You Can Do It Too (Part 2)

Some of you who have stumbled upon my blog have asked me how it is I am able to do what I am doing. Living on the road for months at a time is not simple, but with a little planning, you can do it too!

I have posted some tips previously on how I did it, but I will also mention some other tid bits that might help get you started...or at least thinking if it's the right thing for you.

For any solo journey that takes you away from your current comfortable environment, here are a few things to prepare for:

Mental
It's a big step to leave the comforts of home to go out on the open road or to a foreign land. Be aware that your journey isn't "home." You will have to adjust to doing things differently...fast. You might have to miss a shower, eat food you are not used to, learn a new language, new customs, etc.

In order to enjoy yourself, you will have to be flexible to all situations that come your way. It's easy to think..."ah, I am flexible!"...but until you find yourself in a situation you didn't plan for, that is when you will know. Things won't always go your way.

Remember to eat and sleep. These two things will be a huge factor in doing this for the long haul, for me at least. I know my brain starts to go a bit crazy if I skip meals or don't get enough sleep. Keep exploring and stay curious. That will keep your mind working and not focused on the negative.

Material Things
Forget what things look like or who makes them. Pay more attention to the function. Does it work? Perfect. That's all. If you are unsure of what to pack...lay all of your things out at once and take half of what you think you will need.

I took two bags of clothes. One for cool weather and one for hot weather. I wore one pair of shorts most of the time, 2 pairs of Capri's and about 3 pairs of jeans. Daily shoes were sandals. I mixed up tshirts and as you can see, wore the same black puffy vest the entire way. It held my camera in a small pocket so it came in handy when I didn't want to lug a bag around.

Nobody cares how you look. They will never see you again so as far as they are concerned, you look great. Also, if you are a woman...ditch the makeup. Pack like a guy. Soap, shampoo, sunscreen, lip balm, done. You think you will need a dress? You won't. If you are packing heels, this might not be the trip for you. If you miss looking through your newest pottery barn catalog to see the newest table top settings, it's best to stay home.


Goals
As much as you move to stay busy and the brain active, there will be some down time. Before your trip, write down some things that you want to get out of the experience. Is is learning more about yourself? Visit a place you dreamed of ever since you can remember? Climb the highest peak? Write this down so you can remember why you are doing what it is you are doing. There will be times of question, but referring to your personal guide will keep you on track.

Remember, this is YOUR time. Don't do something because it's something that others think is cool...this is a commitment to what you want to do. If your goal is to explore and see where that takes you, then that is your goal. It doesn't have to be big, it just has to make sense to you.

Time
How long do you want to be on your journey? Forever sounds nice but it's not realistic. You will see in the last paragraph that the time you allow yourself has a lot to do with financial limitations, or life limitations. If you have children or a partner, your time may be limited. It's a good idea to map out how much time you have so you can choose a journey that best suits you for how long you have to explore.

Emotional
I've said it before but if you have a hard time being alone, this is not the trip for you. You will be alone. Everyday. You will be alone with your thoughts. This can be a good thing or a bad thing. Remember, nobody knows you so you can be whoever you want to be. It's a good idea to be around people sometimes to get human contact. Once I didn't talk for 3 days and when someone finally said hello to me I was like, "mahoowh." Don't lose your voice.

Keep your lifeline alive. Call friends once in a while. See how the world you left behind is doing while you are away exploring a new world. It might be just the thing to energize you and help you continue on your journey. Also, it's ok to feel lonely, tired, drained, and exhausted. You will feel all of this during the course of your trip. It's good to feel. Let it happen. You are human.

Guts
It takes strength mentally and physically. You will not be on your usual diet so being open to eating different things is a plus. Remember, the comforts of home do not apply anymore. I don't eat mammals so sometimes it's difficult to find something that I can eat. I know there is always something to snack on. Keep a first aid kit with all of the stomach things you will need.

Remember to move around. If you are in the car all day, be sure to stop on a trail to walk some. Not being active will take a toll. Be sure to make it part of your day, everyday.


Financial
Ah...what everyone wants to know. How much will it cost? Of course it depends on the length and what you plan to do. At the beginning, I camped so that was around $20 a day (give or take), you factor about $30 a day for food and factor in how much gas is and where you want to go. I would say that you might spend $100 a day. Of course, it will go up if you stay at a motel, or go down if you live in a van and park it on a residential street.

