Jake & Sherri Wavra

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-27T17:49:00.000-08:00

I was pleasantly surprised to see our poinsettia plant finally come to life this Christmas. I was almost ready to give up hope on it.

Foster Parenting For Some Stray Kittens

2011-08-09T18:09:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago Sherri & I found some stray kittens on our driveway after returning home one night. They were so darn cute, but seriously malnourished. The next day we had some friends over and we all decided to take them in to try to nurse them back to health. Thankfully, they are now back in full swing, and it has been so much fun having them around. Hopefully we can find them all a good long term home with a loving family.

Hermione, Harry, and Draco

Glacier Trip- Summer 2011

2011-08-07T16:00:00.001-07:00

After Sherri and I got back from our road trip across the country to SC, we spent a week at home and then headed back out to Montana to visit some friends. We also got a chance to play up in the mountains of Glacier National Park for awhile. I had never actually seen any of the scenery on top of Going-to-the-Sun Road before due to the Wavra rain/camping curse. However, I think it has finally been lifted since Sherri & I couldn't have asked for more beautiful weather on the day that we went. The only thing in our way this time was snow, but we trudged on through it all the way out to Hidden Lake. Mountain goats were out milling around, wildflowers blooming, and the sky- blue as the ocean.
Another one of Sherri's do it yourself-self portraitsThe falls near Jeff & Deb's place was really flowing Blazin' through lots of snow on our way out to Mirror LakeMountain goats all over the trailMirror Lake looked a little more like Iceberg Lake

Got some mountain biking in along the Flathead river

Had to shoot some clay pigeons since we were in Montana and all

2011 National Parks Trip

2011-07-13T13:06:00.000-07:00

6-22
It’s two days into summer break and time for our long anticipated road trip out to South Carolina to visit Jim, Caroline, and the girls. While our main objective will be to drive their car out to them, Sherri & I are also going to try and hit as many National Parks along the way as we can. Since we are going to fly back from SC, it required us to really scale down our normal camping gear. After throwing a bunch of food into the trunk and our luggage in the backseat, we finally hit the road. Approaching the Idaho border we noticed the clouds getting ominously dark, and eventually saw lightening strike the ground no less than a 100 yards up the road from us. Sherri decided to call her friend Sarah in Ontario on our way through who ended up inviting us over for the night. We had a great time catching-up with her and an unexpected bed & shower for our first night on the road. Before calling it a night we all played a few rounds of the original Super Mario Bros. Nintendo game for some good laughs. Sherri is convinced that older video games are better and more challenging since the consequences are so much greater.
$76.45 (gas), $65.36 (groceries), $4.75 (smoothie)Sarah was a gracious host on our first night out on the road

6-23
For breakfast, Sarah made us oatmeal with berries and a pumpkin spice latte for Sherri. After saying our goodbyes we headed on down the highway driving 8 hours straight to Great Basin National Park in Nevada. The drive led us through numerous valleys with foothills and mountains lining the road. Pulling into the Visitor’s Center at Great Basin we asked about camping, and decided to explore an area called Strawberry Creek. The access road led us 4 miles into the forest to a dead-end where a remote port-a-potty stood in the middle of an open meadow.

From there we set-out on our first hike along a winding, noisy creek that was brimming over onto the banks. We crossed over the creek several times as the trail climbed, eventually leading us to a spot that required us to forge our own crossing. There was sort of a log jam that looked promising. However, as we started working our way across the makeshift beaver dam, Sherri’s leg suddenly plunged armpit deep into the water. I started trying to brace myself in order to reach out a hand, which of course seemed like eternity to her. After helping yank her out of the water, we did a systems check on Sherri’s nerves as well as the electronics in her backpack. Fortunately, nothing was affected by the near drowning incident, besides maybe a little bit of pride.

As we returned to our car, some campers who bid us a nice trip asked us why we returned so quickly. After displaying Sherri’s drenched clothes, they sighed in appreciation of another unexpected swim at the well-known beaver dam crossing. Funny enough, one of their friends was nodding in embarrassment as he described in detail how the exact same thing happened to him earlier that day. Heading back to a little town just outside the park, we came across a little gas station that offered showers for $2 a person. This is a rare luxury since most National Parks only offer primitive services. We found it interesting that it was set up as an honor system where you pay across the street at Jack’s Diner. A gorgeous sunset turned the scattered clouds a deep red as we followed Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive that evening. Sherri scouted out a perfect overlook where we hunkered down in the car for the night.
$44.80 (gas), $2 (shower)Our first mountain sunset of the trip

6-24
Sherri & I woke up to a spectacular panorama of snow-capped mountains. After taking a bunch of photos and cooking up some coffee and breakfast we headed down to Zion National Park in Utah. Upon entering Kolob Canyon in the North Entrance we drove up to an overlook for a bird’s eye view of the massive rock formations jutting out over 2000 feet above the valley floor. Sherri was still fighting some allergies and blowing snot rockets left and right on the trail. One sinus episode led to a foot long string of snot that clung like a worm from her nose, forcing her to remove it manually. As far as odd people we came across on the trip, we couldn’t help notice a woman wearing an enormous robe in the heat of the day with a huge picture of Mary, mother of Jesus, on the front. She also had a giant walking staff in one hand and an I-phone in the other. We had absolutely no idea what to make of that whole get-up.

On our way back down the valley, we stopped at the Taylor Creek Trailhead for an afternoon hike along the meandering stream. The trail led us through an immensely deep canyon that arched over us with brightly painted orange sandstone. The park service was doing surveys on this trail, so they slapped a GPS tracking device on us to observe our hiking patterns. The end of the trail gifted us with a natural amphitheater in the shape of a dome called Double Arch. Some hikers told us to follow the creek further up the canyon to a hidden waterfall. We ended up having the hidden lagoon all to ourselves at the end of the day, and the small pool beneath the waterfall provided a cold but refreshing bath. On our way back, Sherri’s sandals were chafing, so she opted to go barefoot. Out of sympathy for her situation I eventually decided to join her shoeless voyage.

Upon returning our tracking device to the Forest Service people, they had us complete a computer survey asking our opinion of air traffic noise while hiking in the park. We then traveled to the lower part of the park where we scoped-out a picnic area along the Virgin River to clean up and fix something to eat. As soon as we set up for dinner, the sprinklers turned on all around us, sending us scampering for cover. That night we drove through the remainder of the park with the sun setting on the towering canyon walls. Driving over to the Grand Canyon that evening we noticed what appeared to be a mother skunk with three little ones following close behind. After passing by them our noses confirmed our suspicions. Eventually we pulled off the highway onto a forest road to catch some shuteye.
$80 (Annual Parks Pass); $63.10 (gas); 7mi. hiked; Wildlife (4 skunk, 4 deer, 1 fox).Wheeler Peak still had too much snow on it for an ascent No Kleenex + allergies = lots of snot rockets I'm not one to ever turn down a free shower in the backcountry Fossilized shells could be seen along the riverbank6-25
Driving into Grand Canyon National Park early the next morning helped us get a little head start on the crowds at the Visitor’s Center. Our first view into the belly of this mammoth crack in the Earth left us speechless. As big as you can picture the Grand Canyon in your mind from seeing pictures or movies really can’t compare to witnessing its depth and beauty with your own eyes. After loading our camelbacks up with free spring water we headed out on our first hike of the day to Widforss Point. As soon as I got the GPS squared away, Sherri led the way up the sloping hillside onto a wooded plateau overlooking the canyon. She kept us going at a 3.6 mph moving average, which as far as hiking goes, is clipping along really fast. According to the trail description she read, the overlook should only have been 2 miles in, but we ended up hiking beyond the canyon ridge and through a valley forest for an additional 3 miles to the lookout point. Beautiful as it was, the hike ended up being a grueling 10 miles round trip that whipped us pretty good. Sherri later realized after reading the full description of the hike that the initial scenic overlook at mile 2 is where most day hikers end up turning around since finishing the rest of the hike out to Widforss Point is painfully more strenuous.

Having spent most of our energy and sunburned skin on our first hike, we opted for a nice AC drive in the car out to Cape Royal for lunch and scenic viewing. Having seen Angel’s Window from afar on the short nature walk trail, I had Sherri run up ahead to strike a pose directly above the natural rock bridge. Thinking I had found the perfect viewing spot to make a sandwich, I hadn’t realized just how windy it gets along the canyon rim. Fighting to keep the peanut butter jar from blowing over the edge into oblivion, I finally managed to scarf down a PB&J and soak in the view without being swept off the cliff myself. Later that afternoon we spotted a coin-operated shower house in the campground that we couldn’t resist. Despite the fire hose showerhead that could blast the paint right off your car, that was the best $1.50 we’ve spent all month. Having gotten all freshened up and some tuna Mac & cheese to go, we happened upon a conversation with a man who warned us of the crowds down at the South Entrance. Since it was now the weekend, traveling another 240 miles for basically mirror views and even worse tourist craziness seemed less attractive by the minute. So on toward the Petrified Forest we drove until a faithful rest stop hosted us for another evening in the car.
$26.50 (gas); $3 (shower); 13.5mi. hiked; Wildlife (1 deer)Sherri striking a pose above Angel's Window The far-off Colorado River winding its way through the canyon 6-26
This morning at the truck stop we fixed our traditional coffee & oatmeal, then drove into Petrified Forest National Park. After watching a nature film and picking up some souvenirs at the Rock Shop, we set out on our first hike in the 95-degree scorching heat. The trail led us into a valley covered with massive logs and stumps completely transformed into beautiful quartz and stone. Barely anyone else cared to venture down into this abyss of prehistoric wonder as we watched people fighting over the coin-operated binoculars above. Having captured a bunch of photos we headed on toward the Navaho ruins where strikingly vivid hieroglyphs could be seen along the faces of giant boulders surrounding the sacred grounds. All these elements together really solidified the depth and unique history this place holds.

Having been pounded by the heat for most of the morning, we chose to hit the road for some AC comfort as we drove across the barren landscape of Arizona towards Saguaro National Park. We were hoping to maybe find a local park or recreation area along the way for a nap in the shade or maybe to swim in a river or lake somewhere. However, despite the word creek being added to more than a dozen campgrounds and park names along the way, there was no actual water to be found. It also didn’t help that the air was dryer than a popcorn fart and there was nothing luring us out of our cool air-conditioned car. The only water we came across was flowing down a concrete aqueduct, quickly evaporating on its way to Phoenix. Arriving just outside the park, we found a spot in a Walmart parking lot to stay for the evening.
$32.60 (gas); $2 (snack); $10.68 (Petrified Rock); 1.5mi. hiked; Wildlife (ravens)All that was left of our car after coming back from a hike RRRRRoooooaaaaarrrrr!!!!!6-27
It was a hot night’s sleep, but made for an easy early wake-up to beat the heat in Saguaro National Park the next morning. Driving through the east end of the park first, we got to see gigantic Saguaro cactus spread out across the desert plains and hillsides. Along the way I happened to see a bird of prey perched on top of a cactus, so I abruptly turned the car around for a closer look. Sherri caught some excellent shots with the camera and later found out that it was a Red-tailed Hawk. We also heard several Morning Doves wooing from the treetops and saw an iguana sunning itself on a rock. Upon entering the west end of the park we noticed roadblock signs in front of all the trails prohibiting any backcountry access whatsoever due to the extreme fire danger.

The loop drive was still beautiful and full of wildlife. We first noticed a Road Runner dancing across the sand with its quick feet, and then a Harris Hawk soaring high above looking for prey. Rabbits were darting in and out of the cactus plants, hiding behind the sharp needles that surrounded them like a protective cocoon. After leaving the park we drove through New Mexico and into Texas where we spoiled ourselves with a hotel and dinner-out. We thought it was appropriate to dine at the Texas Roadhouse, and couldn’t actually finish our plates due to the huge portion sizes. We then headed back to the hotel for a dip in the pool and fell asleep watching a movie.
$35.60 (gas); $51.98 (hotel); $4.28 (snack); $37.00 (dinner-out); 1mi. hiked Morning Doves serenaded us on our hike through the giant Saguaro cactus Red-tailed Hawk scoping-out the territory 6-28
After a great night’s sleep on an actual bed, we snagged a quick breakfast in the lounge and then headed out to Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Driving out of El Paso, TX we couldn’t help notice across the river a cluster of shanty homes scattered all across the hillside. I mentioned to Sherri that it looked a lot like Mexico City, and sure enough, we were unknowingly looking across the border into Mexico. It was a long drive across the desolate wasteland until we finally reached the park. We were pleasantly surprised to find out that our National Parks Pass covered the general admission charge to enter the caves. Plus, a majority of the cave network was self-guided, allowing us to leisurely explore the underground labyrinth on our own.

Dropping down into the natural entrance seemed surreal as a single beam of sunlight followed us into the dark rock cathedral. The trail wound down deeper and deeper into the earth, revealing oddly shaped pillars of Calcium Carbonate and other formations that were being fed by the constant dripping of water from the roof. Working our way down the vast cave network we came across a giant void in the floor called the bottomless pit. As Sherri pulled out the map to read up on where we were, our pass ticket happened to fall out just on the other side of the railing. We helplessly watched it float like a leaf, back and forth until it landed just out of reach. Not sure of which was worse, littering or going off trail, we debated on the appropriate action to take in this precarious situation. Eventually, I decided to jump the fence and rescue the trash (with our names on it) from an imminent plunge into oblivion.

