Fitwife: Quickie! (AKA Epic Road Trip Part 1)

I've got five minutes for a quick blog post!

I think our road trip to Seattle and Bend can be considered "epic" for many reasons, and as such, it deserves it's own photo montage, set to music, of course. But in the meantime, here's a quick breakdown.

First stop, Grants Pass and the Hellgate Canyon Jet Ski Excursion on the Rogue River. Super fun...If you ever drive through the area, I highly recommend this! The photos make it look tame, but the jet boats can fly across water just 6 inches deep, they can go up rapids and they can hit 80 MPH (or is it 50...). The 360's are also fun. Wet..but fun!

Next, we pulled into Portland on the way to Seattle and had dinner at McCormick and Schmicks. Not bad for a chain restaurant, although the scenery was probably better than the food (we dined outdoors on the patio overlooking the harbor). We both ordered the Lobster Trio:

And on to Seattle! Besides being a super cool place that contains some of my most favorite people on earth, the delicious food inspired me to return to the Farmers Market this Saturday and get back to clean eating. I'm only up a couple of pounds from when I left, and I think that's mostly due to the Moussakas at Yanni's in Seattle and the Pizza and Beer of 10 Barrel in Bend. Other than that....I kept my wits about me.

(10 Barrel Brewing Co. Bend, Or)

Can I just mention coffee? Seattle makes the best coffee EVER. Grateful Bread and All City Coffee were a few of the places we tried. There were more, but the names escape me now. If I lived in Seattle, I would be drinking way too much coffee! I would also have beautiful skin and clown hair.

(All City Coffee in the Georgetown District of Seattle)

(Cute sign I saw at another coffee shop in Ballard)

(My sister in law Nancy - we walked to Grateful Bread one morning - and me with glowing skin and clown hair.)

We sailed in the Puget Sound!

(An "artsy" photo - I think Rob took this shot.)

My brother and I flew in a 1940 open cockpit bi-plane (yeah, I know...ME!). I have a certificate to prove it! I don't know what came over me, but (in part) the thought of wearing a bomber jacket and a leather helmet with goggles....I just HAD to! Isn't she a beauty?

(My brother, Art. Doesn't he look like a pilot?)

(Wait a minute! Is that a zip tie???!?)

(My old neighborhood!)

We visited with friends and family, created some great meals and memories. It was fantastic!

(Captain Nancy)

(Rob, Ramon & Dawn)

And I have to mention somewhere in here, that while cooking at home, especially with good friends, is my favorite...and the Gorgonzola chicken, Bread Salad, and grilled vegetables with a loganberry reduction we made at Ramon and Dawn's was mouth watering...and my sister in law's eggplant, basil sandwiches on rustic baguette were delicious...my absolute favorite would have to be the Cuban sandwiches from Paseo's across from the Shilshole Marina in Seattle:

(No sandwich image available due to the speed at which they were consumed.)

It was time to leave the Emerald City and it's endless offering of exquisite Coffee, Pastries, Foodies, Friends, and Family. It was with sadness, but also excitement, that we travelled on to Bend, Oregon - land of tax free shopping, outdoor adventure, and fun! We did some camping on Wickiup Reservoir, where we just drove up to a "primitive" campsite on the water and set up camp! For FREE!

(The view from our tent.)

We even did a little bit of "extreme" geocaching (in swimsuits and flip flops, not recommended!).

We had some great times with Emily and Glen's friends Jimmy and Joy. They have a game room with ping pong, hoola hoop, pool, Centipede, Darts, Rock 'em Sock 'em, Hungry Hungry Hippo, and a random game from the 60's called "Swivel":

And I would be remiss if I did not take advantage of the EXCELLENT consignment stores in Bend (seriously...they rock!). And no tax? I found a "gently used" pair of J Crew brown leather riding boots for $40!!! Here's me happy: