Our First Spelunking Adventure Together!

It was hot as hell (ok, it was like 90 degrees) this weekend and very few homes in Bend have air conditioning, since they were apparently all built before climate change started. I suggested to Mike that we spend a few hours in the movie theater, but anyone who knows Mike, knows he hates movies. So we went caving instead!

The Lava River Cave is located just 15 minutes south of Bend, and it's a 1.5 mile long "tube" cave that lava used to flow through. In case you didn't know, this whole area of Oregon lies on the infamous "Ring of Fire". The mountains that surround us, including Mt. Bachelor, are actually extinct or dormant volcanoes, and the ground here is pretty rocky and rough (and therefore, not awesome for growing things or building basements). But, we have awesome skiing/snowboarding and a cave to explore!

The entrance to the cave looked like something out of Batman. We didn't see any bats in the cave, but it was pitch black in there. It's unlikely there would be a lot, anyway, since tourists are filing in and out of the cave on a consistent basis. They do make sure you're wearing gear that you have not worn into any other cave, to avoid contributing to the spread of white nose syndrome.

The really cool thing about the cave, is that it's a consistent 40-46 degrees, year round! Therefore it's pretty much bug free and it was the perfect place to spend a hot afternoon. 

This particular cave was discovered in 1889, and the local hunter/trapper that found it, used it as a refrigerator for his venison. Clever dude.

We rented a $4.00 flashlight and using that and our flashlight phone apps, we proceeded down into the depths of the earth (forgetting that on the way back up, it would be entirely uphill...yuck). 

This is what you see if you walk with your light off. That's Mike on the right,
shining a light on a silty cave puddle.

Historic picture of the cave - no photographer listed.

The wire connecting those pillars (on the left in the picture above) is the emergency alert. I'm not quite sure how it works, but it only extended halfway down the cave. I guess if you're heading to the end, you're on your own!

We discovered that it's alternatingly awesome and creepy being in a cave. Being from Los Angeles, it's hard not to think about earthquakes and the thousands of tons of earth above you, squashing you flat. Even though earthquakes aren't common in this part of the world, it's still a little unnerving being below ground. Some of the parts of the cave had soaring ceilings (like the pic above), and then some parts made you feel claustrophobic:

Mike is actually crouched down in this picture, so you can imagine
how low the ceiling was for this stretch of the cave!

Geology buffs would find this cave fascinating, as it has sand gardens - sand enters the cave through water droplets, piles up, and over hundreds of years, it makes little weird sand castles. It's cordoned off so people don't trample on them. Unfortunately there's not even pictures of this online, because it's so hard to take pics inside a pitch black cave. Guess you'll have to visit us and come see them for yourself! I did manage to get a good pic of the sides of the cave, which are hardened basalt. Basalt cools into totally awesome shapes due to it's molecular structure.

the ridged walls of the Lava River Cave

Throwback to another basalt formation we've seen - Devil's Postpile, circa 2012.
Thanks to John Gallegos for taking this pic of me!

When we weren't worrying about being buried alive, we did have some fun during our cave exploration.

shadow portrait of Mike

We made it to the end and back - it took about 1 hour or so. Most people don't make it to the end, either because it's difficult to walk on the uneven cave surface, or because they weren't prepared and wearing flip flops and shorts. So the entrance of the cave is crowded with people turning back. The middle and end of the cave, however, is pretty sparsely populated, and you'll find long stretches where you're completely alone and it's super dark. Plus, your phone doesn't work underground. It's a good experiment at being alone with your thoughts. We're definitely down for another spelunking adventure in the future!

entrance to the cave and all the other cave visitors (left)

At the mouth of the cave, after completing our first underground hike!

And, We're Back in Bend.

This week we were gung ho on getting out there and exploring. Summer will be over before we know it!

Bend has hundreds of parks, and we keep discovering new ones within walking distance of our house. Like most of the parks, it was along the Deschutes River; this one was appropriately, but not creatively, named the First Street Rapids Park.

We are going to have to learn to whitewater kayak one of these days!

The trail was along steep cliffs, which combined with the river, are super dramatic and striking. You can see a little bit of it in the below picture. We also made a new friend! I turned around and this orange tabby was following us down the trail. He walked right up to us and let me carry him around, purring. But he had a collar and didn't look malnourished, so we figured he had a home nearby, and sadly said goodbye to him on the trail.

Mike and our new friend, Baron.

One of the things we are trying to learn is foraging (it will be a useful skill both for camping and the zombie apocalypse). This trail had what I think are red gooseberries! I didn't try one right then, since I wasn't able to confirm it. I did try one of the berries on this bush by our house, though, because I was pretty sure they were huckleberries. I'm not dead, so I think I got it right. 

