Trips

During the restaurant days, our annual one week closure let us travel if we could afford it. Several lean years we could not. After closing the restaurant, we moved to Oregon and our senior dog Charlie kept us near to home and of course, COVID kept us grounded for a couple of years. The COVID era saw great changes in our lives. In May 2020, I joined Ann in retirement and both dogs passed away shortly thereafter, leaving us able to travel within the budgetary constraints imposed by retirement.

August-September 2025: Three Weeks in Iceland

Puffins, whales, and glaciers, oh my! Start reading at the trip summary (23 posts).

June 2025: Sailing the San Juan Islands

Nearly a week on a sailboat, what's not to like? Start reading at the trip summary (6 posts).

May 2025: Trip to Virginia for Ellie's Wedding

We flew to Virginia on a long weekend to see Ellie and Jolshua marry. Start reading at the trip summary (5 posts).

February 2025: A Week in the Mojave

Built around a trip to Las Vegas to see "O" by Cirque du Soleil, we explored Valley of Fire, Death Valley, and Hoover Dam. Start reading at the trip summary (7 posts).

December 2024: A Long Weekend in Santa Fe

Rob and Dyce wanted to show us the town where they once lived, all decorated for the holidays. Start reading at the trip summary (5 posts).

September and October 2024: Three Weeks in Italy

After a year of planning, we flew in to Firenze and went up to German-speaking Südtirol and back again. Start reading at the trip summary (22 posts).

August 2024: Exploring Southwest Oregon

Built around a rafting trip on the Rogue River, this trip saw us visit Crater Lake, see redwoods in CA, and visit the Southern Oregon Coast. Start reading with the trip to Crater Lake (5 posts).

July 2024: Long Weekend in San Angelo, TX

We made a quick trip to Texas to celebrate Carter's 25th birthday with a pit stop in Dallas for some great Mexican food. Start reading at Day 1 (3 posts).

May 2024: Quick Trip to Hood River

COVID wiped out our 2020 trip to Hood River. We finally made it to the land of Pfriem Brewing. Start reading at Day 1 (3 posts).

April 2024: Five Days Rafting the Owyhee River

We were able to fulfill two dreams on this trip, whitewater rafting for Ann, and seeing the Owyhee River for me. Start reading at the trip summary (9 posts).

October 2023: Truckee-Tahoe

Six years after they moved to Truckee, we finally got to visit Mark and Kelley, do Donner Pass, hike a bit, and cruise Lake Tahoe. Start reading at the trip summary (8 posts)

October 2023: Walla Walla Wine Country

For Ann's 60th birthday, we explored Walla Walla wine country. Start reading at the summary (9 posts).

September 2023: Two Nights in Boise, Idaho

Friends Tim and Susan moved to Boise in June, leaving many cases of wine for us to ferry to them in the fall. Our stay is documented in a trip summary and a set of photos on Table Rock.

June 2023: Visiting Dad in Auburn, AL

The day after I got the all-clear from my surgeon who fixed my broken foot, we flew into Atlanta and drove the rest of the way to Auburn. Dad was clearly hanging on for this visit; he would die shortly after we returned to Oregon. There is but a single post for this trip; I wasn't in much of a writing mood.

Thanksgiving 2022: A Week in Colorado Springs

We drove for two days to Colorado Springs to visit Carter, celebrate Thanksgiving, and to see a few sights including Pike's Peak. Start reading at the post index (4 posts).

July 2022: Two Days in Yachats, Oregon

We escaped 10 days of 100+ temperatures in Central Oregon for a wonderful respite at the astounding Oregon Coast. Start reading at the post index (10 posts).

Summer 2021: Two Weeks in Alaska

In a gap between COVID outbreaks, we scored cheap flights to Alaska. We took a helicopter to glaciers, flew to Katmai National Park in a bush plane to walk on the beach with brown bears, and went halibut and salmon fishing in Homer. Start reading at the post index (24 posts).

May 2019: Virginia Whirlwind

We took a whirlwind one-week trip back to the East Coast, two days of which were spent traveling, leaving just five days to see Ann's mother, go to Ellie's graduation, visit Carter in Morgantown, and to see our friends.

September 2017: Cross-Country Move to Oregon

While not a vacation, relocating from Virginia to Oregon wine country involved an 11-day drive through this spectacular country. Start reading at the post index (12 posts).

July 2017: July 4th Weekend at Dolly Sods Wilderness Area, WV

An unprecedented three-day weekend at the restaurant let us backpack the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area on the Allegheny Front in West Virginia. Start reading at the post for Day 1 (3 posts).

Spring Break 2017: Farewell to the Southern Appalachians

By spring 2017, although my customers did not yet know it, Ann and I were leaving for Oregon in the fall. The annual closure at the restaurant became our chance to say goodbye to the mountains along the AT that we so love. Start reading on Day 1 at Max Patch (10 posts).

Spring Break 2016: Gatlinburg, Asheville, and the Smoky Mountains

By 2016, we were vetting potential locales for retirement. The annual closure at the restaurant let us explore Asheville NC, high on our list. Start reading on Day 1 in Gatlinburg (12 posts).

Spring Break 2015: Long Weekend at Snowshoe, WV

Winter was not kind to us at the restaurant, leaving no money for a vacation. We took advantage of the hospitality of good friends Mark and Kelley to visit them at Snowshoe WV where they worked at the ski resort where I learned to ski in 2002. Start reading on Sunday of our trip (3 posts).

Spring Break 2013: Belated Honeymoon in Oregon

Ann and I were married at the end of September in 2012. Because the restaurant was in full swing, we couldn't get away for a honeymoon until our annual closure the following spring. We went to explore the state to which we would relocate in 2017. Start reading on day 1 with us flying in to PDX (25 posts).