"California Dreamin': Road Trip Filled with Stunning Views, Wonderful Friends, and One GIANT Surprise! "
Living on the west coast for almost 30 years now, I've only been to California one other time! Todd being a Pacific Northwest native has also only been to California once! We were pretty excited for this leg of the journey. We were going to see something new, and the boys were going to be able to see one of their oldest friends!
Our first sunset in the Golden State was stunning!
We had found an amazing spot on Hipcamp. It was extremely isolated with gorgeous surrounding views. We arrived late, so we didn't get to see much (except that big moon!) that evening.
Such a cool spot!
Waking up to this view of Mount Shasta was incredible!
Bean fully agreed!
We were only staying for one night before we were on the road to head to see Daniel. We decided to make a stop at Pluto's Cave.
Pluto's cave was not easy to find!!! We had to walk around the area for quite a long time before locating the entrance to anything resembling a cave, but once we did, it was super cool! Oh, and driving directly to Pluto cave was impossible with our big RV. We had to park it and use our car to get the rest of the way the way.
Definitely worth the wandering around lost for 30 minutes!
But then!!!!….When we drove the car back to where we had parked the RV, we happened to hear some noises coming from the nearby bushes, and lo and behold, there was a pile of very tiny puppies!🐶
We contemplated for a while trying to decide if there was a mother around for them or if they had been abandoned. We certainly didn't want to overstep our boundaries, but we also didn't want to let these little guys stay out here and starve to death.
These puppies were so young they were trying to nurse on our fingers!
After about an hour, we decided we would just pack them up and take them to the nearest facility where they could get the care that they needed.
So off we went to the nearest Humane Society. Memphis had all seven puppies in a Rubbermaid bin on his lap.
We were so incredibly fortunate that the Humane Society was able to take them in. They were at capacity and They quickly made phone calls to foster resources and created a warming room for the babies!
Todd desperately wanted to keep this little guy…I think they had bonded during all of the trauma!
We gave them all goodbye cuddles, and left them with hopes that they go on to have happy and healthy lives in warm and loving homes💕
This is the Humane Society that took them in. We added an Instagram fundraiser to help support these little babies as they are going to end up being pretty big guys and girls as they get older!
Finally, after that unexpected and unplanned adventure, we made it to see Daniel.
The plan was for us to spend two nights close to Daniel's home so that the boys could hang out and do boy stuff. But as we continue to learn, plans always change, and instead of just staying for two nights and saying goodbye, we packed Daniel up to take him with us on the next leg of our journey... Buckle up Carson City, here we come!
“Embracing New Beginnings: Celebrating My 50th Birthday with Joy and a Touch of Sorrow”
Turning 50 was never something I was afraid of. I haven't feared getting older or felt like my life was going to be less vivid because I was aging. In fact, I'm extremely grateful to have spent 50 years on this planet; the good, the bad, and the ugly—it's all mine to keep in my pocket. I can only hope that I have a great many more to go.
We were also fortunate to have the family (mostly) complete for the celebration. My daughter Leah has a knack for presenting the most thoughtful gifts. They really make people feel valued and loved in a way that never ceases to amaze me.
Leah asked our friends and family to write 50 things that they loved about me on post-it notes, and then she proceeded to tape them all over the RV. I was in tears immediately upon starting to read them, and it took me two days to be able to read them without getting super emotional and having to stop. Being loved like that is the most incredible gift.
And then came the music and the candid photos in preparation for the haunted tour we were gearing up for that evening.
The things that were said and done before this picture was snapped will always remain our secret. But I think you can guess the level of inappropriateness by the looks on our faces.
We didn't take many pictures of the actual haunted tour. We were too immersed in the history of downtown Portland.
We made one last pitstop at a little bar across the street for one more nightcap before heading home to our campsite.
Then back home to our quiet campsite on Sauvie Island, where we lit fire, relaxed a bit, and called it a night. The day was perfect.
Now for the part that has been making me drag my feet and completing this blog post. This time last year, we were celebrating my birthday. Todd and I had planned a weekend away. We still had our business, we still had a brick-and-mortar home, and I still had my mom.
