Yesterday, I left Winthrop and drove back to the trailer. It was so fun to ski and hang out with Lynn and Eric in their fabulous home on the river.

The drive was so fun! I decided to take a “low” route so that I was not driving in snow for four hours. This took me over Loup Loup (not low), through rolling wheat fields to Grand Coulee Dam.

I received a call from my bank, and had to do some address change work that was not going well, so I stopped by the Electric City Airport to use their wifi. I love that place. Scott and I started camping there shortly after 243CM was flying, so around 2001. They now have an outhouse down by the campsite and they are wiring the pilots lounge with fiber. That area is growing! Houses have sprung up everywhere. It’s no longer a secret…..

It was almost warm there (40 degrees) with no snow on the ground. Seemed like a great time to go for a trail run. At the GC Dam visitor overlook, there was a notice about a trail I had not run. So, I thought I should go there.

It was beautiful! Running along an old road for awhile, then onto a trail through a swampish area, finally coming out to a big meadow with a house, and several outbuildings. Along the way you run under the high walls of coulees formed over the eons. It’s spectacular!

Back on the road, I went through Wilbur and remembered when Scott and I took Bob and Janet (his folks) there. I passed the Wilbur Motel where we stayed. I then meandered my way past the rolling wheat fields, The Columbia River, Lake Roosevelt, and then over a VERY foggy pass.

That four hour drive, per Google, took me about eight hours. LOL. Lot’s of stops, a run, and slow driving in the fog. I am surprised at how many people are moving to this side of the state. The times, they are a changin.

I am still in Winthrop skiing every day. The weather has ranged from 20’s to mid 30’s and the snow is good. I am a pretty terrible skate skier, but still have put in some miles. I need serious lessons…..

Skating for 24K on this day. Whew!

Heading back to the trailer tomorrow. Will be working on the plane, getting it back in the air. Can’t wait to fly it again.

Today, while Lynn waited for her contractor to show up (it’s 4pm and no word yet), I went for an 8 mile skate ski.

Only 4 other cars in the parking lot, and the temperature 19 degrees. Perfect. The cord-d-roy grooming, pristine. The sound of my skis against the grain convinced me I was cruising. The air is clean, clear and crisp. The sky is peaking out blue. I love retirement!

I did the easy trails, which were not that easy for me. It’s been a long time since I was last on skate skis and not running for several months has really put my cardio into the “needs improvement” category.

Still, I did 8 miles and stopped wanting more. I was hugry, it was after mid-day, and I headed back to Lynn’s to grab a bite. I was hoping she would want to go out again, but she is still waiting for Brad the contractor. I sure hope he shows up. Tomorrow we are going to downhill at Loup Loup. No more waiting for Brad.

Made it to Winthrop to ski with my friend Lynn. There is a lot of snow here! I left the trailer parked, and drove Hwy 20 over several passes to reach this ski haven.

We did a quick run up “Owl”, a small peak not too far from town, on backcountry skis. The snow was wet, heavy and deep. Luckily turns were not too difficult. We only did one run due to the conditions. A good warm up for the rest of the week.

Upon return to Lynn’s house, while she was off doing some contractor stuff, I jumped into the hot tub with my book. She lives along the Methow river. While I was in the tub, I saw a hawk fly through the trees and an eagle was calling out warnings. A rather glorious top off to the day.

The plan for the rest of the week is to remain on skis as much as possible. Skate, classic, backcountry and downhill. I sure get why people live here.

Day two started with a full blue sky and not a cloud! Oh how the warmth of that sunshine fills my soul! I was heading East and then North with a windshield full of that dazzling, round, yellow orb!

I first checked out the natural history site in the park, which talks about the ice age dam that burst eons ago in Montana, carving the special natural features of the potholes area. It’s a phenominal landscape, well preserved by the Columbia Wildlife Refuge.

I found a place along the dam to pull over, and trails going into the refuge. I put on my running shoes and headed out to Soda Lake. There were a few fishers or hunters driving through, but mainly it was just me and a few birds. So beautiful. So refreshing. I feel like I can breathe.

Tomorrow, I am off to Winthrop to ski with my friend Lynn. I am not taking the trailer, will stay with her at her new home. My plan is to ski hard, and spend lots of time in her glorious hot tub on the river.

I left Seattle. It was pouring rain. A typical January day for the PNW. My car and trailer are loaded. I have everything I can think of that I might need through May. That’s too much stuff, I know, but my goal is to not have to return before then.

As I drove over the pass, my car worked way too hard to pull my trailer. Oops (as Nancy said), I think I either need a beefier car or a lighter trailer. Well, I can either beat myself up for making an uninformed decision or I can just decide to sell the trailer, learn a lesson and move forward. I choose the latter. My motto is nothing permanent.

Being this free of responsibilities makes me giddy. Not having to “be” anywhere is kind of amazing. Too soon to tell for sure, but wow. A new way of being – for me.

I am camped in a campground in Eastern Wa. near I-90 called Potholes. There is a big lake here and people were out in boats fishing yesterday. It was not raining (hooray), but was very windy and cold. It felt so good to see light and to be able to look out for miles. This morning, I hear coyotes howling.

As I was walking around the abandonded campground, I heard birds calling. I looked up and this flock of geese flew over.

Ahhh. Outside, no one around, peaceful enough that the call of birds is loud. I feel grateful to be here, on the road.