At the end of the trail we couldn’t help but laugh at the underground food court and gift shop all lit-up like a shopping mall. After jumping an elevator ride back up to the Visitor’s Center, we waited to observe the nightly bat flight out of the cave entrance. Due to the drought and recent fire in the park, bat populations had substantially decreased. Even still, about 10,000 bats flew-out of the cave that night in a whirlwind flurry that peppered the sky. We somehow misplaced Sherri’s Nalgene water bottle that afternoon, which was an upsetting loss. Later that evening we drove to Guadalupe National Park and settled in for the night at the trailhead for our peak climb tomorrow morning.
$44.62 (gas); 3mi. hiked 6-29
Waking up early to the amber glow of the desert sun, we started up the steep trail to Guadalupe Peak (8,749ft.). Attempting to beat the heat of the day, we reached the summit and returned to the parking lot before noon. Satisfied with reaching the highest point in Texas, we continued our long road trip down to Big Bend National Park. More barren wasteland snarled at us across the Southern states with its blistering heat, sending us on a desperate search for any kind of land water, and the Rio Grand was or last hope.

Driving through the currently abandoned park, we took some pictures of the surrounding mountains and finally ended up at Cottonwood Campground some 35 miles deep into the park. It was a pleasant surprise to see actual green, mowed grass in the campground that stood out like a lush forest amidst the dry fields of sagebrush and cactus surrounded it. After getting settled in, we packed some food and headed out on a search for the river. Unfortunately, the drought in this area made the mighty Rio look like a little trickling mud bog. I still splashed around in it to cool off, but it was definitely not what we were hoping for.

That night we slept under the stars in our sleeping bags on the grassy lawn, which turned out being much more exciting, or maybe even scarier than we could have ever imagined. Apparently, there are some resident horses that have free range at this place, and were causing all sorts of trouble. Their ringleader was a white horse who was bullying all the others by charging them and neighing battle cries. We also got the impression he wasn’t real pleased with us being on his turf as they kept inching closer and closer. The real kicker that sent us running to the car for cover was when two giant Texas Longhorn cattle strolled into the campground looking to stand their ground on the fresh grassy field as well. As if lying on the battlefield directly between these two opposing parties wasn’t enough, a pack of Javelinas were squealing and snorting in the surrounding forest like a war party planning an ambush. Eventually, the owls calmed everybody down with their soothing hooting sounds, allowing us to finally catch some shut-eye.
$20.30 (gas); $1.50 (mega-pop); 10 mi. hiked; Wildlife (2 Texas Longhorns)Victoriously climbed the highest peak in Texas (8,749ft.)6-30
After sleepily waking up the next morning, we walked over to have breakfast with another couple that camped right next to us. We were the only people in the entire campground, and enjoyed hearing their impressions of the crazy wildlife fiasco last night. Later, we entered the beautiful Santa Elena Canyon, which substantially raised my interest in the park. As we hiked along the river between the towering rock walls we noticed all kinds of animal tracks, yet it remained disturbingly quiet. Tall reeds lined the banks as we squeezed our way through giant boulders, shadowing us with their foreboding presence.

It was a long drive out of the park that afternoon, but we finally made it to Dallas, TX. Driving through this area really gave us a new understanding about the reality of movies like Texas Chainsaw Massacre. That night we were able to meet up with Sherri’s brother Jim who just happened to be in that area for a conference. We had a nice dinner together in the lounge and then traveled up towards Hot Springs National Park.$71.50 (gas); $28 (dinner-out); $1 (mega-pop); 1.5 mi. hiked; Wildlife (3 Road Runners)Elena Canyon would have been a beautiful float trip with higher water levels 7-1
This morning we strolled into Hot Springs, which seemed exceptionally busy for a weekday. Sherri eventually found us a free parking spot at a picnic area up along the Tower road. From there we were able to hike the Gulpha Gorge Trail out to Goat Rock overlook and eventually down to the creek for a dip in the water. We then worked our way down to the Visitor’s Center (former Fordyce Bathhouse), which is now a museum displaying the extravagant lifestyles of those who once splurged on all sorts of experimental spa and message treatments.

After snooping around the old haunted health spa we verified the boiling temperature of the water trickling out of the natural spring and crossed the road for some ice cream. Since soaking in a hot tub was probably the last things we wanted to do after hiking around on a 95-degree day, we headed back up to the picnic area to wash up and hit the road again. We made it about 200 mi. before having to pull over at a rest stop to sleep.
$66.50 (gas); $11.25 (Nalgene water bottle); $4.25 (ice cream cones); 5 mi. hiked Getting us squared away on the GPS for our hike Yo Adrian!Just finishing-up after and MRE meal at the picnic area

7-2
It was another 200 mi. from the rest area to Mammoth Caves National Park. We soon realized it was 4th of July weekend, and turned out being their busiest Saturday of the year. After being directed to drive across the lawn into a makeshift overflow parking area, we followed the herds of people through the ticket lines. The Visitor’s Center strangely resembled an airport with elevated TV displays showing the sparsely available cave tour times. We eventually met an attendant who got us tickets to the New Entrance tour and a self-guided tour through the natural entrance for a hefty $32. The self-guided path was a short but cool walk through a section of the cave where we could see the remnants of a saltpeter and gypsum mine.

After lunch we hopped on a shuttle bus that took us up to a once private entrance that some dude blew open with dynamite back in the day. Probably the most interesting part of this tour was the elaborate steel staircase system that was built to weasel everybody down a narrow 250ft. deep slot straight down to the main vein of the cave network. Sherri of course never had to duck once the entire route except for a slight head tilt through a section called Fat Man’s Misery. Once out of the cave we routed a new course and left the crowds to travel up to Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio. Strolling into a rest stop that night we noticed some lightning, which eventually broke loss into a thunderstorm.
$64.25 (gas); $32 (Cave tours); 2 mi. hiked; Wildlife (4 wild turkeys)7-3
The rain from the night before really brightened up the trees, filling the streams and rivers up to the brim for our visit to Cuyahoga. Our first hike of the day took us along a creek that tumbled over Blue Hen Falls. Just as we were about to turn back, a couple of hikers told us of an even more spectacular waterfall further downstream that wasn’t on the map. Sure enough, walking alongside the creek for another half mile led us right on top of hidden Buttermilk Falls. It was a gorgeous sight seeing the water gently cascade down the multiple layers of rock. It really did look like milk as the water frothed its way down the side of the cliff. Since it happened to be Sunday morning with most everyone still in church, we nearly had the trail to ourselves as we worshiped God in His outdoor sanctuary.

Later we stopped by Brandywine Falls for lunch and then out to an area called The Ledges by Kendall Lake for a nap in the shade. Hiking around this section of the park proved to be quite interesting as we crawled around the craggy cliffs and caverns. On our way out of the park we stopped by the beaver marsh to snap some photos of a Blue Heron scoping out the area as well as a tortoise dragging a bunch of swamp guck on its shell. From there we left the park and drove the long and expensive route across the Appalachians. The Ohio and Pennsylvania turnpikes ended up costing more than dinner, but we eventually made it all the way to Shenandoah National Park where we found a place to crash as the Fireflies lulled us to sleep with their evening lightshow.
$38.15 (gas); $15 (highway toll); 4 mi. hiked Blue Hen Falls might be our portrait shot of the yearFinding the hidden Buttermilk Falls was a treatKraft Easy Cheese- No Refrigeration NecessaryBrandywine Falls made a great lunch stop area Barely beat the 10 sec. self-timer on this photo 7-4
Sherri mentioned today how appropriate it was for us to be spending the 4th of July in Virginia since it just so happens to be home to Thomas Jefferson. As we strolled into the Visitor’s Center at Shenandoah with our instant coffee and breakfast bars in hand, we caught a ranger who gave us some suggestions on potential hikes. He described a butt-kicker hike that perked my interest with several waterfalls and canyons, but first we did a short hike up Stony Man Peak. We caught some excellent views of the Smoky Mountains from a unique outcropping of rocks where a group of people were singing John Denver Songs. Sherri couldn't resist chiming in on the harmony with them.

From there we headed down to Whiteoak Canyon on the butt-kicker trail. Eventually we reached an area where we could hear a bunch of hooting and hollering down below, and soon found out the location of a natural waterslide. Several people had already been shooting down the algae-slick rock into a deep pool, and it didn’t take long for Sherri and I to join in on the fun. We dried off the best we could and continued our trek down the canyon to another spectacular set of waterfalls. Having taken a bunch of photos and some more swimming, we climbed back up to the car just as the clouds set in for another thunderstorm.

On our quest to find a covered picnic area we spotted a mother Black Bear and cub along the roadside. Keeping a safe distance we snapped some photos from the car and later stumbled across a shower facility next to the picnic area. After spending a couple bucks on a much-needed shower, we fixed some dinner and ate it in the car since it was starting to rain. Just then a man wrapped on our window and told me he thinks I might have a Deer Tick bite on my leg. The fact that someone had noticed how bruised and scraped-up my legs were made me finally realize just how messed up they really looked, but fortunately no lime disease.

Continuing our drive out of the park, a rolling patch of fog at an overlook caught our attention as it crept through the hillside like a white-caped dragon. Leaving the South Entrance we snapped a soggy portrait of ourselves next to the National Park sign just before the sun disappeared for the evening. It was only another 2-hour drive until we found a rest stop to crash for the night.
$2 (shower); Wildlife (3 black bear, 4 deer)Keeping up on my journal for the blog The fog made for a mysterious view the Smoky Mountains

7-11
Having hung-out with Jim, Caroline, and the girls for the past few days, we decided to explore Congaree National Park together since it is located only 30 miles from their house. Caroline wasn’t able to join us because of work, but the rest of us piled into the van with our lunches packed, ready to hike. Honestly speaking, this particular park did not initially appeal to me as much since it is generally described as a mosquito-infested swamp. Fortunately, the Mosquito Meter at the Visitor’s Center only read a 2½ out of 6, meaning that it was only mildly buggy as opposed to a full-on swatting battle zone. Besides encountering a few wasps on trail, the bugs really didn’t bother us that much at all. Spiders, on the other hand, were in full force. One of the biggest spiders I have ever seen caught our attention as we noticed it clutching a moth, which was helplessly twitching in the spider’s grasp. From that point on we were more careful in avoiding hanging cobwebs in fear that one of these giant arachnids might try and latch itself onto our face.

Reaching our halfway point at Weston Lake we took a snack break and watched the turtles swim around the dock. Further on down the trail we heard what sounded like people yelling and hollering at the top of their lungs from inside the forest. As we turned toward the noise we noticed it slowly change into the hooting sounds of an owl. Sure enough, just as we started walking again I noticed out of the corner of my eye an enormous Barred Owl swooping down through the treetops. I convinced the others to follow me into the woods where I thought the owl might have landed. Through the binoculars I spotted a thick mound of feathers atop a low-lying branch with eyes spun around looking right back at me. We took turns spying on the owl through the binoculars and then left it in peace amongst the quietness of the forest.
3mi. hiked You know you're in trouble when there's a Mosquito alert sign The biggest spider I have ever seen
Sliding down a natural waterslide at Shenandoah

Total Trip Cost: $940; Total Miles Hiked: 51.5

Amazing Race Audition

2011-04-30T10:28:00.001-07:00

Sherri has always been recruiting people to audition with her for the TV show Amazing Race, and finally got her chance at a casting call in Portland a few months back. She and her teaching friend Anne camped overnight in a ridiculously long line, and ended up getting the second to last available slot for auditions. Everyone else was turned away due to the large turn out, and some were even offering large amounts of cash in exchange a spot further up in line. I was of course dumbfounded when Sherri said they turned down $500 to keep their slot, but they were determined not to pass up this opportunity and ended up sharing a great experience together. Time will only tell whether or not they get selected for an upcoming season of Amazing Race.

Winter Break

2011-01-09T14:01:00.000-08:00

This holiday season Sherri & I decided to spoil each other by purchasing a Wii Game Station. We also got quite a bit of traveling in over break. Our first destination was Carri & Jeremy's place to visit with family. They prepared a wonderful dinner, after which we had fun opening presents with little Elliot and Autumn. After spending a couple of days at their place, we decided to head straight up to Jim & Caroline's. We enjoyed hanging-out watching movies, relaxing, and playing a new 4-player Wii game together called "Marvel Heroes- Ultimate Alliance II." Sherri & I got home in time to spend a few days together before heading back to work. One afternoon we took a walk around Powell Butte and saw a hawk soaring over the meadows with a beautiful clouded sky in the background. It was a nice way to wrap up our vacation.
Autumn singing karaoke with a Lego microphone
Time to open presents!
Checking out Elliot's cool new toys
Drawing lessons at the artists' table
Elliot as the fearless Zoro
Sherri & Elliot
Plenty of smiles to go around today!
Hawk soaring over Powell Butte in front of beautiful sky

Fall Projects

2010-10-08T18:16:00.001-07:00

This Fall I decided to jump into a couple of projects that have stretched both my cabinetry making skills as well as every muscle and tendon in my back! Sherri is developing quite a collection of books for her classroom, and has been in need of another bookshelf. Since Dad gave me his old router, I figured this would be the perfect job to christen my new power tool. After two weeks of racking my brain on dimensions and filling the garage with sawdust, I was finally able to put it together just before school started. It turned out great- custom fit and everything.

The next job I tackled is nowhere near as fun, but it sure is keeping me in shape these days. I'm basically digging all the rocks out of our yard so we can start fresh with actual dirt instead of a gravel pit for a lawn. I'm sure there's some kind of machine out there that can pull them out for me, but I'm too cheap. Besides, I feel like John Henry with my pickax in hand, and when I finish...we'll have the best darn soil in town. I'll also probably fall down and die just like the legend says, but it will be worth it!

