#62 (& Final): Reflecting

I was waiting to write this next and final post until it hit me that this much-anticipated, once-in-a-lifetime adventure had come to an end. It didn’t hit me when I sold the Airstream. It didn’t even hit me when I started taking a warm shower every day.

Addie & Me

It hit me the other day. Addie and I woke up; I curled up next to her, snuggled her, and told her I loved her. This is an everyday occurrence, but for some reason, this time felt different. I immediately flashed back to doing the same thing on the road, on the Airstream bed, anticipating the day’s adventures.

For the entire year of travel, it was Addie and me against the world. Our tiny home didn’t change much, but what we viewed out the window changed more often than it stayed the same. Each day brought excitement, obstacles, and all types of new perspectives. I wondered if we would have that “partner-in-crime” feeling again like we did every day. Whatever we did, whatever we faced, whatever we conquered, we did it together.

In reflecting, maybe the year was more about Addie and me than I realized. And it’s still “our” story, rather than just mine. From now on, it will be Addie and me - we will face what the future holds together.

Other Reflections

We don’t always see how one given thing is changing us, molding us, benefitting us. All we can do is embrace it: not fight it, let ourselves feel, seize the moment, and be grateful for what we have. 

My year on the road was about living:  Recognizing what I have rather than what I don’t have. Taking a risk. Being comfortable with being uncomfortable. Not harboring every small decision. Doing what I wanted to do instead of what I felt I should do. It was challenging.

I put myself out there, literally. In doing so, I not only found strength, knowledge, and experience, but I also found companionship. A very different type of adventure begins now. I’m off to Texas to start the next chapter. 

As time goes on and I continue to reflect, I will realize other things the year provided. I don’t see them all right now, but I will. 

I’ll sign off with this: if you feel a pull, give in to it. It may be scary, it may require taking a risk, it may be uncertain, but…

Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. – Mark Twain

If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary. – Jim Rohn

If it were easy, everyone would do it. – Dad

Thank you for being on this ride with us. 

Lots of love, 

Sarah & Addie

#61: Rounding the Corner...

I was closing in on the end of my year of travel, but I wasn’t done quite yet…

Grand Canyon National Park

I bet you thought I'd forgotten about this one, huh? Nope.

To be blunt, I wasn't super excited about visiting Grand Canyon. I knew I would go because, after all, it's Grand Canyon. However, it's somewhat annoying to get to, I knew it would be super crowded, and we wouldn't be hiking at all due to Addie not being allowed on trails. My friend, who used to lead tours of the Grand Canyon, managed to pump me up for it, though (thanks, Maura).

The first thing I did upon arrival at the South Rim near Mather Point was to replenish the water tank in the Airstream. I did this right in the park, near the Mather Campground. I was pleasantly greeted by a thirsty visitor while doing so.

My campsite near Grand Canyon was unique. It was on national forest land, but I had to go through the actual park to get there (which I had never experienced before). It was off a forest road in the park but within the Kaibab National Forest. It was a fantastic spot: not many campers, free, sunny and shady sites, and close proximity to the park. 

Some South Rim areas were closed, including the Desert View Watchtower, but there was still much to see. Addie and I got started early and headed right to Moran Point for our first glimpse of the canyon. 

The canyon is breathtaking. The vastness is indescribable. I also think that it’s the vastness that makes it even more difficult to fathom and comprehend the size. It’s just unbelievable.

Average width (rim to rim): 10 miles

Length: 277 miles

Average depth (rim to river): 5,000 feet (NOTE: the North Rim rises about 1,000 feet higher than the South Rim)

We drove west along Desert View Drive, stopping at various points to get different perspectives of the canyon. Addie joined me on a walk along a section of the Rim Trail. I couldn’t help but stop, sit, and ponder while taking it in.

I have to say; I felt a little guilty. I felt guilty for not wanting to hike while there. The truth is this: I felt more affinity to other national parks than to this one, and at this park, I seemed to have a "check it off the list" mentality. It offers much more than viewpoints, I realize, but I didn't explore those activities on this particular visit. It was a healthy exercise for me: I had to convince myself that there was no reason to feel remorse. I did what I wanted to do, and there is nothing wrong with that.

