Author: The real life adventures of a Creole Gypsy

Skagit Valley

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Pedicure = blog post. I’ve been wanting to post this one for a while, but you know, life! We are stationed for a couple of month’s just outside my favorite Washington locale, Skagit Valley. What can I say, this place just stirs my soul. I can’t explain why. It’s probably the lush fertile family farmland nestled in a beautiful valley. Postcard stuff literally. It’s also because it’s the gateway to Anacortes, and the San Juan Island’s. Whidbey Island is a fav of ours also. But I can’t talk about Skagit without mentioning the waterfront town of LaConner. Resteraunts, I mean great resteraunts, antiques, and shops galore. And of course Conway. Little town, best antiquing and grilled oysters in literally 3 states, all in a 5 block area. (Insert Conway Pub here. If you’re a biker, you know this is true)

It’s April, so The Skagit Valley Tulip festival is in full swing. Fields and fields of every color Tulip you can think of. Make sure to check out Roozengarde Garden’s for the best access to the fields and a breathtaking garden’s. Be warned however, once the tulip’s make their entrance, the crowd’s they will come, especially on the weekends! The festival’s official start is April 1st. But don’t make the journey expecting to see tulip’s on that exact day. Mother Nature, and the tulip’s decide when they’ll show, usually later in April. So plan accordingly. 

If you’re doing a Washington vacation, which I highly recommend you do a Washington vacation in this lifetime. You absolutely must break away from Seattle and make the drive through Skagit to Anacortes. The ferry terminal to the San Juan Islands is located in this awesome little gem of a town, which can hold it’s own in quaint factor. If time allows, I recommend you make the trip down to Whidbey Island and stop and take in the awe inspiring Deception Pass. It is a sight to behold. There are great view’s from the foot bridge, or you can make the hike down to the beach. It’s a steep hike in some spots, but not to bad overall. (We’re supposed to elevate our heart rate every day any way amiright?) There’s also Mt. Eerie, and the views from the top do not disappoint. 


Getting here is pretty easy. Rent a car, hit I-5, head North. It’s about an hour and a half drive. If you are going to make the trip to Friday Harbor in the San Juan’s. I highly recommend making reservations online for the ferry. I also recommend driving on, you will be happy you did, because there is so much to go see on the island outside Friday Harbor. (That’s a whole blog post in itself) You can also rent bikes or those 3 wheel little buggy thing’s to get around once you’re there as well. 


Well I guess I do know why I love Skagit Valley so much. It’s everything! I know you will love it too. 

Love and safe travels.

M. 

http://skagitvalley.com/

It rain’s here…a lot.

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Ahhh Washington. You’re beautiful! I love you! But it rain’s here, might be an understatement. My husband and I have the pleasure of spending a lot of time here because of his job. For him, month’s, for me, usually a week or so here and there and usually in the summer when it’s spectacular! This year however since we’re empty nesters and all, I’ve had the opportunity to travel with him here for a few months. It’s winter, which means rain. Now don’t be confused, it’s not the Gulf Coast tropical rain most are used to, it’s more of a annoying misty drizzle. Just enough for a never ending bad hair day. 


The locals don’t even seem to notice it. I guess if they did nothing would ever get done. So life goes on, in the rain. They do however have a special appreciation for the sun. Walk into a store, it’s the first topic of conversation, “sun’s out!” and so is every single living soul. I’m not a fan of our life giving Sun, I’m much more suited for rainy overcast day’s. But I have to say, after 10 straight days of non stop drizzle, I’m a little more stoked about the sun more than usual. (But just for a day or two.)

I can tell you that people here put up with this weather, because the fruits of it come summer are beauty you cannot imagine. Lush, evergreen, fertile landscapes, backdropped by mountains and water. Just pick a direction and go. From Seattle, to Mt. Rainier, Skagit Valley, Mt. Baker, Leavenworth, The Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands. Washington you are splendid, and I love you! 💚

Yosemite.

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IMG_0604Of all the beautiful places we have traveled, Yosemite continues to be my favorite. It’s majesty and beauty will leave you awestruck, there aren’t enough adjectives to describe it. If you’ve never thought of putting it on your bucket list, get out a pen and add it to the top right now. Just go! We’ve had the pleasure of visiting a few times over the years, The first was a day trip on the Harley, with a short hike to Bridalveil Falls.  It was summer, so all I can say is thank goodness we were on the bike, cause can you say Crowds! I can do a whole blog post just on traveling to national parks in the summer, but we’ll save that for later.

IMG_0600The second trip we went with the boys and hiked Upper Yosemite Falls. This is where I got bit by the hiking bug, and addicted to the high you get from it! But please, allow me to educate you for a moment. To someone who was born in the Deep South, and has no clue what “elevation” is about, this in hind site was probably not the best idea for a maiden hike higher than a curb. When you read the hike details on the hiking map legend,  it goes something like this…A 3.5 mile, 2700 ft. elevation gain, 6,526ft elevation, moderate, approx 3-5 hours round trip (this estimation includes the lower hike to Columbia Rock) Now, in my mind, I’m thinking “I walk way more than that up and down ” The Avenue” for a parade during Mardi Gras season” piece of cake right? Could. Not. Have. Been. More. Wrong!

What the hiking map legend should have said was…”Hey cowboy, this is 135 switchbacks on a steep ass incline, it’s rocky and uneven and is going to make your lungs feel like they are going to explode, your legs will feel like shaky little toothpicks, there are no bathrooms along the way, you will cry (which I did 3 times) It’s 7.2 miles ROUND TRIP, it will take your couch potato butt 10 hours, so bring a headlamp (which I didn’t), you will want to quit at least 10 times, (which I did) and oh, ohhhhh let’s talk about the blisters you will get on the tips of all 10 of your toes on the hike back down! Not to mention every good intentioned hiker on their way down that passes you  is going to tell you “not much farther” and “almost there” for encouragement because they see the twisted anguish on your face!” These are LIES, all lies! Yep, that’s what it should of said.

