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2024 Travels: USA and Iceland
  • Rachael Zielske

2024 Travels: USA and Iceland

A 228-day adventure by Rachael Read more
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  • Trip start
    April 18, 2024
    Rachael Zielske2024 Travels: USA and IcelandTraveler
    This is us listening to The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived for the first time! Tears were shed

    Off on the first trip of 2024!

    April 18, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F

    I am on the way to Tacoma to see LeighAnna before she graduates! Also, more importantly, The Tortured Poets Department is coming out tonight and therefore someone is required to visit Flan! We stayed up till 2am Tacoma time talking through every song! Second album surprise got us good! We weren’t even through listening to the first half when The Anthology dropped! I got up at 6am next day to “work from home”. Gotta get those hours in before the hiking begins!Read more

  • Rachael Zielske2024 Travels: USA and IcelandTraveler

    Mountain lake hiking

    April 19, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 50 °F

    After Flan went to class and I got a small amount of work done. We met up with Summer for a quick lunch and then I drove us out to do our first hike. It was a very pothole bumpy drive to reach the trailhead but the seclusion just meant we had the hike all to ourselves. We shared 2 pairs of crampons once we got high enough since the snowy paths were very narrow. It was a little scary to walk along basically sideways looking down a cliff on one side and at the side of the hill directly behind you on the other. The lake at the top was worth it though! It came practically out of nowhere, it was so hard to tell a lake could fit in the space we could see in the distance.Read more

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    The big hike

    April 20, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 46 °F

    Today we started with breakfast in the cafeteria, blueberry pancakes and bacon. Then we headed off to Olympic national park. Which is a bit of a drive but definitely going to be worth it. Especially because just like yesterday we have sun! Which means the mountains are out! The drive was very pretty seeing the snow caps in the distance. Then when we arrived we started up to mount storm king. It was an incredibly steep climb but we kept it moving. When we got to the off trail part it involves basically rock climbing up the side. They give you a rope for support which almost makes it more intense. It was also raining and beyond windy!! It felt like hurricane was coming in for us! Very adventurous! We got to see the views before turning around though.Read more

  • Rachael Zielske2024 Travels: USA and IcelandTraveler

    All the animals

    April 21, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 54 °F

    Today’s first order of business is the beach. We were walking along and looking at the pretty views. Seeing all the muscles/ barnacles on the rocks and other funky sea things because it was low tide! But the truly best part was all the seals hanging out on shore! We watched them for so long because they kept moving and making noise and just being the cutest! One silly moment was when a dog barked and every single one of them looked up with their cute heads! Next we went to the zoo! The best animal here was the walrus. Because he was whistling and singing and swimming all around. It was really a fun wholesome day.Read more

  • Rachael Zielske2024 Travels: USA and IcelandTraveler

    Off to Florida!

    April 27, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 81 °F

    We are now onto the annual Florida trip. We are back in Tampa/St.Petersburg area and at the same hotel as last summer. It’s the perfect cute place with nice amenities and a short walk to the beach. The day ended so perfect and beautiful. Absolutely magical with a beach wedding and dolphins jumping out of the sea with the sunset in the background. But it had started with stress!! Our rental car company seemed to be a scam and we were really scared to pay the 1000 deposit or pay a ton for their insurance and it was a whole thing. Luckily they came down on the deposit but it really showed me to not do cheap rental cars anymore! Yikes! Once we got some piña colada’s and sea food in us though all our worries went away!Read more

  • Rachael Zielske2024 Travels: USA and IcelandTraveler

    Food to beach to food to beach

    April 28, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 72 °F

    In typical 3 amigos style we wake up to have breakfast, then we hit the beach, then we go have lunch and pina coladas, then we go to the pool and then we go have dinner. Each swimming time is also marked with “what should we eat at the next meal?” We had some good stuff today. We went to the funky breakfast place down the road from the hotel and had good coffee and I had French toast. Then we hung out by the ocean. It’s windy so it doesn’t get too hot which is definitely for the best but isn’t quite the Florida experience we expected. Lunch was sea food galore. Muscles and fried fish, squid, and spicy shrimp. Dinner was in downtown Tampa which was an actual wind tunnel! Hard to keep even the food in place. We did order a fancy marshmallow dessert which was bomb.Read more

  • Rachael Zielske2024 Travels: USA and IcelandTraveler

    Do it all again!

