Smell the Barn

 

The sun is setting on our 2020 westward adventure. After leaving Colorado, we’ve begun the journey toward home with quick stops planned in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Mississippi. Our projected arrival date, in Chattanooga, is September 4th; almost exactly 8 months since this adventure began. We have had an amazing, chaotic experience seeing new places, connecting with old friends and family and making new friends; even Starbaby made a friend (Australian Terrier, Libby,from Colorado Springs). However, we feel that pull for home!

The most important thing for me, about having a home base, even though we love spending long periods of time traveling, is having a destination for a defined ending to a trip. Of course, there is something emotional about an adventure coming to an end, but that sense of loss sets the stage for a new beginning, in the future. Going home allows me to reflect on all the various experiences this kind of lifestyle offers. It also gives the opportunity for a relaxed atmosphere to reconnect with family and friends and balance the responsibilities of roles like daughter, mother and grandmother. Dorothy was right when she said, “There’s no place like home,” but she might never have grasped that reality without a trip to the “Land of Oz.”

Camping in a Heat Dome

 

This week, Death Valley recorded the hottest temperature ever recorded on earth, at 130° F. The Pacific Northwest and Southwest are experiencing a crippling heat wave with average highs being at least 6° higher than usual for this time of year. Our destination, after leaving Idaho, was Ridgway State Park in Colorado; because it’s a place we love and it sits at 7,000’ elevation. We had a one night stop over, in Utah’s Green River State Park, and I had my first experience camping in 100° temps. I didn’t like it.

The hotter temps have slowed us down, but because we are so familiar with this area, we’ve been able to take peaceful morning hikes, bike rides and numerous visits to Orvis; one of our favorite hot springs.

After lunch, things do heat up here. We’ve concluded the things we are most thankful for these days are shade trees, clouds, bodies of water, low humidity and our little camper’s air conditioner.

My Own Private Idaho

 

After two weeks of rest and relaxation, outside West Yellowstone, we headed to Malad Summit, in Idaho, where my brother-in-law has a ranch and cabin. It was such a relief to not have to worry about finding a campsite, on the weekend, in this area, where practically every state park campground is full. W

Because of the incredible hospitality of Jan and Greg, we parked our Bambi in the shade and spent three nights at their cool cabin. It’s hard to put a price tag on a comfortable bed, bath and delicious food and drink, but as the MasterCard commercial says, “it’s priceless!” We are well rested, fed and ready to make our way home.