Road Trip! CA to WA and back
The first leg of our whirlwind tour began in Newport Beach, where we stayed with my parents for 3 wonderful weeks. After returning from Europe, it was a great place to relax and unwind from the volcano fiasco...and deal with the travel insurance people (thanks, honey!).On top of relaxing with the family and taking care of paperwork, we had plenty of time to visit with friends. Kat and Justin Prince drove up from San Diego for the day and we had a wonderful time bike-riding, kayaking, paddle boarding, and of course, stopping by Balboa Island for frozen bananas!
Justin, Kat, and Jesse at Dad's.
Jesse and I taking a wine and cheese Duffy cruise.
(Did I mention my parents live on the bay and have 3 boats? :))
While in Newport I also had the opportunity to sell my book, "Hungry", at a women's luncheon. A family friend was hosting the luncheon and invited me to join the other vendors. Great time meeting people and chatting about the book! My mom was my biggest marketer (and boy she's good at it!)
My beautiful momma and I at the luncheon.
View on the terrace - lots of women and lots of hats!
We had time of worship, which was nice.
Here's my little table where I sold about 20 books!
The next day, at 5am with Starbucks in hand, Jesse and I hit the road. First destination? San Francisco...sadly in two separate cars.
After 7 hours, we arrive in San Fran and found a gym to stretch out our legs. After working up a sweat and an appetite, we met up with Jesse's college friend and his wife, had a wonderful home-cooked meal, and spent the night. (unfortunately I forgot to take pictures).
The next day we hit the road again. This time it was only about 3 hours to Redding. We had already put down a deposit for a great 3 bed/2bath house a mile from Bethel, which we are to be sharing with another couple, Tawni and Trevor (good friends from San Diego). Some friends of ours were just moving out so we knew from what they told us that it was gonna be perfect. And it was! Here's a quick tour:
We went to Lighthouse that night (a weekly homegroup with tons of cool Bethel peeps!), and spent the night in our empty house on our wonderful (not-so-wonderful) air-mattress.
After a horrible night sleep, we hit the road again. This time up to Northbend, Washington to stay with Jesse's parents.
After 7 hours, we arrive in San Fran and found a gym to stretch out our legs. After working up a sweat and an appetite, we met up with Jesse's college friend and his wife, had a wonderful home-cooked meal, and spent the night. (unfortunately I forgot to take pictures).
The next day we hit the road again. This time it was only about 3 hours to Redding. We had already put down a deposit for a great 3 bed/2bath house a mile from Bethel, which we are to be sharing with another couple, Tawni and Trevor (good friends from San Diego). Some friends of ours were just moving out so we knew from what they told us that it was gonna be perfect. And it was! Here's a quick tour:
After a horrible night sleep, we hit the road again. This time up to Northbend, Washington to stay with Jesse's parents.
Luckily, we were able to leave my car at our house in Redding.
This was my view for the next 9 hours:
This was my view for the next 9 hours:
Lots of pasture and books on tape.
On the way, we decided to stop in Portland, OR. I showed Jesse around Powell's bookstore and we picked up a few novels to keep us entertained. We then hit up a wonderful rose garden...
and took some time to smell the roses.
They were beautiful!
Then we met up with Sarah (our reason for stopping in Portland)!!
(My best friend from college and maid of honor at my wedding.)
Here is a classic Sarah pose, complete with color pulling.
Of course she took us to a typical Portland eatery with lots of hippie food.
Here's Jesse and I with our Kale/sprout bowls (we added chicken),
and that is "digestive yeast" I am excitedly about to sprinkle on my food. :)
Yay Porland.
Here's Jesse and I with our Kale/sprout bowls (we added chicken),
and that is "digestive yeast" I am excitedly about to sprinkle on my food. :)
Yay Porland.
After dinner, Sarah took us to a yummy coffee spot.
And we found that color-pulling yellow really brings out the orange in one's face.
We didn't have any fun.
Sadly our visit was short. We got back on the road after dinner.
Bye, Sarah!
Continuing on to WA, we passed a rainbow
and I managed to capture the pot of gold at the end of it.
Lots more green,
and beautiful skies.
We were pretty tired of driving at this point and got a little delirious.
Observe:
We arrived in Northbend late at night and fell fast asleep at Jesse's parent's house. The next day, more relaxing, and biking, and then the whole family got together for a big spaghetti dinner.
