4/16/23 reflections from OR

Rali and I are sitting in the dark inside our toasty little Turtle listening to rain fall on the roof - and on the fire we attempted in the pit just outside - while we drink Bud Light Lime, nibble on Dot’s Homestyle Honey Mustard Seasoned Pretzel Twists, and contemplate our dinner of Noodles & Beef, which we’ll make by boiling water on our JetBoil, stirring it into the pouch of dried food bits, & waiting 15 minutes as it rehydrates.

There’s no internet connection now, so I’m writing this in Notes to transfer later.


We spent the last two nights at Cascade Locks outside of Portland, OR.  Beautiful spot surrounded by state parks with lots of waterfalls.  We’ll include some picks from our hike yesterday.  Last night we met Rali’s friend Tori for dinner at The Sports Bra.  No typo there.  We hadn’t heard about this place, but it’s gotten some national press attention.  The place plays only women’s sports on its TV’s and serves beers made by female brewers.  The walls are covered with female athletes and teams.  This place is amazing!  There should be a Sports Bra in every town.  In fact, I won’t be surprised if we begin to see them - or variations on this theme - popping up.  This morning we met Rali’s friend John and his wife Lindsay for brunch at this wild and fabulous place called McMenimins (SP?) in Enfield, also just outside of Portland.  If ever you are in the area, make a trip - hard to describe and 100% worth it.  Now we’re in Skokomish, WA, and we are blissed out by the lush GREENS of the forest we’re in and arm of water that stretches off Lake Cushman.  I think I would be quite happy running a campground like this . . .


Meeting more of Rali’s friends was so great.  In addition to being awesome peeps (no surprise there), hanging with them and her allowed me to get to know Rali even better.  Isn’t that cool?!  We never know all there is to know about another.  Marriage (noun) - the process of continually getting to know the person you choose to share your day-to-day life with.


We are currently obsessed with Robert Galbraith’s books. Cormoran Strike has shown up in our dreams, in fact.  Off to listen to more while our meal prepares itself!  :)


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