The fourth set of rock piles that I've dug-up so far...whewww!

Mirror Lake

2010-08-14T18:05:00.000-07:00

Sherri and I went hiking with some friends up to Mirror Lake this week and caught some great views of Mt. Hood from the ridge of Tom Dick and Harry Mountain. I forgot what a great local hike this is. Last time we tromped around in this area was a couple years back during the early Spring on our snowshoes with snowboards strapped to our backs.

Mt. Biking Hagg Lake Trail

2010-08-14T17:50:00.000-07:00

A few weekends back Sherri did some research online for mt. bike trails in our area and found Hagg Lake, which is only about 40 miles from our place. It was Sherri's first experience on real, gritty singletrack. The 15 mile round trip along the lake shore had lots of rolling hills and just enough technical spots over roots and rocks to make it challenging. She did great, and we really enjoyed our time out there. Every once in awhile we'd come to a little inlet from the lake which looked like some private lagoon with picnic tables on the shore nearby. After our ride we headed down to the beach and threw the Frisbee around in the water to cool off. I think we found a new summer hang-out spot.

2010 Summer Vacation to MN and National Parks

2010-08-10T16:36:00.000-07:00

7-1-2010 (Thursday) Day 1
Sherri & I spent a couple days with her brother Jim and his twin daughters before heading our way out east to visit my family in MN. We also planned to check-off a few more National Parks from our list on this trip as well. This morning we crept out of Jim’s house at 6am, careful not to wake anybody, and set-off on our road trip adventure. On our final gas fill before entering Glacier National Park I noticed that my driver’s license was missing. I asked Sherri if she had our ID’s, and a distressed look came over both our faces as we realized that we had forgotten them in Jim’s car upon entering the Military Base the night before. By this time we had driven 11 straight hours and had no choice but to press on. Unfortunately, we needed photo ID to verify our National Parks pass, and we nervously hoped that the attendants would understand as we approached the west entrance of the park. After telling the ranger our messed-up sob story, he politely let us through and we fortunately never had a problem getting into any of the other parks as well. We snagged the last available campsite, which happens to us more often than not, and took a short hike out to Lake McDonald where we were able to catch the sun setting on the surrounding mountains. We were already starting to feel the serenity of wilderness working its magic on our tuckered-out minds and bodies. Expenses: Gas ($69.11), Campsite ($20).

Happy to be touring the National Parks againSunset on McDonald lake for our first view of the mountainsWilderness is good!
7-2-2010 (Friday) Day 2
Just as morning rolled over the horizon, we were startled awake by a crackle of thunder, preparing us for a rainy day. After some coffee and doughnuts we started driving up the going-to-the-sun-road for a look at Logan Pass. On our way we stopped for a short hike along McDonald creek, which was raging through the forest at a really good clip. We then pulled-over to walk the Trail of The Cedars, which gave us an opportunity to play around with our new GPS device. The farther we drove up into the mountains, the more we became absorbed by the clouds. By the time we reached Logan’s Pass Visitors Center, we were completely inundated with clouds and down pouring rain. This pretty much eliminated any hiking opportunities along the Garden Wall, which at this point in my life I’ve come to believe is a total farce since it is apparently always hidden by clouds. This quickened our pace to descend below the clouds and make a beeline for Many Glacier. We reached the Swiftcurrent pass trailhead at 3:15pm and debated starting a long hike this late in the day, but we were rearing to go and decided to take our chances out on the trail. Several hikers warned us of the dark clouds rolling in our way and cautioned us of possible thunderstorms. We just smiled and nodded as we pressed on ahead with the hope that a break in the clouds might soon find us, which is exactly what happened about a mile further on our trek. The path meandered along a chain of lakes that eventually ran smack-dab into a massive headwall of granite and snow. To our amazement, the map verified that it was the other side of the Garden Wall, which meant that we were on a route headed straight up the Continental Divide. Since the rain scared everybody else off the trail, we had the entire place to ourselves, except for a couple of white-bearded mountain goats who were surprised to see us climbing around on the mountain. As we followed switchbacks up the steep canyon wall, the lakes down below became smaller and smaller as we rose into the clouds. Eventually, a snow bank blocked our path, and there were no fresh footprints going across it. Together with the fact that we were beginning to run out of daylight, our outdoor instincts told us it was time to turn around and head back down to base camp. It was a long hike back and both our bodies felt very creaky. As soon as we made it back to the truck, we made some dinner and kicked back the seats for some shuteye. We were a little on guard that night, practically sleeping with one eye open in fear that a ranger might come along and tell us that we couldn’t park there overnight, but not a soul bothered us. Hiking (13 miles).

McDonald Creek tumbling down the canyonJake studying the rapids from aboveLogan's Pass looking a little cloudy as usualWeight limit of only 1 person on this little bridgeLooking back on the mountains beside Swiftcurrent lakeApproaching the Garden WallThis mountain goat seemed a little surprised to see us up this highNoticing the now tiny chain of lakes on the Swiftcurrent Pass TrailWorking our way up to the Continental DivideSnowfields...our final sign to turn back
7-3-2010 (Saturday) Day 3
This morning we got an early start on a hike up to Grinnell Glacier. Apparently, there was a ranger led hike just about to take off as well, but we opted for the self-guided tour, skipping all the icebreaker conversations about why people chose to visit the park and Ranger Bob stories. We were slightly embarrassed by an older couple that power-walked their way right past us, stopped to take pictures, and continued playing leapfrog with us for miles. Our egos were only messaged by the fact that we were still very worn out from our hike the night before, and a short night sleep as well. At one point along the way Sherri said she had to go to the bathroom...pronto, so she scrounged-up some toiletries and headed off into the woods for a little quality time. Of course, the older couple then decided to come strolling around the corner near the spot where Sherri was hiding. I thought it would only be polite if I distracted them from the area where Sherri was and started talking to them on the other side of the trail. Well they turned out to be really nice folks, and we kept talking for quite a while until I caught a nasty glare from Sherri peeking out from the woods. I quickly wrapped up the conversation as best as I could and encouraged them on their way. A little ways ahead we caught up to them again as they were studying a dug-up hole in the ground along the trail. The older couple said it was a sure sign of bears, and then asked if we wanted to go first. From that point on we were a bit on edge, somewhat anxious to see a bear, and yet secretly scared that we might get eaten if we actually came across one. Lone behold, we heard reports of two different bear sightings that day from other hikers, but we never saw one. Eventually, we were forced to turn around due to snow pack, and ended up walking down with a different couple from CA. The woman had been a fifth grade teacher like Sherri is now, and they kept conversations going while I scouted the area ahead for bears. In a way we felt fortunate to have successfully avoided a dangerous encounter, yet it would have been quite an experience to actually see a bear in the wild. We then hopped back in the truck and headed over to Two Medicine Lake where we hiked out to a little beach called paradise point. We sat there for quite some time just soaking in the sun, watching the water stretch across to the mountains on the other side. On our way out of the park we caught one last hike out to Running Eagle Falls that provided a backdrop for one of our favorite shots together. It was hard to drive away on that lonely road across the plains with the mountains slowly fading behind us with the sun. After only about four hours of driving, we were both so tired that we decided to pull over for the evening and give it another try in the morning. Expenses: Gas ($34.20). Hiking (9 miles).

Sherri leading the way along the banks of Lake JosephineMt. Gould holding onto the clouds (9553ft.)Sherri engulfed by mountain sceneryGrinnell Glacier draining into emerald green waterWildflowers galore!Jagged peaks along the valley rimRunning Eagle FallsSherri found a natural tree chairSoaking in the sun at Paradise PointEnjoying the view on the beach of Two Medicine Lake
7-4-2010 (Sunday) Day 4
Today was a long trek across the boring part of Montana, which seemed forever until we finally reached Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Inside the visitor's center, before the air conditioning even hit our face, a ranger immediately jumped out from behind his desk asking if we wanted to watch an informational video about the park. We were apparently some of the only visitors this park had seen in awhile since we were treated like special guests. Sherri got a little nervous after finding out that rattlesnakes, black widows, and brown recluse spiders live in this region. After setting-out on their “most popular trail,” we found ourselves totally bushwhacking just a mile into the dense canyonlands as if no one had set foot on this trail in years. On our way out to one of the prairie dog towns a huge bull buffalo stood up from behind some sagebrush and stared us down. As soon as Sherri and I caught sight of him, we immediately turned around with our eyes wide open and quickly walked away in the other direction. Fortunately, there were plenty of other prairie dog towns and opportunities to view bison from a much safer distance, or at least from inside the truck. After backtracking from our bison encounter, we continued hacking and slashing through the brush until we climbed out from the forest onto a clearing that overlooked the entire valley. Sherri directed my attention to what I thought was amazing scenery, but she was actually pointing to a lone buffalo grazing on a bluff in the distance. It was as if the backdrop was staged somehow since everything seemed to portrait Native America as it once might have been. We both just sat there in the silence for a while as we soaked in the view. The trail continued along the ridge for over a mile, peeking down over the winding Missouri River and rugged tundra. After heading back down into the forest, we were surprised once again by an animal that practically scared us to death. A deer happened to be standing on a steep slope of loose rock that gave way like an avalanche as it darted up the hillside. That night we also saw a buffalo walking straight through our campground. We found a beautiful little walk-in campsite tucked under the shade of some cottonwood trees, which was actually the first time we had set-up our tent this trip. It was a nice change to sleep on a cushy queen size air mattress. Expenses: Gas ($49.80). Hiking (5.5 miles).

Strolling into Theodore Roosevelt National Park on the 4th of JulySherri checking-out the scene in North Dakota BadlandsBeautiful overlook with a lone buffalo on the bluff behind usLooking down on the Little Missouri RiverSherri walking ahead on the Upper Caprick Coulee TrailWild horses roaming the fieldThis was our favorite buffalo shot right of the side of the roadBuffalo Chips!Another massive bison keeping an eye on us
7-5-2010 (Monday) Day 5
This morning we woke up to rain that got us packing our tent and on our way down to the southern part of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The clouds eventually dissipated and we found ourselves strolling through Medora on another sunny day. Our tired hiking legs agreed to a leisure scenic drive through the park with a couple of short stops at some overlooks. We took a bunch of pictures of prairie dogs and wild horses right out the window of our truck. Before long, we were making our way across the fields of North Dakota headed to my old stomping grounds for an early visit with my parents. Since we both had an anchoring for a couple of milk shakes after a hot and grueling drive, we decided to take a pit stop in Bismarck. Happy hour at Space Aliens Bar & Grill grabbed our attention and we quickly ordered up some garlic pizza bread with milk shakes. The big screen TV in the bar was showing a sport called air racing, which was something we had never heard of or seen before. Driving into Detroit Lakes brought back a lot of memories as Dad welcomed us from the lit-up garage and Mom threw us a joyful wave from the kitchen window. We warned them that we hadn’t showered for a few days, but they forced hugs upon us anyway. Mom poured me a glass of wine and we all stayed-up talking for another couple of hours in the kitchen until the bathtub finally drew our aching bodies in for a late night soak. Expenses: Gas ($32), Lunch ($13). Hiking (1 mile).

Prairie dog posing for photosThe Misses was distracting this guy on lookout dutyThey've got quite a home out here
7-6-2010 (Tuesday) Day 6
Today we slept in, which is easy to do in the basement bedroom since it stays dark all year around down there, and then woke-up to pancakes and hand-picked raspberries from Mom’s garden. Dad was already hard at work painting the deck, but the sun stopped him halfway to the picnic table. Dad and I later worked on fixing the broken recliner lever in our truck. After some drilling, sanding, and plenty of head scratching, we finally got it done. I then headed for the backyard to set up the badminton net on that abused, torn-up patch of dirt where we always used to play. I was surprised to find a lush green grass court surrounded with flour beds, like something you'd see at the Wimbledon Classics or something. Later that day Mom and Dad sat out on the porch for “wine time” and watched Sherri and I smack the birdie back and forth at each other, hooting and hollering after every good rally. That night they took us out to dinner at a place called Billy’s where we got 2-for-1 half-pound monster burgers and waffle fries. It was nice to get a hearty meal in after surviving off of snacks and MRE’s. We then drove out to the farm where my parents keep their horses and camper trailer. El-Zar and Rendezvous eventually came prancing in toward the stable as we noticed the other horses not too far behind them. They all apparently sensed that visitors were waiting for them with treats in hand. We got a chance to visit with the owner of the ranch, Roy, who encouraged us to stop by his lake cottage on the way home for the absolute best seat in town to watch the sunset. From the bench on his dock we laughed and talked together as the sun reflected beautiful colors on the glassy, smooth lake. After returning home we fixed some cold drinks and broke-out the cards for a game of golf. We owed Mom another chance at racking-up a better score than when we last played together during their visit to Portland.

7-7-2010 (Wednesday) Day 7
Today, Dad and I were determined to drop the old canoe in the Ottertail River. The water was unseasonably high for this time of year and made for a quick yet rewarding trip down the river. Sherri and Mom offered to shuttle the car down to the take-out for us, and was fun to see them waving from the bridge as we floated around the final bend. We then headed into town to do a little shopping and returned home for dinner and a slide show. Dad broke-out the pictures from all the Glacier trips for us to compare with our recent visit to the park. It was amazing to witness how the timeless landscapes remain virtually unchanged next to our aging faces. Expenses: Shopping ($21.30).