There was beer in all sizes,
Here's the fam!
Riley (Jesse's step-dad), Jesse, me, Sarah (Jesse's sister),
Diane (Jesse's mom), Sam (Jesse's bro-in law)
and Elsa (Jesse's sister and Sam's wife) is taking the picture.
Riley (Jesse's step-dad), Jesse, me, Sarah (Jesse's sister),
Diane (Jesse's mom), Sam (Jesse's bro-in law)
and Elsa (Jesse's sister and Sam's wife) is taking the picture.
There was beer in all sizes,
and Diane baked a wonderful peach and blueberry pie!
Elsa and Sam's dog, Atom, was much of the evenings entertainment.
The kids of the family
And the fam, minus Sarah...someone had to take the picture.
While in Northbend, I had the chance to visit with some of my side of the family. My aunt and uncle, Leigh and J.D. and their three grown kids (my cousins) Anne, Kate, and Michael, all live in Washington. Makes it easy to visit whenever we're with Jesse's family!
While her kids were napping at the in-laws,
Kate snuck away to meet us for coffee at Zoka's.
Entering the house...
The "master bedroom" upstairs, with AMAZING views!
From upstairs looking down over the railing.
Downstairs
While her kids were napping at the in-laws,
Kate snuck away to meet us for coffee at Zoka's.
Later we had dinner with Leigh and J.D. at their beach house, which is just a 10 minute drive from their house in Tacoma and a great little getaway.
YUM!
Aunt Leigh and me (iphone lighting isn't the best).
Jesse and Uncle J.D.
As we were leaving for the evening we were offered the house for a few nights! Woohoo!
Here's Aunt Leigh "throwin something together." :)
My Aunt Leigh is a phenomenal cook and her "let me just see what I can throw together" always turns out to be a gourmet meal.
Here's what she rounded up and prepared:
A beat salad with goat cheese and toasted walnuts.
A beat salad with goat cheese and toasted walnuts.
YUM!
Aunt Leigh and me (iphone lighting isn't the best).
Jesse and Uncle J.D.
As we were leaving for the evening we were offered the house for a few nights! Woohoo!
The next day we packed up our stuff and "moved in" to Leigh and J.D.'s beach house on the Sound at Salmon Beach, Tacoma. All the houses are built on stilts right out over the sound since the tides swing by about 15 feet every day. Their beach house has such a fun, rustic feel to it, with all kinds of fishing/ boating memorabilia. We spent 3 wonderful nights there.
Here's the front.
Entering the house...
The "master bedroom" upstairs, with AMAZING views!
From upstairs looking down over the railing.
Downstairs
View of the front from the water
Out on the porch...it was so gorgeous there!
That night we got to have dinner with my other cousin, Ann, and her husband Eric who also live in Tacoma. Ann cooked us up a yummy Thai peanut soup. Sadly, I didn't take pictures, but Jesse managed to snap a few of the kids.
Here's Hayden.
And precious Clara.
Our second day, Jesse and I went exploring a nearby park...
I forgot to mention the 300 steps we had to climb to and from the beach.
Sucks when you forget something.
View of the beach house (the smaller brown one) from the stairs.
In the woods we found this thing, and Jesse climbed it.
A huge uprooted tree.
Experimenting with color pulling
We had a wonderful lunch on the deck
just before the rain hit.
And did LOTS of reading while the rain came down.
After the rain finally let up, we ventured out for dinner at Anthony's,
then returned to chop some wood for our fire.
Go honey, go!
Out on the deck.
We partook of some yummy Cold Stone ice cream sandies,
and watched the jelly fish float by.
The current is really fast so the jellies were haulin!
God is so cool.
High school picture pose.
Then we had some fun...
These are for you, Aunt Leigh and Uncle J.D.!
Thanks for letting us stay at your beach house!
The next morning at 6am we woke up to this!
Luckily I snapped 2 pictures while half asleep and lying in bed
because 2 hours later the rains started up again.
That morning we packed up our stuff jumped in the car and began the 9 hour journey back down to Redding. And so concludes our 2 months of traveling and visiting.
Stay posted for "Life in Redding," updates!
posted by Jessica Skinner @ 6:23 PM
1 Comments:
GREAT PHOTOS AND INFO GUYS! LOVE IT--!! JULIA
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