On really cold nights, I stayed at Motel 6 because Max couldn't stand the cold (yes, I will blame it on him). They are pet friendly and cost about $35 dollars on average a night. That is about the same for a fancy hook up site if you had a big rig. Some nights, it was worth every penny. You will see what I mean when you haven't taken a shower in several days and the warmth of a sleeping bag on the floor isn't as thrilling as it once was.

So, add up your expenses for traveling as well as the costs you have if you decide to keep your home base. For me, I rented my home while I traveled, which was a lifesaver, financially. I have all of my bills paid online which I would recommend.

Decision Time
Are you going to make the leap? Remember, nothing is permanent so you could always go back to what you were doing before. I have a feeling you won't. Go for it! I look forward to hearing about your journey. Thank you for being a part of mine.


A bigger THANK YOU if you become a fan of my photographs on facebook. This was my little personal goal on my trip...taking pictures. I hope to be able to sell images of the USA through my eyes soon. I will keep you posted on the fan page.

Reading The Signs

A big part about taking a road trip is flexibility. There have been numerous times where things didn't go the way I planned. However, my planning usually involves looking at a map and thinking, "oh, this looks interesting."

Sometimes a wrong turn might lead you to another place that you didn't think you would see but in the end it was exactly what you were looking for. I don't get too upset when things go wrong. In fact, I have been fortunate that something hasn't gone terribly wrong. There have been some close calls and some uncomfortable moments being on the road solo in an unfamiliar place.

It's my own fault. Those situations happened because I didn't plan the next sleeping spot or I didn't know where I was. I camped solo in a crazy area in Wyoming through a storm. That wasn't the brightest idea. I've also stopped to take a picture in the road while it was foggy. Not so smart, either. I was yelled at by a Native American for taking pictures of horses on a reservation when I didn't know I was on one.

My brain tends to shut off when I take pictures. I am right there in the moment and somehow forgot where I am (like in the middle of the road on a foggy day).

After my drive through the desert, I wanted to visit Yosemite. There is an East entrance to the park that said, "closed in the winter" on the map. Is it winter yet? There isn't that much snow on the ground, I should be ok...right? Apparently, some people think it's winter so the road was closed. From where I was, it wasn't a minute away...it was a long drive to get to the closed road.

It was just another change in plans. The sun was setting so I drove to Mono Lake to soak up the beauty of the area for one last moment. I had to laugh because right when I got there, a photographer with a HUGE camera on a tripod started running on the trail (I arrived at the same time with my point and click in my pocket) yelling at the sun..."wait! nooo...stay here...don't do it...not yet...hold on...don't go down..." I was trotting right behind him laughing. I was thinking the same thing.

So, here are the pictures I took from that evening. I didn't get into Yosemite, but I was able to see an amazing sunset on the lake. You never know what you will get when plans don't go the way a you expected. Go with the flow...life has a way of planning itself for you.


For more pictures, click HERE

In The Middle Of Nowhere, Nevada

After playing in the road, it was a long day of driving ahead in the middle of nowhere, Nevada. We headed towards the Great Basin National Park to visit. The road was closed so we drove up a bit to see some trees and caught a glimpse of deer which was exciting. Each day I see a wild animal is an adventure for me. However, Max is not a fan. He goes crazy each time I slow down or stop and starts barking even if there is nothing to see. The Buffalo in Custer State Park traumatized him I think.

We drove through a dust storm, saw lots of tumbleweeds, cows, dirt, telephone poles, the road, more dirt, weeds...oh, and a weird lady mannequin head! Very exciting stuff. Pretty creepy actually.

It was interesting that we didn't see many cars. When I played in the road, only one car drove by. I have no idea why! Look at all of the things to see!





I made the most of what I saw on the road. Here are some pics. For more, click HERE

Stupid Tree

As Max and I backed up to venture out for the day, somehow a tree appeared out of nowhere and smashed into the back of my car. I heard a "CRUNCH!" I stopped, looked at Max as if to say, "what did you do?"

I backed into a tree (Similar to this one, except it wasn't that big, that pretty and it wasn't in the middle of nowhere) and it smashed the bikes into the back of my car and put a huge dent on one side. So much so that I am unable to roll my back window down. That back window is essential for me to get to things out of the back of the car while leaving the bike rack on. Now, I am unable to retrieve things that way. Oh well, I am thankful that

-I didn't hit another car
-The tree is safe
-My window wasn't rolled down and smashed inside of the car
-The bikes are ok (at least I think they are)
-The rack didn't break (It's still hanging on ..bent and all)

But still...

When you are driving, you have plenty of time to think. So, I thought about this over and over. I decided it was time to stop thinking. What's the cure for blowing off some steam when you've been traveling for months? Playing in the road, of course! I know I told you not to...but I just had to do it one more time!

