My summer 2024 holidays have ended
It doesn’t seem that long ago that I was starting my 2024 summer holidays, and now they are over and I’m back home in Scotland. Despite being glad to be home in Castle Ryan, I am sad to have said goodbye. But I have many wonderful memories that will keep me going until my winter holidays in The Homeland in just a few short months!
This summer’s Homeland holiday was about six weeks long and, as always, was mostly spent with Daddy in and around Cle Elum. But I did manage to visit several friends and family, which is always a bonus to any trip home.
I also managed to log quite a few running miles on my visit, including a half-marathon from Easton to Cle Elum – with Dad meeting me at key points on the trail to refill my water and to snap a couple of photos. I didn’t manage any fabulous new records over these few weeks, but I did enjoy myself and that’s the most important thing.
During my visit, Daddy and I enjoyed a little road trip around Washington State. Our journey included visits to various old bunkers and lighthouses, desert scenery, a ghost town, and lots of geocaches. (Not to mention all the other geocaches found during my summer holidays.) I also enjoyed some camping and fishing with my Godson – in addition to the other shenanigans we got up to together.
As always, my visit included a lot of different chores and projects around the house, too. That included the task of clearing through old boxes in the darkest corners of the basement, which led to my most “interesting” find of the summer: A mummified cat*. (Yes, there are photos. No, I am not sharing them here.)
Other chores included sorting through some old books, fixing some kitchen tiles, cleaning up some old junk around the garage and back porch, removing an old fence, and much more**. And, of course, stocking the freezer with zucchini bread to keep Dad’s snack supplies going until my Christmas visit when I’ll make pumpkin bread.
There were so many things to fill my time that I felt the holiday was over before it even began. But I made so many memories and enjoyed so much laughter – and good food. My next visit hasn’t been planned yet, but I know it will take place over the Christmas holidays. In the meantime, I have more than enough American junk food to keep my belly happy and more than enough projects at Castle Ryan to keep my hands busy!
* We are not missing any family pets, and I imagine this poor beast met its end 20-30 years ago, based on when I know the specific box of burlap sacks was placed there and when various potential entry points were sealed by yours truly.
** Many of these projects were completed with Dad and a couple of times, we had some assistance from others as required. Teamwork and all that.