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Month Ninety-Six was mostly spent working, at least that is what it felt like!
I started the month at the Gorge where I spent a few days prepping for the first event of the season. Our boss and another colleague were in town from Vermont so it was fun to hang out with them at their cabin with a hot tub.
Our first show was Illenium and it was a great start to the season because it wasn’t fully booked so it wasn’t too busy. After Illenium I had eight days before our next show so I spent a day running errands in Wenatchee then left for a week to Vancouver and Squamish, which was positively idyllic.
On the way back I stopped in Seattle for a night to pick up my bestie who was visiting from New Zealand. Unfortunately, we had to wait all day for the van to get fixed too.
Then it was back to the Gorge to work Brandi Carlile and Joni Mitchell – an incredible show and the best I have seen at the Gorge.
After the show was over, Kurt and I took a quick break to Leavenworth before the next event and then came back to site to celebrate Toby’s 50th at Cave B Winery and Sagecliffe Resort with wine tasting followed by a fancy dinner and cocktails.
Our last event of the month was Beyond Wonderland which started out well but was tainted by a tragic shooting.
I was ready to leave site after that, so I flew to Chicago.
The last couple of days of the month were spent in Chicago and it was so nice to be reunited with old friends and explore this beautiful city when it wasn’t too hot.
Now onto the stats!
Countries Visited: USA, Canada
Places Visited:
- Washington: Ellensburg, George, Quincy, Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Issaquah, Seattle, Moses Lake
- Canada: Vancouver, Lions Bay, Squamish
- Illinois: Chicago
National and State Parks, Monuments, and UNESCO Sites: Stawamus Chief Provincial Park in Squamish, Canada.
Islands Visited: Granville Island in Vancouver, Blackbird Island in Leavenworth.
Days on the Road: 11 days.
Best Meals: Marionberry pie from Huck @ Pybus in Wenatchee; Vermicelli Noodle bowl with shrimp from Anh and Chi in Vancouver; Eastern Ecstasy dessert with Gulab Jamun, rice pudding and icecream from East is East in Vancouver; Raspberry, walnut, and white chocolate muffin from Caffe Garibaldi in Squamish; Elderflower and rhubarb fritter from Fox & Oak in Squamish; Rosemary potato bread, garlic prawns, and calamari from WildFin American Grill in Issaquah; Chicken Schnitzel with spaetzle and mushroom sauce from Andreas Keller in Leavenworth; Pineapple and olive pan pizza from Pequod’s in Chicago; Spincolli deep dish from Pizzeria Uno in Chicago.
Worst Meals: Nothing comes to mind.
Best Craft Beer: I’ll Take You To the Candy Shop Peach Sour and Pool Shower Kool Aid Fruit Punch Sour from Backcountry Brewing in Squamish.
Hikes/Walks:
- Stawamus Chief Second and Third Peak trail in Squamish, Canada 5.6 miles
- Tunnel Bluffs trail from Lions Bay in Canada 7.7 miles
- Cave B Waterfall Trail in George, WA 4 miles
Watching: Black Mirror, Cocaine Bear.
Reading: Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver.
New Posts: No new posts this month.
Highlights
Vancouver!
As usual, my time spent in Vancouver, my favorite city in the world, was a highlight this month. On this visit, I hung out in Kits, ate at Granville Island Market, biked the seawall and False Creek, wandered Mount Pleasant, caught two epic sunsets at Jericho Beach, caught up with a friend, and checked out some new restaurants and old favorites.
It was a great few days and I’m looking forward to returning again in a couple of months.
Hiking and Exploring in Squamish
Along with visiting Vancouver, I also spent three nights in Squamish and it was fun to get to know this adventure town better.
I stayed at the excellent Squamish Adventure Hostel and explored the town, went to the weekly Farmers Market, checked out cafes and a brewery, and hiked to the second and third peaks of the Stawamus Chief with new friends from the hostel.
Back at the Gorge
As stressful as it can get at times, I am still happy we returned to Gorge Amphitheatre for another season this year. I pretty much got straight into work when I arrived to get ready for the first show then we had three shows in the past month – Illenium, Brandi Carlile and Joni Mitchell, and Beyond Wonderland – so it’s been busy.
The highlight of being back so far was seeing Brandi Carlile, Marcus Mumford, and Joni Mitchell as well as other musicians take the stage for the Joni Jam. It was absolutely incredible and my favorite show experience since we first started working the Gorge last year. This place really is magic.
Having My Bestie Visit
My best friend Kurt was visiting from New Zealand this month and came to the Gorge to see Brandi and Joni and it was so fun having him there. At the end of the month, I met him in Chicago to hang out more.