So, I stopped in the middle of nowhere and set the camera on the ground and ran around like a crazy lady for a good 30 minutes. Ahhh...that's better...

Now, back on the road...

Off the Beaten Path

After I left best friends animal sanctuary, I headed to Zion National Park and wandered around the Southwest tip of the state. Once off the main freeway, there is um...not much around. I drove through a few dust storms and several farms along the way. Even though there wasn't much to see, I stopped to view the lone trees and farm houses.

I have never been to a place where you can see the road from one mountain range to the next and everything in between.

I've been thinking about all of the places I've been and how fortunate I am to be able to do what I do. The fact is, you can do it too! With just a little planning and a willingness to leave your home for several months, you can be on your way!

There are times when I feel lonely, tired and frustrated. But, those times pass when I reach a National Park or a place I've always to explore. Some of the best experiences have been when I've been lost or decided to do something on a whim.

I look forward to sharing a little "best of" list with you. For now, here are a few snapshots of what I came across today in Utah. For more, click here.

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

I made it! I have always wanted to visit the sanctuary and was finally able to do so. Even on the drive up I was excited about seeing all of the animals being taken care of and safe for life. The only part I was nervous about was adopting another dog while I was there.

I arrived the day before and decided to stay in one of their cottages that they rent out for guests. What a cottage it was! It was the only place I've paid to stay in that was not a campsite or a Motel 6...well, besides my South Dakota nightmare. Needless to say, I was impressed! Each room has a dog door that opens to a small private gated area for your pet. Of course, Max wouldn't have anything to do with it. He much rather have a door opened for him.

We woke up early in anticipation of our tour. Max is usually an early riser so I suppose it was ME who was excited to get up early.

Also, I was looking forward to meeting Sarah who works at the sanctuary taking pictures of the animals. Talk about dream job! I found her blog one day and was really impressed with her pictures so I said hello.

We had lunch at the sanctuary on a day where all of the staff members come together to discuss what is going on in their "department." They talked about the bunnie news, what was going on in dogtown, a pig article making USA today and ending with a animal related joke. I felt honored to be a witness to the event with the co founder coordinating the effort.

Along the tour, we visited all of the available cats for adoption and the dogs. Most of the dogs were out running around so I wasn't able to get a good look at any of them. I think this played a huge factor in me coming back without a new family member.

It was well worth the stop! If you are in the area, please take a tour or you can donate to their cause online at www.bestfriends.org

Leaving Arizona

I've enjoyed my stay in Arizona, but it was time to get back on the road.

I always get excited about heading out to a new destination. The uncertainty. It's like opening a present. I have a day to explore new and exciting places. That is something to be thankful for.

I am thankful.

Today I drove for most of the day, stopping only at things that looked interesting to me.

There were plenty of stops. A few turn around's to go back and explore something I drove past. I usually do that. zooomm..."oh look at that"...u turn.

I had to play in the road again for kicks. I know it's not the brightest idea especially the places I choose are right near a bend so the cars (as well as myself) don't have a lot of time to get out of the way. I think that will be the last of that! For now, anyway.

I am headed to a very special place that I am looking forward to. I wanted to stop here in July but didn't have the time. I look forward to sharing it with you soon.

Until then...don't play in the road!

Here are some pictures from today:








I hope you become a facebook fan to see more pictures. Click HERE

Cactus Hunt

Yesterday I went on a quick search for the perfect cactus. As the sun was setting, I was somewhere between Phoenix and Sedona on highway 17 headed North. All around the freeway in a certain area were the large saguaro cactus.

No, I didn't know the name offhand, I had to look it up. Turns out, there are hundreds of cactus species growing around here in the desert.

If you are ever really interested, you can learn about each one here. The other day, I wanted to learn more about hummingbirds so I decided to google
everything that had to do with them. All because I wondered where they slept.

I digress.

So, I was on the hunt for the "perfect" photo. I don't believe there is really such a thing, but I wanted one with the sunset in the distance. I looked for a perfect touchdown tree, but instead I found numerous of imperfect ones that have been chewed up and I actually liked those better.

I figured since I was in Arizona, I needed a few cactus shots. Here are some that I liked the most. To see even more, click here

Tomorrow, Max and I are back on the road. I look forward to sharing where we go with you soon...