Back to Zion

Remember when I was visiting Zion and the trail I wanted to hike - Angel’s Landing - was closed due to COVID? Well, it opened back up again. And I was going to hike it.

It was sort-of on the way back to Denver (where I had to drop off the Airstream). I was not in a massive time crunch, and putting into practice what I’ve learned along the way, I needed to do it now, or perhaps not have the chance again.

En route to Zion, I made a stop at the made-famous-by-Instagram location, Horseshoe Bend.

The viewing area was rather large, but I couldn't seem to find a vantage point for the best shot. However, I didn't need a perfect photo to appreciate this area of the Colorado River's natural beauty.

Going to Zion National Park for the second time was seamless. I already knew the lay of the land and the logistics that needed coordination. I set up Addie at the daycare she loves, I made a reservation for the canyon shuttle, and I knew exactly where to camp. I was excited to check out this epic trail finally. And to do so before the weather turned - I didn’t want to tackle this hike with snow or ice adorning the path.

It was the day after Thanksgiving when I set out to hike Angel’s Landing. Based on my experience, I would say there was an increased amount of visitors for the holiday weekend. The trail was congested.

I didn’t care. I had been anticipating this hike for the last several months. I knew what the first two miles entailed, as I had done that portion on my first trip to Zion. The new stuff was the last half mile, and it was worth the wait. It was fun, terrifying, magnificent, and thought-provoking all at the same time.

For context, there are deadly drop-offs on both sides of the trail, with the trail width only 4.5-5 feet wide at times. Chain railings secured by metal posts are positioned in steep and narrow places to guide hikers and ease balance and footing. The views are spectacular, but until I got to the top, I didn’t look anywhere else except where I was stepping!

Check out this video for more perspective.

Completing this icon of a hike was ironic. I realize this may sound dramatic, but this wasn’t just a hike. It was the last hike of my “Lyfe in Tow year” and this mental, physical, and emotional journey. 

I left Zion feeling a variety of mixed emotions. At that moment, though, my focus was getting to Denver. There, I would pass the Basecamp on to its new loving owners. Back through the Colorado Rockies, I went.

#60: A Few More Stops in Arizona

Arizona was not yet in my rearview. I still had more to see and do there, such as an appointment at Airstream of Scottsdale.

I know, I’ve been to many Airstream locations. This time, it was just for a few small things. I wanted to ensure the Basecamp was in the best possible shape when I handed it over to the new owners. Just like a house, there are things to update, maintain, and fix before selling.

While the Basecamp was in the shop, Addie and I perused historic Scottsdale. I had been once before many years ago, and although I recognized a lot of it, even more of it seemed new and different. The historic section still felt small, authentic, and quaint, though.

Since I started traveling in November 2019, I had been looking forward to Sedona. Not only is Sedona incredibly scenic, but it’s also a spiritual vortex.

I scoped out some dispersed camping national forest land south of Sedona. We rolled in towards the end of the day and turned left onto a “road” that led to an area large enough for two or three campsites. When I got there, one RV camper was already there. Sometimes, in spots like these, people get annoyed when other campers set up too close. I am cautious of this and try to get as far away from others as possible. I made some dinner, caught the sunset, and turned in for the night. 

The following morning as Addie and I ventured out of the Airstream and got moving, a dog from the other campsite came running over to say hi. I swear this dog looked familiar. His owner was outside walking toward us, and I asked him for the dog’s name. He said, “Bella.” The name was familiar, and so was the man’s voice.

“Michael?” I said, squinting my eyes to see him.

“Sarah?” he responded as he continued to walk toward us.

Holy moly. It was my hiking buddy, Michael, who I met on a trailhead in New Mexico. We hiked that entire day together and since then had exchanged a few emails. What are the chances?

We smiled, laughed, embraced, and shared disbelief. Of all the states, areas, dispersed camping places, and roads in given camping places, we both chose the same one, at the same time. We caught up a bit and made plans to go for a hike with the dogs the following day. I was contemplating leaving this camping area, but I decided to stick around since Michael was there.

