Three Months on the Road (by Sunshine)

Now that we are at the half-way point of our journey I thought I’d share some reflections and check in on how life on the road is going.

Observations

Moving through rainbows. Yosemite National Park.

We are fortunate to live in a country with a plethora of amazing and beautiful outdoor spaces. I’m sad that many people do not have/take the opportunity to experience them. I don’t just mean the grandeur of national parks. We’ve found spectacular trails and parks in urban spaces that people can enjoy regardless of where they are from. One doesn’t always have to travel far, they just need to unplug and get outside. Being outdoors does wonders for the soul.

Some animals seem to be everywhere we go – robins, red-tailed hawks, jays, chickadees, juncos, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits. In the desert, it was fun to see lizards because at home the closest you get is a newt or salamander but only in the right season. It is strange to be in places like California with both lizards and squirrels running around the same area. We have been fortunate to encounter very few mosquitoes or other biting bugs on the trip. The only place they were a problem was when we camped near New Orleans, LA and there was standing water in the campground. It is mysterious why we haven’t had problems anywhere else but it is awesome! Many times we can barely go out in our backyard in Wisconsin at this time of year because the mosquitoes are so bad.

There is a lot more diversity of people and languages when you leave Wisconsin. Jim and I used to speculate as to why we saw mostly people who looked just like us hiking, camping, and experiencing the outdoors. Now that we’ve visited wildlife refuges, national forests, and local/state/national parks around the country we think it may be because there just aren’t many other kinds of people in the places we visit in Wisconsin. They’re not outdoors because they’re not there period. The further West we’ve gone, the more variety we see. It is fun to walk around the campgrounds and listen to the different languages being spoken.

Reflections

My Loves

At the start of the trip, Jim told me that he was concerned about spending so much time with Walden and me, 24 hours a day, every day. Going to work was a break. I understand what he meant and didn’t take offense. I’m happy that we haven’t driven him crazy and he is enjoying being with us every day. At the same time, I miss my one-on-one time with Walden. I was used to our daily routine and special time together. On the road, I spend more time preparing/cooking/cleaning up meals, organizing the car and Burro, and planning for the next leg of our journey while Jim spends time entertaining Walden. I’m thrilled they get this time together but sometimes have to request Mommy and Walden time.  

My sickness last year (candida overgrowth of my digestive system and multiple new food intolerances combined with celiac disease) has changed my relationship with food yet again. In some ways it is for the better and when I fully recover my body will be healthier than before. It has also added an extra challenge to the trip because I’m so limited in what and where I can eat. Some days involve a lot of time planning meals, locating hard to find foods, and preparing the limited number of foods I can eat. I’m thankful for the fresh fruit and vegetable stands we’ve found in California.

I may want to get a job or have some kind of work after this trip. I have a need to feel productive beyond caring for my family. I’ve always had this feeling and even though I enjoy my time at home with Walden, I feel drawn to create and accomplish something tangible.

This adventure still feels like vacation. Jim and I both though after a while it would start to feel like a routine and ordinary life would take over. Being in new places weekly has kept the fun and relaxed feeling present.  

Gratitude. Kings Canyon National Park

It feels both like the time is going so fast and so slow. I can’t believe three months have passed and we are half way done with our adventure. It feels like we could go on like this forever. At the same time, we have done so much in the time we’ve been on the road that being at home feels like a long time ago. Even the places we visited last month seem like they happened in the distant past. We are doing well living in the moment.