A Few of My Favorite Things

I came across a few traveler quotes that I liked that I will share with you:

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller

″A traveler without observation is a bird without wings.” – Moslih Eddin Saadi

“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” – Miriam Beard

“Tourists don’t know where they’ve been, travelers don’t know where they’re going.” – Paul Theroux

These all sparked my interest since I have been on this journey that has not been only about the destination. Half the time, I don't know where I am going the morning of travel. I look at a map and decide on the spot where I want to go. I've come across some interesting things along the way.

This collage includes pictures of some of my favorite things I've seen and experienced on the road.

I look forward to sharing more in the upcoming days. You can click the photo above for a larger image or to see additional travel photos, click here

Appreciation

My backyard as of late has been all of the things you see next to a road or a path.

Since I am in Sedona taking care of a zoo of animals, I haven't been out there to take pictures of everything I encounter. I took a few pictures around the house but became uninspired after a while. The other day, I came across a blog that said to take pictures and find beauty in your own backyard so I thought I would give it a try. Maybe it was the reinforcement I needed to hear.

I headed out for 45 minutes snapping away at things that I found interesting around the house. I am sure that you would look at your own backyard differently if you took some pictures of what you see.

It was a good practice for me since I feel restless when I am forced to stay in one place for a period of time. Yes, I find it hard to relax. I strolled along and looked at everything a bit differently. Saw the rocks in patterns, looked closely at the thorns in cactus, looked at the remaining fall colors along the creek, watched the birds (well, I usually spend a lot of time doing this), noticed the textures on the bark of trees, saw old pieces of trash, observed the silence.

It took me out of my "I'm so bored and uninspired" attitude and put me in a nice place of being. Appreciation.

It's been a while since I painted so I decided to give it another shot. I have so much admiration for painters and for people who can sit for extended periods of time concentrating on one piece of art. For me, it was frustrating. It was a nice lesson in patience. I know I need several lessons in it.

Below is my 45 minutes of observations in the backyard:

Art Max!

Lucky for Max, he is the subject of Jane O'Hara's new painting!

In Jane's words: "Dogs and other animals have been my subjects for many years now. I look at them as the spiritual beings that I believe they are—wise, playful and full of integrity.

I will often place an animal in an unnatural setting as a comment on the human tendency to impose. Reflecting on the unsuspecting and innocent response to this, I use humor and irony to show the dignity, confusion, fear or pleasure that the animal might experience.

I am increasingly aware of animals as the vulnerable, sentient beings that need us for their care, protection and quality of life. This idea drives my paintings."

She did such a wonderful job of capturing Max in his full crazy personality that I see everyday. He's jumping out at you on the painting as he does in real life.

Her collection is amazing. Please visit her website HERE

Black and White World

When I look at photographs, I see in color. Even if the picture is in black and white, I envision it in color.

When I took my first(and only) photography class in high school, we took pictures and developed them in black and white. I thought it was the best ever. That you can soak a piece of paper in chemicals and an image would magically appear! What a thrill that was.

Now technology has it that you can take a picture and instantly see it on your camera. Remember buying film rolls with 24 exposures? Now you can take hundreds of pictures and delete them on the spot. Or not...as I have a tendency to do.

When I take pictures, I look for bright, vivid colors. I like the blue skies, the deep blue waters, bright yellows and reds in trees turning color, and greens in fields. I also look for interesting textures. Most of the time, I just hope it turns out ok. Interesting to look at is my goal.

I decided to put some of my travel pictures in black and white. I thought...easy! I will just pick a few and it will look great! Well, it was much more difficult than I imagined it would be. My eye would trick me to think...aw, there goes all of the bright colors. Instead of, the light and texture look better without color.

Here are two pictures I decided looked better in black and white. Or do they? What do you think?

The "Lost" cow in a field














"Fenced Out"



How do you decide what pictures to put in black and white and what to keep in color? Which do you prefer?




For instance...what picture looks better? The fence below in black and white or in color?
















Or how about these trees? Do you think it looks better in color or black and white?

Two Years Of Road Trips

It's hard to believe that I have been traveling a year out of the past two years.

Below was our route in 2008 with Maggie and "trailie" and this year with Max in a tent.

I will try to list some of my favorite places in the upcoming weeks to share with you. There were so many, it will be hard to narrow down.

Where do you think is a not to miss destination in the USA?

2008

2009

Finds in Arizona

We stopped in Sedona to give my car and my brain a rest for a while. I am housesitting and animal sitting four dogs, one cat, several fish, hummingbirds and wild birds. I am hoping to take the time to reflect a little on the journey so far and plan the next leg of this constant tour of life.

I like to take pictures of different things I come across and Arizona is no different. Here are a few images that I found interesting the past few days.










Click HERE for more pictures