#this one is so cozy casual i never had any good caption to post it but GDDDDD i look so yummy

[bunnyboy-juice]

Trick or treat :3

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 🥰🥰

[papipopsicle]

AFTERTASTE PART FOUR

Pairing: Archie Andrews X Short!Reader

Genre: fluff, smut

Summary: In which two best friends since childhood test whether friendship and can co-exist without causing conflict. Including my OC's Flick & Cherry, a lesbian couple and best friends of Y/N. Set Pre-Veronica.

Song: Feeling Good by Sofi Tukker

Warnings: Dom!Archie, Oral (fem receiving), swearing (probably)

Words: 3K

MASTERLIST

feedback is always appreciated

!PING!

Y/N giggled as soon as she saw the picture Archie had posted, it had been taken a few hours ago at lunch. She hadn't even realised he had taken one, off guard beaming up at Moose as he told the group how the Andrews boy had face planted the turf during football practice. The caption read ‘when you're having a lousy day, i'll try my best to make you smile like an idiot’ and her face lit up at the kind gesture.

Today had been utter shit; Michelangelo had gotten into a fight with one of the neighbourhood cats and lost very badly, Josie picked a fight for no reason in Maths and called her a ‘brain dead bimbo’ in front of everyone, and to top it off she'd overheard Chuck sharing very private, personal details with his friends like they were nothing.

She felt miserable and hopeless, wanting nothing more than for this day to be over already. While the boy wasn't there with her when any of these events happened, he knew as soon as he saw her saddened expression that it was his duty to turn her frown upside down. After an hour of cheesy jokes bad enough to make her father proud, Y/N felt a little bit lighter.

Now, the two sixteen year olds were being blackmailed into making dinner for themselves, Y/N's family and of course Fred too. It wasn't uncommon for this to happen though, since Y/S followed in her mother's footsteps when it came to cooking abilities, and they felt bad for always making Y/D cook. So the blonde had rolled up the sleeves of her grey sweatshirt and pulled her hair into a messy bun, while Archie gathered all the ingredients for the perfect steak dinner.

"Okay," Y/N huffed out, putting her arms up and looking over the boy's broad shoulders to see the recipe, "what's the first step, Nigella?"

Two frustrating and hilariously messy hours later, the two teens were serving their masterpieces. Y/N showered while waiting for the steak to cook, her hair now in damp ringlets as she wore a black concert t-shirt and a burgundy pair of gym shorts.

She carefully placed the piping hot plates in her mother and sisters respective places, returning for her own and Archie's as the boy brought out ones for their fathers. Y/D and Fred sat at the heads of the table, with Y/S and Y/M on one side and Archie and Y/N on the other. It had been that way since the very beginning, the teen's chairs always closer than necessary.

The radio played hits from the eighties and nineties in the background; the atmosphere warm and cozy as the group began tucking into their gourmet meals happily. Conversation flowed easily as usual, soft smiles mirrored around the room in the amicable scene.

"How's school been today?" Y/D asked casually as he piled food onto his fork dangerously high, it disappearing into his mouth seconds later.

"Shit." Y/N answered with a shrug and a wry smile as she copied her dad's actions and stuffed her face. Her eyes closed for a moment to fully appreciate the perfection of her cooking, but in that moment she missed the sad look the redhead threw her way. Everyone at the table was aware her high school experience wasn't rose tinted, and she was never able to lie to her family about it.

"McCoy's girl again?" Y/S asked defensively, rolling her eyes in annoyance as she even brought up said name.

"It's no biggie, honestly. She's just holding a grudge against me for something that literally happened over a year ago. She'll have to let go of it sooner or later." The y/h/c girl ended the conversation, continuing to fill her mouth with copious amounts of food. While her parents had moved on to talk about another subject, Archie kept his eye on her and she knew it.

Y/N didn't hate being pitted per se, but she couldn't stand to be watched by loving eyes when the person those eyes belong to wishes to fix her problems for her. Knowing that's what his mind was preoccupied with, the girl turned to Archie sharply and began chewing with her mouth wide open, sticking her tongue out for emphasis.

The redhead gagged and couldn't stop himself from snorting in laughter and Y/N took this as her queue to close her mouth. Not truly phased by the grotesque sight, Archie returned it for just a second, leaving them both giggling. Finishing the mouthful, she bumped shoulders with the boy, keeping her head resting there for a few moments as she spoke with a grin, "You've already done enough, stop making my issues yours. We do everything together anyway, leave me this little slither of sardonic sanity, okay?"

She sat up straight again and sent Fred a wink upon finding his knowing grin slung in their direction. Looking around the table, three other faces have the exact same looks, and Y/N only rolled her eyes, "Can we have just one family dinner without planning our wedding? For all you guys know we could both be gay and just use each other for style advice."

Y/D scoffed, eyeing up his daughter with amusement, "You're not gay."

"What?!" The blonde's cutlery clanged against her plate as she threw her arms up in exasperation, "I could be!"

Y/M cackled her usual laugh and rolled her eyes, chiming in, "Darling, have you seen your wardrobe?"

"Cherry and I share clothes!" Y/N defended herself, only halfheartedly as she knew the conversation was completely false, but still stood her ground.

"Yeah, well, she has a blue-haired girlfriend and you only share dresses when you're going out because you're the same size. I'm pretty sure she'd rather be dead than wear a pair of your heels." Y/S interjected and received her sister's glare with a smug grin.

Archie silently ate his food, but soon his best friend turned to him, "I could be bi, right? Like Elizabeth Olsen and Sebastian Stan both own my life."

"You can be whatever you want to be, Tiger." Taking a sip of his drink, the boy continued, "But, to be fair, have you seen The Bronze? Like if there's someone I'd turn for, it'd be Sebastian Stan."

"See!" Y/N raised her arms in the way Will Smith had when showing the world his beautiful wife, "This is why he's my best friend!"

They high-fived with matching grins and the bubbly atmosphere carried on until Fred left for the night, Archie staying over in lieu of helping with unfinished homework. After washing up, the three teenagers headed up to bed.

But before the elder Y/L/N daughter fully entered her room, she swung back on the doorframe and locked eyes with her younger sister in a deadpan manner, "I haven't slept properly in three days, please have the decency to wait until I'm asleep before you start boning, thanks."

Y/N swivelled in the direction of her room, cheeks dusted pink at the insinuation. She closed her curtains and headed straight for bed, exhausted by everything the day forced upon her shoulders. Finding her phone, she sent a round of goodnight streaks and scrolled through Instagram before the bed dipped and a tuft of red hair came into view.

"It's only just gone ten, you lightweight." He bumped her shoulder with his bare one, soon copying her actions with his own phone but not finding anything nearly as interesting.

"Well, I fancy wasting time on my phone instead of doing anything productive, problem?" The blonde hummed, not turning away from the device holding her attention. A few moments of silence and mindless scrolling passed before Y/N's phone was ripped from her grasp and set down on the bedside table.

