ended up strapping it to my knee. I find it really hard to set up a photo with the GoPro (or even tell which mode I'm in), so I just pushed the button randomly and literally shot from the hip. Er, knee. Once again, I got a lot of awkward pictures of my arms and legs and other random body parts...<br />
<br />
Still, it was fun to shoot some pics on the river without worrying about how to keep a camera dry. Don't let these "action shots" fool you. It was slow going on the river. <i>Really</i> slow going. A couple times we asked each other "Are we even moving?" The trip was supposed to take 3-4 hours, but we had almost 6 hours before we had to get the tubes back to the outfitter. Plenty of time! We had all day to mosey down the river. (Foreshadowing!) We didn't bring our phones with us and had no idea what time it was (and no way to contact anyone!) It was SO liberating. All we had to do was float.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/29507866273/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="tubing the shenandoah"><img alt="tubing the shenandoah" height="450" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8560/29507866273_3d8e89d07a_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/29841105040/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="tubing the shenandoah"><img alt="tubing the shenandoah" height="450" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5251/29841105040_7f73940814_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/29508323084/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="tubing the shenandoah"><img alt="tubing the shenandoah" height="450" src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/6/5482/29508323084_30877644cd_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/30022190472/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="tubing the shenandoah"><img alt="tubing the shenandoah" height="450" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5823/30022190472_fefb296a22_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
This was definitely the most relaxing thing I did all summer. The sun was shining, the water was clear and refreshing, and the views were gorgeous. I literally had nothing to do but sit in a giant inflatable donut and drink beer. I didn't even have to leave the tube to pee! I think this is the only scenario I've ever experienced where peeing was easier for girls than guys!<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/29507786543/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="tubing the shenandoah"><img alt="tubing the shenandoah" height="800" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/6/5109/29507786543_d1899b0217_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(I'm peeing right now.)</span></div>
<br />
We quickly learned that it was best to tie all our tubes together so we could talk without drifting apart (and so we all had easy access to the beer cooler.) This also worked well when we hit slow spots and the boys got out of the tubes to <strike>pee</strike> pull us, and I could sit my lazy butt in my inflatable <strike>toilet</strike> tube and <strike>pee</strike> float while being towed. <i>This is the life.</i><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/30022122122/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="tubing the shenandoah"><img alt="tubing the shenandoah" height="600" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8544/30022122122_4e5037106f_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
We eventually stopped for lunch and while we were eating Larry pointed to a black shape down the river. "Is that a cow in the river?" he asked. We scoffed at him, and then the black shaped moved its head! It was a cow in the river!<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/30022133522/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="tubing the shenandoah"><img alt="tubing the shenandoah" height="600" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8720/30022133522_4660133ce5_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/29507791123/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="tubing the shenandoah"><img alt="tubing the shenandoah" height="600" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8678/29507791123_71a451a8de_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Another awkward GoPro photo. With cows in the background.</span></div>
<br />
By the time we got back in our tubes, the cow had moved to shore, but we found a whole herd watching us wearily from the river bank. We slowly floated past the herd (and some idiot girls who nearly rammed the wading cows with their canoe while trying to take selfies with them. PSA: Cows don't like selfies!)<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/30136550975/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="tubing the shenandoah"><img alt="tubing the shenandoah" height="600" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8699/30136550975_bc30e77543_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
T-E-A-M-W-O-R-K</div>
<br />
Our little flotilla slowly floated on. It seemed to be taking a very long time to travel three miles, but luckily we were well-stocked with refreshments.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/29507788813/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="tubing the shenandoah"><img alt="tubing the shenandoah" height="600" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8539/29507788813_cd26759af8_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/29841011320/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="tubing the shenandoah"><img alt="tubing the shenandoah" height="600" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8555/29841011320_ef5f30e845_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/30101599586/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="tubing the shenandoah"><img alt="tubing the shenandoah" height="600" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/6/5013/30101599586_323937b56d_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/29508263744/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="tubing the shenandoah"><img alt="tubing the shenandoah" height="600" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5319/29508263744_b61d8c9b7b_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/30102003806/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="tubing the shenandoah"><img alt="tubing the shenandoah" height="600" src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8675/30102003806_82e4d43a3a_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/29508324504/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="tubing the shenandoah"><img alt="tubing the shenandoah" height="450" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5613/29508324504_a2f9ddab00_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/29841066380/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="tubing the shenandoah"><img alt="tubing the shenandoah" height="600" src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8605/29841066380_738a14a511_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/29507770603/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="tubing the shenandoah"><img alt="tubing the shenandoah" height="600" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8140/29507770603_a71b09bcba_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/30136537235/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="tubing the shenandoah"><img alt="tubing the shenandoah" height="600" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8533/30136537235_25050abcf2_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
And then we realized the sun was starting to set and river came to a virtual halt. What the heck time was it anyway? We had to have the tubes back by 6:30, but it couldn't possibly have taken us longer than the 4 hours maximum time it was supposed to take to float the river, could it? We started getting worried. The river wasn't moving at all and the boys got out of the tubes to tow us. The whole trip the river had been perfectly clear and about two feet deep, but suddenly the river was five or six feet deep and full of muck. When Bryan mentioned that he had sunk knee-deep in slime, I made the decision to stay in my tube. The guys spent the last 20 minutes of the trip swimming through literal sludge to get us back in time. Thanks, guys!<br />
<br />
It was 6:15 when we returned our tubes. Somehow it had taken us <i>five and a half hours</i> to float three miles!<br />
<br />
But still, I can't wait to do it again! It was great forced relaxation after a summer spent stressing and introverting. (Time in nature makes <i>everything</i> better.) Why didn't we do this every weekend over the summer? Next time, I'll try to round up a bigger crew (who's in?), but that probably won't happen until next year. That Saturday ended up being the last day of summer weather in Virginia. By Sunday it had dropped ten degrees and by Monday I was wearing a sweatshirt. It's been raining ever since.<br />
<br />
And with that, summer 2016 comes to a close. I'm hoping there's still a chance to get back on the river this fall - maybe in a kayak...<br />Funnelcloud Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12090193674723900588noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616163624033566299.post-91383345408481040342016-08-22T02:32:00.001-04:002016-10-06T15:32:28.900-04:00the summer of blackberries<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/29046771061/in/album-72157670858758755/" nbsp="" title="Collage - Blackberries"><img alt="Collage - Blackberries" height="480" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8171/29046771061_46f121265a_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
If I remember the summer of 2016 for anything, it will be for the Olympics and the blackberries. I've spent the past few months avoiding society and generally hiding from the world. Perhaps it's not the most constructive way of dealing with things when life gets tough, but it's what I tend to do in overwhelming, uncomfortable, and stressful situations. So I've spent the summer as a homebody - drawing in my sketchbook, watching the Olympics on TV, and eating my weight in blackberries.<br />
<br />
I like to go berry picking in the summer and on the last day of July, Larry and I set out in search of some nature therapy and some berries. At the time, I wanted blueberries. I knew the blueberry season was coming to an end, but we checked the websites of several farms which said there was still scattered blueberry picking available. We decided not to go to our usual berry farm and to try somewhere new, so following the directions on the website, Larry called <a href="http://www.catoctinmountainorchard.com/">Catoctin Mountain Orchard</a> to verify that they were open and had blueberries available. The answers were yes and yes, so we drove 65 miles to Thurmont, Maryland. Upon our arrival, we inquired about blueberry picking and were told "Oh, we don't do u-pick on Sundays." WHAT. I was more than a little peeved. What's the point of calling ahead if you get incorrect information...anyway, it was time for Plan B. So we headed back to our favorite, reliable farm, <a href="http://www.butlersorchard.com/">Butler's Orchard</a>, in Germantown. In the past, we've picked <a href="https://smittenkitchen.com/2012/07/blackberry-gin-fizz/">blueberries</a>, <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2011/08/weekend-adventures-butlers-orchard.html">raspberries</a>, and <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2012/06/weekend-adventures-strawberry-picking.html">strawberries</a> at Butler's, but it had been a few years since we were last there. I was dismayed to learn that they now have a cover charge to get onto the picking fields. It really irritates me to have to spend money to get into a place where I am going to buy something. That being said, since we had paid a cover charge, I didn't feel bad about sampling a few berries straight off the vine. (Maybe this is why they have the cover charge? Are people eating the produce in the fields? Anyway, between the two of us, the cover charge was equivalent to the cost of two pounds of berries, which we certainly did not eat from the vine!) Enough complaints, though, onto the picking...<br />
<br />
We drove up to the blueberry fields, and as we had been warned, the blueberry picking was "scattered." There were very few berries, and the berries that were left were puny. It wasn't much fun, so we headed to the blackberry fields instead, which were dripping with huge juicy berries. We picked almost 9 pounds of blackberries! I've lost interest in carrying my DSLR camera with me and photographing everything these days, so here are a few iPhone pics:<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/29046767031/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="summer of blackberries"><img alt="summer of blackberries" height="480" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8024/29046767031_b614943241_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/29046772941/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="summer of blackberries"><img alt="summer of blackberries" height="480" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8292/29046772941_d539b0cdea_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/28505075683/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="summer of blackberries"><img alt="summer of blackberries" height="480" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8497/28505075683_7bf2a33e2d_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/29018600722/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="summer of blackberries"><img alt="summer of blackberries" height="480" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8215/29018600722_2d8bd7111c_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/29018604232/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="summer of blackberries"><img alt="summer of blackberries" height="480" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8585/29018604232_17510dd6f4_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/29018594382/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="summer of blackberries"><img alt="summer of blackberries" height="480" src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8397/29018594382_ebd14ae4c8_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/29091236316/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="summer of blackberries"><img alt="summer of blackberries" height="480" src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8390/29091236316_b274c31ec5_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Everyone always asks me what I do with 9 pounds of berries. For a berry-addict like me, <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2010/07/what-to-do-with-seven-pounds-of.html">it isn't hard to use up all those berries</a>, plus I enjoy the challenge of finding and testing new recipes. It was Iron Chef Battle Blackberry in the Smoellke Test Kitchen and I think blackberries have comprised 75% of my diet over the past few weeks. I love trying new recipes, but honestly, my favorite way to eat any berries, is straight up in a bowl. Blackberries are also a great drink ingredient, so I made more than a few purple cocktails.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/29091233616/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="summer of blackberries"><img alt="summer of blackberries" height="480" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7612/29091233616_fd5bb87e40_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Here are 15 ways we ate and drank blackberries this summer, as pictured above, left to right:<br />
