2020 Year in Review

It’s safe to say we all had a crazy 2020. Each January we like to take a look back on the year as we make plans for the future. Here is our quick 2020 in review.

Banff National Park view of Lake Louise (Copy)

Lake Louise winter sleigh ride in the snow (Copy)

Our year started off with a bang at a wassail. A wassail is a traditional ceremony to awaken apple trees and ensure a good harvest. After sunset participants go out to an orchard and make as much noise as possible by any means necessary. All the noise wakes up the trees and reminds them to start making apples. It’s basically a lot of merry making and fun.

Our biggest trip was to Banff and it was epic! There was so much to see and do, we crammed as much as we could into each day. Mike went snowboarding, we took a gondola, visited a hot springs and a wildlife museum and of course went to Lake Louise. Also, we ate and drank our way through the wonderful restaurants.

Lockdown was challenging but Mike did his part by sampling every kind of aquavit he could get his hands on.

View from the famous Chuckanut Drive in Washington State (Copy)

Views from Larrabee State Park of the Puget Sound (Copy)

REI Kingdom 4 Tent and Kelty GYST system bag (Copy)

Olympic Peninsula views, camping on the beach (Copy)

Barebones Living Forest Lantern at Hayden Lake Idaho (Copy)

Morning at Ocean Shores on the Washington Coast (Copy)

Barebones Living Forest Lantern on the Olympic Peninsula (Copy)

Views of the Hood Canal from Dosewallips State Park (Copy)

Camping season began for us when campgrounds and parks reopened. This year we camped 11 times, let’s hope we double it next year!

We didn’t take as many hikes as we planned for but the trails we did take were amazing. Trails we took: Lower Quilcene, Franklin Ghost Town, Mount Washington, Deception Pass, Lena Lake, plus various small hikes around the campgrounds we visited.

Overnight trips included:

Leavenworth, Washington
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Newman Lake, Washington
Port Townsend, Washington
The Vintages, Oregon

This year we also moved back to the Ballard neighborhood in Seattle. Ballard is known for its famous fishing and crabbing boats as well as its Scandinavian heritage. It’s located right next to the Locks, the Nordic Heritage Museum and Golden Gardens park. Mike loves learning more about his roots and I love the seafood and the amazing cocktails.

Thank you for adventuring along with us in 2020, here’s to more adventures in 2021. Skal!