Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Maiden Voyage with Truck Platform

My daughter staged the truck bed platform.  I love it!
It's been a whirlwind 2 weeks.  We explored national and state parks,
L to R:  Tufas at Mono Lake, Bumpass Hell, Cold Boiling Lake, and Lassen Peak all at Lassen Volcanic National Park. 
met several new bugs,

made friends with a butterfly, saw a bear, several deer (including one who swam across the river in front of us), no snakes (woo hoo), drove through smoke from a forest fire,
Forest fire smoke south of Carson City, NV (may have been the Washington fire). 
floated on 2 rivers in 2 states,
Floating the Icicle River in Leavenworth, WA
made adjustments to Troy's new platform which worked beautifully (less clothes next time, always less clothes) and gratefully received a foam mattress for the platform (much more comfortable) and also did a week's worth of big family get together activities outside of our travels, and another when we got back.

Outdoor living is for me.
4th of July at Tollbridge Camprground in Oregon (8.00 per night).
I can't wait to boondock somewhere for two weeks and discover my daily routine. Lately, I don't even need books, or games or any distractions--I am content with staring at nature.  My mind isn't particularly chatty--it ponders. Nature. Life. Purpose.
Eastern plains of Oregon. 
I question whether man is simply complicating survival when I observe the natural world. Other species spend their days enjoying life perfecting their homes and seeking nutrition. Of course, man tends to wander further and perhaps that is what begins the complication (we then need better modes of transportation than our feet, and we need something to carry our tools for living, etc. etc.) See....I ponder.
Curious deer in Lassen National Volcanic Park
I do look forward to finding my natural rhythm--to discovering which of my talents calls to me when observation and ponderation (I just made that up) become common; although I do wonder if that is even possible, to get bored with being in nature. Thus far in my traveling and camping it hasn't happened.  As a lifestyle, I imagine that will be different, but I don't really try to picture what it will look like exactly. I am open to the experience.
BLM camp on the Columbia River in Eastern Washington. 
This trip (and the one at Christmas) was supposed to be a little closer to how I imagine I will travel when I finally get to go fulltime.  I intend to generally follow the 2-2-2 Rule: Drive no more than 200 miles, stop by 2pm and stay at least 2 days. This, being a vacation through 3 states, wasn't going to fit that rule, but I wanted to be on the road by 10am and stopped by about 4 pm, have time for fun little stops along the way (like the olive tasting room along I-5 and other unique places), and have time to find a beautiful spot to stay free at for the night and enjoy a campfire (which includes at some point talking with the rangers about good BLM camping spots). I got to do some of that on this trip and my daughter was a gem on the way home helping me achieve those goals.

We ate at this cute little 50's diner with a legal pot shop next to it. 
Buying the river tubes was the best purchase EVER!  Eventually I want to learn how to kayak (or canoe), get one, and make water destinations my thing.  Getting the tubes and using them solidified the goal for me.

What I am finding about my dream is how I am willing to do whatever it takes to make it a reality and that includes doing it in baby steps.  If not a Class A, then a trailer, and if not a trailer just yet, a truck cap and platform will do just fine.  If not kayak or canoe, a river rat tube will have to do until the next upgrade.

I'm ready, ready, ready for the adventure!