<br />
1. Straight up with a little sugar<br />
2. <a href="https://smittenkitchen.com/2012/07/blackberry-gin-fizz/">Blackberry Gin Fizz</a><br />
3. Blackberry and Pecan Grilled Pizza<br />
4. Blackberry Piña Colada<br />
5. Big Ass Salad with Blackberries and Fig Balsamic Vinaigrette<br />
6. <a href="http://www.mantitlement.com/recipes/blackberry-whiskey-sour/">Blackberry Whiskey Sour</a><br />
7. <a href="https://smittenkitchen.com/2016/07/blackberry-cheesecake-galette/">Blackberry Cheesecake Galette</a><br />
8. <a href="https://www.thedrinkblog.com/mezcal-blackberry-smash/">Blackberry Mezcal Smash</a><br />
9. <a href="http://www.saveur.com/blackberry-cream-pie-toasted-oat-and-sesame-crumb-crust-recipe">Blackberry Cream Pie with Toasted Oat and Sesame Crumb Crust</a><br />
10. <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/bourbon-blackberry-collins">Bourbon Blackberry Collins</a><br />
11. <a href="http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Vegan-Pancake-Recipe-35270589">Vegan Pancakes</a> with Blackberry Syrup<br />
12. Blackberry Shrubs: <a href="http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Blackberry-Rum-Shrub">Blackberry-Rum Shrub</a> and <a href="http://stirandstrain.com/2014/03/19/mixology-monday-classic-blackberry-shrub/">Blackberry Bourbon & Maple Syrup Shrub</a><br />
13. <a href="http://minimalistbaker.com/1-bowl-blackberry-cornmeal-muffins/">Blackberry Cornmeal Muffins</a><br />
14. <a href="http://whatsgabycooking.com/blackberry-pineapple-smash/">Blackberry Pineapple Smash</a><br />
15. <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/blackberry-pineapple-sidecar">Blackberry-Pineapple Sidecar</a><br />
<br />
That Blackberry-Pineapple Sidecar is one of my favorite cocktails ever. I may have drank three last night. They're good medicine when you've had a tough few months, but perhaps an even less healthy coping method than hiding under a rock. ;)<br />
<br />
And with that, all the blackberries are gone and the Olympics are over. Until next year/2020...Funnelcloud Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12090193674723900588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616163624033566299.post-90760199769796060572016-07-15T14:17:00.001-04:002016-10-06T15:33:39.892-04:00the headless squirrel<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/28046079720/in/dateposted-public/" title="the headless squirrel"><img alt="the headless squirrel" height="480" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7726/28046079720_33006fcb1f_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
Sigh.<br />
<br />
Another day, another dead animal in the backyard, another <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/search/label/haiku">haiku</a> (or six). What luck that <i>decapitation</i> has five syllables!<br />
<br />
<b>More backyard drama:</b><br />
<b>Banjo has a bloody beard.</b><br />
<b>A headless squirrel.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Just another day </b><br />
<b>in the Smoellke backyard. The</b><br />
<b>body count is high.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Two dogs, one body.</b><br />
<b>At least it wasn't a fox.</b><br />
<b>Stop killing things, jerks!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Another squirrel.</b><br />
<b>And what happened to its head?</b><br />
<b>Decapitation.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>"The head is torn off!"</b><br />
<b>Larry investigated.</b><br />
<b>"Want to see a pic?"</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Yummy squirrel brains.</b><br />
<b>A backyard delicacy.</b><br />
<b>Banjo licks his chops.</b>Funnelcloud Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12090193674723900588noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616163624033566299.post-69129488051905212612016-07-08T12:31:00.003-04:002016-10-06T15:39:18.627-04:00weekend adventures | hiking rose river loop<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/28061689592/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="rose river falls"><img alt="rose river falls" height="480" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7334/28061689592_3008ff8ec0_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Larry and I have been trying <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/search/label/hiking">to hike</a> as much as possible in 2016. We've always been good about hitting the trail whenever we have a nice weekend, and we hike a lot when <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/search/label/travel">we travel</a>, but this year I've been trying to plan out some hikes ahead of time and be a little more intentional about it.<br />
<br />
After our <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2016/02/weekend-adventures-short-hike-on-at.html">short walk on the A.T. in February</a>, and reading about the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/appa/planyourvisit/hike-100.htm">National Park Service's A.T. Hike 100 Challenge</a>, I set a goal of hiking 100 miles in 2016. I realize this isn't very far, and that a seasoned thru-hiker can complete 100 miles in three or four days. But I am not a thru-hiker - I am a weekend hiker who is just trying to get outside and get some exercise whenever I can. Our typical weekend hikes are about 5-6 miles, which means we'll need to hike 15-20 times this year to hit our goal. Considering that the only months that generally have acceptable hiking weather in Virginia are March through June and September through November, that means we need to hike 2-3 times per month. And since we work during the day and live in the suburbs, we only have a few weekend days per month available for hiking, and that all depends on weather, and if we don't have house projects to do on the weekends. Anyway, that's the long-winded backstory to our little goal for the year.<br />
<br />
With spring approaching, I created a trail log and started researching hikes in VA/WV/MD, to avoid the dreaded Saturday morning "Where should we hike?" discussion. I think Larry and I had both been getting a little bored with local hiking because we felt like we'd done every trail in the area. Obviously, this is not true, but we were definitely stuck in a rut and needed to discover some new trails, branch out a bit, and challenge ourselves. We've mostly hiked in Northern Virginia and the northern part of Shenandoah National Park. Virginia is a big state and there are many other regions that we need to explore. It would just take a bit of planning ahead. I found <a href="https://virginiatrailguide.com/">Virginia Trail Guide</a> to be a great resource, and came up with a long list of potential hikes, which I taped to the wall in my office. They ranged from easy local trails for when we only have a few hours or want to bring the dogs, to trails in Shenandoah that we've missed (we still haven't hiked Old Rag, but it's on the list for this year!), to hikes in the southwestern part of the sate that will require a road trip and weekend cabin accommodations, to more ambitious hikes with steep climbs that I feel like we need to train a bit for first. I was pretty amazed at some of the incredible hikes that Virginia has to offer - <a href="https://virginiatrailguide.com/2012/05/13/the-devils-marbleyard/">Devil's Marbleyard</a>, <a href="https://virginiatrailguide.com/2009/10/17/mount-rogers/">Mount Rogers</a>, <a href="http://thegirlandglobe.com/the-great-channels-of-virginia/">Brumley Mountain Trail in Great Channels</a>, <a href="https://virginiatrailguide.com/2016/01/02/cascade-falls/">Cascade Falls</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=devils+bathtub&client=safari&rls=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjzsJzJm-TNAhWB8x4KHUfvAAgQ_AUICSgC&biw=1240&bih=697">Devil's Bathtub</a>, <a href="https://virginiatrailguide.com/2009/05/05/mcafee-knob/">McAfee Knob</a>, to name a few - and it got me excited about exploring our state again. Who knew there were boulder fields, slot canyons, and wild ponies on the trails in Virginia?<br />
<br />
This post is going to be a bit of a let-down after that introduction, as we didn't try any of the ambitious hikes on my list, and instead opted for a 4-mile loop in good ol' Shenandoah. I'd actually been wanting to hike Rose River Loop for years since I'd seen it described as one of Shenandoah's best trails for streams and waterfalls. We headed out to Shenandoah <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2016/07/weekend-adventures-exploring-hillwood.html">the day after we visited Hillwood Gardens</a>. It's always surprising how far behind the seasons are in the mountains. With spring in full bloom in DC, it was a bit disappointing to get out to Shenandoah and see that everything was still brown. I lugged my camera up and down the trail (which seemed to go on forever, and felt like much longer than 4 miles!) and took very few photos, because brown-on-brown just isn't that photogenic. It was still a pretty trail along a stream with lots of waterfalls, but I imagine it being <a href="https://virginiatrailguide.com/2009/05/16/rose-river-loop/">a lot prettier in late spring/early summer.</a><br />
<br />
Anyway, here are a few photos of Larry's back hiking through the brown:<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/28131650886/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="rose river falls"><img alt="rose river falls" height="480" src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7445/28131650886_ec48b1ab79_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27550489303/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="rose river falls"><img alt="rose river falls" height="480" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7450/27550489303_5340dbabe5_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27550485743/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="rose river falls"><img alt="rose river falls" height="480" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7414/27550485743_cd107f796b_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/28087475361/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="rose river falls"><img alt="rose river falls" height="480" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7725/28087475361_8c3170d18d_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/28061695002/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="rose river falls"><img alt="rose river falls" height="480" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7617/28061695002_e4d15195b1_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27550072154/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="rose river falls"><img alt="rose river falls" height="480" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7285/27550072154_c2f84c97b0_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/28061680072/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="rose river falls"><img alt="rose river falls" height="480" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7314/28061680072_5870045d12_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/28131674016/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="rose river falls"><img alt="rose river falls" height="480" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7459/28131674016_59c2f5aa61_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Spotted in the wild: Two dorks, inadvertently matching</span></div>
<br />
I'd love to go back to Rose River Loop when there are leaves on the trees and we could take a dip in the pools, but that probably won't happen any time soon, because there are lots more trails on my list and lots more mountains to climb...Funnelcloud Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12090193674723900588noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616163624033566299.post-9326533384686181492016-07-07T10:40:00.000-04:002016-10-06T15:43:43.455-04:00weekend adventures | exploring hillwood gardens<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/28165788945/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="hillwood gardens"><img alt="hillwood gardens" height="480" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7312/28165788945_18afdd9158_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Spring is always such a beautiful, yet fleeting, season in DC. It seemed to disappear even more quickly than usual this year, I think because we were traveling and because horrible weather (a month of rain) kept us from enjoying our usual outdoorsy activities. But in the middle of April, we had a weekend of perfect weather, so we took my mother to explore <a href="http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org/">Hillwood Gardens</a> for her birthday. The gardens were in full bloom, the sun was shining, and the sky was vivid blue.<br />
<br />
Hillwood Gardens is an estate purchased by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marjorie_Merriweather_Post">Marjorie Merriweather Post</a> in 1955. Marjorie was the owner of Post Cereal, the founder of General Foods, and the richest woman in America. We toured the mansion, and it was ridiculous what money could buy - she collected Fabergé eggs, French and Russian art, and jewelry, had multiple estates, and a huge staff that kept everything running smoothly. I much preferred the gardens to the interior of the house (which was filled to the brim with all the expensive useless things that money could buy). But despite her tastes in decorating (so many portraits of herself!), Marjorie was a philanthropist, an excellent employer, a skilled businesswoman, and an animal lover.<br />
<br />
But back to the gardens! I think of DC as such an urban space, and always find it surprising to stumble on gardens and wooded areas within the city. From the mansion's portico, there was actually a view across the lawn to the Washington Monument in the distance. Just imagine the garden parties you could have here. Someone get me a cocktail!<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/28165807835/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="hillwood gardens"><img alt="hillwood gardens" height="480" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7211/28165807835_352f9f019b_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/28165793315/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="hillwood gardens"><img alt="hillwood gardens" height="480" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7460/28165793315_3087f8b4be_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27550300653/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="hillwood gardens"><img alt="hillwood gardens" height="604" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7382/27550300653_9c8cd153a0_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27884186200/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="hillwood gardens"><img alt="hillwood gardens" height="480" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7543/27884186200_5521552fb8_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/28087319091/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="hillwood gardens"><img alt="hillwood gardens" height="480" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7451/28087319091_f988cc2f5b_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/28087329861/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="hillwood gardens"><img alt="hillwood gardens" height="604" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7316/28087329861_704f4effbe_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/28165787995/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="hillwood gardens"><img alt="hillwood gardens" height="480" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7435/28165787995_74fff22fa2_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27550288813/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="hillwood gardens"><img alt="hillwood gardens" height="480" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7494/27550288813_63db668da6_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Most of my photos were taken in the Japanese garden because that was my favorite. But there was also a pet cemetery, a cutting garden, a French parterre, a putting green, a rose garden where Marjorie's ashes are located, and the lunar lawn which is watched over by Leo the stone lion and which offers that billion dollar view towards the Washington Monument. While I enjoy the gardens at the National Arboretum more, what's remarkable to me about Hillwood is that it was a privately owned residence. It's a lifestyle I just can't imagine living, though it was fun to pretend for a day.Funnelcloud Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12090193674723900588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616163624033566299.post-47005925526709145772016-06-28T13:53:00.000-04:002016-10-06T15:46:38.994-04:00another one bites the dust<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXYH-lPUkosN0Vg2e1y19vDVah2y4KXx7L4d2TlSqx4t5ahaUqz0NTb84WY169S2wiOyTZbMxysSH4rNDtWp858K5b-nJYzIBoJNnJhLvPkRUjxlr5SgMlKqnJs7S69cvD52LmPHcB8X-/s1600/Bunny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXYH-lPUkosN0Vg2e1y19vDVah2y4KXx7L4d2TlSqx4t5ahaUqz0NTb84WY169S2wiOyTZbMxysSH4rNDtWp858K5b-nJYzIBoJNnJhLvPkRUjxlr5SgMlKqnJs7S69cvD52LmPHcB8X-/s640/Bunny.jpg" width="800" /></a></div>
