Horseback riding on the Pacific Crest Trail

We did it! Diane and I rode all the way to the waterfall on the Pacific Crest Trail, right outside of Cascade Locks, Oregon.

When I was a little girl, maybe 7 or 8 years old, I had the wits frightened out of me when a horse I was riding took off like a shot unexpectedly.

The horse's name was Captain, he was dappled, gray and older. Donna, Captain's owner, told me he wanted to lead our group on the trail and so charged ahead.

I heard her reasoning. To me, horses were large creatures I couldn't trust. I did ride again eventually at summer camp many years later.

But there is something about horses, isn't there? In my 30th year, I had wanted to get in the saddle again and experience that adventure.

I was admittedly anxious when Diane and I met Margo from Double Mountain Horse Ranch in Cascade Locks, Oregon, during our Labor Day girl's weekend at Skamania Lodge. I had booked the ride for Darling Husband and I because he had never ridden a horse before. When he had to work and my mother-in-law lovingly agreed to join me, I knew this was how the trip was meant to turn out.

Diane had ridden horses in her youth and we both excitedly anticipated a relaxing trail ride to a waterfall on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Margo gets Shasta all ready to head back down the trail.

We parked my gray Ford Focus in a run-down neighborhood near the trailhead and met Margo who was working hard to get the horses tacked, watered and ready. It would be just the three of us for about a 2.5-hour ride.

My horse's name was Shasta. a light-colored, vanilla pink beauty who wanted to be the boss. This primadonna knew she was something and trailed far behind the group and wouldn't even cross the waterfall with the other horses.

Diane had a gorgeous horse named Tribe, who was dark brown and had a calm demeanor.

With waivers signed and our belongings stowed in saddle bags, I hopped up in Shasta's pink saddle, thinking that the stirrups were much higher than I remembered.

We made our way up the road to the Pacific Crest Trailhead.

The further we rode, the less I could hear the traffic from the highway. Heat radiated off of Shasta's body as she worked hard to get me up the hills. I patted her and talked to her, which I'm sure sounded ridiculous but I did believe she could hear me.

Clad in our coats and hats, Diane and I feared for rain and wind, but the weather got nicer and nicer as we rode farther and farther up the trail.

Margo is a character -- a flower girl, wild child with an artist's soul. She owns the ranch and cuts hair in the offseason. You never know what she'll say next and she was excited to meet us and learn about us.

We came upon a major crossing at the trail and suddenly dogs were everywhere. Hikers clearly think it's a great idea to walk their dogs off leash and a pit bull started snarling, barking and lunging at the horses. This is where panic set in. This was not the day I wanted the horse to bolt or throw me off.

Margo kept her cool and after a couple of minutes, we rode on leaving the hikers to deal with their dogs.

We had another less-than-relaxing moment when Shasta wouldn't cross the waterfall as Margo wanted her to. Margo had to jump off her horse to come rescue me and get Shasta and I to the rest of the group.

Then, Tribe wouldn't pose for a photo by the waterfall and that situation meant we were watching our feet to make sure Tribe didn't step on them and then I had to catch him when he bolted back to the rest of the group.

Phew.

The ride back to our starting point was much more uneventful and more enjoyable. Margo took us down one part of the trail where "Wild" was filmed. Then, we rode into a pretty meadow as the sun was coming out. It took a long time for the marine layer to burn off that day,

The ride was lengthy, about three hours, and I definitely felt like I was starting to get in the groove. And then, we were back. We got the horses some water and alfalfa.

Diane and I laughed about the crazier moments with the dogs and the waterfall all the way back to the lodge. We shared the story with friends we had met that weekend and once again when we were back home.

Verdict: Seeing the Pacific Crest Trail and a waterfall on horseback was a memorable, fun experience. Did it go exactly as planned? No. But it was a rush being back in the saddle. Riding such a powerful experience, trusting that Shasta and Margo would get us where I needed to go. It was a lesson in letting go of control and the scenery was just stunning.

