Adult Summer Turns to Fall (I’m Back!)

I had a realization sitting in awful traffic yesterday—I haven’t blogged in months and it’s uncool. There are a few reasons why—a big job layoff and subsequent job searching, moving, travel and otherwise awesome business. Excuses aside, here I am, now. 

This I can say…I had a pretty awesome “adult summer” that is now shaping up to be a pretty awesome fall. What have I done with my (supposed) free time and freedom?

1. Oregon. Yes! The trip I gushed about months and months ago actually happened! I’ll blog in full about it soon because the pics are worth it.

2. Ithaca. Family lakehouse, relaxation, deep breaths and lake swimming. That’s what I’m talkin’ about.

3. Indian Lake. Kayak camping on islands with the three important men in my life just as summer began to cool off to make way for autumn. Spectacular. Stay tuned for a post on that too.

4. Cohabitation. That’s right. Hardtack and I (and the Duchess) have officially shacked up. It means better meals for all, a fuller fridge for HT and less living out of a backpack for me. Plus, he cleans the kitchen. So far, so great.

I can’t wait to get back in a routine of sorts this fall and take on some delicious fall recipes, hikes and gear reviews. HT and I have both just gotten our hands on some new gear and I’m stockpiling fallish crockpot recipes so I’ve got plenty to share.

Good to be back. Happy candy corn season to all!!

This is Not Glamping.

glamping: shorthand for glamorous camping; luxury camping.

I don’t know much about that. Somehow, in the midst of morphing from hikers to backpackers, HT has also managed to skip over any logical transition from “girl sleeps in bed, indoors, with running water” to “girl must conform to boy’s sudden ‘ultralight backpacker’ self-classification and must forego even basic comforts of life”. Do not get me wrong, I grew up camping every summer, but not carrying my gear on my back. I ask his counsel when shopping for gear in prep for this summer’s adventures and the man has done his research.

Apparently now we don’t even change our clothes.

We must upgrade from a hand-me-down 10-year old ThermaRest (but it was free!).

We don’t carry tons of extra water (but I’m a superhydrator!).

We must have titanium coffee mugs.

We shave ounces at all costs.

We shave legs to save leg hair weight. (OK, not that one. Carrying a razor would be required and that is just NOT ALLOWED).

I’m going along with it, ’cause Lord knows I dont’ actually want to be hauling a heavier pack than he is when he’s dragging my ass along the trail, but I’m just wondering if we might find a happy medium when we base camp with my family in the Adirondacks over Labor day weekend.

…maybe I’ll even bring a pillow.