We went for it. 8am, myself, my husband and our two young, physically fit 19 and 24 year old sons, one a Marine. And yes, everything that I stated above the map legend should have said, I did. (Plus one other thing I won’t mention) For this I thank God for my husband. For every meltdown he would simply take me by my shoulders, turn me around to look over the valley, and say “but look how far you’ve come.” That would be all I needed to hear for the voice in my head to kick in and say “if you quit this, you’ll quit everything” and I would start moving with new fueled determination. (For about 5 switchbacks, then this process would repeat itself) We did finally reach the top. It was absolutely breathtaking and worth every tear, ache, pain, bruise and blister. We finished at 6pm. 10 hours later! And guess what? Without a doubt I would do it again in a heartbeat. What I wasn’t prepared for was the week long high that I got from it afterward. I totally get why people live to do this. Half Dome, you’re next!IMG_0853

We went back this year on our road trip out to California during the Winter. We got lucky one day, and the main road had reopened after a snowstorm and some mudslides. On a side note, if you are ever traveling in elevations during Winter or Fall, always, always, check the road conditions on the local transportation website, or if you are heading to a national park, check the park website. This is the difference in a wasted day of travel, and detouring to see something else. Yosemite is usually hard to access in the winter because the main roads close without a moments notice, simply because the weather can change without a moments notice. (Mother Nature is fickle that way) and tire chains are required. They will fine you and turn you around if you don’t have them. Resulting in more wasted travel time. If you live in an area where you would get struck by lighting before ever using tire chains, you can rent them. I’m so glad we were able to make it in to the park on this trip. It was one of those unplanned, unexpected surprises I talk about! Yosemite in Winter is beyond beautiful.

Getting there is pretty straight forward. You can fly into San Francisco, Oakland, or Sacramento. It’s about 200 or so miles, and 3.5 hours depending on which area you’re coming from.  Once you reach the main entrance, it’s another 26 miles to the valley floor. There is no limit of photo ops along the way. You’ll want to make lodging accommodations inside the park, there are a number of choices from 5 star (Majestic Yosemite hotel) to tent camping. We stayed in Curry Village, which are really affordable tent cabins, it’s not as awful as sleeping on the ground, but they do have bear lockers outside each one so you can lock up your food and toiletries. Yep toiletries, evidently bears will try anything once! The shower situation is communal, but I think slightly roughing it is part of the experience.  Whichever way you decide, it books up fast, so plan accordingly. There are hotels and lodging in the Yosemite area, Groveland is about 30 minutes away and another 30 once you’re in the park. I would recommend at least 2-3 full days in the park. Research which works best for you.

The best time to visit is in the Spring, crowds aren’t at an optimum yet. Summertime in the park is super crowded, if this is the only opportunity you have to visit, allow extra time for traffic and crowds, and definitely utilize the park buses. The weather in Spring is great for hiking, (always layer) it will be chilly at night. You will still have to check road conditions, some roads don’t open till May for the season, and there can be Spring storms. I can’t stress enough to always check road conditions. I hope this was helpful, I hope you take your family and go! It will be one of the best vacations ever! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Love, adventure and safe travels.

M

Blue chair.

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IMG_0436

I made this my first blog post, because…well because I love this picture! It was taken at Bodega Head in Ca. a few years ago, it’s framed in my hallway and for me, it sums up our travel adventures thus far to date. A random blue velvet chair on a beach. We just stumbled upon this great photo op with so many untold stories. How did it get there? Who did this chair belong to? Why was it there?

This has been the theme of so many of our travels, from stumbling across a group of guys cooking up some fresh caught abolone in a parking lot (they were cooking it with bacon, so I was all about it) and were generous enough to ask us to join them! To backpacking Rome, with no plan and just a map, is the best way for us to roll! I know the thought of this causes instant anxiety for some, but for us it has always been serendipitous. And luckily, this form of nilly willy, no plan, choose a direction and go, fits both of our personalities!

It has however, on occasion, caused a hiccup, (or two) mostly when I, Miss Nilly Willy No Plan (and no research) have been on Pinterest and Instagram too many times before a trip. And I use those cool pics as my tour guide! Sometimes they work out, but mostly they don’t!  Hence the birth of this blog. I decided that I had been duped for the last time, by misinformation and some cool pictures taken from an humanly impossible angle, with a special $3,000 camera lens. Since we are on the road so much, I would choose some locations that have become uber popular since the birth of social media and “debunk” their claims of beauty and spiritual experience! Meaning, I will let you know what’s really up! Is it 80 miles out of the way? Is it on private property, Native American land, do you need a permit, or require a 10 mile hike once you get there? Yes, these are real obstacles we have encountered more times than not. It’s sort of a public service, that I intend to use to save you travel time, gas, money, and mostly your sanity, and unnecessary meltdowns on the side of a cliff or mountain, which yes I have had, and my husband has had to talk me down from! Not pretty!

So, having said ALL of that, I will begin. I will also take requests, if there is somewhere you are planning on traveling to and have questions, please ask. If it’s somewhere we have had the pleasure of traveling to, I will tell you everything we know, If not, I have the fortune of having one of the most well, and world traveled Mother in laws on the planet! (I’m looking at you Granny G!) and am not above picking her brain for all the info we need. I hope you will find this helpful, and at the very least, enjoy some entertaining travel adventures. (Yes this stuff actually happens to us.)

Love, adventure and safe travels,

M.

(p.s. patience on this blog thing. It literally took me 4 hours to get this much)