Would we do it again? Heck yes!

Dudes Weekend: What to do, where to eat in Bend, Oregon

We walked and biked all weekend in Bend, Oregon, along the Deschutes River Trail.

Darling Husband, his best friend Jamie and I road tripped down to Bend this summer for Bend Brewfest. We discovered that Bend is sunny and perfect for people like us who like to spend time outdoors.

Read below to find out why "moving to Bend" was a recurring discussion throughout this fun weekend.

The area
Bend is in the middle of the state of Oregon on the Deschutes River. We adventured there in August 2016 and the weather (for me) was perfect -- dry, hot, cloudless blue skies and a likeable mix of desert and green landscapes. The city was larger than I remembered from previous trips, though we spent most of our time downtown and in the Mill District.

We loved our VRBO rental on Hill Street. It was just a 10-minute walk to downtown.

Walkable and bikeable, we really enjoyed discovering by foot and electric bike. There are tons of long, winding paths throughout the city and along the river.

Where we stayed
We decided to save a bit of money. We knew hotel rooms would be expensive, so we booked a VRBO rental on Hill Street, just a 10-minute walk from downtown. For a long weekend, it was nice to have a living area where we could hang out, a kitchen to cook breakfast in (and a late-night popcorn snack) and it was still close to downtown.

The rental was a duplex, but we never heard the neighbors. It was updated and clean inside and had nice finishes. It was a two-bedroom, one bathroom rental, and I loved the original bathtub and bathroom floor tiles. In the morning, I enjoyed coffee and a book on the little deck out back. It was tiny so we definitely heard one another moving about, but a perfect amount of space for the three of us.

These electric bikes we rented were fantastic! I rode tandem on Darling Husband's bike and I didn't even have to pedal!

What we did
I was lucky enough to enjoy Bend with two gentlemen who love the outdoors. We adventured all over the city.

On Friday, we walked for about two hours in the morning, exploring downtown and historic Old Bend and making our way out to the Les Schwab Amphitheater where the Brewfest was held. Both days after our jaunt to the brewfest, we rented large orange tubes from Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe and floated the river. On hot, sunny days, the icy Deschutes was mellow bliss.

On Saturday, we rented bikes at Bend Electric Bikes on Hill Street right by our rental. We rode all over the Deschutes River Trail for about two hours.

We enjoyed this beautiful sunset on the river Friday night at the Crow's Feet Commons.

When the sun went down, we walked to downtown for dinner. Downtown was busy, but we were seated right away at both restaurants Friday and Saturday nights.

What we ate
We stopped at Safeway as soon as we arrived in Bend late Thursday night to pick up breakfast items, snacks and wine. We had lunch both days at the brewfest, taking advantage of the variety of trucks offering barbecue, Asian noodles, Greek, gourmet hot dogs and pizza.

For dinner downtown, the first night we had beers and pub fare at Brother Jon's Alehouse. We got to sit at the tables right outside the front door and enjoyed people (tourist) watching. Note: The Deschutes Brewery Bend Public House restaurant downtown was swamped. Leave yourself some extra time if it's on your Bend bucket list.

Lovin' that sun!

The second night, we enjoyed margaritas and Mexican food at Hola! We again ate outside and enjoyed the sunshine.

After dinner the first night, we walked over to the river to enjoy the sunset. We grabbed a beer at Crow's Feet Commons and sat on the front porch of this gorgeous old house and enjoyed the colors as the sun went down. It was a relaxed, casual atmosphere that we loved.

Verdict: Bend is perfect for people who live to be outdoors. We walked, biked, floated and ate our way through the weekend and we wouldn't have had it any other way.

On our electric bike ride, we discovered Farewell Bend Park. I knew we had to come back here for a photo before leaving town. The men humored me. 

Review: Bend Brewfest in Bend, Oregon

These two tall drinks of water road tripped with me down to Bend, Oregon, to enjoy some suds at the Bend Brewfest.

