Back to the Wash to Wash My Spirit Clean

Posted on January 3, 2015 by Suzanne

“Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” ~ John Muir

When I asked Mark and Bobbie for recommendations on Valley of Fire hikes, both stressed emphatically, “You’ve got to hike the wash!” Of course, this means an unofficial, unmarked, unmaintained trail, which makes me a bit uneasy as a solo hiker, not having done much exploring of unofficial trails. But the great thing about hiking a wash is that the trail has been marked by nature. Just follow the gully, and you can’t go wrong. Continue reading →

Fire and Rain

Posted on December 30, 2014 by Suzanne

There has been steady, constant drizzle since I arrived at Valley of Fire State Park. The dismal gray skies match my gloomy mood. After so many days of perfect cobalt blue skies of Zion, it seems only fitting that I would be greeted by gray and gloom. Continue reading →

Snow Canyon, Thou Restoreth My Soul…

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Suzanne

We all have that “go to” place when our soul needs nourishing. A place where we can seek solace. Regain our center. Connect to whatever form of source that makes our heart sing. For some, it may be a favorite chair with a cup of tea. For others, a building with a steeple on top. And for yet others, the majestic mountains of Zion National Park.

Since I first visited Snow Canyon State Park outside of St George, UT back in 2006, it felt like nourishment for my soul. Continue reading →

Lighthouse Host-es with the Mostest!

Posted on July 6, 2014 by Suzanne

As I walk the beach of Fort Stevens during a gray, overcast sunset, I feel melancholy that my lighthouse quest is now over. It has taken me a month just to do my “coastal crawl” justice. I have had some wonderful experiences along the Oregon Coast, from bushwacking to see Cape Arago, to tide pooling with Life’s Little Adventures in Cape Blanco, to the enchanted carrousel of Umpqua River light. But it feel like it ended with such a thud. I am not ready to leave the coast…but would I ever be ready? Continue reading →

Lighthouse Caching, Part II

Posted on June 10, 2014 by Suzanne

It is now lunchtime, so I make my way through the marina of Winchester Bay, where giant tall pines oppose giant sailboat masts across the coastal highway. I am searching for Double D Seafood in the marina, where David, the lighthouse host tells me I can sample some of the Triangle oysters. Continue reading →

Weekend Coastal Crawl, Part 1

Posted on June 7, 2014 by Suzanne

It’s Friday afternoon on the last weekday of the month, and I am looking forward to a weekend “coastal crawl” of more gorgeous beaches and more lighthouses to explore! I can’t leave until I finish my end of month reporting. I am burning up the keyboard, feeling like a drooling puppy who has been caged all week, and is about to be let off leash to run for 48 hours! Insert the word “LIGHTHOUSE!” for “SQUIRRELL!!” Continue reading →

Cape Arago, I Feel You!

Posted on June 4, 2014 by Suzanne

Moving from south to north along the Oregon coast, the next historic lighthouse in my sights is Cape Arago. I check to see if it is close enough from Bandon to make a run after work one day, particularly since I work Central Time hours, and can start out as early as 3:00pm. I consult my “Oregon Coast Lighthouses” State Parks brochure to find that it is only about 25 miles north of Bandon, up a smaller two lane road, so I wouldn’t even be backtracking all that much when I continued on up Highway 101 come the weekend. Continue reading →

Beachcombing in Bandon

Posted on June 3, 2014 by Suzanne

The holiday weekend is now over, and I feel remorseful over having to leave the cozy Cape Blanco State Park. Although the Verizon signal is good, it is not strong enough to support my VOIP phone for what will be surely be a day filled with conference calls on my first day back to work after six days of vacation. But I just can’t make the emotional shift from such a serene, idyllic place to a commercial RV Park in town. Continue reading →

Escape to the Cape

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Suzanne

With the rally now behind me, I found myself facing a three day holiday weekend with no plans. I had originally thought I might hang around Seven Feathers for the holiday, but it just wasn’t for me. A gorgeous, immaculately manicured place, but it was too “homogenized” for an extended stay beyond the rally. Not being a casino person, there didn’t seem to be much to do there, amidst a state with an abundance of hiking, biking, and beaches. Continue reading →

Lupine, Lighthouses, and Love…

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Suzanne

One of the scenic drives in Redwood National Park is deserving of a post all on its own. When I stop at the Kuchel Visitor Center, I am given one of the typical NPS foldable brochure maps. As I am asking the ranger for information, I happen to notice a picture on the back of the brochure. My next question is “How do I get THERE??” Continue reading →

Take To The Highway

There's a song that they sing when they take to the highway…

Category Archives: State Parks