<br />
Our yard has been teeming with wildlife this spring and summer. There's a family of foxes - including two baby foxes, who we often see romping and rolling in our yard on weekend mornings. I haven't been able to get a picture of them, but fox kits are just about the cutest things I've ever seen. Gravy and Banjo disagree. I'm surprised they haven't broken a window in their rage that these critters are playing in their yard! I've seen the vixen almost every day over the pasts few weeks, too. And the bunnies! SO MANY BUNNIES. Bunnies, bunnies, everywhere.<br />
<br />
I've watched three bunnies zip around our yard chasing each other, and then witnessed two of them doing unspeakable things in the bushes. (Making more bunnies!) I've watched tiny baby bunnies - some the size of hamsters, some the size of guinea pigs, hopping across our patio on a daily basis. They are fearless and clueless and sometimes get within two feet of me. I've tried to scare them off to prevent bloodshed. With a greyhound and a coonhound constantly patrolling our backyard, I suppose it was only a matter of time before the inevitable occurred. I only wish it hadn't happened right in front of me!<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, it's time for more <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/search/label/haiku">haikus</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Dear Rabbits, I tried</b><br />
<b>to warn you about the beasts.</b><br />
<b>Our yard is not safe.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Why do you come here?</b><br />
<b>Two eighty pound dogs wait to</b><br />
<b>kill you with their mouths. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Hippity hopping</b><br />
<b>Baby bunnies everywhere</b><br />
<b>No sense of danger.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>From flat dog to fast </b><br />
<b>dog. Gravy is built for speed.</b><br />
<b>Zero to fifty.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Greyhound on the loose.</b><b><br /></b><b>Run bunny, run for </b><b>your life! </b><br />
<b>Oh no, you're too slow!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Lounging on my chair,</b><br />
<b>drinking a beer. Gravy runs.</b><br />
<b>Baby bunny dies.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>A flash of red fur,</b><br />
<b>Gnashing teeth in the flowers.</b><br />
<b>RIP bunny.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>In a split second</b><br />
<b>Gravy runs, grabs, and kills it.</b><br />
<b>Apex predator.</b><br />
<br />
<b>A murderous scene</b><br />
<b>Happens in my own backyard</b><br />
<b>Cold-blooded killer.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>There's fur in his teeth</b><br />
<b>Now he has a taste for blood</b><br />
<b>Let's catch another!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Scream bloody murder.</b><br />
<b>That was me yelling at dogs.</b><br />
<b>Please don't call the cops.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Yard full of babies.</b><br />
<b>So tiny and sweet. Gravy</b><br />
<b>chews on bunny meat.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>A summer's evening.</b><br />
<b>Peaceful, calm. Interrupted</b><br />
<b>by canine killers.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Mother Nature, so</b><br />
<b>cruel. I did not need a</b><br />
<b>front row seat for that.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Woke up the next day.</b><br />
<b>More baby bunnies in the</b><br />
<b>yard. They never learn.</b>Funnelcloud Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12090193674723900588noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616163624033566299.post-28845255941125218512016-06-23T10:54:00.002-04:002016-10-06T15:51:40.536-04:00canada | île d'orléans<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815834043/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="480" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7476/26815834043_88b1c17694_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
After spending <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2016/06/canada-montmorency-falls.html">the morning at Montmorency Falls</a>, Larry, Bryan, and I drove across the bridge to spend the afternoon on <a href="http://tourisme.iledorleans.com/en/">Île d'Orléans</a>. Once again, we knew nothing about where we were going. When we asked the woman at the front desk of our hotel in Québec City about the best way to get to the Falls, she suggested we go to Île d'Orléans afterwards. (This lady was an incredible resource and everything she suggested, including the restaurant we ate at in Lower Town later that night, was excellent. We should have asked her for recommendations earlier in our stay, before we trudged through the touristy neighborhoods with mediocre restaurants full of Americans.) Anyway, she said Île d'Orléans was a good place to spend the afternoon and get something to eat. In my mind, I was picturing a small natural island with a park and picnic tables where we could eat a sandwich while looking out at the river.<br />
<br />
What we found was SO much better!<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27781371591/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="île d'orléans"><img alt="île d'orléans" height="480" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7332/27781371591_34fa1a4832_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
As instructed by the woman at the hotel, we stopped at the visitor center as soon as we crossed the bridge onto the island. Larry stayed in the car to take a conference call for work, while Bryan and I went in. The visitor center lady gave us <a href="http://tourisme.iledorleans.com/en/useful-informations/interactive-map-of-ile-d-orleans/">a map</a>, and then explained everywhere to visit on the island, circling all the places that were currently open for the season. We went back to the car, and I said to Larry, "This place is awesome! Basically it's an island full of vineyards, cideries, breweries, orchards, ice cream and chocolate shops, farms, and bakeries. There's a loop road, and you eat your way around the island!"<br />
<br />
Everything I love all in one place! Seriously, was this heaven???<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815851053/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="480" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7491/26815851053_afbf51906b_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
For our first course we started with ice cream, because we're adults and we can eat dessert first if we want to! We stopped at <a href="http://www.chocolaterieorleans.com/en/">Chocolaterie de Île d'Orléans</a> and ordered dark chocolate dipped ice cream cones (<span style="color: #212121; font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>enrobées de chocolat crème glacée</i></span>). We took our treats outside to eat, and all three of us were moaning in ecstasy. "<i>This is the best ice cream we've ever had! This chocolate is SO good! Oh myyyy goddddd!</i>" Because it was a chocolate shop, the chocolate coating was incredible (made from imported Belgian ingredients), and about 1/4" thick - it formed a sort of chocolate cup around the ice cream, which was also really good. We talked about these ice cream cones for the rest of the day and the next day, too. "<i>I wish we could go back to Île d'Orléans and get a chocolate dipped cone for breakfast!</i>", we said as we were driving back to the U.S. the next day. I also tried to figure out how I could transport a cone back to my ice cream-loving mother. Sorry, Mom, we'll have to take you to Québec instead! Anyway, our first stop was a winner!<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815878353/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="480" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7604/26815878353_b2dc20ae7e_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
We drove onwards, through a series of quaint little towns and farming communities flanked by the Saint Lawrence River. Île d'Orléans was one of the first parts of the province of Québec to be colonized by the French, so it has a rich French-Canadian history. It has been described as "the microcosm of traditional Québec and the birthplace of Francophones in North America."<br />
<br />
Our next stop was at a bakery called <a href="http://laboulange.ca/?setlang=en">La Boulange</a>. We took our paper bags full of pastries and sat on a low wall next to a church overlooking the river to enjoy them. I never turn down the opportunity to eat <i>pain au chocolat</i>, which are called <i>chocolatines</i> in Québec. Isn't that the best word?<br />
<br />
Yum.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815854453/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="480" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7308/26815854453_baa82335f0_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27389087066/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="collage - church"><img alt="collage - church" height="604" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7390/27389087066_d2b52654cd_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27422900195/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="480" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7434/27422900195_03b5de5c4a_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Our third stop was climbing the <i>tour d'observation </i>at the northeast end of the island, for a view of the farmland and river from above.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815842533/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="480" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7425/26815842533_907d040edf_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27389042036/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="collage - tower"><img alt="collage - tower" height="604" src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7596/27389042036_3cc9ca27a4_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27146821940/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="480" src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7035/27146821940_ebe97f829d_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27146819340/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="480" src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7550/27146819340_4fc7824e31_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Then it was time for the happy hour part of the tour as we drove around the west side of the island which was dotted with wineries, breweries, and cideries. We tasted wines and ice wines at <a href="http://www.vignobledumitan.com/">Vignoble du Mitan</a>, local brews at <a href="http://www.microorleans.com/">Microbrasserie de L'Île d'Orléans</a>, and ice ciders at <a href="http://tourisme.iledorleans.com/en/membre/cidrerie-verger-joe-gigu%C3%A8re/">Cidrerie Verger Joe Giguère</a>. I had tasted ice wine before (a special treat, and not that easy to get in Virginia), but I didn't even know there was such a thing as ice cider. (Which is made from frozen apples and is delicious!) Everyone we spoke to was so friendly and enthusiastic about the products that they made and the history of the island. Plus, is there anything more romantic than tasting wines poured by a native French speaker?<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815838953/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="480" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7374/26815838953_f9369cc312_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815836843/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="480" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7752/26815836843_0405daca2a_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26814224234/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="480" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7028/26814224234_efd3a40366_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815830553/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="480" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7063/26815830553_4ef2214c17_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815818083/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="291" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7303/26815818083_163e07b179_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27146804900/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="480" src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7386/27146804900_64a9048f47_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815828053/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="480" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7281/26815828053_c0a2ce1d15_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815809023/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="480" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7156/26815809023_94859825d7_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
I wish we could've stopped at every local business on the island - there were many more wineries and restaurants that we didn't get to try, along with art galleries, fromageries, and in the summer - strawberry farms! The main crops on the island are strawberries, potatoes, and leeks, but since we were there so early in the season, many of these places were not open yet. But we did come back with a few souvenirs...<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27823075376/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="île d'orléans"><img alt="île d'orléans" height="480" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7072/27823075376_b006c4c96c_z.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
How lovely would it be to spend an entire weekend on Île d'Orléans, staying in a bed and breakfast, biking around the island, and indulging in French-Canadian delights along the way? Like I said, this place is heaven.<br />