    April 29, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    We are trying out a new breakfast place. This one has a number of fun coffees to try and way better breakfast sandwiches than the $13 ones from the airport. We of course hit the beach after that. Mike and I walked along the shore a ways to get some switch up to the eat and lay Florida philosophy. Then we hit up a place along the inside edge of the key for happy hour. We had drinks and some not so remarkable food. I wish we had seen some manatees or something.Read more

  • Rachael Zielske2024 Travels: USA and IcelandTraveler
    Mike rubbing her eye in stress over the flight

    Fancy girls

    April 29, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    The end of the night, after our pool time of course, we got ready in our fancy clothes. We picked out a nice Italian spot for the last night. Somehow I ended up with no pictures of the food, but it did happen! And it was good! Lane and I shared a bottle of wine which we couldn’t finish so we decided to take it to go. But that obviously wasn’t enough liquor for us all so we stopped at the grocery store for some seltzers. Mike was trying to figure out a problem with our plane tickets so me and lane went in our heals and dresses to this huge empty store alone at night. We might have looked drunk already. We then sat by the pool till the early morning talking and drinking. The next morning we had to take off. Our flight wasn’t till the afternoon so we had time to have breakfast by the pool and then head into Tampa for more of our favorite place, Flour and Water. But overall this was the end times. See you next year!Read more

  • Rachael Zielske2024 Travels: USA and IcelandTraveler
    Chris "helping" plug in my phoneChris is in his element 😍

    Next trip, next adventure!

    May 15, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    Now I am off on a trip with Christopher! This time to a place I haven’t been before, Hilton Head Island! I’m so excited to see his family for once and to be on a fancy island and go to a nice wedding. We flew into Chicago first and then off to Charleston. Patrick picked us up and we had dinner with the family before going to bed. We somehow got lucky and can share a room. Next morning the sun is out and it is feeling like the south! We are staying in an extremely nice townhome with a porch looking out at a little stream. I am already enjoying sitting out here reading and waiting for alligators to go by. None seen yet though. We had brunch and got some groceries and then packed up the wagon for the beach!Read more

  • Rachael Zielske2024 Travels: USA and IcelandTraveler

    Soaking up the sun

    May 16, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    We are off the to beach for some laying in the sun, exploring the dead stuff on the shore, and some swimming! Patrick, Chris and I are the ones that went and it’s so nice our townhome has chairs for us so we are extra comfy. While we sat there we saw someone accidentally catch a tiny stingray on his fishing pole. Luckily they got it off and it swam away! This evening we are heading to the big and I mean big house that the rest of the Hume’s family are staying in pre-wedding. It’s so so pretty and fancy with a super nice view. We hung out, I met more of the family members, and we had tacos and wine! It was such a surreal night with the family in such an incredible place!Read more

  • Rachael Zielske2024 Travels: USA and IcelandTraveler

    Mini golf and wedding party

    May 17, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 79 °F

    Today I read out on the patio again. I can’t find the alligator even though I know it’s out there because Ann saw it. Chris and I even walked to the pond to find it but all we saw were tons of turtles. They didn’t seem to think an alligator was near by. It was raining and sooo humid today so instead of the beach we went mini golfing. I didn’t feel like I was doing too bad but then I would think about how this was just the putting part of golf and I was still getting average 6 probs. I didn’t feel so good after that. We went to dinner and I couldn’t decide what to have and it made me really anxious and kinda sad because I wanted pasta and ended up getting a salad? Idk what I was thinking. The night ended really good though. We went to see the rest of the fam and the bridal party at a bar and got to have unlimited free drinks! The “wristband” to prove you were part of the group was a Lei! Very cute and fun to meet more cousins of Chris’s! Everyone is so fun and extremely nice!Read more

  • Rachael Zielske2024 Travels: USA and IcelandTraveler

    The big day!

    May 18, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    Today started with another rainy morning but we headed to the tip of Hilton Head to see the lighthouse. Chris and I paid to go up inside it. Which meant we got to explore the museum as well. They have a huge boat model in there which was definitely the coolest thing. Up top was sooo windy and we could see the rain approaching. After that we went off for brunch and then basically it was time to get ready for the wedding! The ceremony ended up having to be inside but the sun came out for the evening and it was just magical. I enjoyed every second hanging out with his family and meeting all the cousins. I got to talk with Anna who I had met at the other Humes family wedding. She asked me to sit next to her which was so sweet and made me feel special. Bride and groom left a letter on the table which Chris’s cousin Meghan accidentally burned! It was the talk of the night!Read more