7-8-2010 (Thursday) Day 8
Today we packed up the truck again and headed down to Minneapolis to hang-out with my brother Joe and his wife Nicole for a few days. Upon entering the city, we blew right past the exit that mapquest told us to take, which we later found out doesn’t even exist…go figure. It actually worked-out just fine since we found another exit that led us right to a bookstore where we picked-up some gifts for all my nieces and nephews. Later, Joe met us in that same part of town where we found a great little restaurant just down the street. We then headed back to his place to watch Uncle Buck for some laughs. Throughout the week Joe and I were rattling-off one liners from that movie- “I feel like a big mouse!” Expenses: Gas ($36), Dinner ($34).

7-9-2010 (Friday) Day 9
We woke-up to a beautiful sunny day as Joe cooked us up some tasty breakfast burritos. We immediately took advantage of the nice weather by hitting the tennis courts for a doubles rematch against Joe and Nicole. The last time we played together was when they came out to visit us in Portland, and they kicked our butts. Joe and I agreed it was time to offer our sacrificial base layer of skin to the sun, so the shirts came off as we worked on tanning our albino skin. Sherri and I held our own playing against them this time even though we all seemed to have certain physical ailments working against us that day. We then watched some of Philip’s baseball tournament later that evening and dropped in to visit Katie at the restaurant she’s working at this summer. She hooked us all up with giant chocolate shakes and sat down to visit with us for a while. On our way home we stopped at a tasty, authentic Italian pizza joint that Joe and Nicole really like. Before turning into bed we tried to watch a bit of Will Farrell in Anchorman, but were too tired to finish it.

7-10-2010 (Saturday) Day 10
This morning we took-off towards Jeff and Julie’s place for a big Wavra shindig. Most everybody made it over to their house during some part of the weekend, and we all had a great time hanging-out and catching-up with family. Jeff and Julie had their place looking immaculate with the house all ship shape, yard all mowed, trees planted, and a path blazed through the field out back for nature walks. We set up the badminton net just below their second story deck for optimal spectator viewing. We also started a game of Bache ball with the high score going to Jeff and Sarah. That night, it was evident that a storm was coming in because the sky was getting peppered with lighting on the horizon. Sherri called me out of the house saying, “I think you’re going to want to see this.” As the sun began to set, it cast a beam of deep orange light through a narrow hole in the thick band of storm clouds. It looked like the sun was attempting to shine a batman sign on the cloudy sky above. Sherri and I sat in amazement as we counted between lightening strikes and the rumble of thunder creeping toward us. For an evening game we all decided to play “What Were You Thinking?” One of the favorite categories was to name five different people from any time period whom you would like to have dinner with. Joe thought it would be fun to patch the biblical Moses and Michael Jordan together. Some of the commentary on that one really got us laughing. Another hit category was to think of names that spouses have for each other. One of Jeff’s answers was “First Name,” which Joe immediately piped in by winking at Nicole saying, “I love you First Name.”

Hanging-out on the porch at Jeff and Julies place
Jeff and Julie being great hostsBadminton net is going up!Joe, Nicole, and Jenna on a nature walk behind Jeff and Julie's place
7-11-2010 (Sunday) Day 11
Jan and her kids came today and we all got another championship game of Bache ball going first thing. The rest of the day we all just relaxed and enjoyed each other’s company. That night we started a campfire and little Jenna crawled up on Sherri’s lap while I made funny faces at her from behind the chair. Jenna then started whispering in Sherri’s ear while looking back at me saying, “he’s weird,” and “he’s awkward.” Expenses: Shopping ($20.82).

7-12-2010 (Monday) Day 12
Julie had to work today, so we made ourselves at home playing badminton and grazing on all the great food spread out on the counter. Sherri and Katie headed out to the Outlet Mall together and ended-up getting lost on the way. It should have only taken them about ten minutes to get there from Julie’s place, but after about a half hour into their trip they had to break-out the GPS in order to figure out where they were. They finally managed to find their way to the mall where Sherri picked up a nice pair of Nike trail running shoes. For lunch, Jeff, Jan, and I all went into town to pick up some Chinese take-out. We brought back a truckload of food for just under $30 that fed all of us at the house with leftovers remaining. When Julie got home from work, she thought it would be fun if we all headed down to Taylor’s Falls together for the afternoon. In agreement, we all piled into a couple of cars and made our way down to the St. Croix River. It was a beautiful afternoon and we all had a great time jumping across the rocky banks and staring into the deep caverns. At the end of the trail we all sat on a rock wall together for a picture next to the water. Just then, we noticed a skateboarder bombing down the hill towards us. We quickly got the impression that he had absolutely no idea where he was going since a dead end was waiting for him around the corner, and he was making no attempt to slow down whatsoever. He abruptly met the barrier at the end of the road and went tumbling through the woods, getting thrashed around by the rocks like a rag doll. Luckily, there was a group of rock climbers who also witnessed the accident and were first aid trained. Within about ten minutes an ambulance was there at the scene with cops and park rangers flooding to the scene to help. It was a very frightening sight to see. That night we played another round of “What Were You Thinking,” followed by “Shenanigans.” The most interesting words to act-out were slaughterhouse and bad breath. Expenses: Shopping ($42). Hiking: (2 miles).

A day at the river with Laura, Jenna, Katie, Sara, and Philip
Mom and Sherri all matching with their Chaco sandals onSherri and I hanging out on the rocks along the St. Croix River gorgeGroup shot of everyone at Wild River State Park
7-13-2010 (Tuesday) Day 13
Today everybody left except for Sherri and I who decided to hangout with Jeff and Julie a couple more days. We first helped knock-out some quick cleaning from the aftermath of the family reunion. Julie and I then went into town to check on her horse, Holiday. Holiday is recovering from a serious leg injury, so we just walked him around the inside arena for a few minutes. Later we all played an official game of Bache ball per Jeff’s request, and then went out for dinner at a local Café. That night we watched “Night At The Museum II.” Random bursts of “ATTACK!” from General Custer were our favorite lines.

7-14-2010 (Wednesday) Day 14
Another laid-back day at Jeff and Julie’s was exactly what the doctor ordered. Julie and I walked Holiday again while Jeff and Sherri watched the movie “Pirate Radio.” Julie and I picked up some pizza and a movie titled “The Road” on the way home. The movie turned out to be a total downer, depicting sort of an apocalypse where a boy and his father attempt to survive in a world destroyed by natural disaster. Coincidentally, a major storm was brewing up over our own heads packing buckets of raining and hurricane winds. After closing-up all the windows in the house, we watched the weather terrorize the backyard. Later that afternoon, we all went outside after the weather had cleared a bit and noticed that the garage door on their barn had caved in due to the fierce winds. Since that there were tornado warnings all over the state, Sherri and I decided it would be wise to hunker down for another night at their place.

7-15-2010 (Thursday) Day 15
Today we said our farewells to Jeff and Julie and headed back to D.L. so we could prepare for our camping trip with my parents, Joe, and Nicole. Mom and Dad took us out for dinner that night and then hit-up the grocery store for some last minute camp food. Joe and Nicole strolled in late that night and then we all hit the sack so we would wake up fresh and ready for our camping adventure together. Expenses: Gas ($36), Dinner ($17).

7-16-2010 (Friday) Day 16
The night before, Nicole somehow convinced Joe and I to tag along with her on a seven-mile run. So at 6am I rolled out of bed thinking- this might not be the best idea. Nicole is planning to run a marathon, and she has committed herself to a very strict training routine. I’m really not sure why Joe and I chose to ignore the little voice inside us screaming, “your bodies are getting too old for this stuff, and tomorrow you’re going to pay for it.” Nonetheless, we had a good time talking along the road as we pounded the pavement with our knees. Upon our return, the delicious smell of sticky buns blasted a fragrant shock wave reaching us from 3 blocks out. This gave us added incentive to book-it down the final leg home for breakfast. Later, we took care of some final packing, picked a few raspberries for the trip, and then caravanned out to Itasca State Park together. After squaring away everything at our campsites, we all piled into Mom and Dad’s car to visit the headwaters of the Mississippi. While we were wading in the water taking pictures, we spotted a bald eagle scanning the shoreline, and it ended-up soaring straight over our heads. As soon as we got back to the campsite, Sherri and I grabbed the bikes for a quick ride down to the lake, which was reflecting golden rays of evening sunlight all around us. After gathering some wood, we got a campfire going and played the card game- “Battle of the Sexes.” The laugh of the night was when Nicole aggressively started answering a question about a movie, and then slowly began to realize that she hadn't even the slightest idea what it was about or who was in it. Expenses: Gas ($43), Food ($10).

Standing on the headwaters of the MississippiBald eagle making its way straight over our headsSherri munching on nature's version of a corn dogGroup shot on the log- Dad missed the memo on blue shirt dayMom and Dad know this place well- one of our family favoritesIt's fun being together with family in MN
7-17-2010 (Saturday) Day 17
Dad already had the hot water going as the rest of us crawled out of our tents all sleepy-eyed. After breakfast, Sherri and I headed down to the sports shack to rent a tandem bicycle. Just as we were about to test ride one, Joe came cruising down to warn us that the radio forecast called for some ugly weather coming our way. Sure enough, within a few hours the storm clouds rolled in with thunder and lightning. Since biking was not really an option for the time being, we all decided to pile in the car again for a trip to the visitor's center to snoop around. After scoping-out a few of the exhibits and looking around in the souvenir shop, the weather cleared just long enough for us to take a walk out to the log cabin on Lake Itasca. We contemplated taking a longer hike around the bend to a different lake, but Nicole’s senses warned us that the rain wasn’t through with us yet. Wouldn’t you know, on our way back the thunder started exploding bombs all around us, so we ran to the Douglas Lodge for cover and sat in the reception hall until the rain let up. We then headed back to the campsite and hunkered down in the screen tent for some lunch and a game of Settlers of Catan. About halfway through the game, the sun came out, so Joe, Nicole, Mom, and Dad decided to go biking. Unfortunately, my knee was really giving me sass from that 7-miler I ran with Joe and Nicole the day before, so I decided to stay back at camp while Sherri headed over to the beach for a sun nap. A few hours later we all reconvened back in the screen tent to finish our game before dinner. After some wine and burgers, we got another campfire going and started round two of the battle of the sexes. Tonight was my turn for embarrassment when I incorrectly answered a question about the tasty treat in ambrosia with a huge roasted marshmallow stuffed in my mouth. Mother was snickering the whole time while we were contemplating because the answer was actually marshmallows. Another classic response that sealed the victory for the ladies was when Mom guessed the right answer for the NBA basketball player known as “The Worm.” She responded, “what about that goofy guy Rodem or something.” A mixed look of disgust and astonishment rolled over Joe’s face as Nicole and Sherri chimed in with "Dennis Rodman!" Dad, Joe, and I knew it was time to throw in the towel after that crushing blow. The only real hick-up that happened on this trip took place that night when Nicole accidentally locked the keys in their car. After racking our brains over how in the heck we were going to find someone at 11pm at night to help us, Nicole spotted a ranger driving right past our campsite. Joe chased him down and told him our situation, and later came back with another ranger to help. After noticing that there were no power locks or windows, the one ranger looked at the other and said “Hmmm…well Bob, this ought to be an interesting one.” After only about 20 minutes they were able to fit a rod in through the window using a blood pressure cuff and manually roll down the back window. We all thanked them and expressed our new-found respect for park rangers. Needless to say, we were all patting our pockets that weekend to make sure our own keys were accounted for at all times.

Dad cooking up some dogs on the grillMom and Dad in front of Douglas LodgeWaiting-out the rain under the porch at Douglas Lodge
7-18-2010 (Sunday) Day 18
This morning Joe and I actually beat Dad up and got started on breakfast for everybody. Sherri thought it would be fun to all rent tandem kayaks and cruise around the lake together. So after we ate our egg and cheese biscuits and sipped on some coffee, we all headed down to the lake for a day of boating. It took a little convincing to get Mom into a kayak, but she eventually warmed-up to the idea and we all had a great time paddling around together. The opposite side of the lake was calm and peaceful as we scanned the shoreline for wildlife and floated through the Lilly pads. However, heading back to the other side again was a different story. The wind was pushing straight against us, and we definitely got our upper body workout for the day as we fought our way back to the docks. We then headed straight for the swimming beach for a dip and to rest in the sun for a while. Joe and I found a great patch of secluded lawn where we chucked the Frisbee at each other for a good half hour. After we got back to camp, Joe, Nicole, Sherri, and I took the bikes out for a spin. We cruised up and down the hills all the way out to Preachers’ Grove where we walked out into an open forest overlooking the lake. After Joe quietly mentioned how peacefully silent it was out there, he yelled “Hello!” as if to wake up the woods a little. It would have been a shame not to end our time in Itasca without driving the scenic loop out to the old fire tower. On our way, Dad took us on one of his famous detours off the beaten path to a secluded lake that was completely calm, with no one else around. The lake perfectly reflected the tree-laden shores and offered a great photo opportunity as we all posed on a dock stretching-out over the water. As we reached the access road to the observation tower, loons were loudly calling back and forth the entire time we were there. It was turning evening and the whole park had a calm, luring air about it as we passed by Mary Lake all bathed in red and orange sunlight. Our final campfire together hosted the simple enjoyment of conversation as we laughed and told stories. I led a typical parade of contagious farting, which I argued was my natural right to freely express myself in nature. Expenses: Kayak Rental ($12).