In fact, I had specifically taken this picture to send to my mom who I spoke to just about every single day
This is the first birthday that I have celebrated after the loss of my mother. And although it brought intense joy, there is also a gaping hole in my heart that I am not sure will ever be completely whole again.
I think about her every day and remind myself that this is one of the reasons we started on this adventure. Losing someone you love so much is a big reminder of just how short life is and how it's so important to embrace every moment and follow every dream.
I love you, mom.
“Unveiling the Magic of Halloweentown: A Spooktacular Start to Our October Adventure!”
Welcome to Halloweentown! This is a special place in Saint Helens, Oregon, where Halloween is celebrated for a whole month. The festival is based on the Disney movie of the same name that was filmed here in 1998. The town was chosen because it was a small, somewhat abandoned town due to the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.
We knew the Halloween vibes were strong when we pulled into the RV park and noticed many of the residents had gone all out with their holiday decor. We were feeling a little bit jealous but I have to remember that packing totes of holiday decor just isn’t in the plans for us right now, especially after we have just sold and gave away over 35 totes of holiday decor we had collected over the years before starting off on this adventure!!!
We also realized that some of us had NEVER actually seen the movie Halloweentown!
It was such a cute movie. I can’t believe We hadn’t seen it before. It was a nice G rated film to cleanse our pallets of our gruesome, gory, and horrifying Halloween films we normally indulge in…
On the second day, we went down to the town square, where we got our first glimpse of the magical Spirit of Halloweentown.
The set-up was incredible, and the attention to detail was fantastic! It's clear that the people who prepare for this festival have a great deal of love for what they do.
These pictures are from the daytime, and though everything is set up. We would soon come to see that it is a completely different experience to view Halloweentown in the evening.
My 50th birthday started off very relaxing with coffee, painting, and football—three of my favorite things! It was pretty cool for me to be celebrating my birthday in a place known for Halloween being an October baby. I’ve always felt a strong connection to all of the autumn holidays.
As the day crept into the evening, Todd and I decided to walk to a haunted pub in downtown Saint Helens. The fall weather had continued to be so beautiful! The 2.5 mile walk was really nice!
The drink list was enticing! Todd had some fancy-pants cocktail that tasted like desert in a cup; I opted for beer this time.
After drinks, it was time for a Spirit of Halloweentown photo shoot, and though this one turned out pretty darn cute. There were a few that were pretty hilarious, involving me and a tractor... those ones will never be seen on the Internet unless one of my children decide to blackmail me somewhere down the road!
People in the surrounding neighborhoods do a fantastic job decorating for Halloween as well. I mean, maybe they can never compete with the Schlegel Halloween decor of the past, but it's still pretty good!
Saint Helens may be known for The Spirit of Halloweentown, but there are some beautiful parks as well. we found some really cool biking trails to ride the e-bikes through near our RV park. I do have to say, though that Saint Helens, in general, did not feel like a very pedestrian friendly or bicycle friendly place outside of the trail system, which was a bummer.
This isn't goodbye; it's see you later. We were in Saint Helens for seven days, and now we are heading off to Sauvie Island, although only 30 minutes away. It is like a different world. It is completely quiet and isolated; none of the hustle and bustle Saint Helens offered.
“From Road Trip to Reunion: Celebrating Mason’s 18th Birthday Adventure!”
What a happy day! Birthday packed with hugs from family we have been missing so much lately.
Somehow, in the blink of an eye, this sweet young boy became this sweet young man.
18 years old!!!
We traveled home to see the rest of the Schlegel crew. I think it was the best birthday gift of all. Hugs from sisters are better than anything money can ever buy.
Biggest sister Leah made sure the decorations were ready!!!
Leah's gift to Mason was taking him to get his ears pierced. The presentation of her gifts NEVER disappoints!
He did it!
Birthday board games are always a must!
Another big "to-do" on this trip was deciding on a family name for this beast!
It was time to say goodbye to The Happy Shack.
Deciding on a name was incredibly difficult! We had so many fabulous and hilarious suggestions from friends!
It was a long process fueled by chaos, laughter, and wine. (So much wine.)
So much laughter.
Until finally it was decided! We will continue to hop around aimlessly with minimal direction (probably looking for food). Road Toad it is!