"Yeah, I do have a problem with that, Tiger." Archie grinned at her clueless expression, climbing on top of her, either elbow caging her face in his hold. A light pressure appeared between her thighs with a small twitch, forcing a giggle from the girls lips. She hooked her thighs around his waist and linked her feet together, pulling his entire being closer to her own.

"Oh," Y/N forgot all about whatever had been on her phone screen moments ago, hands now brushing through Archie's fiery locks, "and what would that be."

The boy dipped his head without warning, lightly pushing her jaw to the left to expose her soft neck. His tongue slowly ran from her collar bone to the bottom of her ear, kissing small pecks along her jawline until their lips met. Y/N smiled into the kiss, lifting herself up while pulling his torso closer into her own. Her hips moved on their own accord, needing more friction to scratch an itch only his mouth could fix.

Archie broke the kiss, looking down at the petite girl with lustful eyes as his hand found her neck once more, "There's so many better ways for us to waste time than on our phones. But I'm going to need you to stay quiet for me, Tiger. Can you do that for me?"

As the words left his lips, his index finger lifted from her neck and pressed against her own. Y/N couldn't help licking a stripe down the back of it, taking the digit into her mouth and letting it drop with a popping sound. She nodded her head in agreement with an innocent smile and wide expectant eyes.

Archie watched her for a moment in awe, giving her throat a small squeeze before moving down her body. He lifted her ‘All Time Low’ t shirt up, planting wet kisses from her bra line to the waistband of her lycra shorts.

“You okay?” The boys soft voice sounded through the room, any dominance dropped from his tone but ready to be picked up if he got the right answer. Y/N sat up, planting each hand on either side of his face and pressed her lips to his nose lightly.

She grinned down at him, “I’m sure.” Her excited tone couldn’t be missed, and without hesitation she hooked her fingers into the shorts and pulled them away from her velvety skin, flinging them to the floor carelessly. Archie felt another grin filled kiss skim his forehead, a small hand carding through his hair as the girl relaxed back into the plush bedding.

Y/N closed her eyes in content as hot breath traced her thighs, up and down in a slow rhythm, leaving goosebumps of anticipation in its wake. Her hips rutted upwards needing some kind of contact, but Archie’s firm hand pushed her back into the mattress and held her in place. He settled with his legs hanging off the edge of the double bed, pushing her legs to rest open. The girl resisted the urge to squeeze her legs together, desire overcoming her body but submission overpowering her mind.

Archie’s lips left trails down her silky thighs, plotting temporary marks by nipping and sucking at the delicate skin. He enjoyed feeling her squirm under his touch, showing how much she needed his touch. This was more than just helping each other get off, there was a raw urgency and need within them for only one another. He licked around the edge of her pink thong, another unintentional jut from her hips pushing him closer to her heat as a whine escaped her lips.

The redhead’s hand moved from her stomach to her neck while he forced her to look down at him, “No noise, kitten. Okay?” He warned and Y/N’s bottom lip curled under her teeth as she sent him another nod. With that, her underwear, if it could be even called that, was pulled from her body and joined her shorts on the cool wooden floor moments later.

Archie carried on teasing the girl, licking down her inner thighs and getting dangerously close to what her body was pleading for, but he enjoyed watching her struggle to stay silent and it was far too easy to bring her to the edge by barely doing anything.

“Please.” Y/N’s voice begged with a shaky moan she’d tried so hard to keep in. The boy smirked up at her before giving her exactly what she wanted, feeling her fingers tighten in his hair as he latched onto her clit. But as soon as the pleasure started, it ceased once more.

“You want me to carry on, little girl?” Archie asked in a low tone, watching his best friend panting in want from the smallest of actions. “Want me to make you feel good?”

“Yes, please, Arch. Please.” The girl nodded again, never needing a release so badly in her life before.

Archie’s tongue lapped small circles around the bundle of nerves, pausing again to elicit a small noise of bliss, “I need you to stay quiet for me though, Tiger. Don’t want Y/S finding out what a slut her little sister is.”

In any other circumstance, Y/N would slap someone for calling her something like that, and Archie would never let the word slip from his lips. But in this moment, with his tongue skilfully taunting her clit and a finger dipping inside her wet pussy, it sent a wave of pleasure and praise through her entire body.

He was her drug, one touch and Y/N was completely intoxicated, whatever he wanted is what she wanted and there wasn’t a single thing she would say no to.

It didn’t take long for Y/N to reach the edge of release, with Archie’s fingers pulsing inside her while switching from licking at her clit and sucking on it with his tongue swirling her into a trance of ecstasy. He wanted to play with her more, keep her tilting on the edge until she couldn’t handle it any longer.

But Y/N had a difficult day, he could tease her any time he wanted, for now he just wanted to give her one reason for this day to be good. With that, he tactfully curled his fingers bringing them in and out of her hot core, not stopping his mouth from all but assaulting her over stimulated clit. Her hips buckled once again and this time Archie didn’t stop her, then they began rutting back and forth riding his face until her body couldn’t take any more

“Oh god.” Y/N whined in a hushed tone, her body convulsing in euphoria she finally toppled over the edge of her climax. Archie pressed a final kiss to her clit, resting his head on her spread thighs for a few moments as they both caught their breath.

The girl giggled as Archie appeared back at her side, pressing her lips to his not caring about the taste of her lingering in the air.

“You okay?” He whispered, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her under the duvet with him. Her head rest in the crook of his neck, leg over is stomach and hand lightly tracing patterns over his muscular chest.

“More than okay, pretty boy.” Y/N hummed into the dark room with a bright smile adoring her features. “Arch?”

He mumbled an agreeable response, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. Archie’s hand found her thigh and he gave it a small squeeze, keeping his hand there to hold her close.

“Can we play a game?” The girl sounded apprehensive yet excited with her words.

She felt him nod, “What kind of game do you want to play, Tiger?”

Y/N couldn’t help but smirk at her idea as the words left her lips, “I’m proposing a little bet.

Clearly were both attracted to each other, and it ends there, yes? Nothing romantic, just two horny best friends who need an outlet. So, why don't we have a little fun with this? We tease the other to breaking point, bring them to their fucking knees begging for it, and the first one to cave, loses. Nothings off limits, but you can't kiss the other, otherwise you lose."

At this, Archie lifted his head wearing a matching smirk, though it couldn’t be seen as the street lamp sending orange hues into the bedroom only lit up their silhouettes, "What does the winner get?"

"Whatever the fuck they want.” Y/N’s hand made its way to the boy’s neck and she tilted her head upwards to whisper into his ear, “And, when I win the first thing I'm going to have you do is eat me out again."

The boy chuckled dryly and shook his head, "Tiger, I'll be doing that when I win anyway."

Y/N giggled, tempted to throw the bet immediately if the consequence was his head between her legs once more. “Game on, Andrews.”