  • Rachael Zielske2024 Travels: USA and IcelandTraveler

    Part of the family

    May 18, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    We couldn’t read the burned letter of course but luckily, even though each table got a personalized one, someone had a copy of ours. I felt so surprised to be included in the letter but so pleased as well to be seen as part of the family. Especially since I had really only met Riley and Nick once before. Chris and I danced and got some pictures and had yummy steak! It was a wonderful night with an open bar and I just left so fancy! Chris’s aunt Ann (yes everybody has an Ann in the fam) had the most beautiful hair clips in her hair which I told her and amazingly the next day she brings me a pair to keep for myself. I just left so happy all around. We had a goodbye brunch with the family the next morning and then we got a ride to the airport by Chris’s uncle and cousin Ruby. We did get delayed for awhile because of massive lightening and rain but that didn’t stop me from feeling over the world! What a trip!Read more

  • Rachael Zielske2024 Travels: USA and IcelandTraveler

    Another west coast visit!

    May 24, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 54 °F

    Off once again! I basically just worked a couple days, went to a work conference in Breezy Point, and then hopped back on a plane. Mike and I are getting in super late but right away the next morning we are off to PLU for Flans graduation! We got to see her walk the stage and be announced as a math major who she was walking with but ALSO as a physics major since the teacher messed up because she knew Leigh and said physics and then corrected to math. Basically flan was the only one who got her double major announced to the whole room! We also saw where she studied and had classes. We even crashed a physics grads party and had cake and sandwiches. We then drove a few hours to north cascades national park and found our yurt! It’s definitely bigger on the inside!Read more

  • Rachael Zielske2024 Travels: USA and IcelandTraveler

    A green morning

    May 25, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 45 °F

    As you can see the yurt is very remote. It has nice beds for everyone and a wood burning fire for heat and a fridge and a bit of cooking supplies but maybe not as much as we thought. It also has mice which we can tell by the poop on all the dishes. Not exactly what you want to do first thing is all the dishes but we got it done, or should I say madre did. The door doesn’t latch but amazingly WA has no moquitos so that doesn’t seem to be an issue. The outhouse is nice and quite picturesque honestly. We are off on our first hike through the woods and over to a huge dam. We had lunch on a rock on the far side of the dam and then made the trek back. The wind was pretty extreme on the dam so it felt very risky but the edge.Read more

  • Rachael Zielske2024 Travels: USA and IcelandTraveler

    A blue afternoon

    May 25, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 43 °F

    We are getting a little bit of a peak at the mountains finally. The clouds are definitely hiding the majority of the north cascades but luckily here we have the blue mountain water making up for it. We just did a small walk along a view point to check out Diablo lake and then we had dinner. At the yurt we are puzzling and reading and sitting by the wood fireplace! It’s nice and cozy but also still raining which makes walking to the bathroom a bit less fun but at least it’s a WA rain so not too strong.Read more

  • Rachael Zielske2024 Travels: USA and IcelandTraveler

    Good hiking, good chats

    May 26, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 43 °F

    Waking up in the yurt is pretty cozy, the fire will have died down so it’s a little chilly but warm in the blankets and nice to hear the little rain on the roof. We have more hiking to do today and on the walk along a little river to a wonderful mountain lake. It has really clear water and a blueish tinge. We basically were also alone while there which made it feel really serene. We talked about Taylor swift and the meanings of TTPD just about the whole time.Read more

  • Rachael Zielske2024 Travels: USA and IcelandTraveler

    And thats it!

    May 26, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 45 °F

    This is a collection of some more cute photos from the trip. On our last whole evening we went to a cute bar and they happened to be playing the timberwolves game. We had a fun time watching the game as the only true MN fans there. But goes to show the wolves be making a nation wide impact to have their game on at a tiny side road bar across the country. Mike and madre and I are flying back home but pad and flan by are driving back. We will see them soon!Read more

  • Rachael Zielske2024 Travels: USA and IcelandTraveler

    We are here!!

    July 11, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    The trips keep coming! We are off to the annual trees and cheese curds reading circle. We are going to Bear Head Lake State Park. We are coming up here for Sudan Mine but unfortunately because this summer is a freaking monsoon it’s all flooded and we won’t be able to do the tour. By the time we got to our site we already have to start the set up. We have to use the McElroy’s tent because the Taj Mahal gave up on us and leaks water. So we gotta learn a new tent process. Which did not go well and the sandy ground is not helping! The mosquitos are already out so strong and we forgot our citronella bucket!! We are having pasta and meatballs for dinner and dancing around to avoid the bugs. Best camping bathroom EVER goes to bear lake, wow! Counters! Hooks! Plugs! 4 sinks?! So goodRead more