“Unleash Your Inner Mermaid: A Lazy Week in Long Beach!”
Mermaid Inn and RV Park in Long Beach was my favorite spot so far. No shade to the other locations, but the ocean just speaks to me in a way no other can.
The landscaping was beautiful; it made me think of my mom immediately. She would have loved the hanging baskets and stunning potted arrangements. They were still beautiful in September, I can only imagine what they would have looked like in their prime.
And of course there were so many mermaids! The motel rooms were decked out in retro ocean and mermaid decor that looked so cool. The owners of this place created something pretty unique.
Here we have another glorious mermaid.
And oh dang…look at this beauty!
I at this point I feel I need to mention that there was a Mexican restaurant within walking distance and these pictures came about after a margarita or two. I even got the boys to take some pictures in these cut outs, but they refused to let me post them!
The scene of the crime.
The food here was super yummy!
The boy and his cheese.
Day three started off stormy. The rain coming down on the RV practically demanded a slow, sleepy morning of coffee and reading.
But weather at the ocean changes quickly, and by afternoon we had some wind but no rain, so off to the beach we went.
We took long walks on the beach with the pups. Shadow (the big one) loved it. He chased the waves and then ran for his life when they chased him back. Bean (the little one) thought the wind was a little obnoxious and preferred to be cuddled in a coat at all times.
The jellyfish were ginormous!
This. This was breathtaking. I wonder if folks who live here and are able to see this view whenever they want become desensitized to just how amazing it is.
The wood carvings we have come across in the waterfront towns have been beautiful.
Spotted in Long Beach.
This is a wild lookin bunch of misfits. Could be coming to a town near you…
One of these boys turned 18 on this trip. Not sure how that’s possible since he was my baby five minutes ago!
This place made incredible clam chowder. Just a tiny, unassuming spot, showing us once again you should never judge a book by its cover.
We stopped by this bakery and deli every day. The first day I stopped in alone. I sat by the window, eating my scone and drinking my coffee. Only after a bit did I start to really look around at the walls around me. The images on the wall were of family, Dylan and her family. The pictures and story brought me to tears. This place is well known in the community, and you can definitely feel the love that built this place.
Now because the above was bittersweet and we all need a moment, I give you this.
What the hell is this? I am not exactly sure, but I love her.
Also, if you recall, in a previous town we came upon God's closet; now here we have God's garage, and yet I haven't been able to see what is inside either of them!
And on that note, Shadow is ready to head back to where it all began to see the rest of our family we have been missing so very much.
See ya all soon!
"From Sea Lions to Stellar Burgers: A Memorable Evening in Grayland with a Side of Cranberry Delight"
Another Harvest Host win! We visited Grayland for one night after Aberdeen. We had visited long ago with the kids and remembered how much we enjoyed it there. The Cranzberry Museum offered a quiet place for us to park in their field. The host just warned us to keep our eyes peeled for—no big deal!
It's amazing how cool the history of the area is. The host told us stories and taught us so much we would have never know about the humble cranberry and the farmers who grow them. She herself also learned to weld to build cranberry picking machines and works on crafts to sell in the gift shop that accompanies the museum. This woman was pretty spectacular.
The retro stuff was right up our alley; in fact, a few things in this photo could have been found in our house before we sold everything to travel.
These are hilarious!
This place had some cool sculpture art made by the host. I am not sure if this is hers, but it’s great.
Had to swing by the Grays Harbor lighthouse. It's pretty awe inspiring to think of how many lives this place has saved over time. The tour guide was staying on the property in an RV doing a work camp trade, which is a program Todd and I have looked into for options down the road!
One of these kids is TERRIFIED of heights…yet faced his fears to walk up an obscene amount of stairs, only to then realize that he hates being up high and immediately turning back around to go back to the bottom.
He did let me snap a quick picture though!
The first time we were here it was with almost the whole family and the kids were just babies. This time there were two missing from the trip and it was a bittersweet moment to be here again after so much time.
I realized very quickly just how out of shape I am.
After the never ending stairway we decided it was time to head downtown and see what we could find.
It was here…
-That the first 5 star burger presented itself.
