Big Bites!!

I don’t think we bit off more than we could chew; we just took a REALLY big bite…;)

Like many things in life, Panchito projects averaged twice as long as anticipated which pushed our awaited take-off by a week or so.

Gnawing and nibbling our way through; we had an epiphany to stop the “rushed” feelings and enjoy this fine dining experience.

I mean, you need to enjoy the appetizer and entree before that dessert!!! Right?!

Once the floors were in, everything started coming together!

(Still working morning to night with: wall insulation… new siding… cabinets, kitchenette… the bed!)

Some nights were a cold beer and take-out in the van or garage 🙂 other evenings required something stronger… “where’s my whiskey!” Haha

The last few days, feelings of excitement are at an all time high. Completing the final touches; it’s sinking in that we’re having a rad start to 2019! Let the year begin!!

Expanding Horizons

There is something so rewarding about expanding your horizons and embracing the NEW.

Whether trying a new recipe, learning another language, watching video after video of how to properly install insulation and sub flooring… right or left brain…both sides have really been hitting the gym.

We’re talkin’ very mentally toned, if you know what I mean… 😉

We are definitely using our combined knowledge and expertise, but are embracing the NEW on a daily.

Exhibit A: Check out these floor s’mores! Yea!!

Our goal is to complete the flooring in the next day or two. And we think the ‘grey ash’ vinyl planks will compliment Pancho very nicely.

While making strides on the rebuild, we’ve also been acquiring living goodies for este viaje…el interior y la cocina…

Because when it comes to essentials, you can’t leave home without a zester…Right?

¡Buen provecho!

(On this topic, you have to try Picadillo with Plantains!)

Utah: Life Elevated

Ever think a ‘waterpocket fold’ would land in the list of things that excite you? 😉

Well, better add a bullet for this one…

Utah continues to amaze us. J has been more than me, but this third trip certainly was a charm. We really packed it in with this one:

Dead Horse Point State Park, Moab, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Escalante State Park, Zion National Park…

What’s the longest you can go without blinking?

A trip like this was awesome to scratch the surface, but we were left wanting more… more of each place. There was so much to take in at each location, you didn’t want to miss a moment. And, with some of the back-country dirt roads, you couldn’t really afford to…

As a little girl, I was always fascinated by rocks. I wanted to climb them, collect them, figure out what made them…A roadtrip like this was a dream. Not only the red rocks, but the incredible history and Native American presence in pictographs, arrowheads… aaahhhh!

Pancho was not ready for a haul like this, but our other road warrior, Coco Loco Moco, was up for the challenge. Complete with a rooftop treehouse (as we like to call it); it is arguably the most comfortable ‘glamp’ set up one could ask for. It was a tidbit chilly this time of year, so Mr. Heater Buddy became a close companion.

We weren’t the only ones that were cold..

Pepe, our new fuzzy fellow re-emerged every 5 minutes for one of the nights, to toast his paws by the fire. He was uncomfortably welcoming to the neighborhood which kept me on the edge of my chair for most of the evening, much to J’s entertainment. In his backyard or not, it would have been a very untimely occasion for a spritz of this special outdoorsy cologne. Yep..

Hmmm what else can I say – we were so thankful to spend this special trip with friends, families, loved ones. There were so many happy memories made; I hope when I am older, there will be a special smile wrinkle for this one.

Belay on!

Vacation Days

Big things happening this week:

Transmission rebuild = complete!

Vehicle registration = complete! (Thank goodness for AAA, saving us hours from the dreaded DMV). It felt pretty good getting those license plates…real official….woot!

Costco run = complete. Ha! No, not for the trip, just for life. In the midst of all this craziness, we decided it was a good idea to do a 21 day sugar detox. Stocked up on meats, veggies, almond butter, eggs…sadly had to skip the wine aisle…next time.

The reality of this trip is really starting to sink in. How often does one get to spend 3 months traveling through Mexico?! It really is a rare opportunity; J is in a unique position to make shift trades and my contract is coming to an end.

It’s crazy (for me) to digest that I only have three weeks of work left. Planning the transition, I have been sharing our plans with more and more people. The reactions have been all over the board: shocked, amused, excited, curious, amazed, skeptical, unsure, annoyed, and my favorite, genuinely happy for us.

The truth is: not enough people take vacations and time for themselves.

“Unlike every other developed nation in the world, the U.S. has no mandated number of days off for employees. About one-fourth of American workers get no paid vacation at all. Those whose employers offer it receive an average of about 10 days a year” – https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/why-vacations-matter/index.html

Even with the average of ’10 days’, over half of Americans do not use all of the vacation they earn.

Being at companies in the past, where vacation hours were accrued, I was counting those hours each pay check to plan my next adventure… I would not leave a single minute.

There are so many aspects of life, work is certainly one of them, but should not be the only one. Take the vacation days, discover somewhere new, go for a walk, lay in a hammock. You won’t regret it.

We are excited to live ‘outside the box’ for this upcoming period and fully experience all that life has to offer.

Cookies

After getting Pancho home safely, we checked him into the doctor for his first operation; rebuilding the transmission.

We have about two months until ‘Mexico go-time’ so we’re tackling the big stuff first. Parting ways, it was time to pack up the bicicletas for an adventure in the Malibu mountains…

Challenge: Phil’s Cookie Fondo.

Course consisted of: Spandex, gourmet cookies, tough climbs, burning lungs, sweat, eye watering descents, beautiful views, and did I already say COOKIES? Yes, at everrrrry aid station…sweetness!

