Explore the journey — one trail, museum, meal, and memory at a time.
Quesnel, BC
After a long drive north through British Columbia, I arrived in Quesnel expecting a quiet river town and instead found something far more complicated. River trails, old industrial bridges, homeless camps, a Sikh temple rebuilt by the community, silent downtown streets, and strange moments that made me stop and think about where small towns may be headed in a rapidly changing world.
Whistler to Cache Creek
What was supposed to be a simple driving day through British Columbia became a constantly changing mix of mountain weather, fog, rain, and brief moments of incredible light. Plans for Garibaldi Lake fell apart after discovering the hike was far more serious than expected, and the rest of the day became a slow drive north along the Cariboo Highway toward Cache Creek.
Vancouver, BC
A rainy drive into downtown Vancouver turned into one of the most visually interesting photography days of the trip. Reflections covered the city, seaplanes landed beside container ships, and Gastown shifted between tourism and human struggle block by block. Later, Whistler Village brought Olympic history, mountain energy, great conversations, amazing pizza, and a quiet mountain pull-off to end the night.
Hoh Rainforest
I spent the day exploring the Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park, one of the wettest and most unique forests in the United States. Moss-covered trees, towering Sitka spruce, elk along the roadside, and conversations with fellow travelers and photographers turned a long day of driving into one of the most memorable experiences of my Washington journey.
Lake Crescent: Marymere Falls Trail
After a quiet night parked in Port Angeles, I spent the afternoon hiking the Marymere Falls Trail near Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park. Moss-covered trees, emerald green forests, Barnes Creek, and soft evening light made this one of the most peaceful hikes I’ve done in Washington. The day ended beside the water before finding another quiet street to sleep for the night.
Hurricane Ridge to Mount Angeles
A fog-filled drive up Hurricane Ridge turned into one of the most physically demanding hikes I’ve done in years. From steep snowfields and loose mountain trails to wildlife encounters, mountain photography, and an unexpected friendship with an Army trainer newly arrived from Alaska, this day in Olympic National Park became far more memorable than I expected when I left the van that morning.
Olympia, WA State Capitol
I toured the Washington State Capitol in Olympia, Washington after unexpectedly joining a tour already in progress. Inside, I explored the marble rotunda, legislative chambers, and the enormous Tiffany chandelier hanging beneath the dome. Outside, the capitol steps were filled with a National Day of Prayer gathering that raised questions about religion, public spaces, and what religious freedom really means in practice.
Leavenworth, Snowqualmie Falls, & Trains
An early morning walk through Leavenworth led to coffee shops, quiet streets, and unexpected conversations before continuing west to Snoqualmie Falls and the Northwest Railway Museum. Between roaring waterfalls, nurse trees, hydroelectric history, and rusting steam locomotives slowly being reclaimed by the forest, this became one of the most visually interesting days I’ve had in Washington.
Leavenworth, WA
What started as a stop in Wenatchee became an unplanned evening in Leavenworth, Washington. After a challenging 12-mile ride along the Columbia River and lingering breathing issues from COVID, I drove into Leavenworth at dusk and spent hours walking the Bavarian-style village with my camera, photographing warm lights, quiet streets, glowing storefronts, and mountain town atmosphere.
Banks Lake Birds & Lake Chelan
A peaceful morning beside Banks Lake in Washington state was filled with frogs, geese, and Red-winged Blackbirds until the mood shifted after witnessing children using air rifles to shoot birds along the shoreline. Leaving the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area behind, the drive continued through Chelan and eventually to Wenatchee in search of a quieter place to spend the night.
Spokane River Walk
Spokane surprised me. What started as a simple search for coffee became a full day exploring downtown, walking the Spokane Riverwalk, watching the falls crash through the center of the city, and stumbling into a state wrestling tournament at The Podium. The night ended beside Banks Lake listening to birds in the reeds while a bald eagle skimmed low across the water at dusk.
Snake River to Steptoe Butte
A long day on the backroads of eastern Washington led from the Snake River to Palouse Falls and Steptoe Butte. Along the way were abandoned homesteads, giant transmission towers, railroad trestles, smoke-filled farmland, and some of the best rolling landscape photography I’ve encountered anywhere in the United States.
Tamástslikt & Pendelton Mills
After slowing down for a few days near Pendleton, Oregon, I visited the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, explored the long history behind Pendleton Woolen Mills, drove through the Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge, and crossed into Washington beneath a rising orange full moon.
Paper Tickets and Desert Highways
A quarter tank of gas feels very different in rural eastern Oregon. Driving north from the Painted Hills toward Pendleton, I stopped in Spray at an old-school gas station running on trust, paper tickets, and ancient equipment. Later, over lunch in Long Creek, I met a man named Al whose stories ranged from Harleys and prison time to caring for his daughter through cancer.
Crater Lake to Painted Hills
What started as a simple morning at Crater Lake turned into a long, uncertain drive to the Painted Hills—and five hours I didn’t expect to spend there. Along the way, the landscape shifted from dense forest to high desert, the light kept changing, and the hills revealed more the longer I stayed. The day ended in a quiet pullout, surrounded by cattle and just enough silence to notice.
Crater Lake
A quiet drive from Bend to Crater Lake turned into one of the most memorable days of the trip. Lava fields, snow-covered roads, changing weather, and the deep blue caldera made it feel like visiting the park at exactly the right moment—just before the crowds and long before the snow fully disappeared.
Mount Hood and Bend, OR
From a quiet morning in Hood River to the slopes of Mount Hood and down into Bend, this day blends van life routine with a few surprises. Timberline Lodge didn’t work out, but the High Desert Museum more than made up for it. Add in slow Starlink uploads, a solid meal, and a quiet street to park for the night, and it’s a full day that feels exactly like life on the road.
Multnomah Falls & Hood River, OR
A low-energy morning turned into one of the fuller days of the trip. I hiked Multnomah Falls, talked a couple of women through the switchbacks, shot the Columbia River at golden hour in Hood River, and — almost by accident — ended up in a documentary screening about indigenous communities fighting for their river. Not a bad Tuesday.
Willamette Heritage Museum
I didn’t know what to expect walking into the Willamette Heritage Center, but it turned into one of the more interesting stops in Salem. From the water-powered Thomas Kay Woolen Mill to the darker, colder Picker House and the surprisingly detailed historic homes, the entire site shows how wool became fabric—and how a community formed around it.
Salem Capitol, Oregon
A day in Salem, Oregon—starting with a solo tour of the State Capitol, followed by a walk along the riverfront, coffee shops, chance conversations, and a visit to the historic Reed Opera House. It’s a mix of small moments, local places, and the kind of day that unfolds without much planning.