Mel

December 2022 By the time I hit Louisiana, the day to day traveling and my trying to maximize each hour was catching up.  I arrived in Louisiana before intended as my last stop at a nature preserve south of Houston was inundated with mosquitos, quashing my camping plans.  So, I drove east and thought perhaps […]

November/December 2022 I hadn’t planned to go to Texas, going with my having been to Dallas in my 20’s and to Austin several years ago, as sufficient to count that toward my travels.  Part of my apprehension was contributing to the current government’s state tax base.  I felt the same way about Florida (having explored

November, 2022 My original entry into Oklahoma was through the Cherokee Nation.  The first thing I noticed, after the casinos and the pawn shops, was that in a 30-minute time span, two separate police SUVs made a U-turn when I passed and followed me for several minutes.  I am guessing my California plates were the

October 2022 I am back in Arkansas after having been to Bentonville several years ago.  I really think that overall, this is one of the prettiest states in the U.S.  Being here near the tail end of changing of the leaves is a bonus.  A bit muted due to the drought, then again unlike Utah,

October 2022. Before I dive in further, and by way of update after four or so months in, I have confirmed I still do not love camping though I am learning to not hate it.  I may have packed away the tent for the last time after trying it out again at the Lake of

October 2022. I admit a bit hesitantly that I spent most of my time in Kansas trying to get through Kansas.  Not until I hit the eastern part of the State did I feel comfortable though probably because the area looks like any other suburban area in the East Bay of California.  I saw a

October 2022 Some adjustments for me coming from Utah.  First was the dry air which sucks all the moisture from your body.  Then there was the drastic change in temperature once I climbed to the 10,000 foot mark in Breckenridge. And there was readjusting to a lot more people and traffic – oh, and speed

September 2022 / January 2023 Utah is just plain beautiful. I understand why the Mormons picked it as home. For those who find nature’s canvas the most awe inspiring of art, the Escalante area of Utah is an underrated adult Disneyland crossed with the Modern Museum of Art.  Words cannot describe the beauty of this

July 2022 My initial road trip began in July with a short jaunt through Oregon.  My favorite spot was Bend and my least favorite, the southern Oregon Coast which I ended up driving through in a day – stick to the coastal areas closer to Portland on that front, much nicer. I did not make

First step is to figure out if you are a planner or prefer to wing it or maybe a combination of both. The next is deciding how much time you have to travel as that might impact your approach. Also, how important is your physical environment to your well being? If you plan, prepared to