<br />
(P.S. After writing <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/search/label/canada">six posts about Canada</a>, I finally figured out how to type accents on my MacBook! I suppose I could've googled this, but it was much more fun to find out by accident! Just hold down the key for the letter you want accented and a pop-up will appear with all the accent options.)<br />Funnelcloud Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12090193674723900588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616163624033566299.post-12106409739758682282016-06-15T23:23:00.002-04:002016-06-16T10:55:22.544-04:00canada | montmorency falls<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27388896496/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7798/27388896496_11cd580f3e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
When our friend Bryan decided to join us last minute in Quebec, he told us "One thing I want to see while we're there is Montmorency Falls." Since we had done pretty much no research ahead of time, neither Larry nor I had even heard of <a href="https://www.sepaq.com/ct/pcm/?language_id=1">Montmorency Falls</a>! We googled it on our phones and were immediately game to check it out. Point for Bryan!<br />
<br />
Montmorency Falls is a 276-foot tall waterfall (98 feet higher than Niagara) reached via aerial tram. We set off to check it out the morning after the Pearl Jam concert. We considered renting bikes and riding from Quebec City to the falls, but ultimately decided to drive. (This was a good decision - the ride was not picturesque, plus having a car allowed us to explore Ile d'Orleans afterwards.)<br />
<br />
We took the tram from the visitors center to the top of the falls, checked out the museum, walked across the suspension bridge over the falls, and then down 487 stairs. There's also a zipline, if you're adventurous/insane. There was lots of mist coming off the falls, which provided lots of rainbows. The geographic feature across from the base of the falls is called the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=montmorency+falls+sugar+loaf&client=safari&rls=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwibouPa_qPNAhWHGD4KHbGZCBcQsAQILQ&biw=1116&bih=710">Sugar Loaf</a> <span style="font-family: inherit;">(<i>pain de sucre</i>)</span>. The Sugar Loaf becomes a gigantic cone during the winter when the mist from the waterfall freezes, and people go there to go ice climbing and tobogganing. (!!!)<br />
<br />
We also took about a million photos. Here are a few pictures of the waterfall (and by a few, I mean 30):<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26816030383/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7296/26816030383_099b1e834e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26816021563/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7705/26816021563_cae431f064_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26816033863/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7288/26816033863_88b411cd84_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27146917790/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7419/27146917790_99846d018d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26816035843/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7331/26816035843_6da0c6bec4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26816007503/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7482/26816007503_00287919d5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27146911310/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7542/27146911310_243698c907_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815983633/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7702/26815983633_0b0e458876_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815989223/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7206/26815989223_30c853342f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27146896150/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7792/27146896150_ea798824e2_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815968893/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7389/26815968893_59f4cd7912_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27324524762/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7138/27324524762_7ff7b5b65b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815959173/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7182/26815959173_9ce6fd3f7f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815955573/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7188/26815955573_eac90c992c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815949533/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7366/26815949533_cf93755492_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27351348281/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7060/27351348281_ebe0b319a1_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815936663/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7722/26815936663_805cb2230c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26814309794/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7452/26814309794_32f4a71ec5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27146865900/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7027/27146865900_6ec957a2f9_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26814296294/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7202/26814296294_1428abc598_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27351330181/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7446/27351330181_57da610cc3_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27351323051/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7622/27351323051_6b391b08e5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27388885776/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7376/27388885776_f88430a0b0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26814269434/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7448/26814269434_fcda06415c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27146850320/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7340/27146850320_0012d0965b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815908343/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7115/26815908343_e829c8c60a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26814282054/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7581/26814282054_ee25f4ab9b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26814286564/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7361/26814286564_f3070b2319_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27388871046/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7680/27388871046_b4b93119cc_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26814262364/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7621/26814262364_98730da7d5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
If that doesn't earn me a merit badge in waterfall photography, I don't know what does! (Actually, I should've brought a tripod and attempted some longer exposures, but I'm a lazy photographer.)<br />
<br />
There are no pictures of me on the bridge or smiling while looking out at the waterfall - this is because my photographer needed to get across the bridge as quickly as possible without looking down, sideways, or stopping for photo opps! ;)Funnelcloud Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12090193674723900588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616163624033566299.post-21589162525341542042016-06-10T15:34:00.001-04:002016-06-10T15:47:56.424-04:00canada | exploring quebec city<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27351179521/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7446/27351179521_74f30426f0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
After spending three nights <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2016/06/canada-heading-north-exp-cabins.html">in a cabin</a> in Parc National de la Jacques-Cartier, we packed up our camping gear and drove into Quebec City. We were planning to meet my friend in the city, but he had gotten sick and was unable to come to the concert. Luckily, our friend Bryan was able to get a flight at the last minute so he could spend a long weekend with us and see Pearl Jam.<br />
<br />
We stayed in the <a href="http://hotelsduvieuxquebec.com/en/auberge-place-d-armes/">Auberge Place d'Armes</a> in Old Quebec, which was housed in two 17th and 18th century buildings - a charming little place with friendly and helpful staff. It was centrally located and walkable to everything, which also meant it was a touristy area. I expect to encounter lots of tourists when staying in a city (after all, I am a tourist, too) and just try my best to avoid the groups wearing matching t-shirts and wielding selfie sticks.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27324602592/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7402/27324602592_d31373bcd3_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27422454135/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7350/27422454135_b5ac80ef5f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27324008882/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7434/27324008882_9dfd352dfb_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
The Auberge Place d'Armes was also right across the street from Quebec City's most iconic building - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_Frontenac">Le Chateau Frontenac</a>. Le Chateau Frontenac is <a href="http://www.fairmont.com/frontenac-quebec/">actually a hotel</a> - one that was out of our budget, but we visited it many times during our stay because they have several <a href="http://bistrolesam.com/en/">swanky</a> <a href="http://www.fairmont.com/frontenac-quebec/dining/1608-wine-cheese-bar/">bars</a> that serve <a href="http://bistrolesam.com/en/menus/#mixology">delicious cocktails.</a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26814411564/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7760/26814411564_2b843849b9_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
We had three days to explore the city.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Day 1</b> | We walked all over the place, to explore, but mostly trying to find something to eat! Every menu boasted things like elk tongue, horse steaks, all-you-can-eat frog legs, and rabbit served a dozen ways. What are two vegetarians to do? (Full disclosure, in my omnivore days, I would've eaten, or at least <i>tasted</i>, all those things except the horse. I have eaten frog legs, rabbit, and elk meat, though not elk's tongue. Horses, dogs, and cats are pets, and I could never eat them. I did have rabbits as pets growing up. Oops.) Anyway, we walked up and down Rue Saint-Jean looking for anywhere that had something vegetarian on the menu, all while getting hungrier and crankier. At first, I refused to go into a pizza place (or worse, an "Irish" pub), because, we were in Canada! I wanted to try local cuisine. But evidently all local cuisine is meat. When Larry and I had both reached <i>Code Red: HANGRY</i> levels, we went into a pizza place called <a href="http://sapristi.ca/">Sapristi</a>. It turned out to be some of the best pizza we've ever had! We had a Trois Garcons (pears, caramelized pecans, leeks, bleu cheese, arugula, cream sauce) and a Quatre Fromage with Onion Confit. Delicious. With full bellies, we could explore a little more, and walked down to the Terrasse Dufferin, which is a boardwalk that overlooks Lower Town and the Saint Lawrence River. We spent the evening looking for a place to watch the Caps playoff game (who knew it would be so hard to find a place to watch hockey in Canada?) and ended up eating french fries for dinner at the most touristy bar full of Americans. Ugh. To top it all off, the Caps lost! But we recovered the evening with cocktails at the Chateau Frontenac. My favorites were the Ward 21 (Woodford Reserve, Cointreau, lemon juice, orange juice, cranberry puree, ginger beer) and the Jam Le Sam (vodka, pink pepper & cranberry jam, lime, maple syrup).</div>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26813685884/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7757/26813685884_12b95a8efa_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27388352796/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7486/27388352796_489768d0aa_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27350824941/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7515/27350824941_921c31ab54_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815385763/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7050/26815385763_593a316a87_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27422437025/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7572/27422437025_32239d49f1_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27323994912/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7108/27323994912_a8ff7b4856_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27323996932/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7440/27323996932_af7a3b14ff_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<b>Day 2</b> | After a tasty breakfast in the hotel restaurant (the creamiest scrambled eggs I've ever tasted), we hung out in the hotel until our friend Bryan's flight arrived. Then we were off to do more exploring and eating! We walked the full length of the Terrasse Dufferin, and then up and down hundreds of stairs to get to <a href="http://www.lacitadelle.qc.ca/en/">La Citadelle</a>. From the map, I thought La Citadelle was a grassy park where an old fort used to be. Turns out it is still an active military base, and you can only get inside by taking a guided tour. (I did not do a lot of pre-travel research for this trip!) We skipped the tour, though I would have liked to see <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_22nd_Regiment#/media/File:Baptiste_the_Goat.JPG">Batisse the Goat</a> - the mascot of the Royal 22e Regiment. We had our first taste of poutine at <a href="http://lechicshack.ca/">Le Chic Shack</a> - a burger/poutine joint, which uses all local ingredients and had a huge list of homemade sodas. (The mango was delicious!) They have vegetarian poutine made with a mushroom gravy that was so good. I highly recommend La Forestiere, and I will be trying to recreate it at home.<br />
<br />
That evening, we headed to the <a href="http://www.lecentrevideotron.ca/en">Centre Videotron</a> for the Pearl Jam concert. We had a fantastic Uber driver, Alain, who provided excellent conversation (about hockey!) and assured us there would be plenty of taxis after the show. Concert was good, and Eddie Vedder attempted to speak French at one point. (His French is waaaaaay worse than mine, but everyone cheered anyway.) After the show, we were greeted with NO cabs, freezing temps, and hundreds of people in line at the cab stand. We waited for 1.5 hours in the cold before we finally got into <strike>a cab</strike> The Death Cab. Most terrifying ride of my life. Monsieur did not stop for a single stop sign OR red light. I was genuinely convinced I was going to die. I nearly crushed Larry's hand with my grip as we sped through Quebec City. <i>This is the end</i>, I thought, <i>this is the end.</i> <i>Mort. La fin. Au revoir.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