Maybe I'll go back and try one...

Mike has been foraging for mushrooms, and part of identifying them is taking spore prints. They look super cool when they come out and I'm wondering if we can do some sort of art piece with spore prints...

We also got a chance to try out Sparrow Bakery, which is known for their ocean rolls. 

pic from sparrowbakery.net

It's basically a cinnamon roll, but with cardamom instead. It wasn't up to the hype, but their patio was beautiful, and we enjoyed a cup of coffee outside. The bakery and surrounding brick buildings are an old foundry and blacksmith's shop from the early 1900s, and they have a lot of charm and character. The foundry is now an art workhouse, where various artists have their studios and also showcase their works.

Sparrow Bakery (left), part of the patio, and the old foundry (right).

I loved this very clear and straightforward sign in their mint garden!

Later, we made it to one of Bend's infamous happy hours. This town is a drinker's heaven with almost 20 craft breweries, and several wineries and bars, and every single one, plus a lot of the restaurants, do a daily happy hour. You can have a full meal and drinks, for two people, for about $20.00. It's pretty awesome. 

The Blacksmith - super nice restaurant, super cheap happy hour!

Amazingly delicious Strawberries and Cream with vodka and fresh Oregon berries!

One thing we miss SO much about Los Angeles is the Hollywood Farmer's Market. It was our church, and we went every Sunday for years. Here in Bend, they only have a market until September, due to the fact that no one wants to stand outside and sell you produce in the snow. This seasonal one is on Wednesdays and the whole town turns out for it. It's a pretty nice market, and Mike and I were super happy to find it.

Major points for a beautiful display AND being organic.

One thing Oregon does well - berries!

We tried almost every jam at this stand - they were SO good.

Over the almost 8 years of our relationship, Mike has gone with me to lots of concerts, but I've never been to one that he's picked, until now. We hit up Steely Dan at the Les Schwab Amphitheater, which I have to say has the nicest grass I've ever seen, and the view's not too shabby, either. It's right on the river, and clever non-paying types can cruise the water on paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, or floaties, and listen for free. They also had tons of gourmet food, including a coffee cart, a terracotta wood fired pizza oven, and a milkshake stand.

Les Schwab Amphitheater, with plenty of room to lounge.

See the people in the shallow part of the river, near the trees?

The next day was July 4th. Last year, we took the metro to Exposition Park in downtown LA, and saw the fireworks show from a roped off parking lot. This year, we discovered what small towns do for July 4th. Bend had gunny sack races, watermelon eating contests, a pet parade that was insanely crowded and popular, and a concert and fireworks show. All for free! We peeked at the pet parade, but decided to grill burgers at home and then see the fireworks show. We went to a nearby park, opened up the back of the Forester and watched from the comfort of our car, with blankets. It turned out to be a perfect night.

the best fireworks pic my phone was able to get!

We hope everyone enjoyed their long holiday weekend! Going forward, we have tons of stuff planned and we will be posting more often. Please feel free to follow us (link on the right) if you'd like to get updates! 

Our First Morty Adventure Ends

After our shift linkage fell out on our way through SLO (San Luis Obispo), we were super paranoid the rest of the trip, and kept stopping when we heard a new noise. And since this was Morty's first trip, all noises were new noises. It was slow going to Santa Cruz, which was only 2 hours away, and we ended up arriving at 10pm, well after dark. 

Luckily, the campsite was really nice, we got a spot near the restrooms (which were some of the cleanest I have ever been in!), and we spent a decently comfortable night.

Morty at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, site #32

This trip has totally inspired me to keep notes on campsites that we travel through, as tips like bathroom cleanliness, insect control, cost/fees and privacy are things I find very important, but aren't always rated or noted in reviews. A new tab with campsite recommendations is coming soon!

The next day, we got up super early and headed inland and north, towards the I-5. Our cigarette lighter/charger doesn't quite work yet, but thanks to our buddies John and Jorj, we had solar power to charge our phones. 

Goal Zero solar charger - free energy!

I cannot wait for the day that I have solar power for my entire home. All the destruction of the environment, wars, and pollution that we suffer through, just for gas and oil and coal to power homes - it's idiotic. We could be getting free, clean energy all the time. Mike's already got an auxiliary battery for Morty, so we can put solar panels on his roof and have energy on long camping trips (without using the motor or gas). The future is here! 

And while we're on the topic of the environment, some sad California drought scenes we saw on our way up to Oregon:

brown, brown pastures for miles and miles.

