The Arctic Fox finds a new home!

A chronicle of our history with the camper, has given me time to reflect on just a few of the highlights.  Back in 2012, we bought the new-to-us rig.  It was a 2009 model, garaged & only used twice. It had exactly the features we wanted.  Our shake down cruise was to Whidbey Island.  The island had always been our go-to place for a close, quiet weekend.

1-18-2013 Deception Pass~

Everything worked perfectly, we felt like we were glamping -  after years of older - less efficient campers & motor homes.  For a couple years, I'd even used the back of the horse trailer as a place to stay dry at endurance rides!

2-16-2013 At Bolender Horse Park~

 That first year, we were on the road almost every month.  February, we traveled south, where Farah & I attended a weekend clinic on Extreme Mountain Trail!  The Bolender's hosted a Valentine's weekend for couples that included a great dinner & good time.

4-29-2014 - Ancient Lakes

 What became a yearly trip, was one of our favorites.  Multi-day trips were just the best, you had time to travel & more time to unwind & relax.  Our friends Scott, Barb & Linda were just the best to camp with.  The laughter never stopped!  The riding was out of this world.  Butch made friends with the landowner & had his own private tours of the surrounding country.

5-18-2014 Mt. Adams~

  May, Butch took us to the Mt. Adams ride camp, near Trout Lake, WA.  Farah & I competed in her first 55-mile endurance ride.  We had so much fun, Farah proved to me that she was way more horse than I'd imagined.

6-4-2014 Lined up at the Astoria Safeway to load up on supplies!

  Early June, was our second year of a week long trip to Nehalem Bay State Park in OR.  Our friend Janelle put together the Sno-King Saddle-up group, on a Meet-up web page.  The calendar of events included this trip & we made it a point to join!  We'd make our reservations almost a year in advance & there were enough of us to take up the entire horse camp!  It was a week of sheer delight!  Riding the beach, campfires, group dinners & making new friends. 

8-2-2014 Bare Bones

By August, we traveled to the Evergreen Sportsman Club for the Bare Bones Endurance Ride.  This time, only 30-miles & Farah let me know that she is competitive by nature :-)  It was incredibly hot, so we appreciated having AC!

6-16-2015 Loading on to the Walla Walla~

We also took yearly family camping trips with either both, or each of the girls families.  Ft. Flagler was a favorite with the Peters.  Beach combing, rock hounding, hiking & bike riding.

5-19-2016 Crossing the Columbia~

Mt. Adams became a yearly thing too...  Once management had moved the ride back to the original camp in a meadow at the base of the mountain.  It had always been one of my favorite rides, I finished it eight times, over the years, on three different horses.

5-21-2016 Mt. Adams Ride Camp~

Butch climbed onto the top of Diane's trailer to get the wide-angle view of the ride camp.  Always impressive to see so many rigs & horses in the high meadow.

6-8-2016  We off-load Grandson Ben & his bike in Astoria :-)

Once our youngest daughter's family moved to Astoria, we usually made plans to meet them in town, on our way to the beach.  When the girls visited our camp, they rode, fed & generally spoiled Farah :-)

6-11-2016 - Skyla riding Farah~

 One of our last trips in WA, was to Rainbow Falls.  We met up with the Wrights & had a perfect weekend of swimming in the river & enjoying the time with three of our favorite grand-kids!

7-31-2016 - Rainbow Falls~

Finally, the truck & camper took us on our Great Adventure - the move from WA  to Iowa.  With an unexpected remodel happening from the minute we arrived, the camper became our living quarters.  We were happy to have it!

10-21-2016 - New Home~

Once in Iowa, neither of us were as fond of camping.  Sitting around listening to generators, was never our thing...  We did make one trip to Brushy Creek, in the northern part of Iowa.  If we'd moved to that area, I'd still be riding.  It was the one place I'd found with close to fifty-miles of trail.

9-30-2017 Brushy Creek

Now, the camper is starting a new phase of life, with a brand new young family!  It will be making trips to Colorado.  I'm sure this family will enjoy it as much as we have!  I was a little sad to see it pull away - our last real tie to our old life in WA.  It was sweet to know it's gone to a good home! 

7-20-2019 - The camper leaves home on a Dodge!  :-)

We both thought that the camper looks as good as the day Butch drove it home!  Wes & Lanette were thrilled to get it.  We don't plan to quit traveling, but with the kids & grand-kids in WA, we'll be spending more time in the air :-)

Visiting our Oregon Grand-kids - Day Two~

We watched the clouds & drove out to Ft. Stevens.  All our trips to the OR beaches & we'd never visited the wreck of the Peter Iredale.  A dark gray cloud arrived about the time we did, dropping rain.  We waited a few minutes in the car before venturing out.