I made my way to town (West Sedona) for some housekeeping - laundry, groceries, etc. In the afternoon, Addie and I ventured to Uptown Sedona to do the touristy walk-around. It was exceptionally crowded the weekend I was there. The town is cute but catered to tourists. We sat on the patio of a Mexican restaurant, enjoyed a margarita, and people-watched. 

Michael and I met the following morning for our hike on Bell Trail in the Coconino National Forest. Conveniently, the trail was only a few miles from where we were camping. We chatted the entire 3.5 miles until rewarded with a stunning red rock canyon with ledges overlooking a clear water creek. We found a ridge on which to sit down, have a snack, and relax. 

When I solo hike, I usually don’t do a very good job of taking my time and taking it all in. This time, though, Michael and I hung out on this ledge for a few hours - meeting and chatting with others who came through, watching people jump into the water, and just being silent. It was a very memorable moment and one on which I will certainly reflect.

There were other, more renowned trails that I wanted to check out the next day. I knew these trails would have crowds, so I got an early start.

I kicked off with Cathedral Rock Trail. I arrived at the trailhead around 8 am, but the parking lot was full. Street parking was limited, but I got lucky and found someone leaving, so I snuck in his spot when I saw him getting out (I have no idea what time he got there if he was already done by 8 am!).

The reviews of this trail say that dogs are welcome but not advised to come because some areas are steep and difficult for dogs. I knew Addie would handle it, though. She is ridiculously agile and can jump and maneuver like a circus dog (actually, her breed was used as circus dogs in the past). It wasn’t a long trail, either. Not to brag (well, maybe a little), but my little munchkin made her way up and down this:

The masses of people were annoying, but the scenery was exquisite. The hike was also fun, as the terrain was varietal.

After trying a few other trailheads and not finding parking, I finally got a spot at the Broken Arrow Trail trailhead. Not surprisingly, it was packed with cars and visitors. This hike shared parts of its way with jeeps and mountain bikes, but I was glad I landed on it.

Addie and I departed the Sedona area the following morning and also said good-bye to Michael and Bella. We were sad to part but planned to keep in touch. Such is the life of nomads on the road!

I had one more stop in Arizona, which was the ever-so-iconic, Grand Canyon National Park.

#59: Valley Girls

When my friend Amanda expressed interest in visiting me on the road, choosing a time and place for us to meet was somewhat of a crapshoot. She booked the flight months beforehand, so I had to guess a little where I’d be when she planned to come. I knew I’d be “around” Arizona, and I knew the agenda included Death Valley National Park, so we decided flying into Las Vegas would work (Vegas is about two hours east of Death Valley). Scooping her in Vegas, and where we’d travel together, was factored into my route planning.

I booked a site at Sam’s Town KOA (Kampgrounds of America) in Las Vegas for the night of Amanda’s arrival. Here, I’d empty/fill tanks and stock up on groceries (and wine). It was strange to go to Vegas and “camp.” The only other times I’ve gone to Vegas was for work trips or bachelorette parties.

I quickly introduced Amanda to the RV life. We began the next day with a campground shower. I also demonstrated how I dump the black tank, fill the fresh water tank, and pack up the Airstream when it’s time to drive. I have to say, she picked it up pretty quickly.

We had five full days together. We planned to hit up Death Valley National Park, Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada, and the Hoover Dam.

I want to add: I had no expectations for Death Valley. I felt a little badly about Amanda joining me for this particular park because I didn’t think it was one of the “good” ones. I would soon be proven wrong.

Day #1: Las Vegas & Death Valley

First on the docket was a trip to Trader Joe’s for groceries. After driving for two hours, we arrived at Death Valley mid-day, and although we didn’t have any plans for where to camp, I was confident we’d find a place inside the park. After scoping out a few options, we decided on the first-come, first-serve Texas Springs Campground near the Furnace Creek Visitor Center.

By the time we set up, made some necessary phone calls, and laid out a plan for the next few days, it was time to crack open the wine and whip out the cheese and crackers. We took a quick walk up a hill around our campground to catch the sunset.

