Thinking Ahead — Next Summer

This summer was amazing. I’m already looking forward to next summer. So far, the Appalachian Trail is playing a big role in my daydreaming.

Howling for a Yosemite Trip

Pretty much set on taking a trip to White Wolf in Yosemite after Labor day.

Escape to Big Sur

I love Big Sur. It is one of my favorite places in the world. Last weekend I saw the McWay waterfall hitting the beach for the first time. Amazing.

Another Fjällräven Video

Here’s another video from Fjällräven.  “Let’s Go to the Woods!”

Family History–Yosemite

Last summer I had the chance to embark on a three week road trip with two of my favorite people. We drove up Highway 1 from Santa Barbara to the Olympic Peninsula in Washington and camped everywhere (EVERYWHERE–including creepy abandoned fairgrounds and mossy forest floors) in between. While recounting our adventure to my parents, my dad pointed out that my love of the outdoors may have been the result of a particular family trip. Below are a couple of photos of my dad and me on that very trip. (Camera operated by my mom–interestingly, my mother’s relatives were some of Yosemite’s first settlers; I believe there is still a restaurant there called Degnan’s, my mother’s maiden name!). Also, some readers may recognize my dad’s faithful Danner boots from an earlier post. Enjoy!

Inspirational Teardrop Trailers

So, as the work on my desk draws to a close (I’ll be posting about it once it’s finished next week), we’ve been devoting more and more time to our teardrop trailer project.  After doing a ton of research, mainly involving looking at tons of pictures of other trailers already in existence, we produced some sketches and a miniature scale model.  I should point out that most of the drafting and model design was done by our amazing craftsman/contractor/trailer designer friend/mentor Chuck in his home base barn.  Below you can see the little model (produced just for building purposes; my lovely design partner has tons of paint/decorating ideas that will put the hipness in our home on wheels).  I’ve also included some particularly inspiring photos culled from hours of web “research.”  Enjoy and feel free to comment with tips/ideas!

Camping Escape—Kirk Creek, Big Sur

So, a couple of weeks ago after a particularly stressful week, we decided to grab our camping gear and head up Highway 1 for the weekend. Although every mile of Big Sur is gorgeous, we had a particular spot in mind: Kirk Creek. Situated on a beautiful bluff overlooking the ocean, Kirk Creek is probably our favorite place to escape to. These photos should explain why. Enjoy!

vroom vroom

So, with all the furniture building, typewriter and table saw restoring, teardrop trailer blueprinting, etc., we have been doing, I have been thinking more and more about how fun it would be to restore an old car.  To be completely honest, I have never been “handy” so to speak, especially when it came to automobiles.  But, I have to say that after doing some very real mechanical work, [i.e. taking some things apart, cleaning and repairing them, and then putting them back together], it is really much simpler, and much more fun, than I previously imagined.  This brings me to my current object of future car restoration desire: the 1970’s Toyota FJ40 Landcruiser.

If there was ever a car to covet, it would be this one (especially in the original vintage red color).  I have always noticed these “little 4×4’s that could” out of the corner of my eye, probably because of their signature white fiberglass roof and safari-esque style. I just go crazy for all the little details (the gas can holders on the back, the barn-style rear doors, and the fog lights that just seem to say “meep meep!“) I just keep thinking how fun it would be to hitch up our future teardrop to one of these and head up Highway 1.  Vroom.

hello world!

Hello world! In the spirit of creating a fun space where I can post things that strike my fancy and keep track of the progress of my new etsy shop, I have decided to start a little blog. You can expect to see many posts about wood, the woods, camping, trips, long and short term projects, books, music, film, etc. In general, this blog will track my favorite partner and me on our various day-to-day adventures.

Etymology of the blog’s title (via wiki):

“The tree line is the edge of the habitat at which trees are capable of growing. Beyond the tree line, they are unable to grow because of inappropriate environmental conditions (usually cold temperatures, insufficient air pressure, or lack of moisture). Some distinguish additionally a deeper timberline, where trees can develop timber-trunks.”

My favorite part:

“The tree line, like many other natural lines (lake boundaries, for example), appears well-defined from a distance, but upon sufficiently close inspection, it is a gradual transition in most places. Trees grow shorter towards the inhospitable climate until they simply stop growing.”

Looking forward to posting more,
ATTL