Nearly one year ago, Darling Husband's friend Marshall suggested we all go to the Bend Brewfest in Bend, Oregon, in 2016.

Well, we make plans and God laughs.

Marshall and his wife Cassie are having a baby in September and Cassie didn't want to go to a Beerfest in 90-degree heat when she's eight months pregnant. Imagine that.

Darling Husband, his friend Jamie and I all benefited from Marshall's bright idea. We took one day off work and headed down to Bend, a five-hour drive, to enjoy this special Beerfest.

Location
The brewfest is held at the Les Schwab Amphitheater. It took us about 25 minutes to walk there from our VRBO rental on Hill Street. The area is walkable, bikeable and right on the Deschutes River. The flowers were remarkable. Bright pinks, purples, yellows and greens poured through the public spaces like a river, washing every scene in delight.

Seriously the most gorgeous flowers I have seen in any city. They went on and on.

I don't know how parking was because we walked both days. The second day, we parked by the Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoes rentals place and walked over to the amphitheater (five-minute walk). We rented tubes after we had our lunch and beer fill and floated the river right back to Tumalo Creek. This was a genius idea.

What surprised me was how small the venue was. I was expecting thousands upon thousands of people, reminiscent of our Watershed Music Festival experience weeks prior. But, when we arrived at noon on the second day of the festival that Friday, there were just a couple hundred people.

On both days, we had to queue up in a short line to have our IDs checked, get our wristbands and buy our tokens and mugs.

The corn hole was free! Beware of the guy from Kentucky who asks you to play doubles. He played this in college and he will win.

Cost
The price was decent. Just $20 got us each one souvenir plastic mug and five tasting tokens. Darling Husband and I only used four tokens each our first day. We bought five more for $5 total to share on the last day and then I wanted a full glass of Burnside's Sun Splash, so I went back for four more tokens, $4, for a full-size beer. That's $29 for two people for a lot of beer and two days of fun!

Food
The first thing we did both Friday and Saturday was start with a meal. On Friday, Darling Husband and I went to the Acme Hot Dog Co. food truck. Inside the venue were about 10 food trucks with different cuisine. I got a hot dog covered in cabbage-style salad that had a spicy aioli. Darling Husband's hot dog had bacon and mac and cheese on it.

The second day, Darling Husband got island noodles, which were decent. Jamie and I had gyros and we all shared a piece of baklava. The gyros were great because they weren't a gut bomb like other typical festival fare.

Most food was right around the $10 mark per meal. Darling Husband and I spent about $40 on food for two lunches over two days.

Jamie enjoyed a barbecue lunch on Friday at Brewfest.

Atmosphere
The atmosphere was so mellow. We arrived right around noon both days and this worked for us. The gal at the hot dog food truck said the festival gets really rowdy after dark and watching the guests stumble or fall was entertaining to her. This made us very grateful to be early birds.

The event was family friendly before 7 p.m., which surprised me. The kids were fine, but there was nothing  for them to do. Or us, for that matter.

There were tables so we could steal some shade at and enjoy a meal. We ended up sharing each time and it was a fun way to meet locals and tourists.

One vendor brought corn hole, which we played on Friday. But, other than drinking beer, there wasn't anything to do. We spent just about two hours at the festival each day, Friday then Saturday, before we sought other endeavors for the day -- namely tubing on the chilly, delightful Deschutes.

Amenities
There were plenty of porta potties to go around. I like that they had filtered water stations too so we could stay hydrated - it was HOT! Amenities weren't great for families. There was only a certain number of tables under shade canopies and you had to battle for a seat. And I didn't see any place where babies could be changed.

The Beer
Oh yeah -- the beer! Because we all shared sips of each others' beers, I lost count of how many I tried and I didn't see the scorecard in my Brewfest booklet until the last second.

