Well, my blogging break has finished. It was a nice change to abandon mine and other people’s websites for the last month, and focus on internet-unrelated pursuits, the things I’d like to call “real life”. ????
Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
It took weeks to wind down, if I ever got there. Mark and I still had and have business-related obligations, being without internet at our fingertips felt weirdly unfamiliar and, whenever I planned a day off from sightseeing to relax for a day, a translation project would pop up. When it comes to making some money or making no money at all, that choice is a relatively easy one. Unless, of course, there was no internet to even see the assignment.
While I screamed off the roofs before that I would use our limited data towards planning our itinerary and camper-related chores, I had no idea that big parts of Colorado and Wyoming don’t have T-Mobile cell coverage. No worries here about running out of our monthly 5Gb data allowance. We managed to check emails at McDonalds, visitor centers and libraries.
Pagosa Springs was our first “port of call” after leaving New Mexico, with a day trip to Great Sand Dunes National Park next. This park was a bit of a disappointment, after our impressions of White Sands National Monument in New Mexico, a few months ago. There, the sand was bright white and we barely saw another soul.
After spending time in Colorado hiking, biking and visiting friends (a couple and their dog Oscar who we house and pet sat for last year), with a nice surprise from John who unexpectedly took us wild water kayaking on the Upper Colorado River, Mark and I would visit Rawlins in Wyoming to pick up parts for our engine (destroyed by rats in Santa Fe) and grocery shop. Then, a quick stop in Lander to dump our tanks and fill up with fresh water would get us on our way to Grand Teton National Park.
Except, that planned 30 minutes in Lander turned into three days and nights. This is how it happened… A stop in the parking lot of McDonalds to pick up a WiFi signal showed a new translation assignment in my inbox. Google told me there was a library close by to do the work, but first, we would dump Zesty’s grey and black water. The free dump station didn’t provide drinking water as usual. We headed towards the visitor center to inquire about water. A friendly employee let us fill our small tank from a spigot. And, he told us about a free concert that would attract “thousands of people” that very night. We were encouraged to stay and check it out.
Fee camping at City Park in Lander, Wyoming
And, so it happened that we returned to the free City Park campground that afternoon and biked into town for an amazing free concert from 5pm to 9pm. The headliner was “Shovels and Rope”, a band we knew nothing about, but which was the attraction for, indeed, thousands of people. We met fun folks, socialized, danced and really enjoyed the music.
The following day – based on raving reports from people we’d recently met – we were drawn to Sinks Canyon State Park and National Forest. A hot, strenuous hike led us to a series of spectacular waterfalls, one of which offered a natural slide into a gorgeous, deep, yet icy-cold pool.
After the outing, we decided to spend the night at a pretty lake nearby, where free camping is allowed. The next morning, we stopped by the other sites in the state park, before we headed north towards the Tetons. We did eventually reach these iconic mountains; it just took a little bit longer than planned…
Note: I’m slowly catching up on blogs about our RVing lifestyle, which started the end of July. Our current location can be found in the right column of this website.
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September 11, 2018 at 12:42
That’s what living an adventurous life is all about… twists and turns, and the ability to be flexible. The more I read about various bloggers blogging breaks, the more I am tempted to try one too. Looking forward to reading more about your travels. Hope to see you back in SoCal one of these days.
September 11, 2018 at 13:34
Being flexible is such an important trait to have when traveling full-time, whether it is on a sailboat, an RV, or backpacking. Most people I know book everything well in advance, and that works perfect for them, but I can’t help but wonder how in earth nothing ever goes wrong in those situations. Maybe it does? Or, maybe more plans don’t work out when you are open to changes? I hope to start posting about my trip now, Janis. But, so many photos to sort through already!!!
