Left Foot Farm

Start chapter 1 of our new life. Our, perhaps chapter something-or-other in our ever expanding novel of this wonderful life we live.

Either way, we are settled into our new home, that being be our home for now at least. Left Foot Farm has really surpassed any expectations we had and we feel very fortuitous to have found such a wonderful place to call home.

When we arrived at the farm it was a bit overwhelming, as there are ten other wwoofers living here, along with some 100 goats, six dogs, chickens, ducks and pigs. Needless to say there is always something going on and many names to learn and as such we have enjoyed every step thus far. The farm here specializes in selling raw goat’s milk, primarily from Nigerian Dwarf goats, which have the highest butterfat content of all goat’s milk.

We have our own little cabin to stay in, but we spend most of our time working our daily shifts, which can consist of anything from feeding, milking, hoof trimming, and gardening, to name a few. With so many chores to be done around this bustling farm you can always find something to keep you busy, which we have really enjoyed after our long trip out here, with virtually no responsibilities.

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  Since we are allotted two days off a week we have been spending our free time exploring the area. Our first stop was, of course, to see Mt. Rainier National Park. On clear day you can see the towering peak from the farm, its snow laden face beckoning us to come have a closer look. The hike we did was amazing, taking us through fields of blooming wildflowers up to various vantage points where we could stop and admire the icy volcano as well as many waterfalls and wildlife.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Another day off us took us to Olympia, the capital of Washington state. Though it is small, it is very quaint and has much to offer in terms of tourism. We spent the day touring the capital building and then meandering the streets, popping in and out of the small, local shops that populate the downtown district and finished up the day with a walk along the inlet.

  

Though I know it’s coming, it’s hard to imagine the rainy, dreary days to come because it has just been so beautiful here. Every morning starts out with a crisp chill, just enough to wake you up, which burns off with the rising sun and warmer temperatures we’ve been enjoying. Since fall has announced itself with the turning of the leaves, we try to spend every afternoon we have off by  swimming in the nearby lakes or using the farm kayaks to explore.

  

All the greatness and beauty here has moved me to start writing haikus. Certainly more will follow in future posts, but I leave you for now, with my first attempt.

 

One breath-

the words that flow,

aspire to inspire

 

 Tonya and Ryan

Croatoan

After hearing what the land has to say across this beautiful nation of ours, we have decided to set out once again on the road with all our possessions packed liked sardines under our truck topper. However, this time things will be a bit different, as we have decided on a final destination. A definitive place, a home, for the pups and us. Our little family will now be living in Washington.

Yes, we loved it so much there that we have decided to relocate just about as far away from Florida as you can get within these American borders. May sound crazy, but there is just something awe-inspiring about the pacific north-west and we just couldn’t shake it once we got back to the east coast. We are so excited to start this next chapter of our lives and hope that all our loved ones will come visit and share in this amazing place with us. It truly is too great not to.

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Now in order to make this move happen, we have lined up a farm-stay in Eatonville, WA for us to reside while we get our bearings straight and find a job and place to live. After stopping in Pennsylvania for some time to visit my dad and family we had to say our goodbyes and start our trek west.

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Our first stop was a short-lived visit to Ohio. Sorry to say, but there was not much there worth seeing so we packed up camp in the morning and continued west for a good part of the day. We decided to stop at Kickapoo State Park in Illinois, which proved to be a much more interesting stay than Wayne National Forest.

Kickapoo is a huge recreation area, so there were many trails, pavilions and picnic areas, alongside the many picturesque lakefront scenes. We hiked some trails to wear the dogs out and finished just in time for a major thunderstorm to roll in and force us to take shelter in a pavilion. Now, this storm is only worth mentioning because it was for certain the biggest storm I’ve ever been in, especially considering we endured it from under an open pavilion. With the wind spraying the heavy raindrops sideways to mist us while loud claps of thunder had Honey barking incessantly, we were certainly glad when we finally saw the redeeming rays of sun indicating the end of this massive thunderhead.

  That afternoon, we got to workout with our new contraption. Before we left my dad’s house, Ryan had the ingenious idea to craft our own version of a TRX. Using handles from some old resistance bands, he tied some climbing rope together, with adjustable knots and had us a body-weight, suspension training workout system for next to nothing. (Definitely didn’t want to buy a TRX, those suckers are expensive!). So now we can workout on the road, as long as we have a sturdy tree and of course the will to break a sweat.

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Steadfast to our western route we drove a whole day of intermittent storms throughout the states of Illinois and Iowa as we made our way north into Minnesota. There, we set up camp for one night, only to get totally drenched by a rainstorm we were not expecting. Somehow we still haven’t learned to just prep the tent for rain, but in the evenings when the stars are shining so bright, it’s just too tempting to leave that rain fly off.

Badlands

 Once we got into South Dakota, we stopped in Badlands National Park to eat lunch among the eroded buttes and spires of the harsh, rocky landscape. Then continuing west we finally found relief from the heat when we made camp at a relatively higher elevation. After spending the morning hiking nearby, we made our way to Mount Rushmore National Monument, a must-see when you’re in the area. Words cannot convey the actual size of the features carved into the side of Mount Rushmore, bringing you face to face with the heritage we all share. Standing there, nearly a mile from the mountain, it’s hard to contemplate how Gutzon Borglum achieved such a feat, but his words ring true:

“..let us place there, carved high, as close to heaven as we can, their faces, to show posterity what manner of men they were. Then breathe a prayer that these records will endure until the wind and rain alone shall wear them away.”

Mount Rushmore

Continuing our historical journey, we headed into Wyoming, home of the first National Park, Yellowstone, and first National Monument, Devil’s Tower. After camping in the Big Horn Mountains, a personal favorite, we made a stop at the eroded magma structure that is Devil’s Tower, where we ate lunch in the foothills of the 865 foot high formation.

  Cooking dinner over the fire

Once we got to the Big Sky State of Montana we camped for a few nights under the countless stars and did some gorgeous hikes during the day. Getting to Idaho proved to be much hotter and we decided to stop driving early because we found a beautiful campground on a river we just couldn’t pass up. We quickly changed into our suits and swam for the hot part of that day. Lucky we did because a storm rolled in that evening, bringing with it cold, foggy air that lazily wafted through the forested mountainside the next day. Because it was now so much colder, we decided to soak in the nearby hot springs. After hiking about a mile into the woods we warmed our bones in a tepid pool alongside the icy river. It truly was one of the most magical places I’ve been.

I could not have asked for a more perfect way to end our voyage to new land. Saying farewell to the home we have always known and entering into this novel place is certainly just outside of comfortable, but it’s exactly what we want and need.  We are so excited to start the new chapter of our lives, together.

Tonya & Ryan