Standouts for me:

• Toutle-Loo Pale Ale by Ashtown
• Vanilla Pumpkin Porter by Klamath Basin
• Ferrari Red by Shade Tree
• Infrared Northwest Ale by Old 99
• DJ Jazzy Heff by Gilgamesh
• Sunsplash by Burnside

Verdict: I am glad that Bend Brewfest didn't cost us a ton because in reality, we only spent about four hours total at the event. We did get to try a wide range of beer from smaller breweries we hadn't heard of before, And, the biggies were there too. The variety of breweries was excellent. During and after our trip, we all talked about returning to Bend on a road trip in the future. Some locals said the Bite of Bend was fun too, so we might opt to do that in 2017.

We'll see you again, Bend!

We're building a teardrop trailer!

Darling Husband has been crafting our own teardrop trailer by hand.

This spring, Darling Husband started a huge project. He is building us a teardrop trailer - from scratch.

Well, he did purchase the trailer base (so we wouldn't have to build one and get it certified by the government) and he's building the actual camper on top of that base.

Design
Darling Husband purchased a set of plans online. He is being quite honest that while they were great as a baseline to get started, he really has been making adjustments as he goes.

Darling Husband shaves off the styrofoam insulation so it's flush before he puts the aluminum skin on it.

I'm the designer on this project. But, my design requests are pretty simple. I wanted the teardrop to be curved as much as possible, including the doors, and I wanted it to be retro teal, inside and out. The hardware is going to be chrome to add to the retro feel. Other than that, he's in charge.

Timeline
Trailer construction started this spring, in April. We had the goal of having it road ready for a summer concert this summer at the Gorge, but last weekend the workers agreed not to rush it and push it out another month. We're anticipating that the majority of the work will be done by September.

Every moment of every weekend has been spent on the trailer and it's great to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The back has a full kitchen, with sliding drawers, electrical box and is storage (for now). It will have a camp oven when it's finished.

Cost
The trailer is expensive, but we priced it out and we save a couple thousand dollars by putting the work in ourselves. Plus, we get to choose all of the features - like my blue vintage-style camp cooler. We'll end up spending about $5,500 on it. You can purchase a similar trailer for $5,000-$14,000.

Goals
My goal right now is to get Darling Husband through this process without completely burning him out. He is extremely handy and he has been building it at my parents' lake place because my stepdad has the tools and the space.

Our ultimate goal is to build the trailer now when we're in a great place financially, to be able to open up a new world of travel and save money down the road. Hotel rooms are $100-$500 a night. Camp sites typically run around $30. This is considerable savings. There is a queen-sized mattress in our teardrop that is comfy (we slept in it Fourth of July Weekend). So, there's comfort in sleeping in our own bed each night on the road. Plus, our pup Ralphie can sleep with us in the trailer, whereas there are limited hotel rooms he can stay in.

Inside the sleeping area is room for a queen-sized mattress and storage shelf. Darling Husband is six-feet, seven-inches tall and he fits perfectly.

Our travel goals are to take the trailer on trips to Idaho and Montana. We haven't much explored these Pacific Northwest neighbors and a little camper out in the gorgeous parks will be a real treat.

Unexpected Outcomes
The greatest unexpected outcome is how this is bringing my family together. Like I said, Darling Husband is working on the trailer every weekend at my parents' house, and my stepdad has been helping tremendously. Darling Husband's dad and my Uncle Jeff have helped out as well.

For the first time, they're emailing each other throughout the week and really working together. This is priceless.

Verdict: The trailer is costing us more than we originally thought, but the new travel opportunities and how it is bringing my family together are amazing. I can't wait for it to be finished!

Portland, Ore. - The Perfect One-Night Getaway from the Olympia Area

Cheers! Happy Halloween, Blazers fans!

Darling Husband and I hadn't meant to spend Halloween 2015 in Portland, Ore., but we did want to attend a Trail Blazers game on a Saturday and that's how it worked out. 

This certainly wasn't our first visit to P-Town, but the city is huge and ever-changing. There is always something new to discover.

Here is what we discovered on our Portland trip just the two of us.

