Before I left on this journey a friend of mine asked me, “What’s your job? Everyone has a job so go do that!” Of course, he did not mean an office job. “What’s my role here? What am I here to contribute?” (LaRue Pine Hills) This is a thought that rumbles around my head often. Currently, I travel, I write, I take photos, I care for two dogs. But what am I contributing to a larger community? I’ve considered many…
Carbondale, Illinois is as close to having a ‘home’ as I’ve experienced thus far. This is the town where I made my first snow-person, learned how to drive, cut class, and found my love for romping outdoors. Home is the place where I have the deepest memories, history, and connection. I have friends here dating back to pre-school, and my mom lives here with my step-dad and a young Australian Shepherd. Would this still be home if my mom weren’t…
Hot Springs is a neat town. Population around 35,000 and a pretty good arts community – in no small part due to the involvement of my friends who helped found the KUHS 97.9 FM community radio station, a community arts center and gardens, among other things. I got my camper popped up in their driveway and we set out for a hike. The national park is interlaced with the town proper, so it both runs through town in some parts…
I didn’t want to get up this morning. I didn’t sleep well and really just wanted to stay in bed. I could see the morning lights bleeding through the camper windows, so I opened one to peek out. Holy cow the sky was gorgeous! I leapt out of bed, shoved my feet into shoes, grabbed my camera, and ran outside. Some days I wake up and just feel like driving. At first I felt like I should leave Big Bend…
Solo camping navigating. I’ve been trying to teach Pugsly, but she just wants to sleep. Ow. Don’t mess with Texas. I learned to use duct tape to get those near invisible prickly pear prickers out! Works! It took me two hours to go 10 miles to my new campsite. It’s great! The Chisos mountains and the doggies are my companions. I got to do some outdoor reading, but this giant orange threatening wasp looking creature kept hovering around me, so…
First thing in the morning and I’m packing up when a Ranger stops by. I took a surreptitious photo while he was writing down my driver’s license info. They aren’t kidding around out here. He gave me a warning and I told him I was heading right then to get my pass. I did. Gotta carry tweezers when walking in the desert lest prickers get you. This one was stuck in Pugsly, and when I went to pull it –…