Archie couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of this situation, though he had to admit he couldn’t wait to see what his best friend would do to try and make him lose.

“Okay little girl, it’s time to sleep I think.” His voice felt more authoritative this time, and Y/N loved that about him, he wasn’t afraid to tell her what to do.

“Goodnight, Arch.” The girl said with a smile in her tone, anxious to see what Archie would do to her over the coming weeks. She felt his head shake once more, knowing a grin was etched into his lips. Y/N rolled onto her side, the boy’s arm tightly wrapped around her still as she drifted off into a fairytale land where this was all real. Not just two friends messing around.

PART FIVE

[syntheticaesthetic]

50 More interesting questions

Rules: fill this out and tag at least one person you’d like to know more about! Or just fill it out! Or don’t! Answer only some of them! Make up your own questions! “What kind of requirement is that”, you ask? A reasonable one! Who am I to tell you what to do? Anything goes!

I was tagged by @praxid!

1. What kind of food can’t you stand?: I’m sort of picky about texture. Not big on things that are sort of gelatinous - so no jello for me. I’m also not big tropical fruit person so I don’t like pineapple or most melons.

2. If you could choose one minor inconvenience to never have to deal with again, what would you pick?: Brushing my hair. It mats up while in a braided bun as I sleep. It takes hours to brush out. 

3. Have you got any useless talents?: I don’t have any talents really.

4. If you could be really really good at one thing, what would it be?: Film/photography/writing.

5. Name a few people you think are extremely good-looking: Melissa McBride, Sonequa Martin-Green, Andrew-Lee Potts, Kit Harrington, Karen Gillan, David Tennant, Scarlett Johansson, Jamie N Commons, Danai Gurirra, Donald Glover, Milla Jovovich, Tatiana Maslany, I should top. I find lots of people pretty. 

6. What was your favorite way to pass the time as a kid?: Reading, interneting, hitting my brother with sticks and getting hit back.

7. What is something you’re proud of?: I decided I wasn’t going to let another student film festival go uncaptioned at my college. I was the only one who captioned every film and I don’t think anyone has captioned the film festivals since, but I know that there were a few students that were able to attend the festival I did because they felt welcome for once. Fuck the kids who bitched about the captioning, it wasn’t for you.

8. What’s one character flaw in people that you just can’t tolerate?: Lying. For fuck’s sake just tell the truth. Also, don’t be cruel or intolerant of people’s differences or differences of opinion. Fuck you, there’s room for everyone and everyone’s thoughts. 

9. Do you consider yourself to be more of a leader or a follower?:  I’m a leader when I feel I must be - if absolutely no one else will step up, but I much prefer being a follower.

10. What kind of student are/were you?: I worked harder than anyone else to achieve mediocre status. 

11. Butterfly effect question! Has there ever been a seemingly minor decision you’ve made (at the time) that ended up having a profound influence on your life?: I told someone I liked a wristband/sweatband they were wearing and we became fast friends. I picked a school based on school colors. I followed my roommate to an ASL club meeting because she wanted me to get out of the dorm. I got a tumblr hahah. Honestly though the people I’ve met on tumblr have saved me so thank you.

12. Name your most irrational fear/aversion: Eyes - I don’t like eye drops, people touching their eyes, eye things happening in movies. I don’t like spiders. I’m still a little afraid of the dark. 

13. Are there any fictional characters you find especially relatable?: Tim Wright,  Jay Merrick, Clint Barton, Abby Maitland, Connor Temple, VERONICA MARS, Jessica Jones, 

14. If you drink, what kind of drunk are you? Alternatively, what sort of person are you at parties?: I get the munchies. And giggly. And sleepy. And I desire Left 4 Dead. Its my drunk video game. 

15. Do you fall in love easily? Or does it usually take a long time for you to trust someone?: I fall in love with concepts. I fall in love with characters. I fall in love with every dog I meet. But I’ve never had the opportunity to fall in love with a person. I love my friends, but I think that’s a different question? 

16. Would you rather have one close friend or 100 casual friends?: One close friend.

17. Do you consider yourself to be more of a slob or a neat-freak?: I’m a neat-freak who has given up. Dog hair will never be eradicated. I don’t have the energy to clean the way I want. My mind is too chaotic and I need clutter around me or I feel uncomfortable. Weirdly enough I was watching a documentary on Carrie Fisher and her mother, and I saw Carrie’s house and went “that’s me!” It seemed that her house was that way because of her bipolar status. I’m not bipolar but I do have major crippling anxiety and I think I clutter and throw art and things all over the walls as some sort of comforting mechanism. I’m unable to decorate like Adults do - I can’t do minimalism. It stresses me out. 

18. Describe a place (imaginary or real) that you would find incredibly cozy: Pacific northwest. Woods near a big lake or the ocean. Older farmhouse with brick and reclaimed wood. I have a room decorated in my usual chaos. There’s a bay window big enough for me and Ruby to both be on it at the same time. Its raining and the fall leaves are piled on the ground. I have candles and incense burning. Good music. Maybe a friend sitting on the computer next to me. There’s coffee and marionberry pie. Its october and everything is foggy and spooky and gentle and calm. Its probably sunday.

19. Do you have kids? If not, do you want them someday?: I don’t have any human kids. I like them, I think they’re funny. I’d want some if I was confident in my ability to care for them and raise them right and take care of them in all the ways they deserve.

20. What was your favorite book as a child? Harry Potter. To find something that not everyone else my age would say....Everything’s Eventual?

21. Name one thing you just don’t get what all the hype is about: Undertale. Its fine but I can’t get into it in the way everyone else does. 

22. Name one thing that you think is tragically underrated: Films on YouTube by indie filmmakers.

23. If you had to be glued to a person for a month, real or fictional (who you have never met), who would you choose?: Andrew-Lee Potts during the early days of Keychain Productions. Blood On Benefits made me want to make films, and I think spending a month with him working on all those short films would have made me actually live my dream rather than giving up on it. 

24. What’s something you’d like the chance to do someday?: I want to make films. I want to write an original story. Maybe make a video game? I want to make something. Do some crafting. Meet someone and actually date them. I’d like to have a kiss at some point, to see what that’s like. Have friends that live nearby that I can see frequently. 

25. Do you typically speak your mind when you have a controversial opinion? Or do generally prefer to not rock the boat?: No! Opinions are dangerous and people don’t like having friends that have different opinions than them, and I’d never have friends because I either don’t share the same opinions or I don’t feel strongly about my opinions. I’m very open to having people change my opinions. I’m not married to them. Please change my mind, I like thinking about things in a new way. But I am not going to share my opinions because it just causes so many fights among people - I just don’t feel safe doing it. 

26. What’s the dumbest fad you’ve been caught up in?: I’m sure it was fashion related but honestly I don’t care to think too hard about it. 