So far the front runner in the search for the best burger competition! (This competition held only by the boys of course.)
I ate some phenomenon fish and chips. Because who doesn’t eat seafood when visiting a coastal town?!?!
Then the smell of warm waffles assaulted my senses and I fell victim to its siren call.
A walk on the waterfront to counteract the food coma became necessary. The views were beautiful. The sea lions were LOUD!
…And the award for the best storefront name
What brilliant soul came up with this for a kite/bait and tackle shop? This person is genius.
Back to the RV to relax and potentially be dinner for a bear.
Until morn when it was time to pack it up and move on to the next unsuspecting town.
Shadow is such a good road dog. He loves travel days, because he knows we are off to another adventure!
"Sipping, Strolling, and Sculptures: A Whimsical Night at an Aberdeen Winery"
Heading into Aberdeen to the Westport Winery, another fabulous find from our Harvest Hosts Membership.
The spots designated for the RVs were so thoughtfully designed. Super easy to pull into with a cute table and chair set and fire pit for each spot! Good vibes right from the go.
Behind us was this cool hiking trial. Excellent for Shadow to get some energy out. It was really pet friendly; the pups were allowed in the art garden as well, which surprised me.
Bean isn’t so much of a hiking pup…
In front of us was the entrance to the most wonderful (okay, ONLY) art garden I have ever seen!
“We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.” Joesph Campbell
The universe knows how to tell us exactly what we need to hear.
This one hurt my heart.
Everywhere I turned there was something to see. It felt like you could wander for hours and not see everything. That may not have been the case though; maybe I am just an exceptionally slow walker.
And at the end of the garden was... WINE!
Todd and I pulled our butts right up for a wine and distilled liquor tasting.
Five choices for $10 seems reasonable, like a safe midday relaxation event.
Did it end with additional glasses of wine drank, three bottles of wine, and one bottle of liquor purchased, as well as the need for a nap? Yes...yes, it did.
Todd was realllly struggling to get his five choices zeroed in on.
Our wine tasting gal gave us some extra tastes that she felt we just had to have! ( and she was so right)
Both of these are drool worthy!
Then right next door to the winery- guess what?… A fricken mermaid museum! (and they let you drink wine while walking around in it)
So far let me tell you. This stop is high on my list of favorites!
Small story: After seeing the movie Splash at the age of 10, I may have wrapped my legs in toilet paper and gotten into a bathtub full of water to pretend I was a mermaid. My mother could not understand where the rolls of toilet paper were disappearing too. Like Daryl Hannah, I had to keep my mermaid self a secret.
I will indeed be trying this.
The mermaid behind us told our fortune. Guess you will have to wait and see what she has in store for us…
This is beautiful.
Did a swing by the local farmers market. Didn’t quite find anything we had to have. Also I was with two teenage boys and they aren’t super into farmers markets so the “lookin” was extra quick. More time and I’m sure I could have found something I needed.
Then there is this handsome fella. Leaving this here just for you.
"Camp, Splash, and Reunite: The Ultimate Adventure at Great Wolf Lodge and a Nearby Campsite with Surprise Bestie Appearance !"
Can’t decide which was better. The best friend surprise or the Camp Crystal Lake discovery behind our campsite!
This trip started well and got even better. Friends are EVERYTHING, and there will always be relationships that fade or you may grow out of, but sometimes... you just know they will last a lifetime.
Grand Mound, Washington wasn’t ready for these three.
All the stars truly had to align to make this happen. But man…they sure did.
Not once was I offered wolf ears… I felt a bit robbed as you could see in this photo.
But realizing there is a Starbucks…
And a full bar within 30 feet of the entrance, I began to feel better.
Our RV spot was perfection. No hookups, so generator only, but so much solitude and greenery!
The host said there were hundreds of acres around.
As the day continued and the sun began to set, we discovered a little abandoned shack down the path behind our spot.
With a creepy cloudy lake.
And two broken down docks in the tall grass.
After it became later and darker we went out to investigate again. It was so much fun tempting fate and the horror movie gods alike!
Blair Witch vibes.
Noticed this little skull thingy hanging in the trees outside our RV door. It’s only weird if you make it weird.