When we came to a screeching halt outside our hotel, the cabbie charged us $5 CAD. Total. That's about $1 US each. Ha! The next day, Larry said "I don't really remember much from that cab ride home." I said, "Was that because your eyes were squeezed shut as you were praying to god?" Oh wait, that was me.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27422722075/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7096/27422722075_d1f113367b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27388676106/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7439/27388676106_0832103c77_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27388672186/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7394/27388672186_80c8ab7909_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27388679276/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7673/27388679276_d17cbca6d3_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27324642032/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="collage - quebec city"><img alt="collage - quebec city" height="483" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7571/27324642032_046c192007_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27324389852/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7385/27324389852_10b7b2ec13_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27388666406/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="quebec city - pearl jam"><img alt="quebec city - pearl jam" height="424" src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7575/27388666406_a2bb26342f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<b>Day 3</b> | Our best day in Quebec City, and not just because we didn't have to ride in The Death Cab. We visited Montmorency Falls and drove around Ile d'Orleans - excursions that will get blog posts of their own. That evening when we got back to Quebec City, we took the funicular down to Lower Town. This was our favorite part of the city. It felt so European - in fact, it actually reminded me of Florence. We wished we had spent more time in this part of the city - we liked it so much more than the touristy areas of Upper Town. There were also much better restaurants in this area and some great looking boutique hotels. We had dinner at <a href="http://www.restaurantsss.com/">Restaurant SSS</a>, which ended up being the best restaurant meal I've had since we gave up eating meat two years ago. I had beet risotto, another dish that I must recreate at home. I licked every plate clean and was too full to have dessert. Larry said I would regret not ordering the pistachio creme brûlée for the rest of my life - and he was right! But man, that was a good meal, and a terrific end to our time in Quebec City.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27324383572/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7080/27324383572_36c494c799_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27388801696/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7458/27388801696_079f2cf079_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26814199404/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7286/26814199404_d8f69a3526_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27146776440/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7349/27146776440_9bbd8650af_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26814218894/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7395/26814218894_4f47df4091_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27351554551/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="collage - funicular"><img alt="collage - funicular" height="483" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7442/27351554551_933e64a583_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27351189751/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7115/27351189751_4cd3bab69b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27324367572/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7343/27324367572_a4bb2738b3_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26814172014/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7674/26814172014_113f5233a8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27388795806/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7279/27388795806_1a6dbeeeda_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27423143615/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="collage - lower town"><img alt="collage - lower town" height="483" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7639/27423143615_e4af7236fa_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27422821295/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="quebec city"><img alt="quebec city" height="424" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7753/27422821295_e285eb28d8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Many Americans probably don't consider going to Canada to be international travel. But hearing the Quebecois speak French and walking down streets that reminded me so much of Europe was a great reminder to explore the unfamiliar and use my passport more. Where to next?<br />
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D8616163624033566299%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D2158916252534154204%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dallposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dallposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dlink&media=https%3A%2F%2Fc7.staticflickr.com%2F8%2F7575%2F27388666406_a2bb26342f_z.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=t5c49Ezzevjr&description=quebec%20city%20-%20pearl%20jam" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 26px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 8807px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D8616163624033566299%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D2158916252534154204%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dallposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dallposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dlink&media=https%3A%2F%2Fc7.staticflickr.com%2F8%2F7575%2F27388666406_a2bb26342f_z.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=t5c49Ezzevjr&description=quebec%20city%20-%20pearl%20jam" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 26px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 8807px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8616163624033566299" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8616163624033566299" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Funnelcloud Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12090193674723900588noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616163624033566299.post-54730868437455634212016-06-09T01:09:00.000-04:002016-06-10T14:45:31.633-04:00canada | a walk on the chemin de la vallee-de-la-jacques-cartier<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815333363/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7422/26815333363_69003d6b57_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
For our second day of hiking in Parc National de la Jacques-Cartier, we decided to walk down the park road (Chemin de la Vallee-de-la-Jacques-Cartier). <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2016/06/canada-moose-sighting-hiking-les.html">The day before</a>, we had learned that many of the park's trails were inaccessible during the winter season, and that most of the park road was closed to vehicles because it is not plowed during the winter. My first thought was "Well, why don't they just plow it so cars can reach the rest of the park?" But then I realized that Canadians actually prefer a snow-covered road for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. It hadn't even occurred to this cold-weather hating American that snow is an asset in Canada because it provides opportunities for winter recreation!<br />
<br />
Anyway, the park road travels along the river, so we figured walking through the valley along the river would give us the best overview of the park we could get during the winter. We also thought it would be flatter than the up-and-down trail we had hiked the day before, so again, we decided not to rent crampons. <i>Note to self</i>: Just rent the damn crampons!!!<br />
<br />
Once again the hike was icy. Extremely icy and extremely bumpy - one of the most difficult surfaces I've ever walked on. And it wasn't flat - the park road definitely had plenty of hills - so add a slope to the icy and bumpy road, and you've got a recipe for busting your face/ass. I didn't take many photos during this hike, because the actual hiking part required two hands on my trekking poles and all my concentration. (Of course the bridge where we did stop to take photos was clear of snow, but trust me, the rest of the road was covered with a couple of feet of ice.)<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27323965642/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7365/27323965642_9e1935a095_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27388308646/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7002/27388308646_11c916abb0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27388328686/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7296/27388328686_964c4e90ec_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815346773/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7170/26815346773_fbc3103b2d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27146399160/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7447/27146399160_3e82990679_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27350767131/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7425/27350767131_52d7bc5fb2_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27323958712/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7785/27323958712_bc58261315_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815341103/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7084/26815341103_6571e9f751_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27388302396/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7337/27388302396_bc4532c370_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
But we persevered and kept going. And going and going and going. We hiked 6 km up the road. We were getting tired from hiking over ice, but then saw a sign with an arrow for <i>Les Loups </i>overlook <i>-</i> the trail I had wanted to hike before we realized the trailhead was only accessible from the park road during the summer. Had we really walked all the way to <i>Les Loups</i>? I think the sign with the arrow said 2 km, which we decided was totally doable if we were that close. We headed up the trail, up the mountain and over a snowy hilly path, dodging obstacles, climbing over fallen trees, jumping over creeks, tripping over hidden rocks, up, up, up. We finally reached another sign and that was when we realized <i>Les Loups</i> was not 2 km away. <i>Les Loups</i> was actually a significant hike further up the mountain. We had to ditch the plan and head back down the mountain - more snow, more ice, more treacherous trails, moose tracks, and lots of gooey mud, which I finally slipped in, leaving a big gooey mud stain all over my backside. When we finally got back to the <i>Les Loups</i> sign, we realized it actually said <i>Les Loups</i> JCT 2 km. JCT = junction. Duh. So it was 2 km just to get to the trail from the road. A big fat F for these two dummies in sign-reading and navigation skills!<br />
<br />
By this point we were really tired and we still had a 6 km return down the park road to get back to the visitor center. It was a long day. I estimate we ended up hiking about 15-16 km (9-10 miles) over ice. Our legs were done by the time we got back to <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2016/06/canada-heading-north-exp-cabins.html">the cabin</a>.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27323890592/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7286/27323890592_b96c37b856_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27389062216/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="collage - RL cabin"><img alt="collage - RL cabin" height="483" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7788/27389062216_83c080cbe0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26813588594/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7534/26813588594_7a316e00f8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27323880072/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7361/27323880072_4b30673b22_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27323864312/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7644/27323864312_f4595e8a23_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27351560031/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="collage - fire"><img alt="collage - fire" height="483" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7603/27351560031_ddbc4edfdf_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815262103/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7639/26815262103_6b7dc78ffa_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26813580274/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7287/26813580274_889c6897da_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27323899512/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7793/27323899512_fcb2399c32_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26813553734/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7352/26813553734_04c56d49a6_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815266543/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7293/26815266543_cd4671b735_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27146289330/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7327/27146289330_517d016208_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Back at camp it was a cool 28 degrees F - perfect weather for a fire, roasted marshmallows, and some beers to celebrate our last night in Parc National de la Jacques-Cartier. The next day, we would pack up and drive to Quebec City.<br />
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D8616163624033566299%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2Fc8.staticflickr.com%2F8%2F7293%2F26815266543_cd4671b735_z.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=t5c49Ezzevjr&description=parc%20national%20de%20la%20jacques%20cartier" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 26px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 8858px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D8616163624033566299%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2Fc8.staticflickr.com%2F8%2F7293%2F26815266543_cd4671b735_z.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=t5c49Ezzevjr&description=parc%20national%20de%20la%20jacques%20cartier" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 26px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 8858px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Funnelcloud Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12090193674723900588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616163624033566299.post-38951384783639160992016-06-06T22:46:00.001-04:002016-06-06T22:46:45.778-04:00canada | moose sighting + hiking les cascades<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27146120800/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7554/27146120800_4554e6413b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
After our first cozy night <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2016/06/canada-heading-north-exp-cabins.html">in the EXP cabin</a>, we woke up, threw on clothes and headed to the visitor center to check in. We also had some questions about the park map and the hiking trails.<br />
<br />