Skyla & Grammy~

There was a stiff wind blowing & it was Cold!  Regardless, the tide was going out & we could walk around the rusted steel hulk.

Ben braves the cold!

No matter what the weather, I love the beach!  Seeing it on a gray day is as colorful in it's own way - as any other.  The rusted steel had such a foreboding appearance, yet was so beautiful.

Inside~

Even on the steel, mosses have a foothold.

Skyla & Ben - inside the hulk~

The ships mass & size is still impressive, even after over 110 years.

Patterns in the sand~

I couldn't help but notice the patterns in the sand.  Natures art.

Skyla in the rain~

A drop of rain was on my camera lens - but Skyla's frozen smile lit the day!

Ben & Grammy~

Skyla took the above photo!  I was huddling next to Ben for warmth!  :-)  Soon though - the sun broke through the clouds & the day became spectacular!

Sunbreak!

The sun turned the incoming breakers every shade of silver!  

Skyla & Josie flying in the wind~

Next, Ben & Skyla had a race to the top of the dunes!  I'm not going to say who won!  The day had warmed slightly - but was still far from warm enough to be comfortable.

Unhappy Skyla & Ben :-)

Josie took an easier way up - both girls now at the top.  I had a feeling they would be coming down fast!

Skyla & Josie at the top of the dunes~

Competitive as they come, these two made a race of it!  Sand flying!

On their way down!

Of course, their were boots FULL of sand!  :-)

Aftermath :-)

It was all SO worth it!  We all missed having Papa with us - but had a grand time nonetheless!

Hooligan's!

We picked up dinner on the way home for Joe, Ben & the girls. Ben had worked the night before & was due to work again this night. Instead of sleeping - he'd decided to spend the day with us & I love him for it!  When I told the girls goodbye I had tears in my eyes & Skyla asked me why...  I told her it was because I missed them so very much!  Ben picked me up off the ground!  He's been doing this since he was big enough & I almost cried again!

I drove back to the hotel, arriving just before dark.  Jentry came over later & we had a quiet dinner together.  It was so very hard to say goodbye.  This family holds a piece of our hearts with them.

Fort Stevens State Park, OR ~

(A long overdue post. I'm finally getting it written & published, over two-years later.)  This was to be our last day with the Wright family...  Everyone wanted some time at the beach & Fort Stevens State Park is close & beautiful.

The dunes~

It was another just stunning day!  Light cloud cover, warm, light breeze, perfect!  The girls took off at a run!  This family spends a lot of time in the great outdoors! 

Butch with a kelp whip!

We gave Butch plenty of room to show off his skills!  I enjoyed each & every minute...  I'd spent so many years of my life wanting to see an ocean.  Butch recognized that soft spot - after he met me & took full advantage.  Moving our little family to the Pacific Northwest was a decision we will never regret.

Shades of silver light, reflecting on the waves~

When Jentry's family moved to Astoria, it was heartbreaking for us.  It wasn't so much the distance, but the horrible hours in traffic that made it difficult to visit even on a three-day weekend.

Oldest Grandson Ben & Butch~

We'd been so lucky to have both the girls families within a short drive of our home for so many years...  Living nearby, gave us the unparalleled opportunity to enjoy time with our Grandkids!  Ben - being the first & living the closest - spent at least a day a week with us.  The girls were both so young when the family moved - it was hard for us to lose that involvement. 

Ben, Skyla & Josie

Our world seemed a bit emptier with them gone.  With our move - we realize every moment with them is so precious & we've missed them so much.

Josie~

Beachcombing has been a family favorite forever! 

Skyla with a Big clam shell!

There's nothing like kids who know how to play!  Ben decided to make a contest of who could jump the highest & farthest off the dunes! 

Skyla was up to the challenge!

Sand, sand, everywhere!

Skyla - a sandy landing!

Ben though - really put some style into his jumps!

Ben in midair!

Josie had her landing technique down pat!

Josie~

The bunny below was very artistic & even has his walking stick!

Bunny Sculpture~

Leaving the beach area, we moved over to the large parking area for bike riding!

Josie & Skyla~

Everyone had a fast & furious ride!

Josie speeding along!

Even Papa had to take a turn trying out Jentry's new Trike!

Butch on Jentry's Trike!

As it got later in the day, the colors changed.  I loved seeing the mountain peaks of Washington, on the far side of the Columbia River.

View from Oregon to Washington~

Lighthouses are a coastal favorite. 

Cape Disappointment Lighthouse on the bluff~

Finally, it was time to go...  None of us wanted to leave~

South down the beach~

Saying goodbye is as hard as it gets...  Especially when so much distance separates us & we don't know when we'll all be together again...