Blogging breaks are great and what I learned most from it is to not take it all too seriously when getting back into blogging mode. I shouldn’t feel guilty or pressured when I can’t visit everyone online I’d like to visit, don’t post on the same day every week, or even every week. The problem is that I have so much to share already. 🙂
September 11, 2018 at 13:03
I’m so glad you found the friendly town of Lander, WY! Wouldn’t it be great if more towns offered three nights of free camping at their city park, eh? I hope you found the great ice cream parlor there too. Lucky you were there for the concert though, we did not get that treat. We camped in the same area in Sinks Canyon. See photo here: https://travelswithharvy.com/2014/08/08/free-camping-love-it/ Did you happen upon the Snowy Range and/or Salida, Colorado? If not, you might add them to your list for “next time.” and https://travelswithharvy.com/2014/08/07/snow-snow-on-the-range/ . Can’t wait to read your next post.
September 11, 2018 at 13:38
Thanks for the links, Leslie. I love the photos in your posts. Very recognizable. 🙂 Lander was such a nice surprise, indeed. We did not find the ice cream – those are treats we don’t often allow ourselves.
We did stumble upon Salida in Colorado and were pleasantly surprised with the town and its environs. The river walk was great. We didn’t expect much – I don’t even remember why we ended up there, since it was certainly not “on the list” – but it was a fantastic town. And, the Safeway had free WiFi! 🙂 I’m unable to post about all the places we visited and activities we did, though. Doing amazing stuff every day adds up to too many blogs that will be too long.
September 11, 2018 at 13:36
I found T-mobile severely lacking when we traveled the southwest. I was kind of glad when our phone finally stopped working and we bought a new phone that worked with Google Fi.
I think pretty much if White Sands are the first sand dunes you experience any subsequent sand dunes you may visit are going to be a bit disappointing!
Welcome back from your blogcation!
September 11, 2018 at 13:51
Thanks, Duwan. You are so right about White Sands. That certainly is the most amazing “dune park” in the US so far. If there even are any others besides the Colorado one.
Mark and I are slowly trying to live without daily internet and it sure has its charms. I even told him I didn’t want to deal with figuring out cell service while we are in Canada (which is now, for another two-three weeks or so). Libraries will have to do the job (like at this very moment). 🙂 That being said, he is looking into AT&T now that we will be on the road full-time…
September 11, 2018 at 13:41
That’s the way to roll … embracing experiences and changing plans on a whim. We have 30 gigs of Verizon and have to monitor ourselves closely or we’ll easily burn through that AND we still use libraries, etc.!
September 11, 2018 at 13:52
Flexibility rules. And, libraries do as well! I’ll fit at least one library visit per week into my plans from now on. Starting today… 🙂
September 11, 2018 at 14:20
Serendipity at its best????
September 12, 2018 at 15:28
🙂 We are happy to be flexible. Most of the time.
September 11, 2018 at 15:20
It is great when you can adapt your plans on the hoof, something we still do even though most of our travel these days involve day trips! Sinks Canyon State Park and National Forest and the nearby lake look beautiful! :o) xxx
September 12, 2018 at 15:28
I think being able to adjust your plans is the key to successful travels and good moods. 🙂
September 11, 2018 at 15:36
They say life’s what happens when we’re making other plans. Sounds like you can surely attest to that.
Welcome back
September 12, 2018 at 15:29
Hi Laura! That could be my personal motto, actually. It’s also one of the reasons why we don’t plan (much) anymore. I’ve dealt too many times with disappointments as a result of planning, so I’ve learned my lesson. 🙂
September 11, 2018 at 16:02
Welcome back from your blogging break, Liesbet! Glad you had time for some travels in your Zesty. I know what you mean by having so much to share from your travels. One can pack a lot of experiences in one day of travel and it takes time to write and sort out which photos to include in a blog post. Take your time to return to blogging and enjoy BC, Canada. Hopefully the fires and their associated smoke are not affecting your visit. I should have asked when you’re on Vancouver Island, and plan a meet up with you, Donna, and Jude. Have a great week!
September 12, 2018 at 15:40
The fires were bad in Wyoming in the US, but here in BC it has been raining for days now, so no more fire danger.
We are on the ferry to Vancouver Island right now and will spend two-three weeks there. So, if you can make it here before Donna leaves, the meet-up might still happen. 🙂
Even if you would have asked when we’d go to the island, I couldn’t have answered you, because we really don’t plan far ahead of time at all. That’s one of the charms of this new lifestyle on the road. Even less planning than when we were house sitting, and taking the internet and blogging situation as it comes. I’m glad you’re having a wonderful summer!