Before our road trip to Canada, I had printed out a trail map and descriptions of all the hikes in <a href="https://www.sepaq.com/pq/jac/index.dot?language_id=1">Parc National de la Jacques-Cartier</a>. I was prepared ahead of time. And I had decided that we should hike <i>Les Loups</i>, an 11 km hike described in the trail guide as <span style="font-family: inherit;">"</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Breathtaking! See the most striking fractures of the Laurentides massif and
the spectacular Jacques-Cartier and Sautauriski valleys.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">" </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">With a 447 meter (1,467 feet!) elevation change, this hike was going to be a challenge, but the </span><i style="background-color: white;">breathtaking spectacular views</i><span style="background-color: white;"> sounded like a pretty good payoff.</span></span><br />
<br />
So imagine my confusion when we arrived at the park and looked at the map in our cabin. <i>Les Loups </i>was not on the map. Nor were many of the other trails. Nor was the park road past the visitor center. Actually, over half the park wasn't even on the map. Huh?<br />
<br />
The map in our cabin was the WINTER map. No problem, I thought. It's May. We just had to get a copy of the spring map. They obviously forgot to switch out the winter map in the cabin with the current map. WRONG. Turns out May is still winter in Canada. And in winter, the majority of Parc National de la Jacques-Cartier is closed or inaccessible. Only the first 10 km of the 33 km park road are open. I suppose you could get to the rest of the park on foot...if you had snowshoes or skis. To get to <i>Les Loups</i>, you'd need to walk 6 km over three feet of snowpack just to get to the trailhead. Which would turn our 11 km hike into a 23 km hike. (Over 14 miles, more than half of it spent just getting to and from the trailhead.)<br />
<br />
The kind and informative (and English-speaking!) girl in the visitor center explained the trail situation to us. (As soon as she said the thing about snowshoes, I was like "Uhhh, this is beyond my skill set...") She recommended several winter hikes with trailheads accessible from the visitor center. We decided to hike <i>Les Cascades</i>, a 4 km trail described as <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cool sounds and an exhilarating visual experience await you on this trail
running next to a cascading brook.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">" It was a short hike, so we opted not to rent crampons from the </span><span style="background-color: white;">visitors</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> center. <i>Note to self: </i>Next time rent the crampons! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But first, we headed back to the cabin to enjoy a relaxing morning and brunch feast before packing our gear for the trail.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27388178986/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7397/27388178986_c0461e9516_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I've been trying to pack lighter for hikes, and camera gear is always the biggest burden. I popped a lens on my camera, telling myself, "You don't need a zoom lens for this hike - it's not like you're going to see a moose." Two minutes later, Larry pulled the car over when he spotted a moose standing in a marshy area about 30-40 feet from the park road! I've seen three moose in my lifetime over two trips to <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/search/label/wyoming">Wyoming</a>, but they were always much further away. This guy (actually it was a female) was practically right next to the car! I leaned out the window and snapped a pic, lamenting not having my zoom lens on my camera! Surefire way to see wildlife - have the wrong lens.</span></span><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27350649971/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7136/27350649971_dfc1b9e622_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Larry was worried about being pulled over on a blind curve, so he headed up the road to turn the car around. I wasn't concerned that the moose would move - she seemed pretty content where she was. I swapped lenses as we drove back and scanned the river on the other side of the road. Sure enough...was that the moose swimming? It was! She had left the marshy area where she was grazing, crossed the road, and started swimming across the river while we were turning the car around.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815196313/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7614/26815196313_169583f27a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27350642521/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7045/27350642521_7e54884d35_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27146178130/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7430/27146178130_b5166f6b1e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815165093/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" style="font-family: inherit;" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7439/26815165093_82a03cf8e5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815173153/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7032/26815173153_491f4ca402_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27323735972/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7349/27323735972_f3882ca18c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27350616901/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7632/27350616901_ab400ceaf0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was a pretty amazing thing to see. <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2015/04/wyoming-rafting-snake.html">Our raft guide in Wyoming</a> had told us that moose are actually aquatic animals (who knew?) and they're most often spotted in rivers. Glad I listened to him and had my eyes on the river, otherwise we would've driven right by. She moose-paddled across and when she got to the the other side, stood up and shook off like a dog. Witnessing a moose swim across a river, was definitely one of the highlights of the trip.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But on to the hike. It was a fun, but snowy/icy trek through the woods. The trails in the park are used by winter sports enthusiasts, and by May, the trails had been snowshoed and skied over and compacted and there was a solid 24-36" of snowpack beneath our feet. For the most part, the snow on the trails was very hard...except for the occasional spot where it wasn't and you'd sink in the snow up to your knees. I fully expected to bite it/break a leg during the entire hike and was lamenting not renting the crampons, but amazingly I made it through without falling on my arse once. I was very thankful for my trekking poles, fleece-lined leggings, and neon red jacket - perhaps three of the best pieces of gear I own, particularly for winter hiking. I was also glad we had chosen a shorter trail, because hiking on ice is much more technical and takes a lot more muscles and concentration than usual.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27146136890/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7262/27146136890_33b4e6be6d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27146131220/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7191/27146131220_d3fd059f8a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27146124750/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7454/27146124750_3d4f38a646_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27146113850/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7797/27146113850_b2cda3138c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27350596921/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7371/27350596921_a4f8a9e69f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27350592721/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7759/27350592721_fed32c21dc_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815119353/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7544/26815119353_5795937a74_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815112393/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7329/26815112393_3d7bee7ff8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27422133665/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7311/27422133665_f638cdd5d2_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815104273/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7586/26815104273_968a5625c9_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27323682832/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7336/27323682832_c41358222b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27422108575/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7432/27422108575_4f70625ede_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27323665672/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7340/27323665672_59303857ce_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26813367854/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7421/26813367854_515bb98936_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27323675282/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7401/27323675282_e0fcf50a7a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27422098875/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7544/27422098875_e79399dd2c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815073093/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7486/26815073093_4ca147d8c7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815064423/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7193/26815064423_4024db2533_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27388049466/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7361/27388049466_cf73c65fbe_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Back at the cabin we had a post-hike snack, relaxed, and read before cooking dinner. PSA: Canadian veggie dogs are terrible.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27323628812/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7312/27323628812_9ecacef115_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815054863/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7351/26815054863_705ecced84_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27350522941/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7706/27350522941_1523f310cb_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27146019530/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7417/27146019530_7f10240ff3_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27146016880/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7530/27146016880_15f011301e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27146015370/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7286/27146015370_71e9a9a3ac_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We ended the day with a fire in the stove before crawling into our sleeping bags for another cozy night in the cabin.</span></span><br />
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D8616163624033566299%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2Fc6.staticflickr.com%2F8%2F7632%2F27350616901_ab400ceaf0_z.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=t5c49Ezzevjr&description=parc%20national%20de%20la%20jacques%20cartier" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 26px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 4238px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D8616163624033566299%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2Fc6.staticflickr.com%2F8%2F7632%2F27350616901_ab400ceaf0_z.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=t5c49Ezzevjr&description=parc%20national%20de%20la%20jacques%20cartier" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 26px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 4238px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Funnelcloud Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12090193674723900588noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616163624033566299.post-17970228684830054952016-06-03T19:26:00.000-04:002016-06-06T22:53:48.589-04:00canada | heading north + EXP cabins<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27422349125/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="331" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7349/27422349125_80eb46faf4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
This spring, Larry and I stuffed the REO Smithwagon with hiking gear, sleeping bags, camp food, our passports, and every jacket we owned, and headed north to Canada for our longest road trip yet - 800 miles each way.<br />
<br />
The idea for this adventure started with a concert. We heard that Pearl Jam was going on tour in 2016, and thought "Hey, we should get tickets!" But they weren't playing in the DC area. The closest venues were in Philadelphia, PA (150 miles away) or Hampton, VA (200 miles away). Neither of those cities appealed to me, so we started looking for more interesting options. We love to use a concert as a reason to travel somewhere new. If you can't see a band play locally, why not drive to a foreign country to see them?<br />
<br />
At the same time, I realized that my good friend from high school (who now lives in Canada) might be interested in seeing Pearl Jam, too. Pearl Jam was definitely part of the soundtrack to our high school years. I texted him and he enthusiastically responded YES! Larry and I jumped online the minute tickets went on sale and tried to get tickets for any of the venues in Canada - Toronto: SOLD OUT, Ottawa: SOLD OUT, Quebec City: 3 tickets available! With my heart racing as I fumbled through the timed check-out (those things cause so much anxiety!), I was able to secure the tickets. It was three minutes after tickets went on sale when I completed the transaction, and the seats were in the last row of the Centre Videotron. It would be a 13 hour drive for us, and a 9 hour drive for Matt, but we had tickets to see Pearl Jam in Canada!<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26815316673/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7682/26815316673_769de85ef6_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
We also started looking into stretching the trip into a week and exploring places along the way. We talked about staying in the Adirondacks or going to Vermont, but nothing really worked out with our route. That's when Larry looked at a map and noticed there was some green space just north of Quebec City. Green space always catches our attention, and this green space turned out to be <a href="https://www.sepaq.com/pq/jac/index.dot?language_id=1">Jacques-Cartier National Park</a>. A national park?! <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/search/label/national%20parks">We're big fans of national parks</a> in the U.S., so we were excited by the idea of visiting one in Canada. (After doing some more reading, we learned that the province of Quebec calls its provincial parks "national parks". So it was sort of the equivalent of a state park in the U.S., though I've never seen a state park in the U.S. as expansive or scenic as this one.)<br />
<br />