  • Rachael Zielske2024 Travels: USA and IcelandTraveler

    Bugs and sunshine

    July 12, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    Day 2 of camping and we had banana bread I had made for breakfast. Going a bit fancier with the homemade over cereal but it is also contributing to the extreme amounts and varieties of bread we bring on each camping trip. We went off on a hike but struggled pretty bad with the bugs. We don’t have much wind and they just seem to be out in hoards! We do luckily have citronella spiral things to help the bugs but they aren’t as strong as the bucket. So hanging out at the campsite is tough, especially in the heat. So thank goodness we have a lake near by. We are now going to have the reading circle at bear head lake! The wind is strong here and we get to tan and read which is the ultimate move. We also made lunch out here as we have to pack the car anyway where ever we go due to bears so we had everything we needed for our sandwiches!Read more

  • Rachael Zielske2024 Travels: USA and IcelandTraveler

    Golden hour and food

    July 12, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    Now we have to brave the campsite again. As soon as we get back the bugs are eating us alive. It sucks when it’s hot and sticky out to add to the sticky by putting on bug spray but we need to. For dinner we have the classic French toast and bacon. The heat is causing us to not want to bundle but the bugs are demanding it. So it’s a bit of a lose lose. We finally realized we could actually just go back to the lake where the bugs somehow don’t exist. We had a ton of fun giggling and taking pics in the golden hour. We saw some ducks too! It was really nice to de-sticky and miss the worst of the bugs during dusk. We could handle long clothes by the time we got back and got to make The Dessert while sitting around the fire. This year luckily making a fire isn’t giving us too big an issue.Read more

  • Rachael Zielske2024 Travels: USA and IcelandTraveler

    Rain! And bugs ofc

    July 13, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    Today the morning is starting out very sunny and nice, besides the bugs but I should probably stop bringing them up. We then went over to the mine visitor center. We were told officially we can’t do our tour because the mine is flooded up to like floor 15 and the pump is working overtime to get it out. Turns out the reason it flooded was because it was the rainiest day on record and on the same night the pump was struck by lightening and broke! How crazy! As we thought about doing a hike or maybe an above ground tour it started to look like it was really gonna rain. So we had lunch in the parking lot and then decided on a hike. As soon as we started walking it promptly started to pour!! We were soaked to the bone and then you’ll never guess what! When the rain stopped the bugs came out in droves. It was a very painfully annoying walk and we kept making wrong turns on it which made it even longer when all we wanted was to be done! Why couldn’t we find the start to this hike!! We need a break.Read more

  • Rachael Zielske2024 Travels: USA and IcelandTraveler

    Drying out and heading home

    July 13, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F

    Continuing from the last post we went to lake vermillion for our needed break from bugs. It also got sunny again so we swam and laid out. It gave a lovely view of the hundreds, literally, of bug bites we all have. We probably scared the beach goers into thinking we have chicken pox. For our last dinner we made pizzas in the pie irons and corn over the fire. The stove is not working the best, we really seem to have used all the Zielske camping stuff to its last breath. We got a crazy lightening show as we sat around the fire making s’mores and then went to bed. I thought we were gonna get hit again by a downpour but it never came. In the morning though we still had to lay out a ton of stuff to dry. A lot of it from the day before which was touching the edge of the tent. I stood by the line and waved it back and forth for an hour or so and stuff was basically dry by the time we left and headed home.Read more

  • Rachael Zielske2024 Travels: USA and IcelandTraveler

    Off to Iceland!!!

    August 3, 2024 in Iceland ⋅ 🌬 54 °F

    We are now at the time of the summer for the Iceland trip! Taking off for Chicago first and then onto Reykjavík. A good amount of freaking out went into whether we would make the connection in Chicago just for both flights to be delayed and us ending up with 2 extra hours in both airports. It was a 14 hour airport journey total but we got to freshen up in the airport bathroom, get some coffee, and get going. We got the first glimpse of black sand and the ocean! We were at Reykjanesbær which is where the continental divide between continental plates is!Read more

  • Rachael Zielske2024 Travels: USA and IcelandTraveler

    Day 1.5 in Iceland!

    August 4, 2024 in Iceland ⋅ 🌬 55 °F

    Finally we get to settle into hotel number one and with it being nearly up to 24 hours awake it’s hard not to pull the curtains closed and snuggle up in bed. But we get a one hour power nap before doing our important crap. Exploring Reykjavík! Seeing rainbow street, Skolavordustigur, and the big church, Hallgrímskirkja, which has an organ with over 5000 pipes! We also got to have Liege waffles!!!! Ahhh! Trip is off to a great start!Read more

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