Lake Shasta, which should be up to the level of the trees. For scale, that little white thing
on the right side of the picture is a large boat.

One of the things I love most about traveling is that it gives you perspective. And even though this wasn't a fuzzy, feel good perspective, it did hammer home the fact that water may run through the pipes at home just as it did before, and it may cost the same monetarily, but there is an overall planetary cost that you just don't see every day. Things are changing, and people's lives are affected.

Passing through Shasta National Forest, with Mike at the helm.

After we passed Lake Shasta, it was just another hour to Castle Crags State Park. We were anxious to get home and see our pets, so we didn't hit the hiking trails here, but we are definitely coming back. This place is beautiful, isolated, and perfect for groups to hang out (and these bathrooms are even cleaner than the last!). Lots of bear warnings, though. We decided to eat all our food and store it inside our bodies, rather than stick it in the bear box. There were lots of spiders in there, and somehow, that seemed scarier.

Castle Crags State Park, site #14. Stunning scenery, complete with bears.

Morty likes camping!

The "Castle Crags" from which the park gets its name. Picture from web, no credit listed.

We made it home to Bend the next day, and as much as we love Los Angeles, and hunger for Mexican food, and miss our family and friends...home is where your bed is. And our bed is in Bend. Although, I did just buy some super awesome foam padding for Morty, so our bed may soon be wherever we want it to be.

Adventure Time!

Mike had been gone 10 days when I decided to fly down to Los Angeles and help him drive the van up. I had found a $109.00 ticket, leaving in two days, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity. I packed, arranged for a pet sitter, and called the cab.

When I got to the airport, I found out I had actually booked my ticket for JULY, not June. Oops. When I thought about it, it was very weird that I could buy a super cheap ticket only a couple days in advance.

Yes, I am a moron.

Luckily, the kind, no-nonsense lady at the ticket counter rescheduled me to fly out that very day, same times, for no extra charge. I am now a huge fan of Alaska Airlines!

I got to LA just fine, and helped Mike finish up the van.

me, putting on door seals.

We got it running and figured we'd do the rest (interior, etc) up in Bend. We christened the car with the name we had picked for a future child: Mortimer Danger Manser. "Morty" for short. Human Morty is probably super glad he was never born and subjected to that name. I think Vanagon Morty loves his name, though. It fits. He's an old soul, but tough.

Mike, baptizing Morty with a bath.

We couldn't wait to leave on our first adventure back to Bend! We decided to take the coastal route up (much prettier than the I-5), and pass all the VW Vanagon specialty service shops and suppliers. We needed to buy a few things for the interior, and a few things for our other Vanagon. And in case you didn't catch that, yes, we have another Vanagon in the works, up in Bend. She's blue, with a sunroof! 

It's so fun to be on the road; you can do whatever you want. I'd never been to a mission before, so we stopped at the Santa Barbara Mission for a quick tour.

Mike at the front of the Santa Barbara Mission, which is over 200 years old.

Inside the church. Opulent, as most churches are...

skull and crossbones outside the door, marking the entrance to the cemetery.

Huge, gorgeous tree in the cemetery. Love these!

We were SO lucky we took the coastal route, because Morty decided to lose part of his shift linkage on the way. It was one of the only mechanical pieces we didn't replace. Guess he thought he should have a new one. We heard something bouncing off while we were on the freeway, looked at each other and said, "rock?" Then, "wouldn't it be funny if Morty was just falling apart?" HA. We lost the part only 20 miles from San Luis Obispo, so it was an easy tow to Westy Werks. 

This is where the cool vans hang out.

We felt comfortable the second we pulled up. There were at least 8 other Vanagons/Westfalias/Synchros at the shop, and the guys that work at Westy Werks are super nice, professional, and extremely experienced at working on VWs. They hooked us up with some sweet t-shirts that totally appeal to our sense of adventure, and their shop tag line is, "love the life you live." I think we came to the right place!

Mike's new Westy Werks t-shirt. Thanks, guys!

Tonight, we're off to Santa Cruz, to camp at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, and wait for Van Cafe to open. Our first adventure is off to a great start, despite our mechanical problems. Being broken down on the side of the road is so much better together, rather than apart!