Ex pro cyclist, Phil Gaimon, known for chowing down cookies on serious races, puts on an awesome event! Dressed up like the cookie monster, he organized several routes: Mini Chip, Sugar Cookie, Chocolate Chip and Double Fudge. (The double fudgers are walnuts! 110 miles…eeesh).

We opted for the 50 mile Sugar Cookie ride, plenty challenging with over 3,250 ft+ of climbing. It was a rad day, starting through foggy farmlands, climbing up windy narrow roads, discovering gorgeous, rocky, hilly, terrain sprinkled with horse stables and impressive ranches.

Sweet treats along the way until we found the Malibu coast for the last stretch. Right when you are about to cross over to the dark side, fatigued and in need of more calories, you ride through the finish archways to find a Michelin star meal and cold beer waiting for you. Amazing.

Of course we had to bring home some gourmet coffee…one of the best souvenirs 😊

Pancho!

Ever been in love at first sight?

Okay, you must admit the first feelings are purely physical. It was probably that strong, bold body… Or perhaps that charming style, the first impression that left you craving more…

Maybe it was that “ready-for-action” look that made you want to drive off into the sunset…

Oh yeah… (All of those things…)

That’s how we felt when we saw Pancho!

After months of van searching, we found the ONE. With extremely busy work schedules and limited time off, we had to get serious and seal the deal over the phone. Whoa!

Luckily, we hit it off with the seller and felt pretty confident about the transaction. (Of course, I was a nervous wreck until we reunited in Vegas, everyone in one piece).

It was an amazing blur…Vegas lights, a free hotel upgrade to a poolside cabana room, riding the high roller over the city skyscrapers and getting to know our new adventure wagon.

The ride home was less than ‘Purrfect’ thanks to “Purrfect Auto Service” who took 5 hours, inspecting Pancho, ordering new shocks, trying to install them and realizing they ordered the wrong ones…Ha! (Not so funny at the time).

Crossing our fingers and leaning to the right, we set off on our drive home, using tie-downs to hold the seats in place and a Bluetooth speaker to ease the mood 😉 A very memorable first drive in Pancho.

Sometimes it’s the perfectly imperfect ones we fall for…and those are the BEST. We are so excited about this sweet ride and what the future has in store.

The Bobby

I’ve learned the term ‘admiration hour’ from my other half. That perfect time of evening that calls for a cocktail, relaxation and appreciation of ones surroundings.

Touring Nashville, we found the best place to ‘admire‘ was The Bobby… A full sized bus situated on the rooftop of a hotel.

Yes, we stopped in our tracks the first time we saw it too.

It was hard to believe the cranes and manpower to make this magic bus a reality.

Cocktails in hand, we climbed behind the wheel and set off for a sunset cruise across the skyline.

Don’t want to ‘drink and drive’? Try cuddling up in one of the old diner style tables or leather couches in the back. (Extremely comfy…I think we tried them all).

There were many noteworthy bebidas and ‘hours of happiness’, but this one took the cake!

¡Salud!

Hello, Nashville.

Traveling days are always a whirlwind. Before catching the flight to Nashville, Tennessee, we squeezed in an appointment to meet and test drive a mighty fine ford econoline camper van, who I already affectionately named, “McKenzie”.

Physically standing in the van, the dream started becoming a reality… how would we set up storage, configure the inside, was it insulated? While we ultimately concluded it was not the one, it was a productive start to the viewings. The wheels were turning…

Egg and bacon sandwiches later, we found ourselves on a plane, sitting behind a 3 year old boy who introduced himself as “the blue ninja”. After “flying the friendly skies” with United… touchdown!

A short lyft ride away, we checked into The Fairlane, a historical bank building converted into a retro trendy boutique hotel (Yes, it was the coolest!)

Hungry and anxious to kick off our trip, we went for a quick exercise at “Jim’s Office” (the hotel gym) before heading out for a late night bite to eat. Discovering Printer’s Alley, we settled in at The Bourbon Street Blues Boogie Bar.

Walking through the alley felt like a trip back in time…

In the early 1900’s, Printer’s Alley was inhabited mostly by publishers, print shops and newspaper companies. Closer to the 1940s the area transformed into more of an evening entertainment district. Although illegal in that period, the alley night clubs were known for serving liquor to their guests ‘under the table’. (Restaurant guests could not legally purchase drinks until 1968). While country music is thriving in Nashville; this alley was and is known for playing more Jazz and Blues.

The Stacy Mitchhart Band was getting ready for their next set, so we got cozy, ordered some Fried Green Tomatoes and did our first “Cheers” over a Chicken Scratch Pilsner and a Honky Tonk IPA. Welcome to Nashville!

The Present

As much as we love traveling, trip planning, all the research that’s involved, getting excited about ideas…future places, we are reminded to enjoy the PRESENT.

Sometimes the worry wart takes over…there’s not enough time, it’s going by too fast, instead of allowing ourselves to fully relax and soak up everything happening in the moment. Enjoy right now; it’s the best way to get the full experience, right?!

We are going on vacation to Nashville; our first time to the “Music City”… Woot! I have to say I am proud that nothing is planned this time (okay, well, the coolest hotel and one concert!)

We’re pumped to take it slow, explore and let the beats lead the way.

For whether in a rad new city or in the middle of Baja with a flat tire, “wherever you go…there you are!” 😉

(Quote ~ Jon Kabat-Zinn)