September 12, 2018 at 15:40
The fires were bad in Wyoming in the US, but here in BC it has been raining for days now, so no more fire danger.
We are on the ferry to Vancouver Island right now and will spend two-three weeks there. So, if you can make it here before Donna leaves, the meet-up might still happen. 🙂
Even if you would have asked when we’d go to the island, I couldn’t have answered you, because we really don’t plan far ahead of time at all. That’s one of the charms of this new lifestyle on the road. Even less planning than when we were house sitting, and taking the internet and blogging situation as it comes. I’m glad you’re having a wonderful summer!
September 11, 2018 at 17:45
You are a couple of free spirits! What an adventure of rafting and concerts.
September 12, 2018 at 18:47
Get ready for the adventure to continue, Alex. 🙂 Next installment will be hiking and biking.
September 11, 2018 at 19:48
Welcome back, Liesbet! It sounds like you had a fulfilling time – frustrating at times, I’m sure, but that happens to us rooted people, too! 🙂 You fit in so many places, and like others here, I admire your ability to change things on the fly. Now re-enter slowly and don’t feel pressure to catch up with everybody and all your blogging backlog too fast!
September 13, 2018 at 09:53
Thanks, Lexie. Good advice. Although, the re-entering will be difficult as we keep a similar busy schedule now, before the winter anyway, being on the road full-time. And, travel and sightseeing has always been more important to me than blogging and writing. So, I will have to find a balance, because this is our life now. Choices and priorities, right? And, as always, there aren’t enough hours in a day. 🙂
September 11, 2018 at 20:19
Hi, Liesbet – Welcome back! It’s wonderful to see you here again — and to read “Roaming About in British Columbia, Canada” in your sidebar. I look forward to catching up soon!!
September 13, 2018 at 09:55
It’s nice to finally be on Vancouver Island. See you soon!!
September 12, 2018 at 04:22
Welcome back from your break, Liesbet! Thanks for sharing your adventures with us. With major tendinitis setting in, a blogging break sounds wonderful! Loved your photos!
September 13, 2018 at 09:56
Sorry to hear about your health issues, Jill. As a writer, this must be such a toughy. Wishing you a fast recovery – or a powerful cortisone shot. 🙂 More photos and adventure write-ups to come…
September 12, 2018 at 06:56
You are definitely going with the flow! We had a really good time in Wyoming a couple of years ago, I look forward to reading more.
September 13, 2018 at 09:57
I remember reading about some of your US adventures the previous years, Anabel, and I still remember your “smoke issues” last summer. When we had similar visibility and pollution problems this summer, I thought about you.
September 12, 2018 at 10:44
Bravo to you, Liesbet, and all your wonderful adventures. I agree with a few comments. You need to be flexible whenever you camp–especially with children. We’ve visited a few of these parks when we travelled across country. More power to you! I love the photos.
September 13, 2018 at 10:00
Thanks, Victoria. The photos are piling up by the hundreds each week. They can be added to the many thousands of our previous travels. Crazy stuff. But, we are now doing what we love doing most, so I’m happy about that. Flexibility is key when it comes to being on the road and camping, you are right. Luckily, we’ve managed to overnight park for free everywhere and it hasn’t been too busy. Especially this rainy September. 🙂
September 12, 2018 at 11:18
You really had a great trip with a variety of experiences. Liesbet! Great photos and of places I hadn’t heard of. Every time I read your posts, I get more motivated about our winter trip to Arizona in our new trailer. We are finally moving ours to storage from 6 months at the delta, so hopefully Hans can focus on buying a new truck. Great to have you back in the blogosphere!
September 13, 2018 at 10:02
The trip is still going, Terri and it will do so indefinitely. 🙂 You will enjoy your summer road trip and vacation so much in your new rig. It’s fun to be free and camping. What will you use at the Delta now? Or, will you not go back at all in the winter? Good idea to put the new trailer somewhere clean and safe. Have a great semester ahead!