1) Portland floods. It was really rainy on Halloween this year. When we showed up in Portland about 3 p.m. Saturday, traffic was moving slowly and water had pooled at high levels downtown. We should have taken the truck instead of my little Ford Focus.

Our view down Broadway from our 10th floor corner room at The Benson.

2) Step back in time at The Benson Hotel. I love historic hotels. Dane and I got married in one. Wow this hotel was so gorgeous. When we arrived, the front desk upgraded us to a corner room on the 10th floor. The room furnishings were outdated and you could see its age in some areas. But it was clean and the bed was divine. Plus, for Halloween the staff was keeping a giant front table in the lobby stocked with Halloween candy, which Dane and I enjoyed throughout the night. The free wine taste at 430 p.m. was a nice touch, but the server knew very little about the wine she was pouring.

3) Because the city was flooded, we walked to dinner. We enjoyed a fresh Italian meal at Ristorante Roma. The starter salad was so big it had to be shared. I had the ravioli special and Dane had spaghetti and meatballs. The ambiance was a little lacking, but the food was delicious and well-priced. 

I sported team colors - red and black. I'll get Dane on board next time.

4) Our first Blazers game! It was fun to dress in red and black and cheer on the team. The fans go crazy and the entertainment in the form of stunt team and dancers was great. The Blazers lost by 11, but we didn't care. It was just plain fun.

5) When the city floods, take the Max! It was easy to get from downtown to the Moda Center by Max. I was so glad we didn't drive. It is definitely public transit, but it was all families and Blazer fans after the game.

6) Have a cocktail with John in The Benson's Palm Court lounge. The best waiter ever, John was attentive and humorous. With a pianist and jazz singer, it was the perfect nightcap.

Dear Portland: Your brunch system is broken. :( Yes, I'm at the back of this line trying to get our name on the list at
Tasty n Alder.

7) Brunch in Portland. Sigh. Ok, if someone is grumpy or hungry when you go to brunch, don't go. Find a Starbucks and get them food STAT. We selected Tasty n Alder as our spot. We waited in line for 30 minutes to get our name on the list. Then, we waited one hour to get a table. The table was so close to the couple next to us, we were practically involved in their conversation. But, the food was really good. I had a bloody mary and cheddar biscuit. Dane had the steak sandwich. Worth the wait? We were in for the long haul. We had nowhere to be. But I don't think we'll go back.

Verdict: Portland is the perfect one-night getaway for anyone in the Olympia area. The city floods and brunch is broken, but there are plenty of back-up options (Blue StarDonuts) to save your trip. Just pack your rain coat and rain boots and have fun!

Loved this candy table at The Benson Hotel!

What to eat + drink in Ashland, Oregon

There is still so much I didn't get to experience in regard to food and wine in Ashland. Check out my favorites below.

I ate and drank some delicious things in Ashland, Ore., earlier this month. Here are some recommendations for lunches and dinners solo or with your bestie girlfriend.

Larks restaurant is in this lovely old hotel downtown.

1) Treat yourself to a solo lunch at Larks: Perfect mezzanine table, friendly staff, a divine glass of local Tempranillo and the turkey melt sandwich special. And definitely accept the lavender bread while you wait.

2) Sushi dinner at Kobe: Ask to sit outside on the river. Many of the roll selections had spicy ingredients like jalapeño. This place is definitely doing sushi with a twist. Our rolls, Duma and West, were fresh and devoured quickly. We washed them down with cocktails, a St. Germain cocktail for me and a Kobe drop with lychee for Marcia. Plus! When I left my watch in the Kobe restroom Friday night we called Saturday and they had found it! Major points!

3) Cocktails at Liquid Assets: Peach Stone cocktail with peach Makers Mark for Marcia and La Luz, a tequila, lime and sparkling wine cocktail for me. We shared tiramisu that didn't quite live up to expectations. Pass on dessert and just go for the booze. Liquid assets had a cool vibe that also would be great for a date.