The pictures of the park looked beautiful, and when I started researching a visit, I discovered the park rents awesome modern cabins, called <a href="https://www.sepaq.com/hebergement/chalet/chalet-exp.dot?language_id=1">EXP Cabins</a>. (Which I think stands for <i>experience</i>?) It seemed like the perfect plan - a chance to spend half the trip relaxing in nature and the other half exploring Quebec City, seeing a concert, and catching up with an old friend who <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2012/05/picnic-in-central-park.html">I hadn't seen in 4 years</a>. The park is only 45 minutes north of the city, so the itinerary worked out perfectly, and there was plenty of availability for the cabins during the first week of May.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27145896140/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7450/27145896140_751871a234_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
On April 30th, we started our journey, stopping overnight just past the halfway point in Schroon Lake, NY. The next day, we crossed the border into Canada and made it to Parc National de la Jacques-Cartier, with just a few minor snafus along the way. Our phones and GOOGLE MAPS stopped working as soon as we crossed the border, despite verifying that Larry had an international cell/data plan ahead of time. Turns out you have to turn on roaming data, but before we figured that out a few hours later, we just stayed the course and kept driving north. Then there was the language barrier when we were buying groceries at the IGA and the credit card didn't work (once again, we had notified the credit card company of our travel plans ahead of time) and evidently none of the cashiers spoke a word of English. Yay for cash - the universal language! With a sampling of Canadian beer, <i>fromage,</i> and poutine-flavored potato chips loaded into the Smithwagon, we continued north.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27323854662/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7042/27323854662_f04b0a5281_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
We arrived at our EXP cabin (called <i>Le Contre-Courant</i>) after the park headquarters had closed for the day, but they had left the cabin unlocked for us and the key on the table. Larry and I love to stay in unique places, and these cabins were fantastic. We immediately wanted one for ourselves! The cabins are simple and modern, with lots of glass and a view towards the Riviere Jacques-Cartier. The genius of the design is that everything does double duty in the cabin - the dining table transformed into a "sofa", the beds had storage underneath for suitcases, a sliding panel on the outside of the cabin covers the windows for privacy. We started calling it the Ikea Cabin! Kudos to <a href="https://www.sepaq.com/">Sepaq</a> (<i>Societe Des Etablissements de Plein Air Du Quebec</i> - the Quebec park service) for having the vision to build such unique park accommodations! I've definitely never seen anything like this in a U.S. park:<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27422332735/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="385" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7676/27422332735_a7e4a0eece_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27387916656/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="385" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7540/27387916656_40c5b3757a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The sliding panel in action.</span></div>
<br />
I adore modern architecture and cabins, so a modern cabin is pretty much my dream. (Seriously, how do I get one for myself?) The cabin is basically just one room, plus a tiny bathroom and it has everything you need: sleeping area, dining area, kitchen, wood stove, porch, fire pit, and incredible view. The website said to bring your own bed linens/towels, so I wasn't expecting any extras - we brought all the kitchen gear we needed, too, but it turned out the cabin had a fully stocked kitchen. (Perhaps I missed that they provided this because the confirmation e-mails they sent were in French?) They also provided dish towels, pillows (though we ended up using our own, because who wants to sleep on a rubber pillow?), firewood, TP, and even a hammock to set up on the porch!<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27145905730/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7620/27145905730_75782def81_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Upon our arrival, we admired the cabin, set up our sleeping bags, unpacked the car, and walked down to the river, before settling in for a night of camp food and relaxing. Of course, I took a million photos, so here's a tour of our quarters and our little slice of the Canadian wilderness:<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27145946280/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7592/27145946280_7046a8e9ed_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27145928430/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7647/27145928430_3dcffe0c09_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27387967596/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7331/27387967596_aa1c884db5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27387876576/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7675/27387876576_7ebfc73ff5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27323547162/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7269/27323547162_ebfd5b3dc1_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27350456251/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7216/27350456251_e5e213e3df_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27387869056/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7266/27387869056_aa53df0c2d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26813220044/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7314/26813220044_38aee5cbd8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27145909850/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7578/27145909850_ea0182a443_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26816172063/in/album-72157668407142050/" nbsp="" title="collage - jacques cartier"><img alt="collage - jacques cartier" height="483" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7425/26816172063_aea305a1a7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27421979515/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7406/27421979515_ac325d49b5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26813177774/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7226/26813177774_524efa16b7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27421966545/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7362/27421966545_2056ed7f48_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27421878835/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7257/27421878835_92f4d1a780_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27387871976/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7316/27387871976_1850d35b0a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27350397251/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="parc national de la jacques cartier"><img alt="parc national de la jacques cartier" height="424" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7024/27350397251_e7761ccd59_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
My pictures don't look as beautiful as the photos on the Sepaq website, because evidently May is 'dirty snow' season in Canada. But just imagine how cozy it would be to stay here with fresh snow on the ground!<br />
<br />
(P.S. I have no idea how to type accents on an American keyboard, so apologies for butchering the French language. <i>Again. </i>I took three years of French in high school and never could get the hang of the pronunciation or remembering which words were feminine or masculine, or where those damn accents went. Je suis desole.)Funnelcloud Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12090193674723900588noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616163624033566299.post-74683482477367246722016-05-26T16:48:00.001-04:002016-05-26T16:59:15.744-04:00locked out<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27198358421/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="locked out"><img alt="locked out" height="424" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7432/27198358421_90fe1e3d92_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Yesterday, I managed to lock myself out of the house for SIX HOURS. My phone, wallet, and book were INSIDE. The dogs and I were outside.<br />
<br />
I had no way to contact Larry, and of course it ended up being the day that he didn't get home from the office until 9 pm. (I even considered walking to find a pay phone, but I haven't seen one of those in years. And I didn't have a quarter anyway.) My options were:<br />
<br />
<b>+ Walk 7 miles to my mother's house in 80+ degree heat to get the spare key </b><br />
(Note to Self: Your nearest spare key should not be 7 miles away.)<br />
<b>+ Break a window</b><br />
<b>+ Wait it out</b><br />
<br />
I wasn't keen on walking anywhere in public considering my uncombed hair situation which could only be described as full-fledged <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_Miser">Heat Miser.</a> And honestly, it takes us years to accomplish home improvement projects, so I figured if I broke a window, we'd be living with a plastic-covered window for at least the next twelve months. Since we weren't in any imminent danger, and since I've been trying to make the most of frustrating situations, I went with waiting.<br />
<br />
Time for 'survivor' mode! I had access to water, the garden shed full of yard tools, and a set of dumbbells (from <a href="http://funnelcloud.blogspot.com/2013/12/iced-by-scrooge.html">counterweighting our Christmas tree a few years ago</a> - yes, they have been sitting on the patio for 2 1/2 years). I also had a bag of pita chips, which are the whole reason I got locked out in the first place - I went outside to have a snack, and foolishly slammed the door shut behind me. We have the kind of doorknobs that remain locked on the outside even when the knob turns on the inside. Actually, I'm surprised that this is the first time I've done this in the eight years we've lived in this house.<br />
<br />
I think I was most annoyed by not having a book. I mean how does one occupy oneself for six hours without reading material?<br />
<br />
Things I did:<br />
<br />
<b>+ LIFTED WEIGHTS</b><br />
Might as well build some muscles!<br />
<b>+ 50 CHEATER PUSH-UPS</b><br />
Ok, I don't actually have any muscles and my puny T-Rex arms can't do regular push-ups.<br />
<b>+ PACED THE PATIO</b><br />
Managed to hit all my FitBit goals! I would've liked to walk around the entire perimeter of our backyard, but let's face it, it's full of dog shit.<br />
<b>+ MEDITATED</b><br />
This was my first time doing an unguided meditation. I've been using the Headspace app for guided meditation the past few months and love it. I'm definitely not into new age-y stuff, but this app has really been helping me and I used what I learned to stay relaxed in a frustrating situation.<br />
<b>+ PEED IN THE CORNER</b><br />
This is not the first time I've peed in my own backyard, but it's the first time I've had to do it in broad daylight! There are a few neighbors on our street who deserve to be mooned anyway, so two birds, one stone...<br />
<br />
Are we sensing a theme here? Does my confinement sound similar to prison? In fact, when Larry got home, he said, "That's a nice little prison yard you made for yourself":<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27234391536/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="locked out"><img alt="locked out" height="424" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7703/27234391536_7693c68acc_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
Other things I did:<br />
<b>+ YARDWORK</b><br />
<b>+ ATE PITA CHIPS</b><br />
<b>+ WASHED MY HAIR UNDER THE GARDEN HOSE</b><br />
<b>+ CONSTRUCTED AN S.O.S. MESSAGE TO LARRY ON THE FRONT PORCH</b><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26662337883/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="locked out"><img alt="locked out" height="424" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7555/26662337883_cf31e0e612_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Locked Out</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Sticks and stones on concrete</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">18" x 96"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2016</span></div>
<br />
While I had a whole list of things waiting for me to accomplish inside the house, I found that being separated from my To Dos was actually quite liberating. I realized that spending an entire day stuck outside is actually more enjoyable the spending an entire day stuck inside. Even without access to a bathroom.<br />
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D8616163624033566299%23editor%2Fsrc%3Ddashboard&media=https%3A%2F%2Fc4.staticflickr.com%2F8%2F7555%2F26662337883_cf31e0e612_z.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=t5c49Ezzevjr&description=locked%20out" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 26px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 1856px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D8616163624033566299%23editor%2Fsrc%3Ddashboard&media=https%3A%2F%2Fc4.staticflickr.com%2F8%2F7555%2F26662337883_cf31e0e612_z.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=t5c49Ezzevjr&description=locked%20out" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 26px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 1856px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D8616163624033566299%23editor%2Fsrc%3Ddashboard&media=https%3A%2F%2Fc4.staticflickr.com%2F8%2F7555%2F26662337883_cf31e0e612_z.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=t5c49Ezzevjr&description=locked%20out" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 26px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 1856px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D8616163624033566299%23editor%2Fsrc%3Ddashboard&media=https%3A%2F%2Fc4.staticflickr.com%2F8%2F7555%2F26662337883_cf31e0e612_z.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=t5c49Ezzevjr&description=locked%20out" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 26px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 1856px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D8616163624033566299%23editor%2Fsrc%3Ddashboard&media=https%3A%2F%2Fc4.staticflickr.com%2F8%2F7555%2F26662337883_cf31e0e612_z.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=t5c49Ezzevjr&description=locked%20out" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 26px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 1856px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D8616163624033566299%23editor%2Fsrc%3Ddashboard&media=https%3A%2F%2Fc4.staticflickr.com%2F8%2F7555%2F26662337883_cf31e0e612_z.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=t5c49Ezzevjr&description=locked%20out" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 26px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 1856px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Funnelcloud Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12090193674723900588noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616163624033566299.post-78120999345635801002016-05-20T02:43:00.003-04:002016-05-20T12:40:20.900-04:00labor day staycation<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26849515150/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | westmoreland state park"><img alt="staycation 2015 | westmoreland state park" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7734/26849515150_70d78db915_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Instead of going out of town for Labor Day weekend (which usually means sitting in holiday traffic for hours trying to get out of the DC area on Friday night/Saturday morning, and then getting stuck in holiday traffic again coming back on Monday evening), Larry and I decided to take a 'staycation' - not just a<i> Let's-Lounge-Around-The-House-All-Weekend</i> staycation, but an actual, <i>Let's-Plan-Three-Days-Of-Activities-And-Do-Some-Cool-Shit</i> staycation. (Is <i>staycation</i> an annoying made-up word? I think yes, but I can't think of a better term either.)<br />