September 13, 2018 at 16:01
I think you are enjoying life on the wild side with so many adventures recorded here. If you two were not flexible, you’d miss a lot. I had no idea there was so much desert in Colorado – wow! I know what you mean about taking time to wind down. After this memoir gets into the publishing production line I may have some time to breathe. I may even take a blogging break, which I admire your doing.
Thank you for posting your geographical coordinates on the right column. British Columbia is beautiful this time of year, I imagine. We vacationed in Vancouver and Victoria, BC last July and August.
September 16, 2018 at 12:22
If we wouldn’t be flexible, this lifestyle wouldn’t work for us, as we never ever know anything about the day or the night ahead. We have no idea where we will spend the night, or where we’d park the van to eat lunch. It’s exciting that way, as long as everything works out in the end. 🙂
I think it was very wise of you to vacation in Vancouver and Victoria in July and August, Marian. We’ve had mostly rain in Vancouver, four days straight with little time and fun exploring the city, and three out of the five days we’ve been on Vancouver Island. Living in a van in this kind of weather will get old soon (we found a few leaks and nothing dries). Then, we have to be flexible and get out of here, in search of sunnier destinations. 🙂
You’re making good progress now with your memoir, so I wish you a very productive editing and rewriting period ahead and then a well-deserved writing and blogging break!!
September 14, 2018 at 09:04
I think like you it would take me some time to being disconnected but once adjusted would find it a fabulous holiday. I think it’s wonderful that you can be so flexible to take in suggestions and go with the flow. something I would definitely need to work on.
September 16, 2018 at 12:24
Most people plan their trips, Sue, and in general that’s probably the right way to go, especially since you rely on other people for accommodation, transportation and tours. For us, the nice thing about traveling with our own vehicle (RV or boat) is the freedom it creates about where to go and how long to stay. We have to be flexible, or this lifestyle wouldn’t work out. We never book anything and have to totally take the days as they come. It’s tiring at times and super wonderful most of the time. 🙂
September 15, 2018 at 10:55
Hi Liesbet! Haha to our best laid plans huh? Sometime staying flexible and just going with the flow is the best possible thing we can do…and from what I can see it is working out great for you. Any chance you’ll make it down south in October? Would love to see you and Mark again soon. ~Kathy
September 16, 2018 at 12:28
We love this lifestyle, Kathy. We are not good at planning things, because that often leads to disappointments or feeling rushed. So, we usually take it as it comes and need to be 100% flexible all the time.
We do have vague plans, and one real plan this fall, though. We have a house sit in Ojai starting mid-November and before that we’d like to visit friends in Washington and Oregon and explore a bit more in the Pacific Northwest. So, we most likely won’t be in Southern California in October. We were just offered a two-week house sit in San Diego in October, but declined.
September 17, 2018 at 04:16
That Icy-cold pool sounds just my thing. Must have been very refreshing, especially when the weather is hot.
So glad you checked out the free concert. Sometimes, the things we do on the spur of the moment turn out to be the best.
Welcome back to the world of blogging, Liesbet. So pleased to hear that you enjoyed your break.
September 17, 2018 at 18:38
The pool was invigorating, Hugh. Mark didn’t go in (he likes the cold even less than me), and I didn’t quite expect to be dunked into frigid water. That being said, it felt good enough to go up and slide down a second time. 🙂
Thanks for the kind words, Hugh! From now on, I will attempt to combine our travels with the blogging… somehow.
September 17, 2018 at 13:02
Hope you thoroughly enjoyed your time away from the digital world (as much as possible)! I love taking time out from the internet and wandering the wild southwestern U.S. seems like such a fantastic way to do it.
September 17, 2018 at 18:40
It a curious thing, this whole internet “dependency”. It took me ages to break away from it and not feel guilty, or like I was missing something. And now, I hate to be roped in again. So, as with all things in life, I will attempt a healthy balance. 🙂
The wild southwestern US is a fantastic getaway destination. Right now, we’re trying out the wet Vancouver Island area and the Pacific Northwest. Wild in a different way.
