I almost used the word “solo” in the title, but with my traveling companion, Oscar by my side, I really never feel alone.
It’s time to leave the west coast behind with all of it’s amazing sunsets, friends (old and new), neighbors, food, farmers market and beach vibes. It’s now April and I have been spending my winter days and nights in the Laguna Beach area since January 1, 2022.
After contemplating several options, I started planning the first half of a cross country trip back home to CT. My options included staying a bit longer out west so that the weather would cooperate and I could hopefully explore some of the western states including Utah, Idaho and Montana. But I would have to wait until June to safely cross snow capped mountain states.
Not sure who will miss our morning beach walks more, Oscar or me. At the break of dawn each morning, we trek up to Shaws’ Cove and enjoy the vast stretch of the Pacific Ocean and sandy cove. Oscar is well known as the “surfer Lab” by some of the locals. We will miss all of the familiar faces and morning friends most of all.
Most mornings, as we reach the beginning of our walk along Heisler Park, Oscar is usually eager to run into a gentle man with a white beard that always stops to give out carrots. Oscar gets so excited, as if he were a kid on Halloween!
Ok, time to plan and pack. After deciding on the first half of the trip, I got busy packing and stocking the camper with food and supplies. There is nothing quite like cooking a fabulous meal on the campfire after a long day on the road. Lamb burgers, steak and wild salmon were on the menu.
I miss having my husband here to help with some of the chores, especially securing the luggage to the roof rack!
If there is one thing I know for sure, it’s that travel requires flexibility. So many factors, such as weather, repairs, sleep etc can throw a curve ball into well thought out plans. I hesitate to even make campground or hotel reservations, but with so many new RV’rs on the road, the campground reservations need to be nailed down ahead of time.
Of course at times I have been known to take the road less travelled when the opportunity presents itself. The freedom to wake up and decide on a back road route is often the best kind of day!
The last night’s sunset looked like an egg yolk pulling apart. The clouds rolled in that night as if to confirm it was the right time to take off. With the camper packed and everything in order, Oscar happily jumped into the back seat the next morning after hearing the familiar diesel engine. We pulled out of the driveway leaving paradise behind.
We cruised out of SOCAL and made it to Palm Springs in record time! As I stood at the gas pump, I heard my name being called out across the way. When I looked up, I saw a previous Laguna Beach neighbor waving to me. He used to live across the street from us and often was loading up his dog onto his golf cart as I was heading out to the beach in the morning. He recently bought a campervan (Roadtrek) and was headed to Sedona! Such a surprise to bump into him. Such a small world we live in.
The Joshua trees and windmills are all too familiar as we sailed east into nomad’s land. Soon I noticed dispersed camping and a variety of RV’s parked all over the place as far as the eye could see. The sign said “Quartsite”. Oh, that is the town mentioned in the movie, “Nomadland”! Yes, it was a sight to see. The number of campers must have been in the 1000’s and in such an area of vast dessert. I guess the price is right, since the BLM in Quartsite is free. Hard to believe that so many folks flock to this part of the country to escape.
After picnicking at a rest stop north of Phoenix, we made our way to a private campground south of Sedona, AZ. The spot by the river in Cornville, AZ was delightful. I knew we hit gold when I noticed the proximity to the river. The only catch was no wifi. So, for a couple of days it was real camping for a change. No cell phone, computer or TV.
The closest campers were a couple with two golden retrievers that loved playing with Oscar. I watched with interest how the couple invited both dogs into their tent at night. Talk about togetherness!
DA Ranch is a gem of a vineyard down the road from the campground. We drove in but didn’t wine taste because I didn’t have anyone to share the driving…. oh well, next time. So nice to spend a couple of days in such a gorgeous area.
Off to Santa Fe, but I first stopped in Flagstaff, AZ for a mid-morning hike. Although Flagstaff is only an hour or two north of Sedona, the elevation changes along with the weather as we climbed north.
As we stopped along the winding drive through Oak Creek Canyon, I couldn’t help but notice various campers everywhere. This must be high season for the Sedona area.
On to Santa Fe, NM for an overnight. Camping in the Santa Fe area on a clear night is something not to be missed. The night sky lights up with stars so low and vivid, that it makes me feel small on this planet. Wish I could spend more time in SF but decided to move on to unexplored territory north en route to Colorado.
This was one of those mornings that, on a whim, we decided to take the road less travelled and headed on some back roads leading to Taos, NM. The day and the landscape was stunning as we drove north.
