A very nice friend said to us this week, “I don’t want to bother you, you’re on vacation.” That surprised us. We think of this trip more as an alternative living arrangement or life style if you will, as opposed to an extended exemption from work and daily cares. Nomadic to be sure, we do still worry about the grass getting cut at home, schedule management, and (my dreaded) meal plans. Dave still has students as well as speaking engagements and business meetings. It was just a lightbulb moment I guess you could say.
Category Archives: Travel Adventures
The Great Basin and Eastern Sierras
Saturday 5 Oct. — Early alarm, set. Shore power, disconnected. Mooring lines, cast off. We are ready to get underway early — but the truck tailgate is frozen shut! It rained last night and then the temperature dropped just enough to make trouble. The tools we need to hitch up are in the truck bed, so Dave drives the truck to find a sunbeam to melt the ice. We’ll be packing a travel hair dryer next trip!
A few days in Bozeman
Bozeman, Montana, a college town, has long been on our radar. Our criteria haven’t changed very much: college town, near an airport, and accessible nature close by. Well, and homes we could actually afford. The only addition now, is level parking for an Airstream. Oh, and room for a long-arm.
The Black Hills are Amazing!
Tonight we are boon-docking in the Black Hills National Forest, in a campground overlooking Sheridan Lake. Our site is parallel to the lake, with gorgeous views under the Ponderosa pine trees from the kitchen, living area, and bedroom. We have plenty of greenery around us. Below us are water skiers and fishermen enjoying the lake. I sit outside at the picnic table overlooking the water to write, but the cool breezes drive me inside, despite my jacket.
Across the Northern Plains
1,024 miles, 16 Google-hours drive time to travel from Bay Furnace Campground in the Hiawatha National Forest to our camp in the Black Hills of South Dakota. This is going to be a different week for us — a week of boon-docking (no utilities) and longer days towing. Each week is a learning experience — we are discovering what pace we like to set, from miles driven to number of days in one place.
Michigan and Wisconsin – August 2019
o quote my favorite philosopher, “The days are just packed!” A plan for high adventure and sitting in a tree with a pal & passing the time count as equally important experiences to fill our days. And I think we are beginning to get a hang of how that works, here on the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.
Heading West
Six camp sites in seven days — was enough to wear us out! Our four days at Indiana Dunes State Park was an unexpected blessing when we realized we could set up camp, and leave it that way! Oh, and sleep in.
Underway for our 2019 Deployment!
The Grande Depart — At 1300 on 30 July, 2019, Dave and I, with the Airstream (currently known as either Dauntless or as OBSO (our bright shiny object) pulled out of the driveway. Sorry we didn’t see you waving neighbor Milly! We headed west, under bright summer skies, and of course, because we were towing on I-80, we had several miles of a downpour. Tradition must be preserved!
Lagniappe (a little bit extra, a gift)
This whole experience with Dave has been its own special gift. And now I have three days, on my own, in this special place. I have no specific plans for this unexpected lagniappe, just some general ideas — so we’ll see what happens!
Bookends
The mountains are covered from top to toe in clouds — just as they were on the day we arrived. Seems an appropriate bookend for the vacation. It is not even light enough to go look for animals at Oxbow. So, on to our favorite Plan B: breakfast in town. We pass Mr. Fox with his mouth full of squirrel at the stop sign.