<br />
My goal was to make those three days actually feel like vacation, where you plan ahead and make the most of your time off, where you explore places you've never been, where you don't have a To Do list or house projects to work on. I wanted to do something different every day, all within a 2 hour drive of home. It was a lot to cram into one weekend and a lot of driving, but also a lot of fun to wake up every day and hit the road for a new adventure.<br />
<br />
Our schedule included a little bit of everything in three states (VA, WV, and MD): live music, swimming and biking, walking around a small town, and trying local eateries. (Also, lots of time in the car together, which I actually enjoy now that we have a new car with more leg room and less dog hair.)<br />
<br />
The plan:<br />
<b>Saturday</b> | Appaloosa Festival in Front Royal, VA<br />
<b>Sunday</b> | Swimming and exploring Westmoreland State Park, VA<br />
<b>Monday</b> | Exploring Shepherdstown, WV and biking along the C&O Canal towpath, MD<br />
<br />
Saturday was spent at the new <a href="http://www.appaloosafestival.com/">Appaloosa Festival</a> held at the Skyline Ranch Resort in Front Royal. There were a couple dozen bands playing mostly Americana music (including bluegrass/country/celtic/folk). This was a smaller festival, and I hadn't heard of most of the bands - we just wanted to sit outside, relax and listen to music. We also got to see a performance by our current musical obsession: <a href="http://ppjrecords.com/">Possessed by Paul James</a>. This makes me wish I hadn't quit violin lessons when I was 12!<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jn99Nk6zQkQ" width="640"></iframe><br />
We got to chat with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Possessed_by_Paul_James">Konrad Wert</a> after the performance and he was such a nice guy. (In addition to being an incredible musician, he is also a school teacher and an advocate for special education.) Since we decided to check out Appaloosa Festival on a whim at the last minute, our expectations were pretty low, and all the performances far exceeded them. It ended up being a great day with great music. You can also camp out at the farm if you want to stay for the whole festival weekend, and we hope to gather a group of friends and do that next year. Music and camping? Yes, please! Also, there were singing monks and farm animals!<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26518104164/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | appaloosa festival"><img alt="staycation 2015 | appaloosa festival" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7491/26518104164_bc57b6f727_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27055442171/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | appaloosa festival"><img alt="staycation 2015 | appaloosa festival" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7570/27055442171_501a59e332_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Pig tail, or Barbie hair?</span></div>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26518105074/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | appaloosa festival"><img alt="staycation 2015 | appaloosa festival" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7249/26518105074_11c8a32903_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27055443451/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | appaloosa festival"><img alt="staycation 2015 | appaloosa festival" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7220/27055443451_f3b822dbc2_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26518103344/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | appaloosa festival"><img alt="staycation 2015 | appaloosa festival" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7152/26518103344_51d08a1f77_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26518106834/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | appaloosa festival"><img alt="staycation 2015 | appaloosa festival" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7495/26518106834_0a84f1e1a5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Just some nuns petting a miniature donkey...</span></div>
<br />
On Sunday, we drove two hours to <a href="http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/westmoreland#general_information">Westmoreland State Park</a>. All summer I'd been looking for public swimming pools to visit since we do not have a neighborhood pool. I'd wanted to visit Westmoreland's pool for months and this was the last chance before it closed for the season. So yes, we drove four hours round trip to swim in a pool! What we didn't realize was that the park's beach along the Potomac would be mobbed with families barbecuing, sitting in hammocks, playing games, and camping out on every square inch of space along the water. I wish I had taken a picture, because I've never seen so many people! Not relaxing at all! But we were there for the pool, which was large and overlooked the Potomac River. The pool was crowded but not as packed as the beach. (I'd expected a somewhat empty campground pool, but it felt more like a public pool.) There weren't many non-meat food options, so we ate some crappy nachos and ice cream sandwiches for lunch. After a few hours of swimming and lounging, we walked down a short nature trail to reach a more secluded beach with views of Horsehead Cliffs and the river. The Potomac is much wider along the Northern Neck than it is back up in DC - it really feels like you're looking out across the ocean.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27055451831/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | westmoreland state park"><img alt="staycation 2015 | westmoreland state park" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7329/27055451831_618299145a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26519914133/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | westmoreland state park"><img alt="staycation 2015 | westmoreland state park" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7557/26519914133_e1d6bf480a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27123720865/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | westmoreland state park"><img alt="staycation 2015 | westmoreland state park" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7417/27123720865_5a38a5191a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27028926152/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | westmoreland state park"><img alt="staycation 2015 | westmoreland state park" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7084/27028926152_e9c8943b81_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27055464801/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | westmoreland state park"><img alt="staycation 2015 | westmoreland state park" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7701/27055464801_6cf3fa644b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27055460341/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | westmoreland state park"><img alt="staycation 2015 | westmoreland state park" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7469/27055460341_b453a8641f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26518126184/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | westmoreland state park"><img alt="staycation 2015 | westmoreland state park" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7384/26518126184_0d9e2cbf58_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26849508710/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | westmoreland state park"><img alt="staycation 2015 | westmoreland state park" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7142/26849508710_632cc17db7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27055462971/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | westmoreland state park"><img alt="staycation 2015 | westmoreland state park" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7035/27055462971_4bb3e088e7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26518122674/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | westmoreland state park"><img alt="staycation 2015 | westmoreland state park" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7221/26518122674_11f16fc042_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26849502620/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | westmoreland state park"><img alt="staycation 2015 | westmoreland state park" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7719/26849502620_aee4d9c401_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27055466281/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | westmoreland state park"><img alt="staycation 2015 | westmoreland state park" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7158/27055466281_93e8e6e2d4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
On Monday, we loaded the bikes onto the back of the car and drove out to explore Shepherdstown, West Virginia. We spent a while walking around the small town and wandered through a residential area until we found a <a href="https://jamesrumsey.org/the-rumsey-monument/">monument to James Rumsey</a> with a panoramic view. We ate lunch at the <a href="http://www.bluemoonshepherdstown.com/index.html">Blue Moon Cafe</a>, and then rode our bikes for 10 miles along the C&O Canal towpath. We stopped to take pictures on the bridge between West Virginia and Maryland overlooking the Potomac River, 160 miles from where we viewed the Potomac the day before. Towards the end of the ride, I tried to stop my bike at the edge of the path, went to put my foot down and there was nothing there but air! It was one of those slow-motion-but-can't-stop-yourself-from-falling crashes, and I tumbled ass-over-bike into a ravine. I was thankful for my helmet, which protected my melon, but not my knees. Made it back to the car, and knees stinging, we stopped in <a href="http://www.townrunbrewing.com/">Town Run Brewing Company</a> for some medicine, AKA, beer.<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27055533101/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv"><img alt="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7188/27055533101_9bc15dd6c2_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27028992202/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv"><img alt="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7304/27028992202_5a621a58ea_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27028987672/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv"><img alt="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7176/27028987672_90595f335a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27123797225/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv"><img alt="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7252/27123797225_1df2afcb20_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27090594166/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv"><img alt="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv" height="483" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7054/27090594166_9a4ebafbc0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27123794875/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv"><img alt="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7026/27123794875_4ac22a9786_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27055528411/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv"><img alt="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7364/27055528411_1730fe4680_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27055531041/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv"><img alt="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7193/27055531041_1ba00f53af_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26518164214/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv"><img alt="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7296/26518164214_a68c22855b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27055522681/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv"><img alt="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7036/27055522681_14013d46c8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26518171864/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv"><img alt="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7338/26518171864_80c27fe4bc_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/26518169754/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv"><img alt="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7488/26518169754_8b2f922f7e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27090570176/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv"><img alt="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv" height="480" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7689/27090570176_dd801100b5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27090566086/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv"><img alt="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7137/27090566086_fd2c2d85c5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/funnelcloud/27123773865/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv"><img alt="staycation 2015 | shepherds town, wv" height="424" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7590/27123773865_b7a803431c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Our first real staycation was a success - so much better to have a plan than to waste the whole weekend trying to decide what to do! I hope we make this a yearly tradition, because it was a great way to see a lot of local-ish places that we hadn't prioritized visiting until we set aside a whole weekend for exploring.<br />
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D8616163624033566299%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D7812099934563580100%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dallposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dallposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dlink&media=https%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7158%2F27055466281_93e8e6e2d4_z.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=t5c49Ezzevjr&description=staycation%202015%20%7C%20westmoreland%20state%20park" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 26px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 8907px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D8616163624033566299%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D7812099934563580100%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dallposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dallposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dlink&media=https%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7158%2F27055466281_93e8e6e2d4_z.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=t5c49Ezzevjr&description=staycation%202015%20%7C%20westmoreland%20state%20park" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 26px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 8907px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Funnelcloud Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12090193674723900588noreply@blogger.com11