27. What’s something you thought was cool as a kid/adolescent, but now cringe at yourself for?: Only doing eyeliner on my bottom lids?

28. What’s a trait you consider to be very admirable?: True empathy. The ability to have practical skills that help people. 

29. Is there a particular kind of item people always tend to give you as gifts? (For instance, people always get you things with ducks on them because you like ducks, etc.): Hmmm....nerdy things? I mostly get gifts from Tumblr friends because we share fandoms so while the fandoms vary its usually homemade things based on our favorite things. And bless you all for it too - As my mom could tell you I beam for weeks upon receiving your guys gifts! I wish I could repay the kindness!

30. Do you speak multiple languages? Which ones?: I can do some really basic ASL. I used to do some basic spanish but that was many many years ago and I don’t think it would come back easily.

31. Would you rather live in the big city or the countryside?: Woods, middle of. I need my million dogs and my lots of land and fresh air. 

32. Has there ever been something you were certain you’d hate, but ended up loving?: the MCU lol

33. Do you mind being the center of attention, or do you prefer the spotlight to be on someone else?: Being the center of attention gives me anxiety.

34. Favorite holiday?: SPOOKY SCARY

35. Are you a more go-with-the-flow type of person, or do you need to have things planned meticulously?: My anxiety demands I have plans. Now, those plans are allowed to change, but I need to start with plans. 

36. Is there something you loved so much you wish you could forget it and experience it all over again? (A tv show, book, series–anything.): No.

37. What hobbies do you have?: Internet. Fanfiction writing (hahahahahaha). Photography. When my hand heals I wanna do leatherworking.

38. If you could have a superpower, but it was only mildly useful, what ability would you want to have?: I just want to know what my dog is thinking. So a superpower that lets me know what dogs are thinking/saying?

39. Something people are always surprised to learn about you: Could someone answer this for me? Because I don’t think anyone’s ever given me feedback on this one. 

40. Something that took you way too long to figure out: That I needed to do something about my anxiety. It gave me so many health problems and kept me from living my life. 

41. Worst injury you’ve had?: I’ve slammed my head against giant rocks. Hurt my knee in volleyball.

42. Any morbid fascinations?: Weirdly enough, not really! Post-nuclear apocalypses maybe? http://althistory.wikia.com/wiki/1983:_Doomsday was something I spent weeks immersed in to the detriment of my mental health.

43. Describe your sense of humor: Sarcastic, bitter, shitty puns? 

44. If you had to be born in another era/place, which would you choose?: 80s? Goth scene, I could have seen Depeche Mode and The Cure in their prime. 

45. Something you are irredeemably bad at: life

46. Something that sucked but you’re glad you went through: Being a shitty friend. Now I know how to not be that shitty?

47. Would you rather have a really godawful ugly tattoo in a place that is only slightly inconvenient to conceal with clothing (upper arm, thigh, etc.), or the coolest, most beautiful tattoo ever in the middle of your face? (Neither tattoo can be removed or concealed with makeup, and the ugly tattoo will deeply offend anyone who sees it.): Gimme that face tattoo.

48. Are you more of an optimist or a pessimist?: I like to think pessimistically so that if its true I’m not surprised but if it turns out better I can be pleasantly surprised!

49. What would be the most flattering compliment someone could give you?: That they genuinely loved me and that I made a difference in their life. 

50. Something you feel people often misunderstand about you: I don’t know........ How bone achingly lonely I am? Maybe someone can help me out on this one too. I don’t know if anyone really “understands” me - I don’t communicate my mindset well. 

I’m tagging: @gallifreystands @the44thpilot @autumnxtoxashes @ms-fagerstrom @marionarnold

[bennettsandmadison]

your lessons become your legacy.”  This quote from T-Swift resonates with me, big time… as so much of her writing does, for so many people.  She was just honored at the Time 100 Gala this week, in her acceptance speech she referenced Nora Ephron’s quote stating that “everything is copy”.    For writers when you break it down everything truly is copy, if you let it be and if you are comfortable with putting it out there, every experience, good or bad, every perspective, every relationship.  When you make your life your copy, as Taylor so often does, you have a chance to work through your thoughts and feelings with regard to your life experiences and more broadly, how your life is unfolding.  You have a chance to tell your truth, in the way that you perceived your life experiences to have played out, everyone is entitled to that, whether it is about “Bad Blood”, your “Reputation” or a “Love Story”, your story is yours to tell and that can be so liberating.

I’ve been doing a lot of reading, in full disclosure, 99% of my “reading” is listening, so I guess it would be more accurate to say I’ve been consuming books.  I’ve always respected the art of the written word and have never been (by my own standards) particularly good at it.  Perhaps that is why I took a long hiatus from this blog.  Self doubt, struggling with content and purpose, who wants to hear what I have to say, or better yet, how I am saying it, all crept into my head.   I had to take steps to build myself back up to a place where I felt comfortable writing.  Currently, I am reading “You are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life“, so far it’s pretty great, I am writing this blog post, so for me, it’s working.  A dear friend and fellow “self improvement seeker” suggested the book some time ago and I am SO glad I’ve finally taken her up on the suggestion.   I’m feeling motivated, confident and a whole lot of self love.  I am on a mission to “raise my frequency”.

While we’re on the topic of “the written word”, I’ll take this opportunity to share some of the books I’ve enjoyed recently.  Each of these books inspired me in profound ways.  They are beautifully written, (see the covers below) each features a female character as it’s centerpiece, a woman/girl that had to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds in order to realize her true greatness.   I’ve read a number of memoirs; “Educated“ is one of my favorites, Tara Westover did not let her unusual (terrifying) upbringing stop her from becoming the brilliant “Badass” she was born to be.  The women at the center of “Where to Crawdads Sing” and “Circe“ were dealt equally as rough hands in the game of life, they too found ways to overcome their circumstance and prevail.  These three heroines, did not come to greatness without making mistakes, experiencing heartbreak, giving way to doubt or insecurity, but they pushed on and ultimately changed the trajectory of their lives.  I’ve made innumerable mistakes in my life, I’ve said and done things that make me cringe and I am positive there are many many more mistakes to come.  This is who am I, this is the life I’ve got, and I want to make the best of it and be the best person I can be.  I don’t think that is possible if I don’t make mistakes and learn from them, acknowledge them and share what I’ve learned and how I’ve grown and I can move on.

  Back to Taylor and style…I am loving the pastel theme driving the campaign around her big 4.26 reveal…to be straight, I love pastel colors they conjure a feminine, happy feeling for me.