Started-out the day paddling around the lake on tandem kayaksThe boys cooling down at the swimming beachGetting ready to bike around the trails at ItaskaJoe and I scoping-out Preachers' GroveDad's detour down to a secluded lakeJoe and Nicole working their way up the road to the Lookout TowerMary Lake was perfectly calm as we drove around the scenic loop
7-19-2010 (Monday) Day 19
We didn’t waste anytime tearing down camp this morning since we all had places to be and real beds to go home to. However, things really slowed down as we leisurely ate breakfast and sat there talking together for a good couple hours. After packing-up the rest of our things, we all headed to Park Rapids for lunch at Pizza Hut, which Mom & Dad insisted on treating us. It was hard to say goodbye, especially when I realized just how much I missed being around my family. I think Wavra camping is going to survive after all, and I’m already looking forward to the next time we can all reunite and share more great memories together. Sherri and I followed Mom and Dad back to D.L. while Joe and Nicole headed back to Minneapolis. When we got back to the house, we immediately got started on some laundry since Sherri and I had even more traveling and camping in store for us on our way home to Portland. We had a really enjoyable evening just hanging out with Mom and Dad in their beautiful, cozy home that evening. Even though we talk on the phone quite regularly together, there’s something quite special about being in each other’s presence. I will miss that very much.

7-20-2010 (Tuesday) Day 20
Up at 6am in order to make it all the way through South Dakota and on to Mt. Rushmore. I quickly sprayed some Febreze in the truck and before we knew it we were on the road again. We arrived in the Badlands around 3pm in the afternoon, which gave us plenty of time to work our way through the park, taking short hikes and snapping lots of photos. Sherri scouted-out a scenic drive around the outside of the park on a gravel road, revealing some of the most rugged and secluded areas of the park. On our way over the Black Hills we careened down a rollercoaster road with circular switchbacks on wooden bridges through Custer State Park. Our sense of direction was completely obliterated, and we just hoped that the road would spit us out where we were supposed to be by the end of it. While we were high in the mountains, we came to an interesting overlook that offered a perfect sunset scene. As soon as I got out of the car to set up the tripod for a picture, I noticed that the mountains contained the heads of Mt. Rushmore. It surprised us both, and was an amazing first view of the monument. We continued down the curvy road until we eventually reached the entrance to Mt. Rushmore. By this time the presidents’ faces were completely dark, and we asked the traffic control guy if the mountain would be lit-up for evening viewing. He responded as if completely annoyed by our ridiculous question and hurried us along saying “yes…the ceremony begins at 9:15.” So we quickly paid the $10 to park and ran to see what this supposed ceremony was all about. When we arrived at the platform overlooking the darkened statues, a recording was being played on the loudspeakers telling about the history of these presidents and the making of the monument. It was so packed with people that we just sort of filed into the crowd as best as we could. Finally, the drawn-out history lesson concluded and the heads slowly lit-up on the side of the mountain. We hadn’t fully realized how many people were actually there until we heard a roaring applause coming from the front of the platform somewhere. Little to our knowledge, there was an entire coliseum full of people below the deck where we were standing. Immediately following the presentation, a stampede of people started making their way to the parking ramp in order to beat the traffic. Sherri and I wanted to stay awhile longer, so we tracked down a ranger and asked him how late they were open. He told us that the mountain would remain lit for another hour and a half until closing time. We then just watched from the side as the massive wave of elbow shoving chaos plowed past us, and waited for the evacuation to settle down a little. Not more than 10 minutes later, we found ourselves completely alone in the park with a couple of candy rappers slowly drifting to the ground like tumbleweeds along the abandoned walkways. We found a path that led us right down in front of the enormous statues. It was quite romantic as we walked hand-in-hand along the lantern lit path with the cool evening air nudging us closer to each other. It amazed us that no one else sought this kind of solitude, and we decided to label the experience as “Our Time.” We have noticed that evening tends to draw the masses back to their campsites an RV’s for dinner or a campfire, making it the perfect time to watch all the animals come out of the woodwork and observe the sun cast different colors and shadows upon the landscape. “Our Time” never seems to fail us and has become the perfect way to enjoy more time alone together in the National Parks. When we returned from our walk around Mt. Rushmore, we noticed that there was only one other car in the parking ramp besides ours. We then pressed on toward Wind Caves National Park that night and caught a glimpse of the needles scenic drive from a completely different perspective. As we approached the top of the pass where the road tangles through steep rock spires, we noticed that the moon's gentle glow created a perfect silhouette of the distant needles rising up into the sky. Expenses: Gas ($110), Coffee ($3.17). Hiking: (1.5 miles).

Arrived in the Badlands around 3pm all the way from D.L.Sherri climbing around on the rocks along Door TrailTrying to find my way in a rock canyon mazeMini mountain range at the top of Bigfoot PassSherri looking out across the landscape from Pinnacles OverlookRemote scenic drive along sage Creek Rim RoadSunset behind the mountains of Mt. RushmoreViewing the monument at nightThe abandoned walkway leading to the viewing platform
7-21-2010 (Wednesday) Day 21
Wind Caves National Park was already bustling with life as we woke up to a bunch of curious prairie dogs yipping at the site of our truck. We continued on to the visitor’s center where we stood in line to purchase a couple tickets for a guided tour. If it were up to us, we would have much rather found our own way with headlamps and a map, but the cheesy them park exhibit tour was the only way to enter these caves. We thought it was quite ironic when the ranger kept emphasizing the importance of preserving the natural environment while descending into the caves in an elevator, then continuing on a network of cement stairs and metal hand rails, sitting on wooden benches bolted to the floor, and witnessing an electrical system power enough light to support plant life. It all had a similar feel to what the Dharma Initiative did to the secret island in the TV show- Lost. Nonetheless, it was quite interesting to explore the underground maze of rock and boxwork formations. One particular section I found very intriguing was when the ceiling appeared to be a perfectly flat slab of rock sloping downward above us like some kind of continental plate. It continued this way for close to 50 yards until we finally squeezed our way into another corridor. Most people on the tour, including myself had to do a lot of ducking as we navigated our way through the tunnels, but Sherri never once had to duck. Every time we came to a tight squeeze I would watch her to see if she would have to bend down awkwardly like the rest of us, but she just smiled and continued walking as if it was the easiest thing in the world. After the tour we took a quick peak in the 10-inch natural entrance that was blowing refrigerator cool air into the 90-degree heat outside. We then started our trek across Wyoming and noticed that the sky was looking very dark in the direction we needed to go. Soon lightning began to flash and a circular cloud was slowly working its massive center closer to the ground. At this point we thought it would be wise to tune-in a weather report on the radio. Sure enough, a tornado warning was issued for the county we were traveling through, and specifically for the town in which we were now entering. At this point the wind was really starting to howl and the rain was coming sown in buckets as we heard the sirens whining throughout the little town. The radio guy urged any travelers to immediately pull over and find shelter, and that’s exactly what we did. Barely able to see through the crushing rain, we faintly made out a neon sign that flickered Polly’s Bar & Grill. We parked in a puddle alongside the street and ran towards the Pabst Blue Ribbon sign on the side of the building. Once inside we noticed that a construction crew was waiting out the storm in there as well, and the owner yelled out “come on in, it’s tornado happy hour…what’ll ya have?” We both ordered up a beer and sat down in front of the TV to watch the radar showing our area just getting pounded with severe activity. About an hour later the tornado warning was lifted and we continued on our way through the rain and thunder. That night we finally reached Bighorn Pass as the sun was setting on the horizon. The road climbed and climbed to seemingly no end until we finally came to a plateau overlooking the western sky. To our amazement, another storm was brewing in the distance as a thick band of clouds hovered low across the land. It appeared as if we were actually looking down on it since the tops of the clouds took turns bursting with color as the lightning slowly dissipated into the depths. We jumped out of the truck and watched for a long time while elk bugled their calls in the field behind us. It was a total surround sound, 360-degree nature film on steroids. After taking a bunch of pictures and soaking in some last minute blasts of lighting, we continued on down the other side of the mountains until we came upon the town of Cody where we parked for the evening. Expenses: Gas ($46.50), Cave Tour ($18). Hiking: (2 miles).

A park ranger took our photo while we waited for the next cave tourBoxwork formations are the trademark of these cavesSherri feeling the cool air blowing out of the natural entranceTornado system headed our way while driving across WYTipping back a beer while we wait out the storm in nearby townLooking down at lightning in the clouds from top of Bighorn Pass
7-22-2010 (Thursday) Day 22
We purposefully stopped in Cody so we could shop around in the Sierra Trading Post Store the next morning before driving into Yellowstone National Park. Their most popular selling item just happened to be a one shot canister of bear spray for $50, which had a whole display showing some guy’s face all torn-up from a vicious bear attack. It was hard not to second-guess our decision to opt-out of buying any, but we held to our theory that if we don’t bother the bears, they won’t bother us. Traffic in the park wasn’t so bad until we got hammer stuck behind an endless row of RV rubberneckers taking pictures of every single buffalo along the roadside. There was a string of cars going absolutely nowhere on this tiny 2-way road through the park. Even though there were numerous signs stating “Do Not Block Traffic- Use Pullouts,” people would still get out of their cars in the middle of the road with their hazard lights on. All the while, a thousand car pile up behind them waited helplessly in line. It took us nearly 3.5 hours to get to the first campground, which of course was full. At this point we realized that it was going to be another night of sleeping in the truck somewhere off the side of the road. We were pretty worn-out after all this traffic madness and decided to pull into a picnic area to rest. From here we scoped-out a spot to hike down from a bridge crossing to the Yellowstone River where I took a dip and Sherri laid in the sun for awhile. The great part of all this was that “Our Time” was approaching, and since most the other campers were busy making dinner, setting up tents, and staring campfires, we were left alone on the boardwalks of Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris Basin. It was a gorgeous evening walking past all the bubbling geysers and steam vents. The sounds we heard were just as thrilling, as every thermal feature seemed to have its very own language and personality. Expenses: Gas ($19.03), Shopping ($15). Hiking: (2.5 miles).

Anxious to see some wildlife as we enter the parkHerds of buffalo roaming the wild pasturesThis big fella was sitting off the side of the road backing-up trafficSherri taking a little sun nap down by the riverMineral deposits at Mammoth Hot SpringsBeautiful boardwalks led us up and around steep terracesPools of spring water steaming up from the surfaceWe saw this 6-point buck on a hike out to Wraith FallsA growling geyser at Norris BasinThis little hole in the ground shot water at us right as we passed byThe sun going down as we hiked around Norris Geyser BasinEvening let loose some great God cloudsGreat views from Artist Point of Upper Falls and Yellowstone ValleyCouldn't leave Yellowstone without this shot
7-23-2010 (Friday) Day 23
On our way down to Old Faithful geyser in the morning, a construction roadblock held us at bay until 8am. Luckily, there was a small road leading to a network of trails at that very same junction. After a short breakfast picnic in the parking lot we grabbed the cameras and hiked-out toward the steam rising up from the woods. The trail turned-out to be a spectacular place that we for sure would have blown right past if the roadblock hadn’t led us on this little detour. The cool morning air kept us sipping hot coffee and leaning over the steam vents for warmth. Of course, the whole place reeked of sulfur, yet the scenery easily overpowered the smell with beauty. As we rolled into the tourist town of Old Faithful, people were already waiting for the famous geyser to erupt right on schedule. We picked a spot to sit on the southern side, not taking into consideration that we were directly down wind from the mouth of Old Faithful. Wouldn’t you know, as soon as she blew, the wind pushed all that underground water right onto our laps. Luckily, we were able to snap a few shots before covering our cameras to enjoy the warm mist on our faces. Our next and final stop was Grand Teton National Park, which was probably the most breathtaking mountain scenery of our entire trip. It was hard not to be distracted as I drove alongside these steep rocky giants, wanting to study their magnificent features. Sherri led us on a road that ascended up to an overlook designed specifically to take a person’s breath away from the shock of pure panoramic beauty. At the top, we scrambled out to a wonderful little vista for some photos and lunch, when all too soon a host of other visitors discovered our spot and swarmed in around us. Coincidentally, Sherri recognized a girl she used to work with at a camp together. We then headed down to Jenny Lake where we ventured-out on a hike up the Cascade Canyon trail. On our way we spotted an Osprey soaring right above us and then landed in its nest. The trail wound along the lakeshore for a mile or so and then climbed up beside a tumbling river with multiple waterfalls. We thought the trail was quite steep and tough in spots, but that all came to a screeching halt when some dude ran past us with just a pair of wet socks on. Our hiking esteem suddenly plummeted as the difficulty level was reduced to sandals on a beach. We happened to pass an older gentleman who was yelling back for some kids to hurry it up. I asked him if I should crack the whip on them when we see them up ahead, and he replied, “I’ve got so many bleep’n grandkids…I think I should lose a few.” I’m not sure why I got such a good laugh out of that one, but it probably had something to do with the familiar frustration I’ve experienced so many times while attempting to corral a bunch of rowdy kids through the wilderness. Right around the 3 mile mark we decided to turn back out of concern for my injured knee. On our way out of the park we drove up to another scenic overlook to catch a final glimpse of the mountains at sunset. The whole time I was battling the fact that we must now return home to the city and leave the wilderness. I hope we can make it back again soon. Expenses: Gas ($98.30), Shower ($3). Hiking: (9 miles).