Oscar took a dip in a river where outfitters were guiding river raft tours. There were rafts and fly fisherman along the spot where we stopped. The two river guide girls gushed over Oscar and showed us a great watering hole where the rapids mellowed out a bit ( so I wouldn’t loose Oscar to rough waters).
Even the fisherman was friendly and shared his catch as we walked by. It would be really hard not to be in a good spirits on this sunny day in such an amazing place!
There is something meditative about a road trip. As I continued winding through some incredible beauty between Santa Fe and Taos, I listened mostly to music and saved the book on tape for later when the views dissipate.
Just when I thought the day couldn’t get any better, the majestic snow-capped mountains appeared front and center as I entered yet another incredible part of this country. Taos NM has some serious mountains and views of the back side of the Colorado Rockies. The contrast of the adobe homes beneath the snow capped mountains is simply unlike any place I have been.
This territory felt more like Montana than New Mexico, with the mountains, wild horses, buffalo and stretches of two lanes with no one in sight.
Eventually, we crossed into Colorado and as we approached Denver, the traffic increased and once again, changed the plans for the night since the winds were picking up in the area I had planned to camp.
I had an appointment at Hallmark, the camper dealership the next day so we found a hotel. I was grateful for the hot bath and Oscar for the comfy sofa!
As I do every morning, I checked the weather forecast and even though it was going to be a sunny day in Colorado, the winds were going to be unusually strong.
While waiting at the camper dealership the next morning, I was chatting with the owner’s wife about my travels. She asked me if I was ever afraid all by myself. No, I answered quickly, without skipping a beat.
As we headed out a few hours later, I had a change of heart! Not too much later, driving northeast from Denver, I found myself tightly gripping the steering wheel of the truck because the winds were blowing strong off the farmlands on both sides of the highway. Soon, I passed by a huge fed ex truck tumbled over past the shoulder and down the hill off the side of the highway.
Driving past this scene on a beautiful sunny afternoon seemed surreal. Next, a smaller vehicle with a travel trailer was flipped on the shoulder up ahead on the opposite side. Now my hands started to sweat and for the first time in a long time. Suddenly, I found myself afraid.
Nebraska was 2 hours away and the winds were only increasing in that direction. I decided to pull off the highway and hunker down. I pulled off the closest exit only to discover a “correctional facility” right down the road from the dilapidated Ramada Inn in sight (and it had no vacancies).
The closest decent hotel was in Nebraska, sixty miles further. Ok, I thought to myself, I can do this. I can do hard things. But I was not getting back on that highway! So off we went weaving along some backroads, slowing down as we entered small town Nebraska Wheat farm towns. The winds were probably just as strong, but I was now driving at slower speeds and did not see any flipped vehicles on this new route.
Phew! Made it to a lovely safe Holiday Inn Express in Ogallala Nebraska. Was never so grateful to check into a roadside hotel.
Mother Nature interrupted the trip and my life for only one day. Looking out of the window from the safety of the hotel room, it was comforting to see the parking lot across the way with a dozen or more campers also waiting out the windstorm. We were not alone.
As the winds calmed down overnight, we were on our way the next morning, with Iowa in sight.
Thrilled to be making progress on the road after life got interrupted, I didn’t stop much. (Nebraska can seem like a long state to drive through.)
Late lunch at the Lincoln Pub in Council Bluffs Iowa, just over the Nebraska border. Best wagyu burger ever! I chatted with the friendly waitresses and after mentioning my cross country trip with Oscar, they begged me to bring him into the restaurant, so wagging his tail, he got some attention while I finished my meal and headed to the park in this adorable little Iowa town.
As suspected, once we reached the middle half of the country and approached Chicago, the weather just got damper and colder so I decided not to camp. Setting up camp without enjoying it’s surroundings is just not worth it for me, so we pushed on driving longer days until we reached Hudson NY (my son’s house). It was delightful to see Trevor and Keela and they served up a delicious dinner to the weary road warriors.
The funny thing is, we drove 3,000 miles across the United States only to get stuck in the mud in their driveway the next morning! For a few minutes I simply forgot to put the truck into four wheel drive before realizing how easy it was to stop spinning the wheels by switching gears. Oops!
Home Sweet Home the next day! Already thinking about the next adventure….
It would be an understatement to say “You made my day.” I just finished reading your travelogue before going to bed, and found it so very interesting. Thanks for sharing your travels. I can see how you are looking forward to the next one.
Loved the dialog. “We can do hard things,” resonates deeply. Give Oscar a big hug from his first family. XO