On the road

We've been on the road now for over four months. The first three or so were filled with family time and holidays spent together after several years of being apart. Days off and evenings were packed fun activities, taking excursions, and seeing sights. What I think of most, though are the moments of regular conversation and common activities like meals together and days at the beach. Talking about everyday things on walks. Laughing while playing games. Those typical moments are markers of the lovely, subtle connection of simply being with the people we love. 

Morro Bay, in February

In those first months, there was also a degree of stress that underpinned all our movements. The features of the trailer we bought were not exactly what we got. Features our enthusiastic salesman said we had (like working solar) weren't actually off-the-lot functional. It also took a while to figure out how to tow the trailer (we had to make some relatively big adjustments to the truck 700 miles into our first cross-country trip, but they were worth the time and cost to have a smoother, safer ride.). Plus, how to navigate with a giant-feeling trailer (not all parking lots are created equal, nor are the driveways to get into them).

And then there was the weather. We ran out of Boise at the head of the first winter storm. While we didn't get fully caught in it, wintery conditions (and driving in them) we're a challenge nearly all the way to Alabama. Our holiday plans had us heading to the furthest southeast and southwest corners of the country within just a few weeks. It was a bit nerve-wracking.

So far, it has all worked out. We’ve seen incredible things we didn't expect to see that wowed us. And again, we had that priceless family time with our parents, nephews, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends. We are so very lucky.  

As we make our way through month #4, we no longer have a set timeline. And, woah, what a different tempo. It doesn't matter where we go and when we get there. We're just bopping around where the wind blows us. It feels we are kind of aimless without the anchor of family and friends. We miss them. At the same time, it feels like the possible answers to the question of “where to next?” are expansive, limited only by the weather and passable roads and the occasional head cold.

Right now, we’re letting the wind shake the dust off our trailer here on the wide open desert lands of Government Wash at Lake Mead. Yesterday, we walked the Lake Mead railroad trail and across Hoover Dam. Both were unexpectedly impressive. Today, we're heading to the Valley of Fire State Park. Tomorrow? We’ll sort out that where to in the morning.