Living the Simple Life - On My Own

Mike is back in the City of Angels finishing up our Vanagon, and so I have a whole giant 1600 square foot home to myself and the pets. It is far too large for one person, I've decided. In fact, Mike and I decided together that we could live in 900-1100 square feet quite happily and comfortably - even smaller if we had a garage/shop or outdoor space. We actually prefer it - we hate not having each other within inside-voice-range, and with a huge house, we're not on the same sleeping/waking schedule anymore, which we also dislike. I used to wake up to Hall and Oates and the smell of coffee. Now I can't hear or smell anything from the 2nd floor. I guess all those years in the loft changed us. But I do love doors. When you have a bunny, you learn to love doors.

I made SJP a "digging box" and it is her new favorite pasttime. It is also extremely noisy and messy!

Having your significant other leave you for a couple weeks will teach you a lot about yourself. Especially if you live in a small town, where you have no friends (yet). I miss talking to Mike.

One positive thing I learned, is that I am quite determined when I need to be, and that I can lift a lot more weight than I thought. Our sleeper couch arrived last week from IKEA and despite the instructions (which indicated you needed three people to help you put it together), I put it together all by myself! It took me 3 hours, but hey, it's done.

Beginning, middle and end photos:

The couch arrived in 3 big, heavy boxes.

It required some flipping upside down and sideways after this stage, but those IKEA bolts held up OK!

Finished product. Those little tabs pull out a trundle part that completes the queen size bed.

I also found out that if Mike isn't here to drag me out of the house, I'll stay in it. I've been reading The Gift: Creativity and the Artist in the Modern World, watching deliciously awful James Franco movies, working on a short story, and indulging my Postcrossing habit. Postcrossing is this program where you send and receive postcards from around the world. It's pretty fun, very non-committal, and you can do it as much or as little as you like; for every one you send out, you theoretically get one back. It only costs you the postcard and postage ($1.15 International and 34 cents domestic). Mike read a couple of the postcards I received and said it's like "pay it forward." There's an element of kindness and positivity when you write something personal to a stranger in the Ukraine, or Estonia, or Brazil, and forget politics and country lines and economics. It reminds you that people are people, and they live and breathe and suffer and love, just like you. I love it; it appeals to every aspect of the writer in me.

Also, people love receiving fun stamps, so I get to be a dork and plaster tons of these, in variations, onto postcards:

Just a few stamps from my current horde!

One nice thing about living alone, is you get to eat whatever you want, without compromising. This means I've been eating mostly vegetarian, and enjoying all the local produce!

fresh nectarines and cottage cheese

Oregon strawberries!

And, I treated myself to a sushi lunch, which was not half bad - 5 pieces of nigiri and a 6 piece roll - and SUPER cheap:

50 cents for tea and no sales tax!

A few people have been asking this week, how are we making ends meet? I totally get that money is a major factor in making any sort of change. Rather than get into the nitty gritty details, I'll just start by saying that you have to make a list. Make a list of every single thing you can think of that is a monthly expense, like utilities, car insurance, health insurance, cell phones, haircuts, clothes, pet food, toothpaste, etc. I personally made a spreadsheet, so it would be easier to total costs.

Then, month by month, we started cutting things out. Paid off the cars, got rid of cable, cut down the cell phone plan. Stopped buying clothes, ate out less, made do with what we had, rather than getting something new. Used kitchen towels instead of paper towels. Little things added up. We cut stuff out to the point that our monthly expenses were around $1,500.00 (not including rent) or less. 

Why do this? Well, for one, it's easier to save up $1,500.00 for monthly expenses, rather than say, $2K or even $3K. Over the course of the year, that can be $6,000 or even $18,000. If you have to save less, you can make your change sooner. Also, if you get used to living on less - step by step, that's the key - you won't feel like you're making a huge sacrifice when you're, well, living on less. Like, Mike and I can't even remember what it was like when we DID have cable. And now that we've gotten better at cooking, our standards for eating out are a little higher, so it ends up being more fun to just stay at home. These days, I wouldn't dream of wiping my hands on paper towels when I have a batch of fluffy kitchen towels to use. And I've grown to love the ease of having an older, reliable car that's totally paid off...especially since my boyfriend's a mechanic.

It took THREE years to get to that point, so it was not a quick process. But once we did it, it gave us options. Options are freedom. And then by that time, we also had a little 890 square foot nest egg saved up, too. 

Thank you, nest egg.

In retrospect, if we did it without the nest egg (and no furry children), we would have done it like our friends Adam and Emily, who hit the road and never looked back. But we have furry kids that won't travel well. So the road might be our option after our cats and the bunny all pass on. 

Anyways, that's how we did it, in a nutshell. A combination of reassessment of our current lifestyle, step by step adjustments, and a big move. Like anything, sometimes it seem overwhelming or impossible, but it's the little tiny steps that get you there eventually. You CAN do it. You can do anything.