Day #2: Death Valley

Per Amanda’s request (and given she is an early bird), we got up the next morning for the sunrise at Zabriskie Point. We weren’t the only ones with this idea, but that didn’t take away from the daybreak beauty. THIS is why the song, America the Beautiful, talks about purple mountains…

Next, we drove to Badwater Basin, North America's lowest elevation at 282 feet below sea level. This area is home to the salt flats, an iconic part of Death Valley National Park. It was still early morning when we went; the sun was still behind valley walls, which explains the photos' dark shadows.

On the way back to the campground, we stopped to drive down the one-way loop called Artists Drive. Here, we found Artists Palette, rainbow-colored rock formations that represent, well, artists palettes.

We chose an afternoon hike on which Addie could join us. This hike, Titus Canyon Narrows, is along a 4x4 road, but the ranger informed us that it is scenic, unique, and flexible in that we could go as far as we wanted and turn around. We passed many Jeeps (or I should say, they passed us) - the entire road is 27 miles and connects to one of the major park roads. 

Amanda and I hadn’t hiked together since we summited Mount Kilimanjaro in December 2018. We were long overdue. Also, to add, Amanda and I have been friends since childhood. Born only one month apart, we grew up as neighbors in Connecticut. Over the years, we have remained close friends and both grew to love taking on challenges - especially in the active/outdoor arena. She pushed me to run a few marathons!

And I pushed her to sample the nomad life. hehe.

After about three miles out, we turned back for a total of six miles. We then drove up to Dante’s View, which provides a panoramic view of the valley below.

A much-needed snack awaited us back at the campsite, so we headed “home.” This is where I asked Amanda to stand on a bucket. That’s right. I needed her to help me record a video of me, and I wanted it to be taken at eye-level. We needed a little “boost” for her.

Do you know how many uses a bucket has when you’re on the road? So many. Here are a few:

1. Step stool (example above)

2. Seat

3. Vessel to transport water or other items

4. Trash can

5. Washing bin

I digress.

Day #3: Death Valley to Valley of Fire

The next day we left Death Valley for Valley of Fire, but not before we squeezed in one more hike. We wanted to see the Red Cathedral. We were up and at it before Addie’s desired wake-up time, so she happily slept in the Airstream while we hiked.

Valley of Fire was about a three-hour drive from Death Valley. We made a few pitstops through small towns before arriving at Valley of Fire State Park. We drove through the park to the other side to find a pretty solid dispersed camping area. Amanda was getting a pretty good snapshot of my accommodations on the road: an RV park, a park campground, and a dispersed campground.

Day #4: Valley of Fire State Park

We had an incredible day in this state park. The best part was that Addie could go with us wherever we went. We saw beautifully colorful rocks, witnessed a herd of bighorn sheep, and hiked a cumulative seven miles. These photos do no justice to what we experienced.

Day #5: Hoover Dam

Valley of Fire State Park is only about an hour from Hoover Dam, which is also in the direction back to Las Vegas. Neither of us had been and figured this was as good a time as any.

We (well, Amanda) found a walking path along the Historic Railroad Trail and we “hiked” to the dam. This trail is the former railroad that brought supplies and equipment to and from the dam as it was under construction.

Side note: I can’t express enough how helpful it is to have a navigator and someone to help with researching things to do and visit. I could drive and Amanda could google things, so we planned a lot in the car - which made things a lot easier.

The dam is massive. However, it’s still just a dam. Because of COVID, some areas and tours were closed, but we were content just walking around and taking a look from above. I was glad to visit the infamous Hoover Dam, but I think I enjoyed the historic railroad trail more.

Amanda’s visit was coming to a close. We headed back to Sam’s Town KOA in Vegas to culminate the trip. I know Amanda enjoyed her five days of RV living, but I’m sure she was ready to return to her life in Chicago.

It was back to the two of us: Addie and me. I dropped Amanda at the airport and hit the road, once again feeling right at home behind the wheel.

Special thanks to Amanda for joining me on the road and doing so COVID-safe!

