Travel Thursday: Cruising the Bay in San Fran

We ended our Pacific NW trip last year in San Franciso.
We met up with some Kiwi pals who were just starting a holiday, and we had a blast.
I waddled around with a a big old belly, and we did lots of exploring.

One of my favorite things (and something that was a must do on my list) was a cruise in the bay.
Here are some of the highlights from that lovely morning!

Oh and we saw dolphins. Which you know, is awesome.

Travel Thursday: Arches National Park, Moab

In May last year I was lucky enough to go on a field trip to Colorado and Utah. One of the definite highlights was "free time" after the trip. I got to go to both Canyonlands National Park and
Arches National Park in Moab. And wow, just an amazing part of this planet.

Here are some photos I took while exploring Arches National Park. The colors of the rocks are just stunning. These deep ochre tones which to me, just feel so primeval and earthy. I think it is a very easy place to feel connected to the earth. Well haha, you know without getting too emotional. I am a geologist to be fair!

Travel Thursday: Jacobs Well, Texas

I have often spoke of Pinterest wins. Recipes. Bebe advice. Sewing tutorials...
But actually, one of the best Pinterest wins I have ever had was - Jacobs Well.

When Liz came to visit last year, we took a road trip through the Hill Country and up to Austin. One of the places we stopped we had both found on Pinterest. We popped it into the GPS and drove some wee back roads, went the wrong way a couple of times, and eventually came to a wee car park in the middle of some apartments (odd, I know).. But, we carried on, slathered the sunscreen, popped on the togs and followed the path. And wow. We came to a beautiful limestone outcrop in a stream, with a deep blue cave. Like, actually wow.

It was hot as heck, but we all clobbered over the bridge, and climbed to the other side of the rock. And then we had a wee swim. It was a slippery spot, but very lovely. We had a wee explore around, dodged the UT students, and even jumped in the hole. The color was just stunning. It was really a lovely spot if you are taking a drive around that part of the world!

It was a little tricky to get photos, as there were quite a few people around, but here are a few shots I got.

Travel Thursday: Latourelle Falls, Oregon

Here is the prettiest spot ever. The first waterfall we came upon down the Columbia River Gorge in September. I think even the name is beautiful... Latourelle. Yes. I like it!

Travel Thursday - 2014 in a Suitcase

Well it was a big year.. I'm not sure if there were more or less miles clocked up than 2014 but it sure felt like we did a lot. Here are some highlights!

In January we were in New Zealand, finishing off our Christmas trip with family. We saw some beautiful spots - some new to us which made for some super fun exploring, and some that were familiar and lovely - which going home should be all about.

The view down to West End, Ohope.

February was our first (and unfortunately) only trip to New Orleans. But it was a goodin! We had an epically long drive there (Mardi Gras traffic) over what can only be described as amazing stretches of swamp and bayous. Like, stunningly beautiful landscape. Our friends had found us an awesome place in the French Quarter, and we had such a blast partying at Mardi Gras and eating amazing food. If we get a chance again I would love to go back and spend more time there. Plus we definitely would love to do a swamp tour. There is something so eerily beautiful about the area. 

A collection of floats from the Endymion parade.

In March we had a long weekend away at a beautiful ranch, about an hour out of Houston. Our friends chose a beautiful weekend to get married at an unbelievable spot. The bluebells were blooming early and the fields were so lush and green, the opposite of so many views you see in Texas.

I loved exploring the ranch early in the morning before anyone was up.

At the beginning of April we had a long weekend away with our Texan Family down on Galveston Island. It was beautiful and we had so much fun being at the coast. Being kiwis we missed the beach a lot living in Houston.

You have to fly kites while you stay at the beach right?

Our trip to San Antonio in April happened to coincide with a month long festival called Fiesta, which, if you can ever go to is such a blast! One of my favorite events was a massive food event which featured a large selection of foods from all the countries which played a role in the settling of various towns in Texas. French food, Spanish food, Mexican food, German food, so much good food. Nom nom nom. And we got to smash confetti eggs on each other's head and wear the resulting mess. So much fun! 

Our favorite thing- the cascarones.

I had a work trip to Utah and Colorado in May, which, although it was a bummer that Rob wasn't there, was an awesome trip. I got to hang with my best friend and that piece of the world is just stunning. Oh, and I got to get my rock geek on.

The Grand Arch in Arches National Park.

Later in the month we took a rad road trip with Liz through the Hill Country and to Austin. We swam in Jacobs well, an awesome Pinterest find! Plus we got to explore an amazing cave - with no name!

Jacob's Well was so worth the mission to find it!

Robs favorite place in the US is, hands down, New York. We planned a longer trip for our second time. We had a couple of nights in Times Square and four nights in the East Village. We saw a bunch of things we had missed our first time around, and couldn't help re-exploring some of our favorite spots. We were stoked to see an amazing vista from the Top of the Rock, both on a beautiful morning, and at night - amazing!

Classic, classic view.

After, we took a fun road trip across Manhattan, through Jersey State and into Pennsylvania to Dutch Country. Most people head that way to learn about the Amish way of life and eat caramels. But me, I'm just a nutcase who makes friends with people on the Internet and drives across three states to meet them. Haha and we are so glad we did! Meeting Laurie and her beautiful family was awesome!

 

Amish Jams. Nom nom nom.

We spent the Fourth of July at a beach house with our Texan Family on Galveston Island. There was fireworks, sand, sun, food and even a crazy water spout to finish off the weekend. An excellent independence weekend if ever there was one.

'Murica.

My true highlight for travel in America, was our two week trip to the Pacific North West in September.

 

We arrived in Vancouver and had a couple of days to explore. Caught a ferry to Victoria and just fell in love with Vancouver Island. Ferried to Seattle and Rob got to grab a coffee at the original Starbucks. Seattle was beautiful and I could totally settle there one day! We began an epic road trip which took us past Mount Saint Helens, into Portland, along the Columbia River Gorge, up to Mount Hood and then up to Crater Lake. We then drove across to California and out to the coast. We had four days in San Fran to end. It was easily my favorite trip while we were living in the States, and it truly was just stunning! 

 

Dude, seriously? Beautiful.

October marked our last month in the States, we took one more trip to Austin and had an awesome few days at the ACL festival. The weather was amazing and hot and it was just a blast.

We left Houston early November, and moved to Perth in Western Australia. I think for now we are happy to put the suitcases away for a wee while as we welcome little one into the world. But we spend a lot of time talking about our next set of adventures, and what places we want to take little Sophie to. And for now it's fun to look through the photos. Every now and then one of us will say "hey remember that cafe in Seattle where the dude..." Or, "do you remember listening to this song when we went across the Pennsylvania border?".

City Beach, Perth

I can't believe we got to see and do so many beautiful things! Such a good year, and so many fun adventures. Feeling so lucky and blessed to have had such a year.