The view is one of the best parts of Weisinger Family Winery. It reminded me of the rolling hills of Napa Valley.

4) Weisinger Family Winery: Not a tourist attraction for the tasting room itself, but the wine was great. It was close to downtown. This was my first solo wine taste and the gal behind the bar could have been more warm and welcoming. Weisinger had a healthy selection of whites and reds to choose from, the viognier grape being the specialty grape of the region. I learned a lot and brought home three bottles of wine for my Thanksgiving table.

Be warned - there is not a lot of signage for the tasting room. I actually drove by it at first!

5) Have fun and beer at Caldera Brewing: It’s not right in town but wow! Fun atmosphere and tons of creative beers to try. One group on a beer tour showed up in lederhosen and really didn’t seem out of place! Do not drink wine here. Try the Mowgli, hibiscus ginger or vanilla wheat. Amber is also always a favorite! 

6) The final indulgence: Get a facial at The Blue Giraffe Spa & Salon. I booked an essential oil tub and that was frankly boring and hot. I'm not a tub person. But the facialist was great and my skin glowed for a week after!

Verdict: I was impressed by the culinary options in Ashland. It is a perfect adventure for foodies. I will be returning soon so I can visit more wineries and breweries.

More gorgeous views at Weisinger.

How to survive a road trip by yourself + Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Don't miss the shows at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival! Perfect for couples, girlfriends or solo.

My friend Marcia has the coolest job in the world. She has been working this year at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival as a wig master. Yes, this sweet, red-haired cheerleader I met at Linfield College majored in chemistry and then moved to Cincinnati to pursue a theater career.

Marcia moved to Ashland, Ore., in early 2015 from Abingdon, Virginia. Suddenly, she wasn't a plane ride away, but a car ride away! I vowed to come visit her in the calendar year and I got to spend four days with her in early October. 

I was a little nervous about making the drive south by myself - 7 hours. Darling husband usually drives when we travel. Plus, it was the first weekend of October and I was worried it would pour down rain. It didn't. The weather was gorgeous.

This is post no. 1 of 2 about that amazing trip that taught me a lot about myself, rekindled an amazing friendship and helped me press the reset button on my everyday life.

How to survive a 7-hour road trip alone:

1) Leave early in the morning. Grab a coffee and hit the road. Before you know it, you will have driven two hours. Something about the morning hours makes time go faster. 

2) Plan time for stops along the way. On the way down I-5 from Tumwater to Ashland, I planned stops about two hours apart the whole way. I did some shopping (the Loft outlet at Woodburn, Ore., is amazing).

3) Call mom on one of your stops. She's just awesome and will make you feel competent and like you're never alone.

Image for "Head Over Heels" courtesy of Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

What all of the tourists are talking about: The Oregon Shakespeare Festival

I finally got to Marcia's apartment in Talent, Ore., and she fed me dinner and whisked me off to "Head Over Heels," a rock ‘n’ roll musical in the old Elizabethan style theater. The crowd was diverse: older couples, school groups, hippie parents and their children and one couple in their 30s that was quite affectionate during the first half and didn't return after intermission…

The show was fun, celebrated love of all kinds and it was seriously cool to be in the outdoor theater. That was a first for me. 

The wig room at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

The morning after the show, Marcia treated me to an all-exclusive backstage tour of the festival. The costumes up close were a little more ragged from wear, but beautiful nonetheless. Marcia's work in the wig room left me in awe. They sew on hairs one at a time people! Respect!

The second show Marcia treated me to was "Guys and Dolls." It was an afternoon show at the indoor Angus Bowmer Theater and it was classic and fun. Again, lots of school groups for this show.

Marcia let me go on stage at "The Lizzy" theater the morning after my first show.

Verdict: If you ever have the chance to go to the festival - go! It is great for couples, girlfriends or even solo. Recommendation: check the content before you bring your children. Children under 6 are not permitted. Some parts of "Head over Heels" explored more adult concepts. And no, you can't bring in your friendly pup.