Goodnight moon.
"Third Time's a Charm: How a Wooded Campsite Brought Next Level Relaxation and Stole Our Hearts"
No clocks necessary here…
We found this super cool spot on Hipcamp. It has become a great resource for looking up future places. This spot in particular they offered only one RV spot on their property at a time, so we had it all to ourselves. They also offered water, electric, and sewer, which is not a very common thing, especially for $30 a night!
Logistics aside, this place screamed relaxation. We slept late, petted the cuddliest goats to ever exist (Sorry Levi), played games, checked out the lush trail directly across the street, checked out the (very few) local joints, and had more campfire s’mores than one should probably consume in a lifetime!
Real campfires finally!!!
Mira’s face in this picture says “ I can’t possibly eat another s’more…”
But her stick says something else entirely.
Love being in the woods with this kid… not at all creeped out. This one is for you Memphis.
This hammock, although two feet from us, had a bit of a drop-off underneath and some dark woods behind. Memphis, at one point, did indeed try to convince us that there was someone walking behind him getting ready to murder him.
We all agreed it was just the cost of camping. If we lose one, we’re still doing okay!
He didn’t love that answer.
Shadow is becoming quite the camping dog. He loves the long days outside in the fresh air.
This is either a campfire glow or a cocktail glow…either way I am so happy to be here.
(It’s probably the cocktails😏)
These little nuggets! They just wanted to sit on your lap and have a quick lunch of your hair or shirt- sometimes take a lil poo next to ya. So worth it!
Long walks on country roads.
Where we discovered bones and sent pictures to the kids to let them know Bigfoot had been close by. (For later scare ammunition)
We missed the open hours on this place… leaving me to forever wonder-what IS in Gods closet?
This place reminded me so much of my grandparents bar and restaurant they had when I was growing up. It was called The Trading Post. The inside is covered with signs and memories of past patrons. So many locals said hello and made us feel immediately welcome.
It really grabbed a special place in my heart here in the middle of nowhere.
Meanwhile food in town was a 7 out of 10, not too shabby!
This groovy place had a little laundry mat attached (thank god). Teenage boys, need I say more?
Irreplaceable family time. We missed so much of this working so much to buy a lot of things we probably didn’t need.
Did I mention the goats????!!!!!
"From Raving to Ranting: A Disappointing Destination on Week Two of RV Life"
Second trip. Great small town with a not so great RV park…
Don’t let this almost happy face fool you. This is the face of a woman who is not pleased that her plans were upended by an RV park that was not at all what she had pictured in her mind. The town we stayed in was the lovely and quaint Fall City, Washington. We had been here before, though. The driving force behind this trip was the amenities this park had to offer. Being new to this whole RV thing, I am finding out quickly:
Ask more questions before reserving.
Read more reviews.
And of course, at the end of it all, make the most of it, no matter what.
Oooh so refreshing…can’t wait!⬆️
Welp.
At least we will have this!⬆️
Dammit!!!
And just to add a little more to the complaintfest.
The WiFi was in a very specific location that was open from 11-5 only, along with the bathrooms nearest to us.
The only two vending machines they offered were broken.
There were some leftover gifts from some (quite obviously) large dogs in our camp site for us to discover with our shoes.
…and we played “Will our RV wheels fall off because of crater-size potholes” on the campground road leading to our site!
Not actual footage, but here for dramatic effects!
But at the end of the day, life is what you make it! These two smiles erase any of the other stupid stuff we encountered!
The one amenity at the RV park that was fun. This also was only open from 11-5.
Guess which boy in this picture is not a pool shark?
Whichever you guessed, you are correct.
Of course we watched Friday the 13th the movie
on Friday the 13th
- in the woods!!!
Fall City is a super cute little town with some unique history and cool old buildings to see! I loved the painted murals and historic descriptions in front of some of the buildings and houses. We wandered through the town and into the businesses. It was a highlight of this trip.
Let me tell you the food in this picture is way better than it appears! Spinach and Feta Quiche from Aroma Coffee.
Food was pretty good, Memphis gave it a 6 out of 10.
Wondering if we will ever see a 10 out of 10 situation.
