This week we are in Eugene, OR and we only have four weeks until we begin our trip home! I can’t believe how fast time is going and so I’m compelled to remind myself that I need to be intentional everyday. I want to remain as present as possible.
I have found myself struggling to really realize how amazing this adventure is, especially with all the incredible things that we have done and seen. When I last left you, I was on my way to the island of Kona in Hawaii, and it was absolutely everything that I had hoped it would be. It felt good to travel by myself even though I also found myself wanting someone to share it with. Both can exist at the same time. I was thankful for my space and the location, and the opportunity to take a break from planning and navigating. I walked a ton and read an entire book in the four days I was there, and it was exactly what I needed. I felt like I returned refreshed and grateful.
After finishing our lovely two weeks in San Pedro, CA with Dave’s Aunt and Uncle, the four of us went to the Santa Ynez Valley together, to do some wine tasting. When Dave turned 40, six years ago, we celebrated his birthday at Montemar Winery in Lompoc, CA. We chose that winery because it became a special place for us. We met the winemaker, Steve, in 2012 through Dave’s uncle. They used to work together, and before he had the beautiful space in Lompoc, they would make wine in Steve’s garage. We hadn’t been back since Dave’s birthday, and sadly, Steve has since passed, so it was a really special to be able to go there and honor his memory together. We spent the second day exploring more wineries that we hadn’t been to before. It was fun to learn more about different wines and the weather and landscape were perfection!
Last week we stayed with our dear friends in Pacifica, CA, near San Francisco. It was our first time visiting them at their new place, and it was absolutely wonderful to see and feel the life that they have created for themselves there. Pacifica is beautiful! Right on the Pacific coast, hence the name, with tons of incredible hikes. The weather was perfect for hiking on Wednesday so I went out and explored Devil’s Slide, Pedro Point Headlands, Montara and Half Moon Beach Trails.
We were also able to visit our friend’s light rail project that she spent three years working on and it was a sight to behold. It is very cool to be able to experience such an amazing accomplishment in person, and we are so proud of her! The rest of the week was spent enjoying the beautiful weather, exploring Chinatown and getting to play frisbee golf in Golden Gate Park. The goodbye on Saturday was bittersweet because we aren’t sure when we’ll see each other again, and our hearts are very full from the time that we did have together.
With how long of a drive it is from Pacifica to Eugene we took both Saturday and Sunday to get here. Saturday was a wonderful day! We were able to see the giant Redwoods found along the Redwood Highway and were completely blown away by their size. We had seen Redwoods in Muir Woods before, which were spectacular, and not much compares to the massiveness of the ones we saw on Saturday. We visited the Drive Through Tree in Chandelier, the Grandfather tree in Piercy, drove along the awe-inspiring Avenue of the Giants and got up close and personal with them in the Founders Grove. To say that it is a humbling experience being that close to something so big is an understatement. It really puts into perspective how insignificant we really are. The energy in The Founders Grove is only compared to what I experienced in New Mexico and I am so grateful that we made it a priority to visit.
Saturday we spent the night in Eureka. I will say that we had a pretty incredible universe/ small world moment when we were there. We stumbled upon this bar, North of Fourth, because we went to the neighborhood to check out the dive bar next door. We were drawn in by the light that was being cast from the windows, so we decided to go there instead, and I’m so glad we did. Aside from the cozy atmosphere and delicious drinks, we met a bartender there that knew two of the friends that we made while in Santa Fe, because he used to live there. If you’re ever in Eureka, definitely check out North of Fourth. You won’t regret it!
It is fun to be back in Eugene after five years. We are thankful to be in such a beautiful place and have some time to hang out with our friends that live close by in Springfield. I’m excited to have a different experience here this week because in the past I’ve only come to visit other people and had less time. Our place in on the edge of the South Eugene Meadows and there are tons of trails that I’m looking forward to exploring. With only four weeks left until we begin our trip back to Minnesota, I want to make sure that I’m taking advantage of every moment, and am continuing to live in gratitude for each and every day.
Also, just a little update on the Dave portion of this blog. I know people are interested in hearing more from him. He likes the idea and wants it to be worth your while to read/ is putting a lot of pressure on himself to provide good content. So for now Dave’s Deliberations (still working on the name) is loading…
So, I’ll leave you with this quote “Tell your friends and family you love them. Tell them a lot. Make it weird.” Unknown
Sending you love wherever you are!