Our morning detour led us on this spectacular little gem of a hikeA birds-eye view of Artists PaintpotsSherri soaking-up heat from the lookout deckWe spotted our shadows in the rising steamOld Faithful geyser blasting-off right on scheduleSnagged a shot in front of the Grand Teton National Park SignPanoramic view from the top of Signal Mountain (7593ft.)Grand Teton showing-off some glaciersMount St. John in the backgroundTrying not to get too distracted driving by the amazing sceneryAn Osprey checking-in on its nestSherri just hanging-out in front of Hidden FallsThe end of the line for us on the Cascade Canyon TrailA peek at the mountains from Leigh LakeSunset peering out behind the TetonsTime to wrap it up and head home to Portland
Total Trip Expenses: $761.23
Total Miles Hiked: 43.5 miles

Jake's Parents Visit Us Over Spring Break

2010-03-29T21:34:00.000-07:00

3/18/2010
After picking-up Mom & Dad from the train station, we continued our tradition of walking through REI to stretch their legs after sitting for 32 hours. We then headed back to our place where I showed them around the new house. I drew their attention to all the remodeling projects Sherri & I worked on this last year. After Mom & Dad got a chance to freshen up a bit, we left to go visit Sherri at school. She was finishing up the last of her parent/teacher conferences before spring break. We introduced Mom & Dad to a bunch of our teacher friends at school, and then went out to dinner together. The weather was so nice that Mom, Dad, and I decided to get a quick hike in around Powell Butte, which is just a couple of blocks down the road from our house. We saw beautiful views of the surrounding snow capped peaks and had a great time catching up with each other. Dad took a couple of pictures of me running in front of Mt. Hood, which I hope to use in an article that I’m about to publish online. That night, Mom made us tapioca pudding with her famous homemade chocolate syrup—one of my absolute favorites. We then wound down from a great first day of vacation by watching a national parks video together.

3/19/2010
This morning I fixed everybody French toast for breakfast, and we spent a good couple of hours just hanging around in the kitchen sharing stories with each other. Sherri & I talked about some of our teaching experiences while Mom & Dad filled us in on all their horse riding adventures. Sherri then suggested that we journey out to Eagle Creek where she remembers hiking through a beautiful canyon with tons of waterfalls. At times, the walls of the canyon were so steep that the trail was just a thin ledge cut out from the side of a cliff. At our lunch spot, a whole swarm of friendly butterflies decided to visit us. They landed on our arms and faces, trying to taste something sweet I’m sure. It was fun to actually wear shorts again, and tomorrow will be the official first day of spring.

3/20/2010
It was my turn to pick the hiking spot today, and no “Jake trail” makes the cut unless there is a fair amount of bushwhacking involved. It turned out to be a beautiful, sunny, 70-degree day out, and we knew everybody and their brother would be out crowding all the major destinations. So in an effort to avoid hoards of people, I took us all down to the Bull Run River where I knew of a glorified deer path that winds along the riverbank. There wasn’t a soul in sight, and we had the entire forest and cascading river to ourselves. As we started the hike, I noticed Mom had changed into her running shoes. This trail can get really muddy in spots, so I suggested that she strap on her hiking boots, but mother was determined to give her feet a break. Later she would joke about why she didn't wear different shoes since her Nike’s were now completely covered with mud. We were hoping to follow the river all the way to Dodge Park, but the trail kept narrowing to the point that we could no longer hack our way through the brush. However, we did manage to scale our way down to the river where we found a great spot to have lunch and get a closer look at the rapids. After taking some photos, we decided to head our way back to the truck in order to make it home in time for pizza & wine.

3/21/2010
For our day of rest, we decided to visit a local community church were some friends of ours attend. The people there were very friendly and we enjoyed the service. The pastor spoke about the different types of covenants, and actually cut apart different stuffed animals to imitate a blood sacrifice. Later Mom & Dad tagged along with Sherri & I to our soccer game, and then caught some dinner together at good old Muchos Gracias. That night we watched part of the TV series “Life” on the Discovery channel before heading to bed.

3/22/2010
Today we decided to do some shopping at Clackamas Towncenter since it wasn’t the greatest weather for playing outside. After scouring through the stores for bargains, Sherri thought it would be only fitting to cap-off the day by going out to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants. At Gustav’s, Dad ordered a German beer sampler with a bunch of different flavors. He let Mom & I drink the ones that he didn’t like. That night, we broke out the cards and played a few rounds of golf. Mom had the unfortunate experience of racking up way too many points, but we had plenty of good laughs.

3/23/2010
The weatherman said that it was going to be a beautiful day, so we packed up the truck with snacks and drove out to Silver Falls State Park. On our way, we of course had to stop at the Woodburn mall to see if there were any good deals at the Columbia, Nike, and North Face stores. Mom ended up finding some GORE-TEX hiking shoes and Dad finally found a micro-fleece sweatshirt that is almost identical to the one I always wear. After practically robbing the local Arby’s restaurant with all our coupons, we set out for some more hiking and sightseeing. We basically did a 4-hour crash course of all the major waterfalls in the park, and enjoyed walking through an occasional shower of fresh mountain mist behind the falls. On our way back, we ended up passing a family whose dad was pushing a rinky-dink stroller through the rocks and mud. They all looked miserably tired and unprepared for such a long hike. Later on we stopped to take a breather, and Mom noticed that the same family was catching up to us. We weren’t about to get passed up by some dude pushing a stroller, so we got to our feet and pressed on. It was a race from that point on because anytime we stopped, one of us had to keep an eye out for the stroller family…and they were always close behind. At one point, two of them actually passed us up, but we noticed that the mother was now carrying one of the wheels from the busted stroller. Fortunately, they stopped a little ways up the hill for a smoke break as they vented some more frustration and waited for the rest of their group. This gave us enough leeway to stay ahead of them the rest of the way back—whew!

3/24/2010
Today was supposed to be the last day of sunshine, so we planned to make another day of enjoying the wilderness. First, Sherri baked us all delicious scones for breakfast, and then we taught Mom & Dad how to play the game Carcassonne. Sherri then left for her soccer game while Mom, Dad, and I set out towards the Columbia Gorge where we decided to try a new hike up to Angel’s Rest Point. We turned around about half way up the trail since we had already caught plenty of good views, and it was a really long hike to the top. Just a short distance down the road we found a beautiful little interpretive trail which took us to Bridal Veil Falls. After snapping a few tripod shots of us standing in front of a mossy backdrop of rock and falling water, we headed up to Larch Mountain. Unfortunately, the road was closed about ¾ the way up the road due to winter conditions. I didn’t think it was that much further up the road to the lookout point, so we started walking up the road together. We happened to pass a couple taking pictures along the road who later yelled up to us…“CAR!” The joke was on us since we turned around just to realize that the only thing on this road was a little snow and some deer scat. As soon as the sun started to go down, we noticed that the other couple had turned around, but we decided to press on. It was a steady climb up a winding road that seemed to never end. Soon, the entire road became covered with snow, and we knew it was time to call it quits. Mom & Dad let me run up ahead through the snow to maybe catch a sneak a peak at Mt. Hood from the top. Sure enough, about a ½ mile up around the bend was the parking lot covered in a foot of snow. I looked out over the valley as the moon was now shining brighter than the evening sunset, and the mountain stood pale white against the darkened sky. It was a long trek back to the truck, but a perfect evening for a night walk through the silent forest. As we passed a clearing in the woods, the city lights looked like glowing hot embers flickering in the distance. After tending to our blisters and sore feet, Dad’s GPS encouraged us with the news that we had hiked a total of 12 miles that day. I’ve got some hardcore parents!

3/25/2010
The rain had finally arrived, and we ended up hanging-out indoors most of the day to rest our sore hiking muscles. Sherri made us some of her homemade Mac & Cheese for lunch, and then we decided to run into town for some more shopping. Mom picked up a juicy fillet of salmon at the grocery store, and then we headed home to bake some bread for our dinner with Sherri’s parents. Mom and I sure had fun tossing flour and sprinkling seasonings around the kitchen together. That night we enjoyed a wonderful dinner as we shared more stories around the table.

3/26/2010
This morning we woke up to the usual greeting by Dad who already had hot water on the stove for us. We all sipped on some coffee and tea while watching the news together. The sunshine occasionally peered through the clouds, so we decided to attempt one last short hike up to Powell Butte just to stretch our legs a bit. That night I was finally able to make my eggplant Parmesan dish while Mom fixed a delicious sauce for the baked salmon. After diner we taught Mom and Dad another game called “Ticket to Ride,” which was quite fitting since they both love riding the train together. We wound down for the evening by watching a Stomp video that had us brushing our teeth to cool beats.

3/27/2010
It was kind of a sad day because we knew that Mom & Dad would be heading back home on the train today. Mom had become very attached to our favorite Camelback backpack, so we had to make sure she didn’t try and sneak it into her luggage. They insisted on taking us out to lunch, so Sherri took us to a Chinese restaurant that she and a friend had gone to awhile back. We knew it was authentic since we could barely understand the scattered English from the hosts. Mom had me taste some of the hot and sour soup she ordered, and it felt like I had swallowed the sun. My eyes started watering, and I couldn’t stop sneezing. It eventually settled down to the point where I could see again, and we all got a good laugh out of it. Mom & Dad got to see us play a nail biter soccer game as our team pulled off a win by just one point. After the game we hurried down to the train station and hung out for a while until #28 rolled in on the tracks. It was tough to see them leave, but we couldn’t have asked for a better Spring Break.

Waldorf and New Bowling Ball

2009-12-21T11:18:00.000-08:00

Sherri & I enjoy making frequent shopping trips to Goodwill stores around our area to find great deals, and this last week the "Powers that Be" provided me with a bowling ball that had my name inscribed in it. The ball came with shoes and a carrying case, all for $6.99. Also seen in this picture is good old Waldorf, which we found for $1.99- couldn't pass that one up either.

National Parks Trip Continued...

2009-08-18T09:57:00.000-07:00

8/11/2009
Today, Sherri & I continued our summer quest of visiting all the National Parks along the west coast. We stayed with Sherri’s brother Jim and his twin girls the night before at Fort Lewis. For some reason, we chose to watch a horror flick that night about some abandoned old cabin out in the middle of a forest. I’m not sure that was the wisest thing to watch right before we journeyed out into the backwoods ourselves. Our first stop in the Olympic National Forest was Lake Quinault, where we hiked a small nature trail through an actual rain forest. Supposedly, flying squirrels live in this area, but we were sadly disappointed not to spot any of them soaring between the giant Douglas fir trees. We then followed the coastline up to Ruby Beach and hiked along the shore while high tide was crashing down waves onto the rocks and islands. We skipped rocks on the calm inland pools of water, and enjoyed a snack while sitting on the enormous piles of driftwood that were stacked along the entire beach. As we drove back inland toward the Olympic Mountains, we found a nice campsite along the Sol Duc River. That afternoon we hiked out to Sol Duc Falls, and after some mac and cheese we decided to give the Ranger presentation a try at the amphitheater. We thought it was going to be about the numerous rivers that flow out of the park, but the ranger got so hung up on Salmon, that we decided to ditch…as politely as possible of course. Following the river back to our campsite, we had to carefully navigate across huge logs and side streams. The natural obstacle course was quite fun, and made for an exciting way to wrap up the evening. As the sun went down, we could faintly see fog rolling up the valley walls. We put the rain fly on our tent just in case the sky decided to rain. Before falling asleep, we watched an episode of Glee on Sherri’s I-pod that we hung above us in the tent.
Expenses: $31 gas, $2 carton of fresh raspberries, $3.57 Taco Bell.
Miles Hiked: 5

8/12/2009
This morning we tore down camp and had some hot oatmeal for breakfast. After packing the truck, we drove on up to the Elwha River visitor’s center. The road passed Crescent Lake, which was completely calm, except for a lone fisherman casting subtle ripples upon the water. An older gentleman greeted us at the visitors center, whom we had a long conversation with about the history and attractions of this particular section of the park. We asked if the rumor was true about there being natural hot springs along the river where people can soak. He laughed, as if it was the only question people ever ask him. However, upon learning about the high concentration of fecal coliform bacteria that exist in these contaminated little hot tubs, we quickly looked for other options. He convinced us to take a hike through Rica Canyon instead. This trail gave us wonderful views of the river, as well as an intriguing area called Goblin’s Gate—a narrow channel that forces the river into a steep canyon. Huge trees were suspended on their sides at the mouth of the gate, a for sure sign of the power and intensity this river can display at flood levels. After returning to the truck, we continued along the northern rim of the park until we reached Hurricane Ridge. Sherri busted open a box of Jelly Bellies that a student had given her awhile back, and had me guess the different flavors as I drove—only 4 out of 10 correct. This winding road climbed up into the clouds, leading to a visitor’s center perched right in front of the Olympic Mountain Range. We caught brief glimpses of Mt. Olympus, as the clouds would take turns attempting to pass over this massive peak with glaciers nestled on every side. After hiking a short nature trail along the ridge, we headed back down the mountain, and set off towards the North Cascades. We drove east as far as the road would allow us, and eventually had to ferry across the rough waters of an ocean channel. Once on land again, we found a rest area not too far from the park and hunkered down in the Blazer for the night.
Expenses: $31.51 gas, $9.39 Taco Bell, $13.75 Ferry.
Miles Hiked: 5

