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“Canyoneering” by N&J.
Zion National Park, Utah (Sep 26/14) – The intense ‘dead’ heat of the Las Vegas area was the prime initiator of N&J’s travel to Zion… the trek made easy by the lure of the red mountains on the horizon. The park’s high elevation brought slightly cooler temperatures, but the scenery did not disappoint. The red coloured sandstone mountains are stunning. After the past weeks of travel in drought-prone desert locales, the intense colours and green foliage is a most welcome addition. click on pic to enlarge – right/left arrow to scroll thru the gallery Again it was a ’no vacancy’ situation in the park. The amount of visitors to the…
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“HeeHaw!” by N&J.
St. George, Utah (Sep 18/14) – After much discussion, it was decided to forgo driving through Death Valley and drive the route north of the National Park. The elevation gains (climb 5000’ in 13 miles) & the intense heat were too daunting of a task for Hobbes. As it turned out the alternate route was quite a climb, but it was incredible. Bristlecone pine trees (some as old as 4000 years old), look gnarley & distorted among the rocky white desert. The winding road to the top was very steep, the canyons narrow (at one point the highway was 1 lane only through a gap in the rock). Traveling down…
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“Scrub-a-Dub” by N&J.
Eastern High Sierras, California (Sep 16/14) – Ghost towns are alluring as they provide a glimpse into the past, a romantic ideation and flirtation of a time gone by. Bodie, a town of 10,000 in it’s 1880’s heyday of mining gold, gambling and prostitution is left intact like the day it was vacated; the store shelves stocked with provisions from the early 1900’s, the schoolhouse with the day’s assignment on the chalkboard, and clothes hanging in the closets. The air heavy with dust and the stories Bodie holds tight create an eerie ‘un-comfortable-ness’. The abandonment seemed rushed, loose ends were still loose ends, it seemed nothing was taken by the…
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“Yosemite !!!” by N&J.
Yosemite National Park, California (Sep 14/14) – A wonderful place to visit. High expectations, high elevations… the eastern park entrance at Tioga Pass topped out at 9,980’, truly a long climb for Hobbes, thankfully the temperature was moderate. Coming in to Tuolumne Meadows the tall grasses reach out welcoming those who enter, and in awe… inspires one to continue on. John Muir, a Scottish-born American environmentalist (before it became popular), spoke of “going to the mountains is going home”. For N&J this quote speaks volumes. click on pic to enlarge – right/left arrow to scroll thru the gallery The first night was in the High Sierra at Porcupine Creek, a…
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“Honeymoon Suite” by N&J.
Lake Tahoe, Nevada (Sep 07/14) – Hobbes adorned with “Newlyweds” on the back window, “Love”, “N+J” on the sides… passerby’s honk, and others intrigued stop to hear the love story. Excited to share the fairytale over and over again like it is the first time… never tiring of the smile that it brings to people’s faces. New found friends along the road eager to hear more… every detail pronounced. click on pic to enlarge – right/left arrow to scroll thru the gallery The “Honeymoon Suite” while attracting much attention, affords the newlyweds definitely more privacy and no room for guests (couch-surfers… LOL! ). When the moment arises to find a…
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“Decompression & Healing” by N&J.
Pyramid Lake, Nevada (Sep 03/14) – N&J exited Burning Man (BM) earlier than planned (on Saturday evening before the burning of the man); N took ill with significant dehydration, nausea and vomiting, muscle pain and drop in blood pressure leading to an ambulance ride (yes Burning Man has everything!!!) to the ‘Rampart Medical Facility’ on the Playa. The ‘MASH-like hospital’ inside a maze of tents, air conditioned, a multitude of doctors & nurses (all volunteers working 12 hour shifts around the clock), the quality of care was excellent. No medical card required, no credit card, nothing… only place in the USA with free medical. N received 2 litres of intravenous…
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“We Got a Burning Desire” by N&J.
Black Rock City, Nevada (Sep 01/14) – Yes that time has rolled by again… Burning Man 2014 (BM). Last year was the first time for both N&J attending BM (as friends)… this time they are more than that, waaaay more than that, they are married!!! Preparations well under way, Hobbes has been readied for the journey, all systems go… BM clothing & costumes, tents, playa survival gear such as vinegar, eye drops, dust masks, and cases of baby wipes are stuffed into every nook & cranny. Thank goodness they have the small trailer (Calvin) to take on the extra load. The last trip to Black Rock City in Nevada was…
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“Honey! …would you look at that Moon!” by N&J.
Ross Lake, Wa (Jun 24-Jul 07/14) – Honeymoon to be remembered… Nope, not what you think. Considering N&J invited half of the entire free world to join up at N’s secret place to go camping after their nuptials. And no one let them down, they came in droves. No complaining from N&J though, all had a blast. The weather was hot & sunny, the lake was refreshing, the nightly campfires, the BBQ’s… what is there to complain about. click on pic to enlarge – right/left arrow to scroll thru the gallery Most special was that N’s young nieces Haley & Addison stayed with us for almost the entire 2 weeks.…
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“Our 2 Minutes of Fame” by N&J.
Vancouver, BC (Aug 16/14) – What do they say about having your ’15 minutes of fame’? …well this should only take you 2 minutes to read. N was contacted a short while back from a chap who writes for the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) wanting to do a story on Westfalia camper vans, the people who live the life, what it all means. Check out the story at this link to learn more about the ‘van’ N&J love to call home. http://www.bbc.com/autos/story/20140813-dont-call-it-hippie-van *** BBC link currently broken, attempting to update ***
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“Tied & Knotted” by N&J.
Vancouver, BC (Jun 22/14) – A signature summer day on Canada’s west coast in Vancouver, the first day of Summer Solstice, the weather gods smiled grandly for N&J. The skies were blue, a gentle breeze blowing fresh ocean air, English Bay waves lapping onto the shore… it was to be a wedding day to be remembered. Yes N&J tied the knot. After meeting exactly one year to the very day, what started as a casual ‘Westfalia’ friendship, turned into a lifetime of companionship, travel and commitment to each other. On their initial journey N did her best to dissuade J from liking her too much, but eventually she came around,…