Footloose & Fancy-Free

As you read this, Len and I are on a little road trip—we don’t know where we’re heading. 

We were supposed to be enjoying the Pacific Ocean from the Oregon coastline. But with over 500,000 people having fled because of statewide fires, we opted to head east instead.

The one thing I do know is that Indelible: A Sean McPherson Novel, Book One, hits the shelves on April 6th. Here’s an excerpt. Enjoy:

“Much like a brilliant, multi-faceted gem nestled on the ragged hemline of the northern Pacific coastline, Pines & Quill, a wooded retreat for writers, sits Zen-like overlooking Bellingham Bay in Fairhaven, Washington, holding space to unleash possibility. The mango-colored sunrises and blood-orange sunsets compete in their breathtaking showiness, each vying for the rapt attention of would-be onlookers. One heralding the beginning of day, the other bids adieu, sending it off into the ink-black night sky.”

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I’ve turned comments off for this post, but I wanted to share a glimpse of this beautiful location with you. Enjoy!

© lauriebuchanan.com

Stability

Last year, on a road trip through Oregon, we saw endless miles of wire fencing stabilized every hundred feet or so by wire-wrapped “pillars” of smooth fieldstones.

I took this photo in Juntura, Oregon

The labor involved in that task—harvesting millions of fieldstones and placing them in the wire enclosures—was massive, but serves a practical purpose. The “pillars” provide stability to the fence, keeping it upright.

What provides your stability?

© lauriebuchanan.com

Going the Right Way?

When you’re barreling down the freeway, lickety-split, at 80 miles per hour (yes, that’s the speed limit on most of the interstates in Idaho) and you see this through your windshield…

… your first thought (after you change your underwear) is, Oh my gosh! Am I in the right lane? Am I headed in the right direction?

Then quickly switching to the left lane and speeding up to check it out, you see that the ginormous red truck is being towed, and your thankful that yes, you’re on track after all; you’re headed in the right direction.

Are you going the right way?

© lauriebuchanan.com

 
 

Amber Waves of Grain

Road trips are one of our favorite things to enjoy. And with a bead on dog-friendly hotels (thank you Best Western Plus, we love your rewards program), Willa gets to come along, too.

Last week we attended the Arlington Fly-In in Washington state. The scenery in the Pacific Northwest is spectacular with soldier-straight rows of grapes vines in mile after mile of vineyards, vast fields of pole-climbing hops, the heavenly scent of apple trees as far as the eye can see, farm stands bursting with freshly picked bing cherries, and oceans of golden wheat gently blowing in the breeze.

It’s enough to make you burst into song. And we did—America the Beautiful!

When was the last time you spontaneously burst into song?

© lauriebuchanan.com

Born To Be Wild

Get your motor running
Head out on the highway
Looking for adventure
In whatever comes our
way

Laurie picking up Ford F150 Super Cab

Laurie picking up Ford F150 Super Cab

I burned a great CD for left-lane driving as I make my way back home from Encinitas, California in the Ford F150 truck we just purchased from my dad. I also brought an assortment of books on CD—suspense novels—to keep me bright-eyed and bushy tailed.

I know the route I’m taking, but I don’t have a pre-determined set of stops; I’m driving by the seat of my pants—with GPS and road maps. Each morning before I hit the road I’ll take a photo of where I’m at and do a quick blog post so you can ride shotgun on this adventure. This morning we leave Barstow – in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains.

Foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains - Barstow CA

Foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains - Barstow CA

Buckle your seatbelt, roll down the window, put on your shades, and play the dashboard drums while I crank up the music:

Born To Be Wild – Steppenwolf
Somebody’s Knockin – Terri Gibbs
Boogie Woogie Choo Choo Train – The Tractors
You Can’t Catch Me – Chuck Berry
Take It Easy – Eagles
Hot Rod Lincoln – Commander Cody
Cruisin’ – Smokey Robinson
Panama- Van Halen
Johnny B. Goode – Chuck Berry
Start Me Up – The Rolling Stones
Ramblin’ Man – Allman Brothers Band
Everyday Is a Winding Road- Sheryl Crow
Road Trippin’ – Red Hot Chili Peppers
I can’t Drive 55 – Sammy Hagar
Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Take the Long Way Home – Supertramp
Don’t Stop – Fleetwood Mac
Roam – The B-52’s
Hit the Road, Jack – Ray Charles
I’ve Been Everywhere – Johnny Cash
The Road’s My Middle Name – Bonnie Raitt
I Get Around – The Beach Boys
Travelin’ Band – Creedence Clearwater Revival

Listen with your heart,

Laurie Buchanan

Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
               — Laurie Buchanan

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