8/13/2009
I got an early start driving into North Cascades National Park because I was so eager to explore the “Alps of the Northwest.” Unfortunately, we were socked in pretty good by the clouds, hiding most of the larger peaks. We decided to hike a short trail along the Skagit River while waiting for the Ranger Station to open. Upon our return, we chatted with a ranger about potential cloudy day hikes, and he recommended heading over to the east side of the park where the elevation is a bit higher. We found the Rainy Pass Trailhead, and decided to hike the Maple Pass Loop. This trail could very well be one of the most impressive routes that I have ever hiked. There were spectacular views of several high mountain lakes, waterfalls, and razor edge peaks as we traversed along alpine ridges. Since the lakes were all fed by glacial melt, the water reflected a beautiful emerald green color. Even though clouds surrounded us, the sun would occasionally peer through, and once we were even doused with a sun shower. However, as soon as we crossed over Maple Pass and started our descent, the clouds darkened, and the wind picked up considerably. Then the rain really hit us hard, even to the point of haling at one point, while booms of thunder could be heard in the distance. Even still, the clouds broke just long enough for us to have lunch on a rock ledge overlooking a waterfall cascading into Rainy Lake. We were really soaked by the time we got back to the truck, and decided to call it good for our first visit of the North Cascades. Sherri & I will definitely be returning to this park in the future, hopefully at a time when the sun is more available. On our way home we stopped at a Dairy Queen as a reward for a successful day of hiking and another end to a great camping trip.
Expenses: $27.50 gas, $4.30 Dairy Queen.
Miles Hiked: 8.5

Total Trip Expenses: $122.82
Total Miles Hiked: 18.5

National Parks Vacation

2009-07-23T19:14:00.000-07:00

7/8/2009
Today, Sherri & I started our spur of the moment trek across CA and OR to visit as many National Parks as possible. We drove almost 4 hours straight from Portland until we reached the western rim of Crater Lake. It was slightly cloudy when we arrived and was actually a little chilly since there were still traces of snow on the ground. After taking a bunch of photos and absorbing the beauty of the lake, we continued driving around the rim until we got to a visitors center that turned-out to be closed since we got there a half hour too late. Still, we took a mile-long hike along a path called “Lady of the Forest,” and got a chance to stretch our legs and eat a snack together. We then headed on towards the East side of the park where we caught some great views of Vidae Falls. Further on down the road we stopped at another overlook that gave us a birdseye view of “Phantom Ship” rock. As the sun began to set we decided to spend the night overlooking the sunset at Cloudcap Point as we hunkered down in the truck.
Expenses: $80 National Parks Pass, $40 AC power adapter for the truck, $72 gas
Miles Hiked: 1

7/9/2009
Sherri & I decided to catch the sunrise on top of Mt. Scott, the highest peak in the park, and we woke-up around 3am to start our trek up the mountain with headlamps lighting the path. There just so happened to be a full moon that morning which was bright enough to light our way by itself. The stars shone brightly and the peak stood ominously in the distance as we approached the summit. We soon noticed a fire tower perched on top of the peak, which Sherri called the freaky shack since it was all boarded-up and abandoned looking. Just past the freaky shack we sat down together and covered-up under a sleeping bag as we anxiously awaited the fire-blazing horizon and a full panoramic view of Crater Lake in its entirety. For breakfast, we ate our victory summer sausage as our reward for a successful accent—an old tradition. After we returned to the truck we finished driving around the rim of the lake and headed our way down to Lassen National Park where we were able to snag a tent site in Manzanita Lake campground. As soon as we set-up camp we grabbed a bite to eat and took a nap since we were so tired. We woke-up just in time to catch the sun setting beyond the lake, luring us down to its shore in order to soak-in the view. We then decided to take a night hike around the lake since it was such a beautiful evening, catching glimpses of Lassen Peak as the sun shone its final amber rays on the surrounding landscape. As darkness fell we could see and hear bats swooping down around us. When we strolled back into our campsite, Sherri whipped together a blazing bonfire where we warmed ourselves before turning-in for the night.
Expenses: $18 Campground, $32.50 gas
Miles Hiked: 6

7/10/2009
After sleeping-in a little, we began a hike up Manzanita Creek that led to a meadow surrounded by steep, craggy cliffs. We then drove through the remainder of the park until we arrived at the trailhead leading to Lassen Peak. Sherri was pretty wiped, but she knew I really wanted to do this climb, so she gave me a 2-way radio and told me to call her when I reached the summit. I was up and down within an hour and a half, and we then continued on to one of the most popular areas of the park known as Bumpass Hell. It was amazing being able to hike along walkways directly above live volcanic steaming vents and boiling mud pots. At one point, Sherri & I spotted our shadows cast onto a bunch of rising white steam and started striking poses—good fun. On our way out of the park we saw several deer out foraging as evening set-in. We drove for a few hours and then stopped at a rest stop to catch some shuteye.
Expenses: $1.95 Chap Stick
Miles Hiked: Sherri- 9, Jake- 12

7/11/2009
Today we drove several hours until we finally reached Yosemite National Park. We were fortunate enough to find a last-minute campsite that just happened to open-up for us due to a cancellation. The entire park was buzzing just like Disneyland with shuttle buses, crowds of people taking pictures at every pullout, and insanely backed-up lanes of traffic. Even still, we were fortunate enough to find refuge amongst all the commotion by wading in a creek nearby our campsite and catching some sun on huge boulders out in the middle of the water. After dinner we decided to head-out and explore the giant Sequoia forest. Of course, the trails were packed with people, but we were there late enough in the evening that as soon as we reached our destination, there was only the towering woods around us. On our way back we saw several deer and watched the long shadows of the trees dim into deep amber colors.
Expenses: $2.78 cappuccinos, $1.08 bean burrito, $36.50 gas
Miles Hiked: 6

7/12/2009
This morning we woke-up early in an attempt to beat the crowds on a hike up El Capitan. This trail ended-up being a real butt-kicker, but it was quite rewarding with up close views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and a breathtaking overlook of the valley. Unfortunately, the grandeur of rugged wilderness sure dissipates quickly with the clanking of garbage trucks, constant road noise, graffiti on all the trail markers, and wildlife walking around with Cheetos dust all over their face. Plus, all of our hardcore hiking energy was completely zapped away from us as soon as we saw people hiking our trail with flip-flops and penny loafers. Needless to say, as soon as we returned to the truck, we took a quick dip in the river and got the heck out of dodge. It was a pleasant drive exiting the other side of the park where there were far less crowds. On our way down the highway we took a side tangent road that supposedly led to a scenic area that some people told us is a must see. However, we somehow got lost and ended-up having to wrestle with one of my ultra frustrated episodes—not pretty. After some marital counseling and controlled breathing, we found the highway again and said never again to Mammoth Lakes. An ice cream sundae in the next town helped cool us down a little—literally and figuratively speaking, and we eventually pulled over into a rest area to sleep.
Expenses: $2.18 ice cream sundaes, $68.36 gas
Miles Hiked: 10

7/13/2009
Today we faced the unbearable heat of Death Valley. We actually survived the entire park without turning on the air conditioning, and our truck was thankful for that since it was working so hard up and down the steep passes. This place sure lived-up to its name, especially in the middle of July—what were we thinking? One form of entertainment was a whole string of runners participating in some sort of relay race whom we appropriately named the Death Runners. We crept through this desolate canyon drinking gallons of water and shedding buckets of sweat. This same day we reached Joshua Tree National Park where it was much cooler, and was full of incredible scenery. Jumbo Rocks was an area where we were able to climb around on huge rock formations and jump across deep chasms, surrounded by an endless expanse of cactus-covered desert. Each vista we explored offered new views and photo opportunities. After taking a tri-pod shot of us sitting upon one particular overlook, the wind picked-up and our camera suffered its first major injury by being blown over onto its head. We almost cried! Fortunately, the damage proved only to be cosmetic, and we were off to our next boulder jumping adventure. Hidden Valley took us on a mile-long hike that allowed us to see the evening sun cast brilliant colors on the canyon walls with distant mountains layered in the background. After leaving the park we continued driving toward Anaheim, CA where we hunkered down in the truck for another night on some neighborhood street where the only person still up was some random guy in a mobile wheel chair who nearly ran into our truck on his way by. Sherri & I both turned to each other with looks of astonishment and busted-out laughing. Our presence in the big city was now undeniable.
Expenses: $8.78 Taco Bell, $2.18 Ice Cream Sundaes, $49.60 gas
Miles Hiked: 1.5

7/14/2009
After waking-up to people walking their dogs, we decided to hit the beach for some fun and relaxation before checking into our hotel. There were lots of surfers out playing on the waves, a beach volleyball tournament getting underway, and a whole swarm of jr. lifeguards training for the Baywatch Olympics or something. The following day on the news we heard that there was actually a death amongst this group of swimmers, which didn’t surprise us one bit since the whole exercise looked pretty chaotic. I got a chance to do some body surfing and get thrashed around by the breaking waves a little while Sherri laid-out in the sun. As we were driving back to Disneyland Lane, we took care of some laundry and stopped at a park to throw around the Frisbee and feed some ducks in a nearby pond. After freshening-up from a week of camping, we decided to catch the opening mid-night showing of Harry Potter, “The Half Blood Prince.” After the movie, we took a shortcut exit that nearly trapped us in a creepy back hallway about the length of a football field that had a dimly lit exit sign flickering in the distance. It felt like we had just walked into the twilight zone since the building was under construction and we could barely find a safe way out. It was a long evening, but a nice and refreshing way to switch-up our vacation a little.
Expenses: $19 movie tickets, $15.74 Shakey’s Pizza, $179 hotel (3 nights), $3 parking meter
Miles Hiked: 3
7/15/2009
The Great Day of Rest is what we called today since we barely woke-up in time to catch the free continental breakfast and then headed back to our room to sleep another 3 hours. The only thing on our agenda was an afternoon appointment with a time-share vacation company that offered us $100 and a free lunch just to listen to their sales pitch. After that, we picked-up some wine coolers from the store and soaked in the hot tub for a while.
Expenses: $5.60 wine coolers, +$100 Lowe’s Gift Card
Miles Hiked: 2
7/16/2009
Today we headed straight for Disneyland and quickly got in line for the busier rides. Since we mastered the art of fast passes, we successfully avoided wasting time standing in long lines. Sherri led us through the maze of people and knew every single shortcut in the park. Our favorite rides were the “Screaming over California” roller coaster, a 3-D “Toy Stories” shooting gallery, and the "Grizzly Mountain" whitewater river ride.
Expenses: $286 Disneyland Park Hoppers (2-days), $18.25 IHOP lunch
Miles Hiked: 5

7/17/09
Another day at Disneyland allowed us to visit some of the other exhibits and rides that we didn’t get a chance to hit the day before. At the animation center, we attended a cartoon drawing workshop where we were taught how to draw Donald Duck. Sherri’s sketch was a masterpiece. Once we had our full of Disneyland, we beat the mad rush of parade viewers and hit the road. On our way out of town we saw a full-on police bust with helicopter floodlights and megaphones yelling “get out of the car now!” Unfortunately, about 20 miles out of Anaheim I noticed the battery indicator turned on in our truck. Sherri’s common sense helped us decide that it would be best to pull-off the highway and try to find an auto shop before we get stranded somewhere much less convenient. None of the shops were open since it was too late in the evening, so we parked in front of Pepboys and slept until they opened.
Expenses: $11.50 McDonald’s lunch
Miles Hiked: 5
7/18/2009
As it turns out, our alternator had bit the dust, and $280 later we were back on the road. As we pulled into Sequoia National Park, we found out that the campgrounds were of course filling-up fast. We drove all the way through to the Lodgepole visitors center where we set-out on a beautiful hike along a creek to a waterfall engulfed by huge canyon walls. After dinner, we drove to Grants Grove where we snagged the very last available campsite. We played some UNO in the tent and called it a night.
Expenses: $280 new alternator, $18 campsite, $58.26 gas
Miles Hiked: 3.4

7/19/2009
After tearing down camp and shoveling down some instant oatmeal, we headed for Kings Canyon. Once we reached the end of the road past Cedar Grove, we packed lunch and hiked up into the canyon. We followed the Kings River, which roared its way down through massive rocks and ledges. Our pleasant scenery was soon interrupted by a group of people who chose to swim buck-naked right off the beaten path…it was a brief yet very disturbing sight. Eventually, we came around to a clearing in the forest and found ourselves staring up at Mist Falls, which was literally spraying everything in its path. As we were fixing lunch and enjoying the view, dark clouds began filling the sky and thunder could be heard off in the distance. Shortly after, we were hiding under shelter in the trees from a total downpour, and the thunder was banging off the canyon walls like an amphitheater. Seeing lightning so high in the mountains was a little frightening, but we made it down safely and the rain actually proved to be quite refreshing. There is very little road access to this park, which is why we were so excited to backpack. Unfortunately, the California National Park Service is completely Blackbearaphobic and restrictive towards camping destinations, making it more trouble than it’s worth. We then drove all the way up to San Francisco that night and slept at a rest stop.
Expenses: $4 toll bridge, $38.75 gas
Miles Hiked: 8

7/20/2009
Six Flags today! The park didn’t open until 10:30 so we killed some time by making some breakfast and scoping-out a parking spot in town to avoid the $15 parking fee at the entrance. We enjoyed a full day of thrill rides and animal shows that were pleasantly less crowded than Disneyland. That night we met-up with an old friend of Sherri who happened to live in a town that we were passing right through on our way up to the Redwood National Park. Kristi was very accommodating and it was fun to see her and Sherri laugh about old times.
Expenses: $7.82 Taco Bell, $60 Six Flags tickets
Miles Hiked: 3
7/21/2009
The air was much cooler now that we were following the northern coastline, and we actually had to put on sweatshirts as we hiked through the Redwood forests. This area reminded us of Oregon, and we were feeling much closer to home now. We enjoyed viewing all the rivers alongside the road, and made a mental note to keep this area in mind for future kayak trips. Two weeks of traveling on the road were beginning to take its toll on us, and we were getting anxious to get home. That afternoon we decided to make the long haul back to Portland after a full trip of fun adventures and great memories.
Expenses: $3.18 Cappuccinos, $12.97 Pizza Hut, $40 gas
Miles Hiked: 2

Total Trip Expenses: $1477
Total Miles Hiked: 68

Trip to MN for Joe & Nicole's Wedding

2009-07-23T19:13:00.000-07:00

Joe has got his fingers crossed that Nicole's parents will give him the OK.