This place is so creepy… we loved it!!! If it didn’t involve us all risking arrest, we would explore places like this once evening set in. I bet these walls have seen some things.
Had an incredible wild orange latte here🧡
Until next time Fall City.
"Alpaca my bags: Our first stop at the Green Apple Alpaca Farm!"
Our first stop at the green Apple Alpaca Farm in Auburn Wa was everything we could have hoped for.
The owners welcomed us with open arms, even though we came in pretty late because we took forever getting things situated…ahem Todd I’m looking at you.
On the second day, the ever-curious alpacas made a jailbreak and spent the day hanging out in the field we were parked in, just inches from where we sat drinking morning coffee. It was a real highlight for me seeing them play King of the Hill on a dirt pile while also doing some oddly flamboyant leaps off the top of the hill every so often.
There were not just alpacas here-don’t let the name fool you, there were sheep, lamas, chickens, ducks, geese, quail, and goats!
Levi the goat was pretty darn cute. He asked to be petted until your hands fell off, then he would be content to move on to the next able-bodied human…bonus points from him if you offered cookies. Me too Levi…me too.
We found this place with our membership to Harvest Hosts / Boondockers Welcome!
Once you become a member with Harvest Hosts you can find hosts. WIth the membership they offer a night free and they just ask that you support their business in some small way. It is usually Farms, Museums, or Wineries.
Boondockers Welcome is membership based as well. These are just folks sharing some of their land or property so travelers have a place to rest for the night.
This here is a picture of happiness. The host baked us a fresh loaf of sourdough bread ! It was AMAZING.
Then add fresh butter from the farmers market and some preserves. Why are my pants so tight!? The answer-this picture.
Not dead… It was 90 degrees. This was the vibe we all felt during the hottest part of the day.
Levi the friendliest goat alive.
One of the ducks happened to be named Jensen Quackles. If ya know ya know.
The Enumclaw Farmers Market was a fun surprise. Despite being small, we left the market with an assortment of treats that were delicious! From the spicy cheese to the lemon hummus and fresh pita chips, everything we snagged was a hit.
Food is my happy place.
Really dug this dude.
We made sure to get our fair share of fresh air and nature by visiting Flaming Geyser State Park. We do have a small piece of advice for future visitors: make sure to bring your own lighter to light the geyser!
Thank God someone tipped us off to this before we visited because, without a flame, the geyser was just another bubbling pool of water. But with a little help from our trusty lighter, we were able to witness the flaming spectacle (okay, very mildly spectacular) that the park is known for.
And our homeschooling is done for the day. Science.✔️
Read this for extra credit.
Teacher of the year right here.
A boy and a tree, Mira and I climbed it too but we didn’t look nearly as cool.
Being big horror movie junkies this is EXACTLY the type of place you do not visit in the dark unless you want to hang with some man wearing a hockey mask and carrying a machete.
Schlegels in the wild.
Rock skipping champ of the day. No prize needed when you get these kind of bragging rites..
We also made sure to hit up Deep Lake at Nolte State Park on a perfect day for paddle boarding—a favorite activity among Mira and me. ( We did drag Memphis around on a tube for a bit until he became bored of us and our girl gossip. We spent a lazy afternoon just basking in the warm sun with some good music and cocktails while gliding through the peaceful waters. Kidding. Mira was gliding like a water angel. I was trying to keep up but somehow kept going left and in circles the whole time.
Must note: I heard the lake is so deep that if you go to the bottom, there is still ice. I, being a mediocre at best swimmer at best, wore a giant, unattractive life jacket, so I would never find out if this is accurate.
Also, second note: don't drink and paddle.
The oldest Schlegel child came to visit and gifted us this celebration basket to cheers our first trip! We clinked glasses over a fire on a beautiful evening …but did I take a picture… NO! ( parent fail) There is a funny video though where my voice sounds obnoxious, leaving me to wonder if I sound like this in real life. I probably do. My apologies to all who know me.
Giddy up.
Memphis was finally able to ride his death mobile-I mean, dirt bike! Yay!
For new farm campers.
ALWAYS
ALWAYS
ALWAYS
bring a net tent.
The flys are no joke my friends.