Sometimes Life can be a tidal wave that sweeps you up, roils you around a bit, and then unceremoniously dumps you on a beach somewhere. Maybe that’s the case here – and maybe we haven’t even landed on the beach just yet!
It’s been a month since we left Juneau, and despite our best intentions, this blog has been existing in an electronic purgatory since we landed in Michigan on May 14. We’ve come up a few times for air (sticking with that tidal wave metaphor) to add to this post, but if we don’t wrap this up and click “send” today, we are gonna forget half of what’s gone down in the last two months!
Here we go!
We have so many stories to share since our last post, but in short: Folk Fest was a hoot! A week later, we hiked 7 miles to witness the dissection of a sleeper shark. Then there were more wonderful times in Juneau with friends and music and beautiful spring, to say nothing of the craziness of the last weeks of legislative session.
On stage at Folk Fest. 
We didn’t see a lot of other electric guitars or fiddles during the week. 
Our favorite pinball machine. 
And speaking of Jaws – a rare sleeper shark washed up on a beach. So of course our friends dissected it. 
Sippin’ suds and watching a dead shark. 
Having some laughs with Sean and Sarah.
On May 14 we flew to Michigan. Spent 10 days reuniting with Kayla’s sister, Iris, warm weather, and the Bettie Mobile. We endeavored to help Iris with a couple of property renovations as a thank-you for harboring our camper and car while we were in Juneau. Like any project, it took a little more work than we thought, but the results were worth it!
May 25-26 we made tracks to Matthew’s folks in Virginia, hitching up the camper and heading over the Appalachians to the east coast. We spent about 10 days there, getting involved in some other projects and reconnecting with the Turners. Throughout it all, Kayla’s work has been plenty busy also, so there have been plenty of interviews and Zoom meetings in the midst of it all!
Yay landscaping! 
Revised water feature at the Turner compound. 
Setting up for some more camper repair. 
We visited Deltaville Tap and Raw Bar, where we co-bartended two summers ago. Look for our awesome manager Steve and his daughter in the background – so fun to stop in and say hey! 
Beckley West Virginia has this. 
And this. Python jerky, anyone?
June 8-9 we drove back to Glenn, MI, and then we had 24 hours to “settle in” before our next excitement. Our dear friends Ed & David arrived in Glenn on Friday night; and on Saturday afternoon, Kayla’s sister Iris and their two nieces Hannah and Emma arrived for a weekend of good food and deep belly laughs. What a joyful weekend it was!
Then we did a flurry of re-packing (sorting through everything to determine what gets stored for the next 6 months vs what we take with us) and finished some camper projects (it would be so nice not to have to work on the Bettie Mobile as we travel this year!).
We pulled out of Glenn and headed toward the Twin Cities on the 12th where we’ll stay for a week. Highlights of our plans there include a floor-laying project and a Jet Set Betties gig with Mill City Caravan at the Acadia Cafe on June 16 (including new songs we’ve barely practiced! How exciting! Hahahahaha I’m sure it will be fine!!). Special feature of this gig is the opportunity to perform with Kayla’s niece Sophia and nephew Jon. If you’re in the Twin Cities, be sure to stop by!
Coming up after the Twin Cities is a quick stopover in Iowa to see Kayla’s Dad, and then, at last, the proper beginning of our next road trip.
Matthew still intends to write a separate post to share more about his four months working for the state legislature.
Speaking of, here’s our itinerary as far as we can see for now:
June 13-18: Twin Cities
June 19-22: Storm Lake, IA
June 23-July 2: traveling from Iowa to Washington
July 2-6 Seattle/Snoqualmie
July 7-13: coastal WA/OR
July 14-31: Portland area
August 1-13: coastal Oregon and Northern CA
Aug 14 – Sept 7: housesitting in Monte Rio CA
Sept 8 thru … Sept 28?? not mapped out, but will involve a few more days in Northern California, then making our way across Nevada and Utah, arriving at our friend’s ranch in western Colorado around Sept 28.
Sept 28-ish until Oct 8ish: Colorado ranch
Oct 8ish thru Oct 18: traveling from the ranch to New Orleans, route TBD
Oct 19-24: New Orleans
Oct 25-Dec 13: no specific plans yet, although we’ll likely take our time traveling north out of New Orleans, perhaps making stops in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky.
At some point we return to Glenn to garage the Bettie Mobile and trusty Twyla Von Wienerschnitzel.
Dec 14-Jan 12: we’ve been invited back to Bend, OR, to take care of our adorable Labradoodle friends, Lizzie and Molly. It was an offer too good to refuse: beautiful home and really fun dogs in gorgeous snowy Bend during the holidays! We’ll fly to Bend, because then:
Jan 13 – May 15, 2025: back to Juneau for another round of AK Legislative fun
Late May and into June (maybe even early July?) of 2025 we are hatching plans to go to Europe! There’s been talk of Scotland, Norway, and Germany … we probably have a little time to iron out those details. Stay tuned!
Dear Yiu two. GOpod to her from you andsafe trgels for sure.
Doing OK her in Sitka-ville. Hazel here for Fine Arts, yar # 4. We are jsut back from North Ri of the Grand canyon, awesome tripo. She is one heack of a navigtor both with gizmo and paper map.
Thank yoiu goodnes. enjoy your travels. Jeff B
Have fun, you two!!
Great update! Glad to hear things are going well.
I packrafted the Gila in early April. Class III water for 40-miles. You would have loved it Matthew.