Here are some of my pastel selects for spring! The petal pink Bailey44 cross over top is such a pretty color.   I am loving the tie dye trend, I’ve only recently dipped my toe into the tie dye pool with this iphone case (warning my screen is already broken…not so protective) , this Alice and Olivia tie dye tee is perfectly pastel and wearable.  I am 40 plus so I’ve pretty much aged out of the whole crop top look, but I do like shorter hem lines on a top paired with a high waist line skirt and pant.  I think its a classy take on a trend that doesn’t always work for women over 40.  This lemon yellow Black Halo two piece dress is exactly what I am talking about!!  Something Navy, has yet to disappoint, I’ve loved so many pieces in each line they’ve offered to date and the price point is oh so good, I love this green sorbet (their words not mine) Low Back Cami.

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Bailey44 Turnover Top

Alice and Olivia Tiedye

Somthing Navy Cami

Black Halo Sanibel Two Piece Dress

Halston Heritage Sleeveless Drape Gown

Sablyn Violet Sweater

SMYTHE Boot Cut Pants

Ice blue, I love you!  I don’t have any weddings this summer, but if I did I would be ordering this Halsten Heritage Drape Gown, I love the high neckline and the “little bit of leg” drapery, it’s pretty fab.  For a more casual take on ice blue, this sweater Sablyn Violet Sweater is so pretty and cozy looking for cooler spring days.   Finally, a purple pant, I won’t mention that my husband inadvertently threw away a gorgeous pair of lilac paper bag pants, that I had worn ONE TIME…maybe he was confused by the fashion lingo…I digress.  I’m a huge huge covet-er of Smythe clothing, I do not, yet, own one item from the brand but their pieces are impeccably structured and made with high quality fabrics, goes to the old adage you get what you pay for!  For a higher price tag these lavender Smythe Boot-cut pants are super chic

  More pastel pretties

* Yes Please to this whole outfit!!

*This dress is TO DIE FOR!

*Love this dress and you can get the look for less here.

*Just put this in my cart…love the print and the shape!

*And I’ll leave you with this pretty number, so ethereal

  xoxo

Daryn

  “if you write, your lessons become your legacy."  This quote from T-Swift resonates with me, big time... as so much of her writing does, for so many people. 

[haveclotheswilltravel]

Moscow has many wonderful and unique dining options. And fortunately, many of the best restaurants in Moscow are not too far from the Kremlin, Bolshoi Theatre or St. Basil’s Cathedral.

All of the restaurants on this list will also be able to accommodate an English-speaker. While the English spoken may not be perfect – the staff will be willing to help and most of the restaurants will even be able to provide an English menu if you ask.

This list will have a little bit of everything…  from breakfast and brunch to fine dining and Russian fast food! I’m going to start out this list with my absolute favorite restaurants in Moscow, and then work my way down. Enjoy!

Click here to see all of my travel tips for visiting Russia. 

*If you have eaten at any of these restaurants recently (within the past few weeks) and something has changed – please feel free to reach out in the comments section. I want to keep this list as up-to-date and accurate as possible!

20 of the Best Restaurants in Moscow, Russia Written by a Local

1.) Mari Vanna ($$ | Traditional Russian Food | Casual)

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                        A post shared by Мари Vanna (@marivanna_moscow) on Jan 20, 2020 at 12:00am PST

Mari Vanna is a restaurant that is cozy and relaxed and modeled after an old Russian home. (They even have the cutest cat named Benjamin who will come out to say hello to the guests! He’s pictured above.) The staff is always friendly and helpful too. It’s worth getting a reservation here, as the wait can sometimes be up to an hour for a table. 

I recommend getting the Borsch, Beef Stroganoff and their pelmeni (dumplings).  

Click here for the Mari Vanna website.

2.) Винотека Grape – ($$-$$$ | European | Dressy Casual)

I may be a bit biased on this one, as I used to live directly above this restaurant and loved how close to home it was, haha. But they really do have some of the best food in Moscow, and the service and atmosphere here are phenomenal. They also have an incredible wine selection.

From the outside, this restaurant looks tiny and cramped, but all of the dining is downstairs in an upscale wine cellar. In the summer it’s also nice because they set up a little outdoor patio area (pictured above). It’s a really lovely spot for a date night or a special night out. We especially like dining here before going to a show at the Bolshoi, as the restaurant is upscale, and they are generally not overbooked and can accommodate to make sure we leave on time for our show.

I never once had anything here that I didn’t like, but my favorites are the veel cheeks, duck breast and tuna. I also love their pumpkin soup and Thai shrimp soup. Their appetizer of stewed pear in wine with gorgonzola cheese and buckwheat popcorn is out-of-this-world delicious! And save room for dessert – all of their options are amazing! 

Click here for the Винотека Grape website.

3.) CHOICE ($$ | European, Healthy, Vegan Options | Casual)

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                        A post shared by CHOICE // Healthy Social Club (@choice.restaurant) on Sep 20, 2019 at 2:06am PDT

And right next door to Grape is this wonderful restaurant – CHOICE! It took months of living above this restaurant before I convinced my husband to try it with me. We always thought it was “expensive” and only served vegan food. That was not the case at all! The food is incredibly affordable – on average a dish is 500 – 900 rubles (about $8 – $15 USD).

They have many healthy and delicious options (and yes they do have vegetarian and vegan dishes, but there is meat available too).  It’s a great spot for lunch or dinner and has a very hip yet relaxed vibe. It’s an interesting restaurant! The waitstaff here is some of the best we’ve had in Moscow too. They are really attentive and friendly. 

Again, I think we’ve had everything on the menu and loved it. However, our favorites are the salmon sliders, assorted “snack tray,” bruschetta and every single salad on the menu! They also make fantastic lemonades.

Click here for the Choice website.

4.) Lucky Izakaya Bar ($$-$$$ | Asian Fusion | Casual – Trendy)

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                        A post shared by Lucky Izakaya Bar (@lucky_izakaya) on Jan 11, 2020 at 7:38am PST

While an Izakaya is a casual Japanese drinking house, that is not what you’ll find at “Lucky Izakaya Bar” in Moscow. This is an upscale dining experience that serves phenomenal fusion food in a wonderful atmosphere. (Not that they don’t have a wonderful wine and drink selection, though!) The window tables provide some great people watching as well…

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Moscow by far. Just be sure to make a reservation if you go on the weekend – as they are usually jampacked!

I especially love their roast avocado, prawn mandu dumplings, Chargrilled beef sirloin with Japanese mustard and green tea mochi. 

Click here for the Lucky Izakaya Bar website. 

5.) Zotman Pizza Pie ($-$$ | Pizza! | Casual)

This is hands down the best pizza I’ve had while in Moscow. Heck, this is some of the best pizza I’ve had anywhere – period! I especially love coming here in the winter as the atmosphere is so cozy, and you can sit near the wood fire pizza ovens for extra warmth. If you’re visiting in summer or on a weekend, I do advise calling ahead for a table as this place is always busy. 

Their best pizza is their “pumpkin, chorizo and truffle honey pizza”. This is a seasonal pizza, though, and is not always available (usually late summer through fall it’s there). If they don’t have it – our other favorite pizzas are their chicken, broccoli and cream cheese pizza and also the lamb kebab with cumin and onion pizza.  They also have fantastic homemade lemonades!

