the Get Rolling Orbit

Skiing in Hokkaido, Japan

Dan had a dream, to ski the famous bottomless dry powder of northern Japan, known as JaPow! So he signed us up with a company called Savour the Journey, specializing in both skiing and food. Liz dreamed of being able to communicate with the natives, so she immediately started working through the Duolingo Japanese lessons in order to master the basics: Hello, thank you, where are the toilets? English menu please. Truly an excellent adventure for January, and just in time!

• Tour of Sapporo
• JaPow Skiing
• Rest Day in Costal Otaru
• Two Days in Kanazawa
• Day in Kyoto
• Tokyo Part 1
• Tokyo Part 2
• Tokyo Part 3

August Road Trip to Hike in Montana

We grew restless after sheltering in place the second half of ski season and all spring at home. When Zephyr Adventures announced a safety-adjusted Beartooth Hiking Adventure in Red Lodge, Montana, we jumped at the chance to plan a camping road trip to and from the location, including two days in Yellowstone National Park. Of course, we followed strict safety protocols for our two weeks among the Sturgis motorcycle rally folks passing through the region.

• Summer Road Trip: NV, ID, WY, MT
• Beartooth, MT; 5 Days of Hiking, 1 of Rafting with Zephyr Adventures pals
• Road Trip home: OR, NV, CA
• Dry Camping in Leslie Gulch, OR

Local Recreation in Covid Times

Dan worked successfully from home with only a brief layoff, and solidly retired Liz did Fitbit online workouts, Zoom Yoga classes and local hikes with a pal. We prioritized local weekend adventures outdoors, feeling grateful to live in such an outdoors-friendly climate.

• SUP? A Paddling Get-away to Clear Lake State Park
• Liz and hiking pal Karen: see the poppies and smell the roses.
• Dan and Liz: Super Bloom 2020
• Natural phenomenon: China Wall and Snagging Comet Neowise
• For future adventures: Test Drive to Pinnacles National Park
• We did it!! Overnighter in our new Campervan!

Home and Hometown

The Wembly habitat is a wonderful place to spend a pandemic shutdown. Don was like the Energizer Bunny over summer, planting a stupendous display of flowers, helping us with the pandemic garden experiment, keeping up with the raking and managing the swimming pool. A few home improvement projects kept us all busy off and on.

• Tomato Run to the Mesa
• Wembly Habitat