I don’t get to see my closest friends and family much, mostly only when I visit New Zealand, so it was great to be able to show him my life here.
A Quick Trip to Leavenworth
In amongst all the work, I spent a night and morning in Leavenworth and it was fun to be back in my favorite little mountain town in Washington. I brought Kurt with me and we shopped the town center, ate excellent German food, walked the river trails, and soaked in the hot tub at our hotel. It was a short but very sweet trip.
Return to Chicago
I hadn’t planned on returning to Chicago so soon – I was there less than two years ago – but Kurt was visiting and got us tickets to see Stevie Nicks so how could I refuse?
I really enjoyed my time there this visit, it was much cooler than previous visits and I got to see old friends from my early Sydney days of 2004-2005 too. We did lots of fun touristy stuff like attending a show at Second City, biking by the lake, eating deep dish, seeing jazz at The Green Mill, and going on an Architecture Boat Tour on the river.
The apartment we stayed in was so nice too and right on the lake in Boystown with incredible views.
Lowlights
New Brakes
So of course when I was super stressed and didn’t have time for it to happen, my brakes started grinding as I crossed the border back to Washington from Canada.
Toby arranged for me to go to a mechanic the next morning and we thought it would be done in a couple of hours but they were busy and it ended up taking until nearly 6 pm to get new brake pads (and it was super expensive too).
I missed picking Kurt up from the airport – he had to uber to me at the mechanic – and we didn’t end up getting back to the Gorge until 11 pm after stopping for dinner and groceries. Not ideal!
Work Stress
It has been a stressful start to the season with new facilities onsite not being finished and a few other unforeseen problems. The first two shows were a real push to get the doors open on time and we were short-staffed for Brandi – one of the biggest shows this season – when one of our staff members quit mid-show. Luckily things seem to be more under control now.
Shooting at the Gorge
Another day, another senseless shooting – this time it was on my home turf at the Gorge during the Beyond Wonderland Music Festival and the endless gun violence in this country has never felt more real to me.
Two young women are dead and the news cycle has already moved on to more disasters and mass shootings. Rest in peace Josilyn Ruiz and Brandy Escamilla.
Twisting My Ankle
I fell off the new deck at the Oasis, twisting my ankle and scraping my knees. I was pretty sore for a couple of days and it hurt to walk on it but thankfully it is back to 100% now.
Spending
A lot of these costs are my half with Toby paying the other half. I also don’t include international flights in my recaps.
Total: USD$2928
Another expensive month due to my citizenship application and having to get new brakes, otherwise it wouldn’t have been a bad month for spending.
Accommodation $215
My four nights of paid accommodation for the month consisted of three nights in a hostel dorm in Squamish and one night at a hotel in Leavenworth.
My nights of unpaid accommodation for the month consisted of 20 nights onsite at the Gorge in our staff RV, two nights of van life in Vancouver, one night staying with a friend in Vancouver, one night of van life in Seattle, and three nights staying at a friend’s apartment in Chicago.
Food and Drink $778
Pretty average food and beverage spend for me this month.
Clothing $55
- Socks $23
- Bralette $32
Transport $466
- Gas $138
- Parking in Vancouver $7
- Bus from Ellensburg to Seattle Airport $33
- Rideshares in Chicago $49
- Flight from Seattle to Chicago $236
- Train in Chicago $3
Activities $95
- Bike rental for one day in Vancouver $15
- Ebike ride in Chicago $14
- Architecture boat tour in Chicago $66
Other $870
- U.S. Phone plan $35
- Spotify $10.50
- Toiletries $10
- Citizenship Application $725
- Teva sandals $41
- Candle $4.50
- Pins $4
- Laundry $21
- Book $19
Website Costs $12
- Monthly payment for Keysearch $12
Van/RV Costs $437
- RV and van insurance for the month $45
- New brakes $392
What’s in Store for Next Month
The first ten days of the month I will be continuing my Chicago and East Coast trip with one night left in Chicago where I will be seeing Stevie Nicks, then we will be flying to Washington D.C. for a couple of days of sightseeing before renting a car for three days to visit Shenandoah National Park.
The last five days of my trip will be in New York City and I am excited to be back and to introduce Kurt to NYC for the first time.
On July 4th I will be flying back to Washington to get back to work starting with Dead & Company and followed by a Comedy Night and Above and Beyond Music Festival. I’m hoping to get away to maybe Vancouver, Seattle, or Lopez Island for the four days I have off between the first two shows.
To read additional Monthly Recaps, you can find them here