#58: Joshua Tree National Park

When my friend, Alfredo, helped me navigate my route around Arizona (he lives there), he informed me that he would be at one of his favorites - Lost Dutchman State Park in the coming weeks. We stayed in touch, and it ended up working out that I could meet him there for a few days.

Alfredo and I first met on Instagram, as he and his wife are fellow Airstreamers. We met in person back in Las Cruces, New Mexico, in early March. When I left Texas in May to hit the road after sheltering in place, Addie and I crashed at their house outside Phoenix en route to California.

I was excited to join Alfredo at Lost Dutchman - from all of his Instagram stories and posts, I knew it was one of his favorites. This Arizona State Park sits right at the base of the Superstition Mountains. This was my campsite view. Not too shabby!

Alfredo was sure to bring only the best service for Addie.

***no Addies were harmed or given alcohol in the taking of this photo***

In the morning, we met up for a hike up the Superstitions. The weather wasn’t the greatest, but it was still beautiful - and seemed appropriate for visiting the Superstition Mountains.

I left this part out of my last post, but part of determining my route through Arizona involved the timing of when I needed to be in Las Vegas. A dear friend bought a plane ticket to Las Vegas to meet me on my travels. I was picking her up on a specific date, which needed to factor into my travel schedule.

That said, one of the other places I skipped in the spring was Joshua Tree National Park. Again, it was too hot there by May when I picked back up my travels. Since it’s close to Arizona, I determined months ago that I’d visit Joshua Tree when I went to Arizona. And it was now my next stop.

After Addie and I bid Alfredo farewell, and after a quick stop to my new favorite coffee shop, Dutch Brothers, we hit the road west for Joshua Tree. It was about a five-hour drive, but I was in no rush.

Upon arrival at the park’s northern side, I went inside the park to scope out any available campgrounds. There are many campgrounds in Joshua Tree, but I found all sites at all locations occupied. Exiting the park to the north, I managed to find some dispersed camping land for the night. I’d leave the next morning and find a place inside the park for the following night. I wanted to stay at least one night inside the park.

In the morning, entering through the west entrance (from the north), I got my first view of the iconic Joshua Trees. Joshua Trees only grow in this desert - the Mojave. And, they are not technically trees. They are the world’s largest Yucca (which is considered a succulent).

We stopped at a few different campgrounds before finding a spot at Belle Campground. It was early, and it was cold. Once we got the Airstream settled, the first thing on our agenda was to find Arch Rock. After being at Arches, this arch wasn’t super impressive, but it was entertaining to rock scramble a bit to find it - it was off the trail and hidden.

On the way to Hidden Valley, we pulled over to - literally - play in the rocks. We had a little photoshoot, too.

I’m happy I explored Hidden Valley. The trail is short but very scenic. And along the path, I caught some rock climbers, so it was fun to see them in action.

We took a short ride to Keys View - the most popular viewpoint in Joshua Tree. You can see where the Mojave Desert meets the Colorado Desert and as far as Palm Springs and the Santa Rosa Mountains.

Belle Campground afforded us a vast playground. We headed back to do some exploring. As Addie and I were walking around, we met another solo female traveler with a vintage Airstream. She and I got to talking and ended up having a ton in common. Instagrams were exchanged. Who knows where we may run into each other again!

We departed Joshua Tree through the south entrance, near Cottonwood Visitor Center. On the way out, I took a short walk through the Cholla Cactus Garden. Although this hike is flat and only .25 of a mile, it’s dangerous. The Cholla Cactus has exceptionally sharp (and painful) needles - and they’re abundant. The Chollas are cool, though. They have a hombre look to them, which I found pretty.

I also stopped to take a walk through Cottonwood Spring. This area hosts a water source, which is rare in the desert. Trees and other vegetation grow here in the desert because of this spring.

Our desert journey would continue long after Joshua Tree. We were off to Vegas to pick up my friend before heading to Death Valley - another place we postponed visiting until now due to the hot temperatures in the spring and summer.

This may sound ridiculous, but since Joshua Tree is so renowned in pop culture and song lyrics and things like that, I anticipated a “spiritual” experience. I expected more fireside song singing, weed-smoking, and zen-forward activities. Maybe it was just too cold. :)