Click here for the Zotman Pizza Pie website.

6.) Buba by Sumosan ($$-$$$ | Sushi | Casual)

Out of all the restaurants on this list, I’m pretty sure we’ve eaten at Buba’s the most. They are consistently amazing, and we’ve never had to wait for a table here. They also have the best sushi in Moscow by far, and the waitstaff is always very friendly. 

While the sushi is great – I love their king crab with salmon and tuna salsa roll especially – I really recommend trying the wasabi shrimp. It’s an appetizer size, but it is SO good. Be sure to save room for mochi too!

Click here for the Buba website. 

7.) Masters & Margaritas ($$-$$$ | European | Casual)

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                        A post shared by Masters&Margaritas (@mastersmargaritas) on Jan 17, 2020 at 1:38am PST

We stopped here numerous times for drinks before we finally tried their food – and we were really missing out! The food is just as tasty as the cocktails. I really love coming to Masters & Margaritas for their inventive margaritas, though. The atmosphere here is also one of my favorites in Moscow. It’s very cozy and “hipster”… which I mean that in the best possible way. The decor is unique…and so are the beverages and food! 

They also have AMAZING wasabi shrimp as an appetizer, and I enjoy their shrimp risotto. Obviously, try a margarita here, too! I like their mango margarita and blood orange, but their seasonal ones are especially fun – from pumpkin margaritas to hibiscus and more!

Click here for the Masters & Margaritas website. 

8.) Beluga ($$$$ | Russian | Dressy)

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                        A post shared by БЕЛУГА (@belugamoscow) on Aug 18, 2019 at 11:14am PDT

Beluga has arguably some of the best views in Moscow. It’s directly across the road from the Kremlin – so you’ll have a view of that and St. Basil’s Cathedral while you dine! The waitstaff here is beyond amazing too. They are so kind. We didn’t know a darn thing about caviar the first time we came here, and they didn’t make us feel like idiots…but instead educated us about the different kinds of caviar, what to eat it with and made some great recommendations for entrees and drinks as well! It was such a fantastic experience.

*Note: there is a Beluga Caviar Bar inside the GUM mall. That is different than this restaurant! I honestly haven’t tried that place yet and can’t attest to it. 

Definitely come here to do a caviar tasting! We also enjoyed the scallop pasta and tenderloin. They also have some of the best Kvass (a fermented beverage) that we’ve had in Moscow.

Click here for the Beluga website.

9.) Turandot ($$$$ | Contemporary | Dressy)

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                        A post shared by TVRANDOT / ТУРАНДОТ (@turandot.palace) on Apr 2, 2019 at 11:23am PDT

I’m putting Turandot on this list because it is easily the most extravagant restaurant I’ve ever dined in. The baroque decor inside this restaurant is beyond gorgeous, and it’s quite the experience to dine in such a lavish setting! We reserved coming here only on a couple of special occasions, as it is on the pricey end of the spectrum. But if you only have a set amount of time in Moscow – why not go all out?! 

Things to note, though, while this restaurant is impressive… the interior is better than the food. The food is good, don’t get me wrong, but not as good as one would think with this extravagant of a setting. And the service here is some of the worst I’ve experienced in Moscow. The waitstaff is not attentive or friendly or helpful at all… Going into this restaurant though, with the expectation that the waitstaff won’t be amazing, helped us to enjoy it more the last time we were there.

I recommend doing their special “set menu” options. These are dishes predetermined by the chef, and I do feel you get the best “bang for your buck” doing this option. We did the “modern” set last time with a wine pairing and really enjoyed it. 

Click here for the Turandot website.

10.) Severyane ($$-$$$ | European | Casual)

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                        A post shared by Северяне (@severyane.moscow) on Dec 23, 2019 at 7:37am PST

I love Severyane in the summer because they’ll open the large window in the front of the restaurant and allow some seating outside. It’s a great atmosphere that is a little loud yet cozy. (And there is some great people-watching here!) The food is great, but what really sets this restaurant apart is its ambiance. 

Anything off the grill is fantastic. Be aware that the portion sizes will be smaller and many times this restaurant is “cash only.”

Click here for the Severyane website.

11.) LavkaLavka ($$-$$$ | Contemporary Russian, Farm-to-Table | Casual)

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                        A post shared by LavkaLavka на Петровке (@lavkalavkarestaurant) on Nov 30, 2019 at 2:20am PST

LavkaLavka is great in the summer as well – as they have plenty of comfortable outdoor seating. They serve their food with the freshest of ingredients, and the staff here are all phenomenal! This was actually one of the first restaurants my husband and I ever dined at while in Moscow. Our realtor had recommended it to us and it set the bar VERY high for future restaurant endeavors. 

I like the halibut here, but it’s one of the only restaurants that I’ve ever seen serve things like “deer heart with mashed celery, rosemary crumble & cowberry sorbet.” My husband loves venison and trying weird food, so he had to try the deer heart. He said it was one of the most interesting dishes he’s ever tasted. (Not sure if he feels the need to get it again – but he’s glad he tried it!)

Click here for the LavkaLavka website.

12.) Simple Things ($$ | European, Wine Bar | Casual)

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                        A post shared by Простые Вещи New Vintage (@prosty_veschi_newvintage) on Dec 11, 2019 at 8:26am PST

Simple Things is just as the name describes – it’s a nice, simple restaurant with a simple and fresh menu. I come here specifically for their rabbit. The portions are smaller, so you may also want an appetizer or dessert to fill you up! 

Note: this restaurant is the nicest to dine at in the summer with its outdoor seating. The indoor setup is a little odd, and if you are not seated in the room with the bar the atmosphere is pretty awful. 

Again, I really like their rabbit and their selection of wine is fantastic and reasonably priced. 

Click here for the Simple Things website.

13.) Varenichnaya №1 ($$ | Russian | Casual)

So, this is actually a chain of restaurants in Russia that are decorated to look like an old Soviet home. They are scattered all over the city. However, I recommend this being the first restaurant you try when you get to Moscow! This is because it will be the easiest to navigate – the menu literally has photos. And it does have really good Russian food! Our Russian friends have all brought us here at one point or another. Our friends very much enjoy their “Russian salads.” I really am not a fan of “Russian salads” – the photo above of the cake looking dish is actually a “salad.” I much prefer the different pelmeni and vareniki. But, hey, when in Russia… 

Try a little bit of everything here! And the Varenichnaya №1 by the Metropol Hotel has a fantastic view of the Bolshoi and some really nice outdoor seating. 

Click here for the Tripadvisor page. (No website at the moment for this place, I guess!)

14.) Friends Forever Cafe / Breakfast Cafe / Conversation ($-$$ | American, Breakfast/Brunch | Casual)

Likewise, Friends Forever Cafe, Breakfast Cafe and Conversation are all chain restaurants in Moscow. However, they have some really great breakfast and brunch food! My mouth is watering just thinking about their waffles and eggs! Each of these places will have a slightly different menu.

