The Great Wander

What’s next?!  I haven’t written since our trip to see One Life and load her up with some stuff from the house…but by now, school’s out.  So what are we up to?  We just began an epic road trip that started at Sand Dunes National Park, heading over to Mesa Verde National Park after that and then on to some more throughout Utah, Arizona, and California.  Followed up with a bit more camping and visiting some family and friends.  After that, a bit more boat work, put her in the water, move aboard, and set sail!

The change in our life has begun.  I won’t lie to you and say that this whole thing is easy and there’s not an emotional roller coaster that is happening.  There is a mix of fear, excitement, joy, self doubt, and whole host of other emotions happening all at once.  It’s now time for all of the planning to be executed.  I’ll tell you, that’s where some real courage comes in. 

When we left the house, for the last time, we left the keys on the counter knowing we’d never return to this abode, it was scary.  Think about the last time you went on vacation or did a camping trip.  When you are out on your trip, you know in the back of your mind that in a week, 10 days, 2 weeks, you’ll be back to everything that is familiar to you.  You know the same habits, routines, and places are all going to be there upon your return.  We started the car and left knowing that we would be back to Cheyenne for a short stay, we aren’t going ‘home’.  We have a place to stay, but it’s not our home.  All of our routines are out the window.  Everything is new.  There’s no going home. 

It’s also a bit exciting as well.  Knowing the places that we are going see is exciting.  Knowing that we don’t know what tomorrow is going to bring is exciting. We know where we are going to be, but will we be setting up camp in the rain, will our planned route work, what’s the next park going to look like?  Those kinds of things are exciting, there is no routine really.  I turned off my alarm the other day, probably just need to delete it, because when we do need an alarm, I’ll know that night and I’ll set it.  Then not set it again for some time.

For now, our home is a Kelty tent and a Ford Expedition.  We’ve got everything we need in the car, which is very carefully packed.  We purchased our “America The Beautiful” Pass that covers our entrance into National Parks, so it’s a big savings.  I’ll be writing more about the things we are doing and seeing and trying to get them posted weekly.  It’s going to be a bit behind where we are, but I’ll get things posted.  You also are likely to see some affiliate links for Amazon for products that we are using that others might be able to use.  If you use our link, we get a bit from Amazon, and you don’t pay anything more.

For all those who are wondering, yes, we do have the dogs with us.  We have found doggie day care near most every national park, which is nice, because parks vary on their dog friendliness.  For now, it’s a few days here and few days there.  I am grateful for everyone who followed along during the planning phase…now I look forward to sharing the journey with you!