The wedding pictures were loads of fun!

We made it to the reception, and I got through my speech without too much trouble.

Joe & Nicole looking over the recipe book our family put together for them.

Aunt Sherri scoring major points with her nieces.

Jake's brother and sisters.

...and here are all the outlaws- look out!

We all got a chance to see Mom's new horse ElZar.

Sherri reluctantly trotted around the stable on ElZar.

My dad and Sherri just hanging out.

Mt. Biking Powell Butte

2009-04-25T11:48:00.001-07:00

Exploring the Ape Caves

2009-04-25T11:16:00.000-07:00

Since spring finally started sporting some nice sunny weather, Sherri & I decided to explore the Ape Caves near Mt. Saint Helen. Since there was still a bunch of snow up in that area, we ended up having to walk close to a mile in the snow just to get to the entrance. It was a beautiful day, and we nearly had the entire park to ourselves.

Jake's Parents Visit During Thanksgiving

2008-12-05T16:58:00.001-08:00

Jake’s parents rode the train all the way from MN to visit us here in Oregon during Thanksgiving break. We successfully avoided downtown Portland except for a visit to REI after we left the train station, and chose rather to enjoy each other’s company in the haven of wilderness…away from all the bus exhaust, concrete, flocks of people, and urban SUV traffic. Mom & Dad were anxious to explore the scenic Pacific Northwest—waking early every morning with hiking boots on, coffee mugs full, and camera ready for action. Our weather proved to test the warranty on their rain jackets, so they both spoiled themselves by buying new ones while they were here. We were also blessed with some lingering fall weather that provided superb nature viewing. Sherri and I hosted some of her family, along with my parents, for our second attempt at preparing a Thanksgiving dinner…we’re getting pretty good at it now, but only because our mothers were their to guide us with their expertise.

Silver Falls State Park

2008-08-24T12:29:00.000-07:00

For our last outing before school starts again we met up with Jeremy, Carri, and little Autumn for a visit to Silver Falls. We hiked the canyon loop trail and viewed all the beautiful waterfalls. Autumn and I sang songs together and had some good laughs.

Backpacking Mt. Adams

2008-08-22T23:08:00.000-07:00

Sherri and I finally got an opportunity to go backpacking together this summer. We decided to explore Mt. Adams wilderness and some of the Goat Rocks National Forest. Since my family carries a curse that plagues us with rain any time we go camping, it was no surprise to see thunderstorms dominating the forecast this week. There was no stopping us though, and we ended up having a great time. The clouds parted enough each day for us to get some spectacular views. Wildflowers painted the entire landscape, and waterfalls were rushing fresh with new rain. The glaciers on Mt. Adams were stunning, somehow managing to hang onto the steep slopes. As we hiked through the Goat Rocks, we passed by numerous alpine ponds that were home to a fair share of mosquitoes this time of year. However, on our return hike we passed through an ominous fog that kept us nearly bug free. Each night we slept to the sounds of distant thunder and more than occasional tapings of rain drops on our tent. We spoiled ourselves a little by watching a couple episodes of Gilmore Girls on an I-Pod hanging from the top of our tent…it helped us fall asleep.

Caroline is Back from Iraq

2008-08-22T23:03:00.001-07:00

Sherri and I headed up to Fort Lewis to welcome Caroline back home. It has been 2 years that she has been stationed in Iraq, and her family has missed her very much. We are very excited to be able to spend time with her again.

Trip To The Zoo!

2008-05-31T19:32:00.001-07:00

Jim and the twins came down from their new home at Fort Lewis to visit this past weekend, and we all decided to go to the zoo together. The twins really seemed to enjoy it, and would make the animal sounds as they recognized what they saw. They hooted at the owls, roared with the bears, and growled like the leopard. They seemed most fascinated by the huge underground seal tank as they watched enormous sea lions swim right in front of them.

Sandy's Birthday Party

2008-05-05T13:05:00.000-07:00

A bunch of us got together at our place to celebrate Sherri's mother's Birthday. Sandy loves her three little grandchildren, who were all there to celebrate with her. It was a fun party.

Things Happening At School

2008-04-28T15:29:00.001-07:00

Sherri decided she wanted to be a librarian for career day...I think she fits the part just fine. Jake suggested the mole to add a finishing touch. We also worked together on the backdrop in front of her door. It was Dr. Seuss week, and our hallway chose to feature the story of the Lorax- making the world a better, cleaner place.

Jake & Sherri Wavra

2008-04-24T20:43:00.000-07:00

Mirror Lake Snowshoe Hike

2008-04-24T20:37:00.000-07:00

We were recently surprised to have a 70 degree weekend in mid-April, so we capitalized on the opportunity to actually use some of our outdoor recreation gear. Up until now most of our toys have merely been collecting dust since teaching and school require so much of our time. It all started by waking up early Saturday morning to snag a good spot in line before the REI garage sale opened. We finally found a great deal on a pair of snowshoes for Sherri, and a Thule bike rack for dirt-cheap. Then Sunday we woke-up to some hot cinnamon rolls, and quickly headed up to Mirror lake by Mt. Hood. We strapped our snowshoes on and carried a lunch along with our snowboards up to an area that we’ve been wanting to explore. This place is covered with backcountry ski terrain and the view of Mt. Hood was spectacular.

Twins' Birthday

2008-04-24T20:28:00.000-07:00

In April we celebrated Faith & Hope’s birthday. These two little girls have already grown to be 2 years old. We're all very anxious for their mother, Caroline, to return home from Iraq. Their favorite gifts if you can imagine, were all the cards, which we took turns reading to them. Sherri’s sister Carri also brought Autumn, their new 6-month-old child.

Sherri's High School Reunion

2008-04-24T19:52:00.000-07:00

One of Sherri's High School friends managed to track us down somehow online, and invited us over for a wonderful dinner. It was sort of a reunion party since most of their old posse happened to be in town at the same time. We shared tons of photos with each other, and many old stories were retold with maybe a little exaggeration...both fun and educational.

Jake’s Parents Visit During The Best Season

2008-04-24T19:44:00.000-07:00

My parent’s picked a great time to visit us in Oregon, witnessing all the gorgeous Fall colors. Their youthful energy inspired us to have a wonderful time hiking and site seeing together. One of our most memorable hikes was venturing down the Sandy river trail. We actually got caught in a torrential downpour, but the moment we finally reached the river, the rain subsided and the sun beamed out from behind the clouds. So we sat down on a rock for a picnic, listening to the roar of the river and watched Eagles soar high above us in the beautiful canyon. The most shocking part of our hike however was on our way back out, when we came across a giant boulder that had landed smack dab in the middle of the trail. We were fortunate not to have been in its path minutes before when it had slid down the bank. We also scouted a new trail that follows the Bull Run River, discovering a family of otters who insisted on showing off for us. Playing music together was an absolute must, and we were blessed with the opportunity to lead worship together at Aims community church.

Joe & Nichole’s Visit From Minnesota

2008-04-24T15:38:00.000-07:00

Jake’s brother Joe and his girlfriend Nichole were able to fly out to OR for a week long visit with us, during which time we chose a new adventure everyday. Some of which included hiking up to the Cathedral Ridge on Mt. Hood, viewing all the waterfalls in the Columbia Gorge, skimboarding on the coast of Cannon Beach, catching the sun set on top of Larch mountain, Jake & Joe playing guitars together, and just hanging out at home playing games and having fun talking with each other. The time flew by as usual when you’re having such an enjoyable time, but we were so fortunate to be able to hang out with them over their vacation. Our hopes are that if we do a good enough job of hosting my family when they come to visit, that they may come out more often.

Ron & Katie visit us from MN

2007-08-22T17:04:00.001-07:00

One of our favorite hikes to a spectacular viewpoint of Mt. Hood. Also, the next picture shows Katie holding-up Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach.

This is our beloved Statler at only 9 weeks old.

This is Statler and Waldorf hanging-out together. They are named after the 2 old dudes on the Muppet Show who are always knocking each other off the balcony.

They're just a wee-bit playful.

An afternoon hike to Horsetail Falls in the Columbia Gorge together.

Weekend with Jim, Caroline, and the Twins

2007-04-14T13:37:00.001-07:00

Sherri's brother Jim and his wife Caroline, along with their twin girls (Faith & Hope) came down to visit us over Easter. Caroline is currently stationed up at the Fort Lewis Military Base in Tacoma, WA, and will be leaving for Iraq sometime in the middle of June. Jim has decided at that time to move down with the girls to Troudale, OR in order to be closer to family. We will be sad to see Caroline leave, which could be a year or more, however we are excited to be able to spend more time with Jim and the girls through this time in their lives. We had a great weekend playing in the park together with the girls.

Washington D.C. Trip

2007-04-14T13:08:00.000-07:00

Over spring break, Sherri traveled to Washington D.C. with a group of students and teachers from Eugene, OR to explore the capitol and other historic landmarks. The leader of this expedition, Brad Bellingham, is a good friend of Sherri. Sherri was a student teacher in his classroom back when she was getting her teachers certificate. This trip has forever been on Sherri’s list of things to do before she dies…along with many other endeavors. She had a wonderful time, and wants to go back again sometime. She is already recruiting for her own guided tour. The subway made for easy travel to all the sites, and the weather was perfect, apart from all the pollen in the air. The only bummer about the trip was that Sherri got hit real bad with allergies. One day it was so bad, that during a moment of silence at the tomb of the unknown soldier- she let loose at least a half dozen sneezes to show her respect. She took a load of photos and was dead tired when she got back to Portland.

Skimboard Project Finished!

2007-04-14T12:51:00.000-07:00

Just Married!

2007-04-09T22:20:00.000-07:00

September 31, 1995 was the day that Sherri & I first met at a Trout Creek Bible Camp banquet. I was invited to attend so that I could inquire about the Program Director position now available since Sherri was resigning. However, when I was introduced to her, my interest was drawn to her alone. So after some small talk, I managed to get her phone number and we ended up going to church together the following weekend. This was the start of our journey together as a couple. We are very grateful for our true friend, Spencer, who introduced us, and who we found out later was also praying for both of us specifically, months before we had even met. Exactly 1 year later, we dedicated our lives together in marriage. This last summer we worked together as staff ministers at Cannon Beach Conference Center, and enjoyed developing our relationship with each other. We were both convinced that we should pursue a journey together as a life long couple. God has blessed us so much, and we are thankful to have such a great community of friends and family that support our relationship.

The wedding was such a wonderful experience. We chose not to fall into the typical money trap of the glamorous Cinderella ceremony style. Instead, we attempted to create the most laid back, informal, conservative, and most of all- sincere wedding party that we knew how. It was perfect! Many of our friends kindly helped with preparations, food, and decorations. Our pastor, Jim Wicks, shared his heart for what we were celebrating together, delightfully portraying the blessing of marriage as a holy and pure promise of devotion and commitment. Sherri’s close friend and spiritual mentor, Joe Fahlman, also shared his blessing over us, telling stories about our experiences together. We also showed a video that Sherri and I worked on together, attempting to capture the essence of our life paths colliding, creating the bond of love that we now share together. Our message was that even though we understand how being married will stretch us in ways we never thought possible, it could only mean that we would also be drawing closer to God in the process…together.

Another great blessing on our wedding day was a surprise visit from my parents. We had no idea of course, since we were planning on celebrating with my family in MN over Christmas break. However, our friends Spencer and Teresa secretively called them and graciously offered to fly them out for the wedding. So a couple hours before the ceremony, Spencer walked up to me with a huge cactus plant in his hands and says, “Your parents thought it would be appropriate for your first roommate to attend your wedding.” After some awkward mental processing, I realized that the cactus he was holding was Spike, a plant that I had through college. When I moved out west, I left Spike with my parents, an eighth of the size it is today and somehow they must have managed to get it through airline security to be at my wedding. I then realized that my parents must amazingly be here somewhere, and just then they walked through the back door of the church together. What a lovely surprise! I cannot describe what a pleasure it was to see the excitement on their faces, and the joy we experienced that day. Sherri and I ended up spending the rest of the weekend with them, opening gifts and visiting some of the sites in the Columbia Gorge together. We couldn’t have asked for a better way to celebrate our new life together as a family.

Our Wedding Vows
To Sherri,

I commit my life to you in Marriage. I promise to love and care for you in every situation. I will also attempt to faithfully lead and encourage you throughout our lives together, in the knowledge of God. Though my actions and thoughts will never be perfect, I want to always be growing in understanding of how to be a better husband to you. My aim is to be someone you can forever trust and count on to be there for you always. I vow to love you for the rest of my life.

To Jake,

Today I dedicate to you a lifelong commitment of love and growth: spiritually, mentally and physically. I promise to honor and respect you, through all circumstances, as we live and grow old together. I will follow you as you lead. My desire is to be drawn closer to you trough Christ, every day. As we live our lives together I commit to being a reflection of Christ and the church, through continually dedicating our lives to a relationship with Christ, and faithfully serving others. I will be open and honest with you, and even through the hard times learn to communicate with you. Though I will never reach perfection, I will always strive to be woman who is there to support you, encourage you, love you, and trust you. Jake, I am committed to our lifelong journey and to always be, as you would say, "on the same team."