September 17, 2018 at 15:59
Welcome back to bloggin Liesbet. Every day sounds like a wonderful vacation with your two and Zesty. What serendipity to be in the right place to catch the concert. So glad you had a lovely summer break, now happy fall! 🙂 x
September 17, 2018 at 18:42
Thanks, Debby. Since everyone is calling my new lifestyle a vacation, I better start acting like it is one. 🙂 I can’t believe summer is actually over. I thought I had until September 21st to push off fall, but in western Canada, the leaves are rapidly turning already. It’s probably the same over at your side. That being said, after a week of rain, the glorious sunshine is back today!
September 18, 2018 at 08:46
Welcome to Canadian beautiful autumn. We are in the last day of a week long heat wave here. The leaves are still on the trees and still green here. But drive about an hour north and we can see the lower night time temps are slowly turning the leaves red.
I hope you’re done with rain. I do know the west coast gets a lot more of it than we do. So if you’re still looking for summer, come over here and visit, lol. 😉
September 21, 2018 at 11:34
Not done with the rain here yet, but that means some time spent at the computer. 🙂 Soon, it’ll be warmer on the Canadian west coast than the east coast, I assume. But, by then, we should be heading to Mexico. Slowly. Talking about a summer near Toronto… maybe next year! Seriously.
September 22, 2018 at 11:24
Fabulous! How long you going to be in Mexico? The winter?/ I’m going in Jan for 2 months!!! ??
September 26, 2018 at 20:53
We don’t have any real plans yet, Debby (do we ever?), but we hope to spend some time in Baja California in January/February, to get back on budget and be warm. 🙂
September 27, 2018 at 07:55
Well, at least we’ll both be on the same side of the country in Jan and Feb! Me in Puerto Vallarta! 🙂
September 30, 2018 at 14:40
Baby steps, and one day, we will find ourselves in exactly the same location. Maybe in Toronto next summer! Mark and I are certainly toying with the idea to take Zesty out east late spring.
September 18, 2018 at 14:04
Glad you’re back to blogging as you roam about. SO much fun reading about your adventures.
September 21, 2018 at 11:35
Thanks, Pam. I’m glad they are fun to read about as they’re certainly fun to live through. 🙂
September 19, 2018 at 11:27
Sounds like a great three days. Going with the flow seems to work for you. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
September 21, 2018 at 11:36
“Going with the flow” is my middle name, Anna. And, that’s actually one of the underlying themes of my memoir. I guess you could say I’ve done it my whole life. 🙂
September 19, 2018 at 23:59
I’m glad that you are back on the road and that you are finding work along the way to support your travel habit. I see you are now in Vancouver Island. Any plans to visit Sue now that you are up Canada way?
September 21, 2018 at 14:24
Sue and Dave were certainly on my mind, Lisa. I had hoped we could visit Glacier NP in Northern Montana and then head into Canada for the northern part of the park (Waterton), and Calgary to visit our friends and then on to Jasper and Banff. But, I thought too grand. By the time we reached Montana, the seasons started changing already. And, when we discovered Glacier was closed in the west due to forest fires, we never went up that far north. So, basically, change of plans, lack of time and the being out of the way led to not visiting Sue. 🙁 Maybe next summer?
Loving life on the road, though, and I am finally finding a balance between sightseeing, chores, jobs and blogging. Rainy days help. 🙂
September 21, 2018 at 22:10
Maybe Sue and Dave will come over your way…and there is always next year. I have done the Glacier, Banff road trip and highly recommend it.
September 26, 2018 at 20:52
That route sounds extremely attractive! Maybe next summer, indeed.
October 11, 2018 at 12:24
When travelling, I have often had the best experiences in unexpected little out-of-the way places. So often there are too many people in the famous tourist destinations.
Jude
October 17, 2018 at 00:57
Isn’t that the truth! We have found that the less we plan and anticipate, the better the experiences and the surprises. Less room for disappointment. 🙂 Being flexible is such an important part to traveling. And, when visiting places like Yellowstone in the summer, we prepare ourselves mentally for the crowds. There’s a reason why certain places are popular, after all. But, off-the-beaten-track places draw us in as well, especially when the spontaneity delivers new experiences.