The photo above is of the raspberry pancakes at Friends Forever Cafe on Malaya Nikitskaya. That’s enough for 2 people, haha! They’re so good!

Click here for their website.

15.) Expedition ($$$$ | Russian/Siberian | Casual)

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                        A post shared by РЕСТОРАН “ЭКСПЕДИЦИЯ” 🚁 (@expedition_restaurant) on Jan 20, 2020 at 9:03am PST

This restaurant is a bit touristy – but it’s quite the experience! They have a replica helicopter in the dining area and the theme of the restaurant is centered around expeditions in Siberia. They also will have live music playing at times. You can sample a ton of crazy meat from Siberia. They even have a meat sampler platter that includes Reindeer tongue and heart, grouse, moose, etc. 

Interestingly enough… this place also has a private Siberian banya service. I never did get a chance to try it – as it was usually booked up for any weekend we were looking to go. (They by far have the most expensive banya prices I’ve seen in Moscow, but I was curious if their banya lived up to all the hype! One day!)

Note: This place takes the cake for the most expensive dinner bill we’ve had while in Moscow too. It’s a pricey place!

I much prefer the fish they serve to all the other crazy wildlife you can eat here. However, it is an experience to try wild game meat from Siberia. 

Click here for the Expedition website.

16.) Cafe Pushkin ($$$ | Russian + International | Dressy)

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                        A post shared by Кафе ПушкинЪ (@cafepushkin) on Nov 7, 2019 at 10:28am PST

Cafe Pushkin is an antique-filled dining room of a nobleman’s house, with formal service & a typical Russian menu. It’s a fun experience with some of the best service I have experienced in Moscow! (It’s seriously worth it to come here just for the decor and the service.) I do advise making a reservation a day or two in advance, as it can get very busy (at least on weekends).

I really loved the food the first couple times we dined here with friends (the stroganoff was especially tasty). However, we were there a few months ago, and it really was not that great as far as food quality. Which was disappointing, as it is generally one of the most recommended restaurants in Moscow. I’ve been hesitant to take any friends back here! I do hope it is changing, though…I will still keep this restaurant on this list, though, as it is a Moscow legend and I believe they may have just been going through a rough patch the last time we dined here. 

Click here for the Cafe Pushkin website.

17.) Strelka ($$-$$$ | Bar food | Casual)

Strelka has a nice selection of appetizers and salads… plus, they make some fabulous cocktails. The real reason you come to Bar Strelka, though, is for the view of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. It’s amazing! And during the summer, the outdoor seating is fantastic and even has misting fans for those hot summer days! (But it can be ridiculously crowded.) All of the profits made at Bar Strelka also support the Strelka Institute (the university that the bar is located on). 

Come here for appetizers and drinks and to enjoy the view. I don’t especially love the food, here, though.

Click here for the Strelka website.

18.) Borrachitos Bar ($ | Mexican | Casual)

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                        A post shared by Borrachitos (@borrachitosbar) on Jun 22, 2018 at 4:15am PDT

Borrachitos has the most authentic Mexican food in Moscow. And I’m talking real Mexican food… not Tex-Mex.  They also have an extensive craft beer selection on tap. Don’t let its simple decor and hidden location put you off – the food and the service here are fantastic!

Come here for their tacos and get the pulled pork. It’s so tasty! (Expect it to get a bit messy, though, as they use corn tortillas.)

Click here for the Borrachitos Facebook page.

19.) White Rabbit ($$$$ | Contemporary | Dressy)

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                        A post shared by White Rabbit Restaurant & Bar (@whiterabbitmoscow) on Jul 13, 2019 at 2:01am PDT

So, I’m a bit embarrassed to say… but I have yet to actually eat at this restaurant. However, the White Rabbit is one that continues to be recommended to me. And it also has some of the best views of the city. The reason I have yet to make it here is that every time we think about going… we call to make a reservation and they’re booked! So, if the White Rabbit is on your list of restaurants to eat at while in Moscow, I would recommend making a reservation at least 2 weeks in advance!

Click here for the White Rabbit website.

20.) Grand Cafe Dr. Zhivago ($$-$$$ | Russian | Dressy)

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                        A post shared by Гранд Кафе Dr.Живаго (@grandcafezhivago) on Jan 7, 2020 at 5:07am PST

Dr. Zhivago is another restaurant where you’ll want to make your reservation at least 2 weeks in advance! It’s a very popular spot. While it has some of the best food in the city… it also has a relatively affordable menu. (It’s also located just below Beluga, so it’s right across the road from the Kremlin!)

The reason I don’t have this restaurant higher on the list is we were so turned off initially by the service here. We came for my birthday, and it was ridiculous how rude the waitstaff was… we had also made a reservation several weeks in advance, and were set at a table that was very small and literally in the main walkway of the restaurant (so, every time someone walked by, we were bumped… and having a conversation was impossible). Needless to say, it took my husband throwing a little hissy fit for us to get a normal table…and a new waitress. The new waitress was phenomenal, as was the food…but the first impression of this place did leave a bit of a bad taste.  Therefore, I’ve been a bit hesitant to give this restaurant a glowing review. 

Click here for the Dr. Zhivago website.

What are some of your favorite restaurants in Moscow? Let me know in the comments!

Click here to see all of my travel tips for visiting Russia. 

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20 of the Best Restaurants in Moscow, Russia by a Local Moscow has many wonderful and unique dining options. And fortunately, many of the best restaurants in Moscow are not too far from the Kremlin, Bolshoi Theatre or St.

[every2piness-blog]

Last week, I posted about our first half of the Copper Ridge Loop in the North Cascades National Park (part one of this backpacking trip is here). Part one covered a gorgeous ridge walk, a fire tower, bears and a spectacular campsite on an alpine lake.  Part two, however, covers the miserable slog down to the river that angered my shin splints and a long, hot walk to the car. The second half of the trip had some really beautiful elements, but it earned the title “the misery”.

Day 2

13 miles, ~3000′ elevation loss

The Descent

We left off just before descending to the Chilliwack River, after traversing along Copper Ridge. My legs were already rather unhappy with me, but I was soon to discover how unhappy they could truly be. After eating a few snacks, we shouldered our packs and began the descent into the forest.  The grade was such that my knees, hips, ankles, and shins started to ache with each step. Whenever it leveled off, the pain disappeared, only to reappear with a steepening grade.

I had visions of crawling until we reached the level river, and started calculating how to ration food in case we couldn’t make it back out. In a few places where it was too painful to continue, I turned around and walked backward.  Switchback after switchback, I grew more and more panicked.  When I stopped to rest, my muscles would seize, making it difficult to start again.

