Me, Houdini, and the Open Road

Do I dare say again how much I LOVE it when Christmas is over?  Clearing out the red and green fluff and clutter is kind of like liberation from a cage of tinsel and toffee.  I only wish I could rid my hips of those extra holiday pounds as easily as I sweep the tree needles out the door.

January is optimistic.  It speaks of open roads with no obstacles between me and the adventures ahead. So what great plans do we have for 2014?

Camping.  As much of it as we can cram into the season.  I happily resumed my pilgrimages to the camping aisle at the local store the other day, hoping to discover any newly invented treasure that might have appeared in my absence, that I really, really need.   We bought a one-year membership to a network of campgrounds throughout Washington and Oregon which is where I hope you'll find us on most weekends, as soon as the weather allows.

We'd love another trip to southern Utah to soak in more of its glorious canyons.  Plus I'm thinking this may be the year we head over to the Palmyra, New York area to connect with our religious roots.

More biking.  I've heard about some new trails to explore.  One is the Tualatin Valley trail, a 30 mile extension of the Banks-Vernonia trail.  Plus we need to conquer the entire Springwater trail (venturing beyond Cartlandia) in Portland.  They're also opening more of the old highway in the Columbia Gorge.   And Husband is STILL ironing out our coast ride.  So, Biking Friends, get ready.  We're doing this!

There's the 2014 Manly Man Hike in September, and I will fight anyone who tries to change the name on my account.  My new challenge is to figure out how to produce delicious dehydrated meals, via my new food drier, to eat in the wilderness.  So far, my strawberry fruit leather alone, although tasty, won't quite do it.

Running?  My foot is still healing and doing remarkably well, as a matter of fact.  The Boot has been replaced by The Shoe .... a clumpish, black, velcro-bound fashion-violation that serves to remind me that I actually did have surgery three weeks ago, and probably shouldn't be stomping my foot at the cat.   So, since I can't complain of pain where there is none, I expect to be running again in a month or two.  Probably two.  And the relay is still in June and I am still on the team.  With Favorite Third Son.  And Favorite Only Daughter.  (**Feeling the giddiness.**  Will I ever out-grow this?  I honestly don't know.)

And since I am married to Houdini, who thrives on planning any type of escape from the Daily Grind, you never know what new adventure will burst upon our humble calendar.  Southwest Airlines kindly granted us Companion Passes for the year, so now the sky ....
along with the roads ....
is open.

Happy New Year!