At this point, we were the furthest distance from any trailhead, and there didn’t seem to be any option except continuing to put one foot in front of the other until we made it to the river.  I couldn’t speak or think of anything besides step, step, step.  A persistent bile continued to rise in my throat whenever a particular step was especially painful, which did not put my mind at ease. Feeling like I had little control of my legs, I worried about breaking an ankle or becoming truly immobile.

When we spotted the river through the trees, I immediately burst into tears. I vaguely remember yelling “I cannot afford hope!” while sobbing, fearing that it was a mirage or just a stream, rather than an end to the descent. Always one to add a little drama and hyperbole to a straightforward hike.  Knowing that the significant elevation loss was over, the relief was more than I can describe.  We hurried to the river’s edge, took off our shoes and began to ford, enjoying the cold water on our aching feet.  First, we crossed the Chilliwack River, then through an island to Indian Creek.  When we stepped through the bushes at Indian Creek, was saw the telltale sign of spawning sockeye salmon as bright red fish dotted the white pebbles below.  I sunk to the rocky bank and lay down for several minutes, popping up now and then to watch the salmon.

Sockeye Salmon and the River

First sight of the river.

Crossing the first ford

I spent time in Alaska studying Sockeye Salmon, and I have missed the days spent in a river with the almost dead fish.  Michael had never seen spawners and when I initially planned for this trip in March, I chose a month that would maximize our chances of seeing salmon. I was really excited to share this with him and constantly pestered him to make sure that he “loved it enough” because I like to ruin moments when I am excited about something.

We watched the salmon dart around while I droned on about salmon biology and the modifications their body go through for spawning.  This was much more fun with live salmon in front of us, and we are able to see the hump and kype on the males, and the bright red and green that is so unique to sockeye salmon. We also saw some small jack salmon among the larger males, and they were pretty fun to watch.

Sockeye salmon pair!

There were about 20 salmon around this log

The stretch of river where we watched the salmon

We could have stayed for hours, but we were only at the halfway point for the day and hoped to reach our campsite before dark. So we continued on the bushy, forested trail with the occasional whiff of rotting salmon. My legs felt much better now that we were on level terrain, and we hurried along.  After a few miles, we came across a suspension bridge.

I am usually not a fan of suspension bridges. I think they are the coolest, but my brain has a difficult time in situations where my body can register movement but my eyes cannot.  This is mostly an issue on boats with seasickness, but suspension bridges often trigger it as well.  Luckily, this bridge bounced significantly with each step and there was no disconnect; my eyes and brain both believed the bridge was bouncing way more than it should.  It was probably the sketchiest bridge I have crossed, and I just put my head down and barreled through. In reality, it was pretty safe and fun, once I was on firm ground on the other side.

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Crossing the bridge with confidence!

Michael looked down…

We continued to stroll through the forest, making our way to U.S. Cabin Camp.  The scenery remained mostly unchanged, but it was nice to be in a shaded forest after our ridge walk the day before. Eventually, we reached the final river crossing for the night.  This crossing utilizes a cable car to pull ourselves across the river. I was really looking forward to this trail feature and was disappointed when the ranger said there was a wasp’s nest on the platform. The people we passed on the trail all said they took the horse ford rather than the cable car to avoid the wasps.  We weren’t willing to risk wasps on top of everything else, so we opted for the horse ford as well.  In the end, given the supersize nature feeling of this trip, it was nice not to add too many human elements in the mix.

Final ford of the day

The horse ford was gentle and easy, though a bit chilly. We laced our boots back up then made our way down the trail to U.S. Cabin Camp. We arrived shortly after and found a myriad of available campsites.  After so many of our hiking trips recently involving sleeping at whatever spot is open, it was great to have a bunch of choices, even if most of them were almost identical.

U.S. CABIN CAMP

U.S. Cabin Camp is in that patch of woods

We found a nice, large space with easy access to the river and set up camp.  After a short trip to the river bank, hobbling on our tired feet, we made dinner and fell asleep.

River next to U.S. Cabin Camp

Upstream view from U.S. Cabin Camp

Our cozy tent site, nice and woodsy

Day 3

10 miles, ~3000′ elevation gain

We woke and were back on the trail by 8:30.  Our third day was our shortest day for mileage, but we still needed to gain 3,000′ to make it back to Hannegan Pass.  It was already starting to get hot by the time we started up on the trail, but the shade kept things nice and cool.  We continued on a flat forest path for a few miles, then the elevation gain began. Sections were fairly steep, but all within stock grade. The trail followed a pattern with of an uphill pulse followed by a longer, flat traverse, which was appreciated.   Eventually, we crossed a large bridge then reached Hell’s Gorge and saw a gorgeous waterfall in the distance.

60% of the trail looked like this on day three.

Large waterfall in the distance near Hell’s Gorge

We could see Hannegan Pass getting closer as we continued hiking and eventually we made it to the fields below boundary camp. The hot, open slopes were the only thing between us and the easy downhill back to the car.  Gathering our strength, knowing it would be the final push to the end, we started hopping from shade spot to shade spot. Miserably hot, tired and ready for the car, my face, as I looked upon switchbacks, summarizes the feelings of the moment.

The final push

Terrified to leave the shade, maybe dead inside

Approaching Hannegan Pass

Eventually, we reached the pass and stopped for a half hour rest.  Too tired to fend off the flies any longer, I lay in the shade and allowed myself to be ravaged while hoping this half hour rest would be enough of a break for my body to completely heal.  It was not.

At this point, we only had 4 miles of moderate downhill hiking to the trailhead. Unfortunately for me, the previous day’s elevation loss and its impact on my legs meant that as soon as we started going downhill, the pain returned. Our “easy four miles” turned into another miserable slog, where I barely looked up from the trail for the entire four miles.  The hot talus slopes were devoid of shade and we frequently crossed into hot spots where the air hung heavy and humid, like walking into an oven. Determined to get to the car where I could sit for a long time, we eventually made our way out of the oven trail of misery and tears and to the car.  I stripped off my boots and sweaty hiking gear and sat for a good chunk of time in the back of the car.

The descent to the trailhead. Long and miserable.

We had an abundance of blisters, Michael’s best dirt-line yet and a great sense of accomplishment.  This trail tested our limits, particularly after coming back from an injury and we were proud to have finished. I would have liked to finish a little more casually, instead of feeling like I was fighting to the last step to make it to the car, but it was also fun to test our limits.

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Sock tan

My entire foot is a blister under a callus.

We returned to the Ranger Station and turned in our bear sighting sheets. Then we continued on to for a post-hike meal at Graham’s, which was filling and delicious.  Highly recommend. A few hours driving later, we made it home to Seattle for a shower and early bedtime.

Additional Information:

WTA information

North Cascades Backcountry Permit Website

  Copper Ridge Loop, Part 2: the Misery Last week, I posted about our first half of the Copper Ridge Loop in the North Cascades National Park (part one of this backpacking trip is